For a first concert at the Hollywood Bowl, the essentials are simple: do not plan to drive and park casually, bring a picnic that fits under your seat, find out if your event allows outside wine and beer, and arrive at least an hour early. The Bowl seats about 17,500 people in a hillside amphitheater, and nearly everyone arrives in the same 90 minutes. Shuttles, the Metro plus a free shuttle from Hollywood and Highland, and pre-booked parking are the ways locals avoid spending the first half of the show in traffic.
The venue in brief
The Bowl opened on July 11, 1922, in a canyon once known as Daisy Dell, a popular picnic spot. Los Angeles County owns it and the Los Angeles Philharmonic Association operates it. It is the Philharmonic's summer home and also hosts pop, rock, jazz, film-with-orchestra nights and other events each year. The current shell, with its series of concentric white rings, was installed for the 2004 season, replacing a 1929 shell that stood until 2003. The address is 2301 North Highland Avenue, about a mile north of Hollywood Boulevard.
Getting there
| Option | How it works | Good for | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Park and Ride shuttle | Buses run to the Bowl from off-site lots around the region | Avoiding the last mile of traffic entirely | Book ahead; check the return schedule |
| Metro plus Bowl shuttle | Ride the B Line to Hollywood/Highland, then a free shuttle from Ovation Hollywood with a valid TAP card or Metro pass | Anyone near a Metro line | Late trains after long shows; check timetables |
| Bowl parking | Very limited stacked lots, sold in advance | Groups with lots of gear | You cannot leave until the cars around you move |
| Rideshare | Dedicated pick-up and drop-off area set by the Bowl | Small groups | Surge pricing and long waits after the show |
| Walking from the boulevard | Roughly a mile uphill along Highland Avenue | Light packers staying nearby | Crowded sidewalks before showtime |
Do not park in the surrounding neighborhoods. Streets near the Bowl are permit-restricted, and tickets are expensive. The guide to getting around Hollywood without a car explains Metro fares and TAP cards.
Picnics: the Bowl tradition
Bringing your own food is allowed at every event, and picnicking before the show is half the fun. A few rules shape what you can carry:
- Size. Bags, baskets and coolers must fit under your seat or in your box, and nothing larger than 15 by 15 by 22 inches gets through the gates.
- No glass and no cans. That includes drinking glasses and aluminum cans of any kind. Decant into plastic or reusable containers at home.
- Water. Sealed plastic bottles of non-alcoholic drinks up to one liter are fine, and empty reusable bottles can be filled at water stations.
- Alcohol depends on the event. At events presented by the LA Phil, you may bring your own wine and beer. At leased events marked with special house rules, outside alcohol is not allowed. Check your event page.
The grounds have more than a dozen picnic areas, with tables available first come, first served. Arriving early lets you claim one, eat without rushing and visit the free Hollywood Bowl Museum at the bottom of Peppertree Lane, which tells the venue's story through its exhibits.
Choosing seats
Seats rise steeply up the hill from the stage. Garden boxes near the front have small tables and are popular for dinner picnics. Higher up, the bench sections are much cheaper and the sound is still good, thanks to the shell and speaker system, though performers look small. Large screens on either side of the stage help. If you are sensitive to steep stairs, choose a section nearer an aisle entrance, or check the venue's accessible seating information before you buy.
Bring a cushion if you sit on the benches. Evenings in the canyon often turn cool after sunset even in midsummer, so a light jacket or blanket is worth packing.
What not to bring
The house rules exclude a long list of items. Among the most common surprises:
- Chairs and umbrellas (concerts go on rain or shine)
- Laptops, tablets and drones
- Selfie sticks and cameras with detachable or extended lenses
- Balls, frisbees and other throwable items
- Laser pointers and glow sticks
There is no storage on site for banned items, so they go back to the car or into the trash. Read the current rules on the official website the day before your show.
A sample timeline for a summer evening
- Three hours before: pack the picnic, pour drinks into plastic containers and check the event page for alcohol rules.
- Two to two and a half hours before: leave for your shuttle or Metro station.
- Ninety minutes before: arrive, find a picnic table or eat at your box.
- Thirty minutes before: head to your seat; the Bowl recommends being at the gates at least this early.
- After the show: expect a wait for shuttles and rideshares. Staying seated for 15 minutes can make the exit calmer.
Combining the Bowl with the neighborhood
An afternoon on the boulevard before the show works well if you travel light. Walk the stars in the Walk of Fame guide, then take the shuttle up from Ovation Hollywood. History fans can look at the Bowl in the context of other old venues in our guide to Hollywood's historic movie palaces.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you bring food into the Hollywood Bowl?
Yes. You can bring your own food to any event, as long as your bag, basket or cooler fits under your seat or within your box and is no larger than 15 by 15 by 22 inches.
Can you bring wine to the Hollywood Bowl?
At events presented by the LA Phil, outside wine and beer are allowed. At leased events marked with special house rules, outside alcohol is not permitted. Glass bottles and cans are never allowed, so decant into plastic.
What is the best way to get to the Hollywood Bowl?
Most regulars use a Park and Ride shuttle or ride the Metro B Line to Hollywood/Highland and take the free Bowl shuttle from Ovation Hollywood. On-site parking is very limited, stacked and sold in advance.
How early should I arrive at the Hollywood Bowl?
Plan to arrive 60 to 90 minutes early if you want to picnic, and be at the gates at least 30 minutes before the show starts, as the venue recommends.
Does it get cold at the Hollywood Bowl?
It often does after sunset, even in summer, because the venue sits in a canyon. Bring a light jacket or blanket, and a cushion if you have bench seats.