15 Celebrity Attractions in L.A. That Don’t Suck

The reviews are in: The Academy Museum of Motion Pictures is a hit. The six-story venue on Miracle Mile features scads of one-of-a-kind props and costumes, from a 25-foot-long mechanical shark used in the original Jaws to the attention-grabbing black Bob Mackie ensemble that Cher donned at the Academy Awards in 1986.

While tours are available a few miles away in Hollywood at the Dolby Theatre, which has been the home to the Oscars since 2002, the museum is much more dynamic. Plot twist! The institution’s David Geffen Theater, a sphere-shaped auditorium with boffo projection and audio equipment, is one of the best spots in town to see a classic film.

Do not be fooled by Pretty Woman or The Real Housewives. Beverly Hills is not simply a place to shop and catfight. At the Mr. Brainwash Art Museum, the work of preeminent street artist (and Banksy collaborator) Thierry Guetta occupies every corner of a Richard Mier-designed building that once served as the Paley Center for Media.

The space is now a canvas for Mr. Brainwash’s pop-art pieces, such as a wall of graffitied faux Mona Lisa paintings and dinosaur sculptures made of old books. Need a selfie with a celeb? Pick one on the rooftop, where a mural depicts the likes of Rihanna, Mickey Mouse, and Lucille Ball like they’re all hanging out courtside at a Lakers game.

Jude Law, Justin Timberlake, and Angela Lansbury are among the stars who’ve spent time at Greystone Mansion, a 1920s Tudor Revival estate built in 1928 for oil tycoon Edward L. Doheny Jr. that’s served as a shooting location for films like The Holiday and The Social Network as well as TV shows like Murder, She Wrote and Gilmore Girls.

Outside of private events such as weddings and political fundraisers, the interior of the lavish mansion is only open to the public during seasonal free tours. However, the grounds are available year-round for those who wanna storm off through the porte cochere like Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine at the end of the original X-Men film.

Looking for an L.A. destination that’s more plot-driven? At Pierce Brothers Westwood Village Memorial Park, respectful visitors can see the stars’ final homes. The secluded cemetery is hidden behind a large parking garage within a verdant garden setting under a canopy of trees and office towers just off Wilshire Boulevard in Westwood.

Rodney Dangerfield gets a lot of respect there. Other celebs who were laid to rest amongst the star-studded memorial park’s grassy landscaping and water features include Marilyn Monroe, Hugh Hefner, Bettie Paige, Peter Falk, Richard Simmons, Minnie Riperton, Roy Orbison, Gena Rowlands, and John Cassavetes.

Known as one of the original gathering places in Hollywood after it debuted in 1919, Musso & Frank Grill welcomed early literati like Dorothy Parker, Raymond Chandler, Charles Bukowski, and F. Scott Fitzgerald to opine and dine on its steakhouse-style menu in either the rich, moody east dining room or the more casual grill room.

After more than 100 years in operation, the restaurant continues to be the most celebrated place to sip a martini in L.A. The famous locale has been featured in films like Ocean’s Eleven and Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood. The stretch of the Hollywood Walk of Fame outside features the stars of John Barrymore and Dean Martin.

The site of the very first Academy Awards, the Hollywood Roosevelt hotel is an all-day playground that has hosted once and future stars for more than a century. While it’s best to be a guest at the enclave loaded with glamorous character and important history, visitors can purchase Resort Pass access to lounge at the 1960s-style Tropicana pool.

For dinner with Golden Age flair, head to Shirley Brasserie, the hotel’s signature French California eatery specializing in raw and wood-fired dishes. Or partake in a craft tipple upstairs at the Spare Room, where patrons can unwind in an elegant parlor setting of wood paneling and tufted leather seating around a pair of vintage bowling lanes.

For more than 60 years, the tram tour at Universal Studios Hollywood has guided visitors through monumental working sets. Today, the experience continues to feature iconic locations like the house and Bates Motel from Psycho and Courthouse Square from Back to The Future as well as recent additions such as Jupiter’s Claim from Nope.

The adventure usually clocks in at 60 minutes, and celebs can infrequently be spotted. (The shortest wait is usually early in the morning or before the last tour of the day.) The theme park also features immersive lands based on the entertainment franchises The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, Jurassic World, and Nintendo’s Super Mario Bros.

While the long-running Universal Studios tram tour leans more towards theme park attraction, the Warner Bros. Studio Tour maintains a sharper focus on film and TV production, especially during the week when the chances for glimpsing cast and crew at work at one of Burbank’s busiest production facilities are dramatically higher.

There are many tour options, depending on taste and budget. The standard option should suffice for most movie buffs: a guide leads visitors on a behind-the-scenes tour of backlot areas for about an hour followed by a two-hour self-guided portion focused on memorabilia and fun photo opps, such as the Batcave and Central Perk from Friends.

Staged at the border of West Hollywood and Beverly Hills on Santa Monica Boulevard, the mythical Troubadour rock club has hosted an array of impressive artists, such as Elton John, Linda Ronstadt, Carole King, Guns N’ Roses, Radiohead, Arctic Monkeys, and Orville Peck. The intimate venue continues to play host to oh-so-hot acts.

The storied mainstay of the L.A. music scene has been essential in launching the careers of countless well-known and emerging musicians. If going to a show, book tickets early as the intimate venue often sells out. For more rock history, the Sunset Strip — home of Whiskey A Go Go and other institutions — is a few blocks north.

Over the decades, stand-up greats like Bob Saget, Whoopi Goldberg, and Eddie Murphy have delivered punchlines at The Comedy Store in West Hollywood. Today, modern-day funny folks like Bobby Lee, Marc Maron, Whitney Cummings, Adam Ray, and Jeff Ross regularly inspire laughs across the comedy club’s multiple rooms.

While many up-and-coming comedians regularly fill the bill, many big names often turn up unannounced for impromptu sets or to work on new material for upcoming stand-specials or award show appearances. For those hungry for a classic roast — no, not the culinary kind — grab a seat for “Roast Battle,” where comedians throw barbs.

The promenade and terraces of the Griffith Observatory and Park present eye-popping views of L.A. and the Pacific Ocean as well as a prime opportunity to witness stars of a different variety. Starting at 7 p.m. on most clear days, visitors are invited to peer at the galaxy through the observatory’s original 12-inch Zeiss refracting telescope.

Before the sun sets, capture one of the best angles of the Hollywood sign over at the west wall of the lawn. And do not miss the nearby bronze bust of James Dean by artist Kenneth Kendall, created to honor the actor after his untimely death as well as the observatory’s iconic appearance in Dean’s landmark film Rebel Without a Cause.

Opened in 1923, the Vista Theatre in the hip Los Feliz neighborhood is like taking a trip back in time to Hollywood’s glory days. The single-screen movie house accented with flourishes like Pharaoh busts and massive red curtains was bought by filmmaker Quentin Tarantino and now only screens new releases and classics on film.

In a space next door, Tarantino created Pam’s Coffy, a groovy coffee shop honoring Pam Grier’s titular character in the Blaxploitation flick Coffy. The establishment is populated with Grier-related memorabilia and serves a decent drip blend called Bold Black Mamba as well as tasty treats like hand pies and old-school sugary cereals.

Located approximately 40 miles north of Hollywood, Malibu Creek State Park in Calabasas is an outdoor haven seen in films like Planet of the Apes, Logan’s Run, and Pleasantville. A breezy 1-mile hike leads from the parking lot to the outdoor set for M*A*S*H* where military vehicles from the show have been parked in perpetuity.

Similarly, the nearby Paramount Ranch in Agoura Hills was a location for many famous Western films and TV series. It’s currently being rebuilt after most of the property was destroyed by the Woolsey Fire in 2018. The only structures to survive were a train station and church used in shows like Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman and Westworld.

Despite the devastating Franklin fire in 2024 and the Palisades fire in 2025, both locations are open and safe to visit.