La La Land Travel Guide: A Lovely Los Angeles Itinerary
Reel Places Series
Welcome to “Reel Places“, my blog post series where I create an aesthetic travel guide that makes you feel like you’ve been dropped into your favorite film. In this guide, I will delve into the City of Stars with a La La Land-inspired guide. Below I’ll show you a montage of what to see as well as where to stay, to eat and drink throughout LA for another lovely day of sun:
What To See
Griffith Observatory
As a first must-see stop on your La La Land-inspired adventure, I recommend visiting Griffith Observatory. Not only was this Los Angeles landmark the filming location for Mia and Seb’s Planetarium date, but it also has incredible views of the world-famous Hollywood Sign and all of Los Angeles.
The Art Deco building is absolutely stunning at sunrise, but, if you’re interested in seeing the Planetarium, I suggest visiting during the Observatory’s opening hours a little later in the day.
Type: Filming Location
Angel’s Flight
For your next La La Land site, head on over to Angel’s Flight in Downtown LA. Angel’s Flight is a historic funicular from 1901 that’s commonly referred to as the world’s shortest railroad. In the film, Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone‘s characters can be seen riding inside, disembarking at the top station and doing a quick dance before running off to explore more of LA.
I recommend a quick roundtrip visit here followed by lunch at Grand Central Market, another La La Land location, just across the street.
Roundtrip Tickets: $2/person
Type: Filming Location
Warner Bros. Studio Tour
Of course, no La La Land-inspired guide would be complete without a visit to the one-and-only Warner Bros. studio backlot, where Mia worked at an on-the-lot coffee shop. The film includes multiple scenes at this coffee shop and on nearby French Street, both of which can be seen during a Warner Bros. Studio Tour.
Warner Bros. currently offers multiple studio tour types to visitors, but for this experience I’d recommend the base Studio Tour. Read all about my experience and what to expect on the Warner Bros. Studio Tour!
Type: Filming Location
Colorado Street Bridge
Start off a lovely La La Land-inspired night by strolling across Pasadena’s Colorado Street Bridge. This historic Beaux Arts-style bridge is the same one that Mia and Seb walk across. While it can be visited at any time of day, I recommend sunset to try to take advantage of the same purple skies from the film and then combining it with dinner and jazz at a nearby restaurant or lounge.
Type: Filming Location
La Loma Bridge
For a slightly less busy, but no less beautiful bridge reminiscent of the film, venture just south to La Loma Bridge. Often considered the “little sister” to the Colorado Street Bridge, La Loma was also constructed in the Beaux Arts style over Pasadena’s Arroyo Seco. If you’re driving yourself, I find La Loma much easier to visit and walk across as there is often plenty of street parking available in the residential neighborhoods that surround it.
Type: Aesthetic Spot
Mount Hollywood Drive
Curious where Mia and Sebastian perform their movie poster-famous song and dance, “A Lovely Night”? Look no further than Cathy’s Corner, a lookout point in Griffith Park.
However, a word of caution for those visiting: Cathy’s Corner, unlike how it appears in the film, is not in a residential neighborhood and is not reachable by car. Instead, Cathy’s Corner sits 2.5 miles up the paved Mount Hollywood Drive hiking trail in Griffith Park.
Despite being fairly central, Griffith Park is not your average city park. Instead, it is quite rural in areas and is home to wild animals like mountain lions and rattlesnakes. Because of its location, I highly advise only visiting Cathy’s Corner during the daylight hours and bringing lots of water.
Type: Filming Location
Hollywood Bowl
If you’re looking for a quintessential Hollywood attraction with the potential for some jazzy tie-ins, consider visiting the Hollywood Bowl.
Shows here mostly take place in the summer months and often include jazz or jazz-inspired artists like Harry Connick Jr., Laufey and more.
Summer performances typically sell out quickly, so make sure to plan your trip in advance. Visiting during the off-season? You can still visit the Bowl Museum or go on a self-guided tour of the area. Information and printable maps are available on the Bowl’s website.
Type: Aesthetic Spot
Stahl House
Remember that scene in the Hollywood Hills where Ryan Gosling‘s character, Seb, is forced to play A Flock of Seagulls “I Ran” at a pool party with an 80s cover band? While not a filming location for the movie, the Stahl House and its lovely pool overlooking the city give me that same energy.
Located in the West Hollywood hills, the Stahl House is a modernist home from the 1950s that has been used in films like Galaxy Quest and tv shows like Columbo.
Type: Aesthetic Spot
South Pasadena’s Rialto Theatre
Another Pasadena-adjacent La La Land filming location is South Pasadena’s Rialto Theatre. Built as a combination vaudeville/movie house back in 1925, the Rialto is now a local art gallery.
In the film, the Rialto is where Mia and Seb watch Rebel Without A Cause for their first date. And while you can no longer see the inside of the theater in the same way it was seen in the film, the exterior still has its familiar facade, making the Rialto a quick, but worthwhile stop along any La La Land adventure.
Type: Filming Location
Watts Towers of Simon Rodia State Historic Park
One of Emma Stone’s favorite La La Land filming locations and a Los Angeles must-see is Watts Towers. Watts Towers is a unique architectural and structural art installation built by Simon Rodia. Rodia, an Italian immigrant, built the towers using found objects like bottles, ceramic tiles, and figurines over the course of 33 years.
In the film, Watts Towers was used as part of a date montage where Mia and Seb get to know each other in different romantic spots throughout the city.
Type: Filming Location
Where To Stay
To start your colorful La La Land x Los Angeles getaway, you’ll want to an accommodation with a colorful, modern-meets-retro aesthetic.
Hotels
Chateau Marmont – $$$$$
- Filming Location and Hotel where Mia stays toward the end of the film
Hotel Per La – $$$
Silverlake Pool and Inn – $$$$
The Prospect – $$$
Where To Eat and Drink
Here are the classic LA restaurants and venues that I believe that Mia would enjoy and the spots serving up delicious food and live jazz worthy of a visit from Sebastian:
El Rey Theatre – Music Venue with Drinks + Small Bites. La La Land Filming Location where Seb performs with Keith’s (John Legend’s) band
Grand Central Market – Food Hall and Real-Life La La Land Filming Location
Lighthouse Cafe – Jazz Bar and Real-Life La La Land Filming Location
Smokehouse Restaurant – Steakhouse and Real-Life La La Land Filming Location
Velvet Martini Lounge – Live Jazz, American Food and Classic Cocktails
The Dresden – Live Jazz and Cocktail Bar
The Original Varnish – Live Music and Classic Cocktails
