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Hollywood Bowl Overlook
Category: Active Life Parks Parks [Edit]
7036 Mulholland DrHollywood, CA 90068
Neighborhood: Hollywood
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
36 reviews for Hollywood Bowl Overlook
36 reviews in English
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Review from Stormie I.
Baltimore, MD
9/15/2011 1 Check-in Here
Pictures don't even come close to doing this spot justice!
Don't miss this touristy spot. Go at night for the best view. -
Review from Zoie H.
9/12/2011 1 photo
It is absolutely beautiful up here!
Came up for the first time yesterday in a car and followed the signs to the "scenic outlook". Calling it a "scenic outlook" does it absolutely NO justice. You can get amazing/beautiful views of Hollywood, DTLA, West LA and look over the hill to get a beautiful view of all the rich SOB's houses (like the guy whose building a house right above/behind the outlook - - Damn you rich man!). Despite the amazing views of the city my mum was standing there going "Look at that #(@#(&$#& he has an INFINITY POOL!"
Anyways, this place is amazing. Easy to access in a car or walking (from the Cahuenga Pass) and a great photo spot! There is a SMALL parking lot (one disabled spot, about 5/6 other spots) but people normally do not linger too long. Also, the Starline Tour busses comes up here - maybe if we all band together we can push a few over the edge. LOL. It is nice and clean - so please lets keep it that way! -
Review from Norm K.
8/24/2011 1 Check-in Here
The views of downtown Los Angeles and Hollywood from this overlook are amazing! Seeing a relatively empty Hollywood Freeway was quite interesting.
I once drove the Mulholland Drive at night and didn't stop here. I could enjoy the lights of the Basin from my car. Stopping here during the day is something I'd recommend to anyone. -
Review from Guppy L.
Los Angeles, CA
2/1/2012
Great view of the Hollywood Bowl('s seating.) In the audience at the HB, I'd always spot people up on the mountain and wonder how they got up there...
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Review from Renee K.
Los Angeles, CA
12/17/2011
Top coolest free things to do in L.A.? This is one of them. Just up from Cahuenga off the 101, you pull in, step outside your car, and get one of THE best 180 degree views of L.A. In fact, you've most likely "seen" this view point in many movies, and now you can experience it, in its entirety. Ive also been known to pull off for a quick lunch break, sit in my car and meditate, if the freeway was clogged, or just see the City literally from a birds eye view...most excellent the day after a good rain. You can see for miles.
You'll wonder why you didn't do it sooner. -
Review from Kevin D.
12/18/2011
Great view and photo opp, especially on a clear day. Zoom lens and tripod recommended. Climb the steps to see the Hollywood sign.
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Review from Orsolya D.
North Hollywood, CA
"I wanna see Hollywood!" is the general catch-phrase of most of my out of town friends when they first visit LA (they know better the second time around). I despise touristy areas and so I have a great smart-ass solution: taking people to a scenic overlook. See that street down there? That's Highland. That is Hollywood. BAM. Let's go home.
Okay in all seriousness though, if you really do want to show your friends or relatives a post card-esque view of Hollywood, downtown LA, the Hollywood sign, and the 101 or maybe you want to see how traffic is flowing (or standing-still) on the 101; then the Hollywood Bowl Overlook off of Mulholland is your best bet. My idea would be to come up here when there is a concert at the Hollywood Bowl that you couldn't afford and listen to the music while watching twinkling downtown lights. Sadly, this overlook "shuts down" at sunset and is chained up so that you can't get past the gate. I'm surprised there isn't a guard dog.
My qualm about this spot is that it IS a tourist trap, in itself. It tends to filled with tourists including those favorite sightseeing vans making it nearly impossible to park in the tiny parking lot and to walk up the staircase to the lookout point. But once past that annoying factor, the view is unbeatable if you are into the urban look versus greenery.
Whether it is your Aunt Martha or your old college roomie, this is one scenic spot they will brag about to their friends back home.Listed in: Scenic Views: good and bad
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Review from Jaimee H.
For this LA trip, I decided I wasn't going to settle for the Hollywood and Highland Center (where the Kodak theater is) view of the Hollywood sign. Did a little Yelp search and discovered that there are overlooks that give you a better view of the sign. This Hollywood Bowl Overlook was one of them.
What's nice about this overlook is that you don't have to travel far on Mulholland Drive to get here. The parking lot is small, but expected. This overlook can get overcrowded and busy at times because many tour buses stop here as well. Be careful not to park in the fire lanes. When we were here, law enforcement officials cited a tour bus that was parked in a fire lane.
The view of the city and it's busy freeways is breathtaking. You also get a great view of the Hollywood sign. Definitely worth the detour. -
Review from Kristel Y.
Los Angeles, CA
2/13/2011 1 photo
Found this spot on accident and I'm glad I did. While taking a no-particular-destination-in-mind venture up Mulholland Drive, I ended up following a tour bus to this lookout point. Parking is extremely limited, so I ended up parking in the dirt side of the road after the lookout point itself.
The view was fantastic--you can see the heart of LA, the long arms of the freeways, and even the Hollywood sign (different direction, follow the stairs and there's a smaller lookout area where you can get a great view of the sign).
This was the start of my love affair with Los Angeles. I went home feeling like I had just gotten my first kiss from the city.Listed in: Favorite LA Spots
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Review from Michael S.
Los Angeles, CA
12/24/2010 1 Check-in Here
How do you not love this place?!?! Came here after the raining and double rainbow the other night and it was absolutely beautiful. It was perfect. It was wonderful. Whatever words make you smile the most in your heart, think of those words...that's what this place feels like. If you want to see the best view of LA with someone you care about, do it here. Period. Don't forget a bottle of cheap merlot and a blanket :)
I give the HBO a 5 out of 5 stars :) -
Review from Susan T.
Los Angeles, CA
3/7/2011 1 Check-in Here
What I really want to see is a sunrise OVER downtown. Is that possible? I think so. This just isn't the spot. From this point though, you get the sun rising just a little off from downtown. If you have a wide-angle lens, maybe you could capture both in the same shot. But, no, it's not quite what i want. Still, a gorgeous view of downtown and I can imagine how dazzling it must be at night.
To be honest, there's not much to do here besides enjoy the view and the soft quiet of being away from the city. -
Review from David F.
Los Angeles, CA
3/7/2011 1 Check-in Here
Wow. I am impressed with this place. If I had to compare this to anything, it would be Twin Peaks in San Francisco or Mt Soledad in San DIego. It's just a great place to enjoy a view of downtown LA, and everything else around it.
Came here today to watch the sunrise. We got here a little late since it was decently bright before we got up there. It's just that the sun wasn't in sight. From here, you see the sun creeping up behind the mountains on the east, and LA in all it's glory (read smog). There are a handful of parking spots, I think 5. The nice thing about it is that you can sit in the comfort of your own car to stare down downtown LA while you're deep in thought. If you're feeling a little adventurous, there are some stairs you can take on the left side of the parking lot to reach a slightly higher point. From there, you can get a better view of the sunrise and the infamous Hollywood sign. Did you guys know it used to be a Hollywoodland sign?! Mind=Blown.
I will definitely be coming back here in the future, whether it'll be for the sunrise or the sunset. Definitely coming up here to get a few dusk/night shots of LA. -
Review from Jeremy S.
6/9/2011 1 Check-in Here
It's a decent view, but sadly it's closed (chained up) after dark. You can still take a late-night gander, just go behind the tree directly to the left of the gate and there is a good fence hopping point. If you've never been up in the hills it'd be worth the effort, if not... then not.
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Review from Jocelyn O.
Los Angeles, CA
1/3/2011 1 photo
i love coming up here with my friends late night taking pictures. if your coming at night please becareful, very careful. Youll need of course a flashlight because its somewhat dark.
Other than that i love the view! My beautiful city looks very nice during the night time of course. I love coming up here during summer nights. just that you come across alot of foreingners. -
Review from Albert W.
Berkeley, CA
1/16/2011 4 Check-ins Here
After growing up and living in SoCal for so many years and since moved up north to the SF Bay, I'm ashamed to say the first time I saw a view like this was just a couple weeks ago when some of my friends came to visit. This place provides a spectacular and breathtaking view of the skyscrapers and the Hollywood Sign.
One thing I wished is for this place to be open at night. The city lights looked so amazing, but the gate was closed.
If you're a tourist in LA or if you're showing someone around the area, this place is a must see! I'll definitely be coming back here next time I'm in West LA. -
Review from Kasia K.
Pleasanton, CA
9/6/2011
Very small parking lot (maybe 6-7 spots total) and it gets crowded with cars and tourist busses and vans, but the view is gorgeous (on a clear day... rare for LA!). I have been up here on those rare days and it calls for a lot of great pictures. Views of the 101, Hollywood Bowl, downtown LA, Hollywood and beyond are magnificant. Walk up the stairs for a view of the Hollywood sign and more photo opportunities! I recommend a stop here when driving this road.
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Review from Perla B.
Venice, CA
7/31/2011
Amazing views of Hollywood, DTLA, WLA, the Hills. Crazy amount of tourists that ask for you to take their picture with the Hollywood sign. Seriously, so many tourists go up here to take their picture and move on to the next popular attraction.
Last time I visited this places, I was there for maybe 2 hours because the view was just amazing plus there was a show about to start at the Bowl. Bonus; great for listening to a show at the Bowl but terrible view as all you can see is the audience.
The parking area only holds about 5 cars but once you park, even from your car you will get a great view. The general view you get from this place is the one you see on Law & Order: LA. It just reminds me of it so much. I really wanted to stay until very late but it just got too dark and not sure about the wildlife in this area.
Def a great place to take friends/family who visit from out of town or if you just want to listen to an artist playing a the Bowl. -
Review from Jeff W.
Portland, OR
8/15/2010 1 photo
My wife and I made the quick drive from the Griffith Observatory to here one night last week. We were a little worried that we wouldn't be able to get in because it supposedly closes at Sunset. This didn't seem to be the case. Parking was a little treacherous, but totally worth it. Especially since I wasn't the one who had to deal with it.
The view was absolutely amazing! Especially being up there at night to see all the city lights. Talk about incredible. It wasn't very crowded at all which was all the better - probably due to the lack of parking. There are two different viewing areas which made it nice as well. You can stay close to the parking area or talk a very short walk up some stairs to another area which I thought was much better. You can also high-step a small fence then walk about 50 feet which gets you even closer to the edge with an even better view. There were people set up with tripods and hanging out there when we went, I was a little too chicken because it was pretty dark and a little crowded.
Anyway, it was a breathtaking view - I highly recommend paying a visit here. It's super easy to get to and the only real hassel is parking. -
Review from Joan S.
4/6/2009 7 photos
JayChan took me here yesterday, Sunday.
I am afraid of heights.
So. He talked me into climbing the short flight of stairs for the optimum view. I used my cap as a blinder, like I was a horse in traffic.
All the while my knees were buckling & my heart was racing & I prayed I would not faint and slip over the edge.
When we got to the top, I started to get used to it all. Gotta admit, the views were spectacular. We could see the ocean and the Palos Verdes Hill. http://www.yelp.com/bi...
And downtown LA, of course. http://www.yelp.com/bi...
And snow-capped mountains in the distance, behind the Hollywood Sign.
We could even see as far as Signal Hill in Long Beach, it was such a spectacular clear day.
The Hollywood Sign was right there before us, in all its glory. http://www.yelp.com/bi...
Jay pointed out the locations of a couple celeb's former residences (he is Mr. LA, and knows everything).
More importantly, he pointed to where the Blue Goose Lounge is, waaaaay down below. That reminded me that I needed a drink!
But sober as I was, the descent back down to the parking area did not freak me out. http://www.yelp.com/bi...
This is progress.
This overlook is a don't miss if you're in the area. Yes, there are telescopes so bring some coins. http://www.yelp.com/bi...
Yes, there are tourists so bring some patience. Also bring sunscreen, shades, and your camera.
Don't be skirred.......if I can climb to the summit, anyone can........Listed in: Parks & Scenic Spaces
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Review from Jennifer F.
Los Angeles, CA
9/21/2009 3 photos
I'm a huge fan of scenic spots. I found an article about LA's best scenic drives and Mulholland Drive was on the list. As I'm driving on the 101 North, I ask my friend if she has been to Mulholland drive. She was absolutely flabbergasted that I have never been.
Mulholland Scenic Parkway and Corridor is approximately 55 miles long. In 1924, it was only 24 miles long! This winding street offers spectacular views of LA's finest mountains and beaches.
There are over 8 overlook spots to stop and enjoy the view! We stopped at the Hollywood Bowl overlook. The Hollywood Bowl overlook captures the view of Downtown LA, the Hollywood sign, West Hollywood, Hollywood Hills, and Runyon Canyon Park.
We arrive to this teeny tiny parking lot. Two large starline tour buses were hogging the lot. Only 6-8 spots and trying to maneuver around the large buses were challenging. I didn't know the park opens at sunrise and closes at sunset. No wonder everyone was rushing!
Our visit was a pleasant one. Lots of random action: there were tourists, small dogs, girls with heels, and a man from Colorado. The skies were smoggy gray. The view wasn't clear but it was so neat to be able to see the view of Los Angeles. (see photos: http://www.yelp.com/bi... )Listed in: High Above
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Review from Amy K.
3/26/2007 1 photo
This overlook is up Mulholland a mile or two off Cahuenga. I love taking people here (as do Hollywood tour buses, meh), and out-of-towners will enjoy it. You're right above the Hollywood Bowl, and off in the distance you can see downtown. On a clear day, you can see out to LAX. Down in Hollywood, once you find the CNN building, you'll see the Arclight and Amoeba. Dusk, as the lights in the city go on, is beautiful. To the north is a great view of the Hollywood sign. Even looking down on the 101 is kinda nice.
On weekends, there are a lot of tourists. On weekdays, it's not so bad, and you can pick up food from Vegan Express just down Cahuenga and have a meal up there. There are coin-operated telescopes if you want a closer view of the city, and a few signs explaining what you're looking at and the origin of the Hollywood sign. The parking lot is tiny, but there's a bit of street parking as well. It's kept fairly clean, and there's a bench to sit on at the bottom of the stairs if you'd rather not/can't climb them, which still provides an excellent view. -
Review from Jacqueline C.
Los Angeles, CA
11/13/2007
A Continuation of my Hollywood Bowl Review, "MY FIRST AND ONLY LOVE" (because I just discovered you can't write 2 reviews on the same place).
4. MY GRAND ROMANTIC PLAN, continued
I would buy ALL 4 seats of a Garden Box in the center section (that's harder than it sounds because you usually have to kick out or know a subscriber because they are bought years in advance). Then I would have them move out all the ugly chairs and put in a couch. A real plush couch and a blanket. Then I would have a small table set with real china to have a small picnic. There would be candlelight (good luck trying to figure out how to get that done, I already have) and a bottle of 2001 Silver Oak (I have my best memories with this vintage). It would , of course, either be a classical night with Rachmaninoff or Vivaldi or the Tchaikovsky Spectacular. Who wouldn't recognize the effort and sacrifice in this?
5. MY GRAND GOAL
One day, I want to be well known enough within the Bowl to be asked to watch the performance and dine at the Pool Circle. Truly, it's too close to the stage but it would be neat because only VIP's get to be there.
6. TRANSPORTATION / PARKING:
* Don't ever do that stupid bus ride thing. First of all, you always underestimate how long the line is to wait for the bus.. Then the ride is long. Then you don't know what bus to get back on. It's stupid. The only good thing is that you can sleep on the way home.
* If you go extra early, park at the lower lot by the freeway exit. Don't park at the bowl because it's stacked all the way to the top!
* Find an alternate route to get there. Almost every road and every freeway is packed. Leave early! I hate stressing out about getting there on time. Don't be on time, be early and have time to settle in!
7. THE SECRET BOWL CASTLE
I'm not sure why it's there or how it got there. It's not even especially pretty or big.
When you're leaving the bowl and walking down the hill, there's this covered cafeteria area where they entertain the kiddies. It's next to the Bowl Store. Behind the coffee machine or some scaffolding (it changes), there's this neat little colored clay castle in the bushes. I really like it. I've taken some really cool pictures of it but I can't seem to find it on my comp. It's cool to look at and people are always wondering why you're looking behind the coke machine...
8. GENERAL THEATER ETIQUETTE
People are surprised at how much the sound resonates in an open-air venue like the Bowl. Especially newbies...
***Only open food packages in between songs. We can all hear it; we all want to tell you to can it. Just don't do it.
***If you're sick or cough a lot, be nice and eat a cough drop or don't even go.
***If you bring your kids, make sure they know how to sit down for long periods of time. That's why I try not to sit by the families. You do your part and I'll do my preventative part.
***Don't smoke cigarettes or pot in the theater. Come on people!!!
***Don't get drunk and puke all over the stadium. We can all smell it!
***Don't get up for the bathroom in the middle of the songs... Plan accordingly.
***If they say no pictures, don't take pictures. The flashes "echo" all over the place. Seriously, do you really need a teeny tiny picture of John Williams? -
Review from Adel O.
4/18/2011 1 Check-in Here
Was really into the tourists scene on my trip to LA. From this view point it really makes the trip worth it. You get a great view of the Hollywood sign, a brief history on the sign. You oversee the Hollywood Bowl. And a great view of the city. Makes you feel celebrity status is achievable just by standing there. Best part for me was the drive trying to find this location. Mulholland Drive is a bunch of big houses and fun tight turns. I wish I had a crotch rocket to really enjoy the road. I really believe this is a must stop.
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Review from Steven V.
La Puente, CA
9/4/2008
Don't bring a girl up here unless you want here to fall in love with you because you brought here there! I know, it's happened to me!
This is one, if not the best view of Los Angeles that you can get.
On a clear day you can gaze off into the distance for hours, looking at all the buildings and saying "hey is that..."!
Try to sneak over the fence at night and you'll see the city lit up like Christmas! Careful though!
Be fore-warned Park Rangers do patrol around Mulhuland Dr. all night so read the no parking signs -
Review from Brea C.
Oxnard, CA
9/21/2011
So I read the reviews before going here. I wanted to take someone on a romantic date, and it really was. But what I wanted to make sure was that you can really hear things from the bowl. You can vaguely hear whatever they play. Also be careful, they are really enforcing the whole sunrise-sunset thing. Cops will be around the area to make sure in the later part of the night, thank gosh I got past a ticket, but others weren't so lucky. So just make sure to note that if you want to come here late at night.
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Review from Sarah N.
Irving, TX
1/23/2011 1 Check-in Here
Amazing view of city. Drive around Mulholland for fantastic views!
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Review from Ryan W.
6/19/2009 1 photo
3.5 Stars
This is a great place for a quick stop. You can see the Hollywood Sign, downtown Los Angeles, the Hollywood Bowl and more. If you are driving around in the Hollywood Hills, I say this is a must-stop. If you are in Hollywood and would have to rent a car to get this accomplished, save your time/money. There are tour buses that come up here from Hollywood Boulevard as part of the Movie Stars' Homes Tour. We couldn't miss them because they filled the parking lot and we had to park on the side of the road to gain access. Apart from a nice view, there isn't much to do. There are a few plaques that talk about the history and a coin-operated pair of binoculars. That's it. -
Review from Kayla V.
Westminster, CA
9/11/2008
It's really not that hard to make a woman smile and feel all giddy inside; just take her here! The view is one of the best I've seen! You can see all of LA; downtown, Hollywood Sign, Hollywood Bowl, Griffith Park Observatory, lights, freeways, and the ocean (on a clear day). NO OBSTRUCTIONS! Time stops for mere seconds and in those precious moments; all your troubles seem to go away and you can't help but let the view take your breath away. Very Romantic spot. Super cute place to take a date but make it a date with someone special; it's too nice to just waste away with just anybody. It gets popular here with all the couples and tour buses so try and find a good time to come. 50 cents to use the telescopes so don't forget your change!
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Review from Jennifer L.
Los Angeles, CA
1/5/2009
Ready...cue the swooning. I won't go into details because you should just go and experience it for yourself. The view is magnificent! Perfect place to take a date! You can see all of LA in all its glory. Take a bottle of wine and a blanket and she'll be putty in your arms you lucky son of a gun! You're welcome!
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Review from AaRoN G.
Reseda, CA
9/1/2010
Great View! ...came here to test drive my new camera lens on a gorgeous day and the result was fantastic! ...sure, it could only accommodate a few vehicles at the same time, but that doesn't change the fact that this is a great spot to get an awesome view of an awesome city ...check it out yourself!
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Review from Rodleen G.
West Hollywood, CA
9/11/2010
When Im in Los Angeles, I come here often. It is a really wonderful perch. This part of Mulholland Drive is the best!
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Review from Jon B.
Los Angeles, CA
11/20/2008
This is one of my favorite places to grab a view of the city and the Hollywood sign!!! If your feeling risky you can use this trail as a way to sneak into the Hollywood Bowl or just hide out under some trees and listen to the shows from there but, be careful, sometimes they send helicopters over this area to patrol and bust people sneaking in!!!
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Review from Ayelet I.
Los Angeles, CA
6/1/2007
The view is beautiful but there always seems to be someone else up here-mainly tourists, which makes it a little less romantic and enjoyable. Still, it's a peaceful stop to remind you what L.A. offers and to stop and appreciate it every once in a while in between cursing the traffic.
Listed in: L.A. Woman
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Review from Jeremiah C.
Los Angeles, CA
5/15/2010 12 Check-ins Here
It's a great view of Los Angeles, the surrounding area, and you can also see the Hollywood Sign. The PARKING stinks, and can get dangerous if the lot is full. Mulholland Drive is busy, so be careful if parking along the side of Mulholland.. I say do it, if you are in the city, and then take a drive all the way down Mulholland Drive..
Listed in: LOS ANGELES sights
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Review from Renee W.
Glendale, CA
9/27/2009
The view here is gorgeous, *if* you can find parking and aren't eclipsed by a giant tour bus that is there 80 percent of the time. A rare peaceful spot in the city. Fond memories of hopping over the fence (well...not exactly "hopping", more like struggling and nearly ripping my pants while bruising my thigh) after dark to get a view of the city lights with some friends from out of town.
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Review from Patrick M.
Beverly Hills, CA
9/27/2009
This is a special place- 5 stars.
