"La La Land," Damien Chazelle’s vibrant and nostalgic musical, captured hearts worldwide with its dreamy portrayal of Los Angeles, its ambitious characters, and its poignant exploration of love and ambition. Beyond the captivating storyline and memorable soundtrack, the film served as a visual love letter to the city of angels, showcasing both iconic landmarks and lesser-known gems. For those enchanted by the film and eager to experience its magic firsthand, this guide offers a comprehensive tour of 23 "La La Land" locations to visit in Los Angeles, bringing the film’s most memorable moments to life.
From Freeway Ramps to Dream Factories: Embarking on a "La La Land" Journey
The movie "La La Land" is more than just a film; it’s an invitation to explore the vibrant tapestry of Los Angeles. From the sprawling freeways to the historic theaters, each location holds a piece of the film’s narrative and offers a glimpse into the city’s unique character. Prepare to embark on a journey that blends cinematic nostalgia with real-world exploration, uncovering the magic that makes "La La Land" and Los Angeles so captivating.
1. The Opening Traffic Jam: A Freeway Serenade
The film bursts into life with a dynamic song and dance sequence set amidst a standstill traffic jam. This memorable scene was filmed on the transition ramp from the eastbound 105 freeway to the 110 freeway. While stopping on the ramp is strictly prohibited (and dangerous), you can capture a similar perspective by taking the Metro Green Line to the Harbor Freeway Metro Station. Alternatively, park near 11500 S. Figueroa and use the elevator or stairs to reach the platform, providing a safe vantage point to appreciate the freeway’s sprawling network.
2. Mia’s Workplace: The Elusive Warner Bros. Cafe
The charming Warner Bros. Cafe, where Mia diligently serves coffee while pursuing her acting dreams, is, alas, a creation of the film’s set designers. This whimsical cafe was temporarily resurrected as part of the Warner Bros. VIP Studio Tour Hollywood. While the cafe set is no longer a permanent fixture, the tour guides will point out its former location, offering a behind-the-scenes glimpse into the magic of filmmaking. Keep an eye out for the Warner Bros. Cafeteria, located in the same building as the Visitor Center, where you might even spot a celebrity grabbing a bite. The studio tour also includes a visit to the backlot and soundstages where Mia takes Sebastian later in the film, offering a comprehensive look into the world of movie production.
3. Mia’s Apartment: A Pink Paradise in Long Beach
The exterior shots of Mia’s vibrant pink apartment building were filmed at El Cordova apartments, a charming condominium building nestled on 3rd Street in Long Beach (1728 3rd Street). While the film features a longer sequence of Mia and her roommates dancing down the stairs and into the courtyard, only a brief snippet made it into the final cut. Feel free to take a selfie in front of this iconic building, and then head to Bird Lane, the alley in the back, where Sebastian famously picked up Mia in his red convertible, making an unintentional wrong turn onto one-way Gaviota Street. Remember to follow traffic laws!
The film cleverly avoids specifying the exact neighborhood where Mia resides. While some aspiring actresses may choose to live in Long Beach due to its more affordable rents, many prefer to reside north of the 10 Freeway for easier access to auditions, which often take place in the Valley.
4. The Neon Montage: A Symphony of Signs
"La La Land" masterfully utilizes montages to compress a wealth of Los Angeles landmarks into fleeting moments. One such montage occurs as the girls drive along the 101 freeway through Hollywood, showcasing a collection of iconic neon signs. These include Paty’s Toluca Lake, Musso & Frank Grill, The Formosa, and The Roxy, all real establishments that invite you to step inside and experience their unique atmospheres. Other neon signs, like the Wilshire Royale and the Knickerbocker, adorn private apartment buildings, adding to the city’s vibrant cityscape.
5. Mia’s Walk Home: Following the Stars
The exact location of the lavish Hollywood Hills mansion where Mia and her roommates attend a party remains a mystery, but her subsequent walk home is more clearly defined. After her car is towed, Mia descends Vine Street, offering a panoramic view of the 101 Freeway. She passes the Castle Argyle apartment building before turning right onto Argyle, where she encounters a captivating mural on the wall of Hollywood Bowl Self Storage beneath the freeway underpass. This mural, originally painted in 1986 by Dan Collins, depicts a cast of Hollywood legends, including Louise Brooks, Fatty Arbuckle, Lucille Ball, Desi Arnaz, John Wayne, Elizabeth Taylor, and James Dean.
6. The "You Are the Star" Mural: Center Stage in Hollywood
Mia walks past the "You are the Star" mural, which in the film, adorns the exterior of the restaurant where Sebastian reluctantly plays the piano. In reality, this mural is located a little over half a mile west of Argyle, at 1665 Wilcox Avenue, just south of Hollywood Boulevard. Created by Tom Suriya, the mural is designed to place you center stage, bathed in the spotlight as a captivated audience of movie stars looks on. The building itself boasts a striking Art Deco facade, adding to the area’s historical charm.
7. Seb’s Christmas Carol Debacle: A Burbank Blunder
When Mia enters the restaurant, she finds herself in Burbank. The Smoke House restaurant (4420 West Lakeside Drive), situated next to Warner Bros. Studios, served as the backdrop for the scene where Sebastian is fired for deviating from the Christmas carol repertoire and embracing his passion for jazz. It’s also where he brushes past Mia, who had been drawn in by his music. While the Smoke House typically doesn’t feature a piano in the middle of the room, it does host live entertainment on a small stage area, which was transformed into a dimly lit corner with a Christmas tree for the film.
8. Van Beek Tapas & Tunes: A Fictional Haven
Van Beek, the club that Sebastian dreams of owning, is a fictional establishment. However, the location used to represent the club is situated across the street from the now-closed Retro Dairy Mart at 4403 West Magnolia Boulevard in Burbank. The film shows Sebastian driving by it as he pulls into the Retro Dairy Mart, and then depicts him sitting and gazing across at it. The Van Beek location is actually a few buildings down from the Dairy Mart, requiring a bit of cinematic license for Sebastian to have a clear view from his table.
9. Cathy’s Corner: A Scenic Valley Vista
The scenic overlook where Sebastian and Mia share a song and dance is portrayed as being just down the road from the party. In reality, it’s a relatively secluded curve on Mt. Hollywood Drive known as Cathy’s Corner. This spot offers breathtaking views of the Valley, a significant distance from any house parties. The wooden posts were already in place, but the set decorators added the bench and lamppost to enhance the romantic ambiance.
10. The Lighthouse Cafe: Discovering Jazz
For a taste of authentic jazz, head to The Lighthouse Cafe (30 Pier Avenue) in Hermosa Beach. This live music venue is where Sebastian introduces Mia to the captivating world of jazz during a Wednesday happy hour. While The Lighthouse Cafe once boasted a prominent neon sign advertising Jazz Concerts, it’s no longer there. Today, the venue hosts a variety of musical genres, but Wednesday Happy Hour and Saturday and Sunday Brunch are still dedicated to jazz. Despite its evolving musical landscape, The Lighthouse Cafe remains a cherished destination for jazz enthusiasts.
11. Hermosa Beach Pier: A Twilight Stroll
The pier where Sebastian takes a contemplative stroll after leaving The Lighthouse Cafe is the Hermosa Beach Pier. To create a unique visual aesthetic, the "La La Land" set decorators added lamp posts in addition to the existing low lights, giving the pier a slightly different appearance. The Hermosa Beach Pier is conveniently located just a few steps from The Lighthouse Cafe at the end of Pier Avenue.
12. The Rialto Theatre: A South Pasadena Landmark
The Rialto Theatre in South Pasadena makes a brief but memorable appearance in the film. Initially, it’s shown open and playing the classic movie, "Rebel Without a Cause." Later, Mia drives by and finds it closed. This historic 1925 theater has since been transformed into a church. While it can still be rented out for filming or weddings, you can explore the interior by attending a church service or visiting during regular office hours.
13. Jar Restaurant: Dinner with Greg
The restaurant where Mia endures a dinner with Greg and his friends is Jar, located in the Beverly Grove neighborhood of Los Angeles. While the film doesn’t explicitly identify it as Jar, it’s safe to assume that it’s not actually near the Rialto, as the drive between the two locations would take a considerable amount of time during dinner.
14. Griffith Observatory: Reaching for the Stars
Following their viewing of "Rebel Without a Cause," Sebastian and Mia follow in James Dean’s footsteps and venture up to the Griffith Observatory. They spend a romantic evening exploring the deserted grounds and museum. While you likely won’t find the observatory empty during opening hours, you can still enjoy the breathtaking views. The filmmakers opted to recreate the original Observatory Planetarium in the studio, so the show at the Samuel Oschin Planetarium may not look exactly the same as in the film. However, the original Zeiss Mark IV planetarium projector, which was used from 1964 to 2006, is on display in the Observatory Museum. The bench where Sebastian and Mia sit, offering a view up at the Observatory, is a fictional creation.
15. Fern Dell Trail: A Nature Walk
The dating montage in "La La Land" features a stroll along the Fern Dell Trail in Griffith Park. This shady trail, part of The Ferndell Nature Museum, boasts over 50 fern species, from hanging baskets to towering tropical ferns. While there are flowering plants in this area of the park, the flowers along the trail in the movie were added by the set decorators.
16. Colorado Street Bridge: A Twilight Crossing
The Colorado Street Bridge in Pasadena serves as another backdrop for a romantic twilight stroll. Constructed in 1912 as part of the original Route 66, the bridge gained notoriety as the "suicide bridge" during the Depression. To prevent further tragedies, a suicide barrier was erected in 1993. Despite its history, the bridge remains a popular spot for romantic walks.
17. Grand Central Market: A Culinary Adventure
Sebastian and Mia grab a bite at Sarita’s Pupuseria in Grand Central Market, a Downtown Los Angeles public market that has been in continuous operation since 1917. In recent years, the market has undergone a significant transformation, attracting a trendy, hipster crowd.
18. Watts Towers: Artistic Expression
Sebastian and Mia explore the Watts Towers in South Central Los Angeles. Visitors can take guided tours on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays. Even if you can’t enter, you can still admire the towers through the outside gate at 1765 East 107th Street. The film also includes a glimpse of Paul Botello’s mural "Muro que Habla, Canta y Grita" in East L.A.’s Ruben F. Salazar Park.
19. Angels Flight: A Downtown Ascent
Sebastian and Mia take a ride on Angels Flight, a funicular railway in Downtown LA. This historic railway transports passengers one block from Hill Street up to California Plaza. After being out of service for several years, Angels Flight was restored to full operation on Labor Day in 2017.
20. El Rey Theatre: A Concert Venue
The Messengers’ concert scene with John Legend was filmed inside the Art Deco El Rey Theatre on Wilshire Boulevard. The El Rey is a popular rental venue for live music in Los Angeles.
21. Chateau Marmont: Arriving in Style
Five years later, Mia arrives at the Chateau Marmont, signaling her success. The interior shots for the Chateau Marmont were filmed at Orcutt Ranch in West Hills.
22. Black: The Exterior of Seb’s
A now-closed bar called Black, located at 6202 Santa Monica Boulevard in Hollywood, served as the exterior of Seb’s jazz club in "La La Land."
23. The Blind Donkey: The Interior of Seb’s
The interior of Seb’s jazz club was filmed at The Blind Donkey, a basement bar in the East Village Arts District in Long Beach.
Reliving the Magic of "La La Land"
Visiting these 23 "La La Land" locations to visit in Los Angeles offers a unique opportunity to step into the world of the film and experience the city through the eyes of Mia and Sebastian. From the iconic landmarks to the hidden gems, each location holds a piece of the film’s narrative and provides a deeper appreciation for the beauty and complexity of Los Angeles. So, grab your dancing shoes, your dreams, and your camera, and embark on a "La La Land" adventure that you’ll never forget.
