The Hollywood Bowl
By: Paul Benevich
The Hollywood BowlWhen I have guests visiting me in California, I always try to schedule a trip to the Hollywood Bowl. It’s my favorite outdoor concert venue in Los Angeles and was my favorite in California until I visited The Rady Shell at Jacobs Park in San Diego which recently opened. The Rady Shell might be the most beautiful in California, in my opinion, but The Hollywood Bowl is the best overall experience.
The Hollywood Bowl has such a casual, but elegant feel to it. Part of the experience is the ability to bring a picnic basket with food, wine, beer, or champagne. By allowing patrons to bring in food and drink, the excursion becomes more than just a concert. It is a very fun evening out.
There are lots of picnic benches where you can sit down and/or reserve to eat your late lunch, dinner, or appetizers before the concert. Heck, I often just set up my food at my seat or bench and eat during the show.
Yes, there are plenty of restaurants and vendors in the Bowl that will serve a variety of tasty items. So, if you are unable to bring food or drink, you can certainly get some at the venue. You can pre-order picnic boxes or have your supper delivered to your box seat if you choose. You can taste great wines at Ann’s Wine Bar or have something grilled in the backyard.
Food and drink at the Hollywood Bowl
Since food and drink are a big part of the Hollywood Bowl experience, it is important to note, per the website Food & Drink at the Hollywood Bowl: “You're welcome to bring your own food and drink to the Hollywood Bowl.” Bringing alcohol is dependent on the type of event you're attending. For LA Phil-presented events, feel free to bring wine bottles, wine glasses, and beer bottles inside. For Lease Events, however, alcohol isn't permitted.
The beauty of the Hollywood Bowl
There is a natural beauty to the Hollywood Bowl as it is nestled in the hills of Hollywood. It is hard to imagine that you are only about one-fourth mile from the 101 Freeway, or the iconic TCL Chinese Theater (formerly called Grauman's Chinese Theatre) and Hollywood’s iconic Walk of Fame. The way the Bowl is set up, you just don’t hear the city noises. It feels as if you are miles away from anywhere when in fact you are at the intersection of Central Los Angeles and the San Fernando Valley.
The season
The Hollywood Bowl starts its season around April 15th and the last show is generally the first week in November. Click here for 2022 season calendar events. I’ve had the opportunity to see a diverse genre of concerts including Van Halen; Paul Simon, and Kenny Rogers, along with numerous Los Angeles Philharmonic events led by the legendary conductor Gustavo Dudamel. Some of my favorite events were screenings of famous movies such as JAWS or Star Trek with the symphony playing all the music.
Gustavo Dudamel
One of the main attractions when visiting the Los Angeles Philharmonic at the Hollywood Bowl is Gustavo Dudamel, a fiery conductor who made his Philharmonic debut at the Hollywood Bowl in 2005 and then became the music director in 2009 at the age of 27. He is now also the music director for Opéra National de Paris.
Make a day of it
If you want to make a day of it, take a few hours to explore the iconic Hollywood Walk of Fame as well as the famous TCL Chinese Theatre. This is just a one-fourth mile walk from the Hollywood Bowl.
Getting to the Bowl and Parking
– Click here for everything about getting to the Hollywood Bowl – Ride Share, Bowl Parking, Shuttle Service, Park and Ride, etc.
Privacy & Terms