This is a must visit for all Angelenos and tourists and anyone interested in matters earthly and…read moreuniversal. We did the 2+ hour docent tour, worth every penny. Everyone here is a volunteer (docents, scientists, and all) so they rely on donations and purchases of merch and all the really special events they plan. You need to get a $5 daily pass to park in the lot since it's a national forest. Easy to get at the Cosmic Cafe upon arrival. Sign up online for their newsletter so you can be in the know of some very cool happenings at the observatory.

We did the private tour of the observatory, and let me tell you it was so worth it. I booked the…read moreprivate tour as an anniversary gift for my husband, he's a physicist and I knew this would be right up his alley. The tour guide was so friendly and knowledgeable about the observatory. The tour takes you through several parts of the observatory with experts at each stopping point. As someone who isn't into physics, I can honestly say I actually had a blast. There's also a small cafe that serves sandwiches and soups that was also really good. The observatory and cafe are open only during part of the year, so definitely check out their site for the hours.

A hidden gem for all us science geeks! I attended the FREE Open House on Sunday, October 13 which…read morewas held between 2-5pm. I believe it's an annual event. This is a great opportunity if you haven't been here before and/or you have kids who are interested in science, especially telescopes. Kids of all ages enjoyed: A planetary photo op Carmela Ice Cream (free mini scoops) Free iced lemonade, water and iced tea Astronomy Passport activities Infrared Camera exhibit Spectroscopy Progress of the Giant Magellan Telescope Solar telescopes to look through Pocket Solar System (make & take) Ask a Scientist station Reggae and Calypso music Various talks & presentations Self guided tour of the facility My favorite part was the Hale Library - EINSTEIN WAS HERE! Yes, he stood right here alongside Hubble and other science luminaries of his generation. I also enjoyed walking the hallways and looking at the decorated office doors of the (many female) scientists and PhD's. I'd certainly come again if given the opportunity! Yelp Challenge 2019: 86/100

Came for another education on the findings with JWST. So much of the universe and we are just…read morestarting to see a portion of it. Looking forward to more in the next few weeks

Took an incredible tour with two very informative and incredible tour guides. We were able to get…read moreclose to the telescope and operate a simulation on how it works. It was very cool and we enjoyed our time here.

Yesterday (March 18th, 2025) we made the drive up to Mt. Palomar Observatory, something my…read more93-year-old father-in-law said he wanted to do. Seeing this wonder had been in the back of my mind as well, so I said, "Let's do it!" Having only recently lost his wife, through tears he explained to our amazing, friendly and knowledgeable guide Christi that he'd hoped to bring her up to the observatory someday, but she passed before he'd had the opportunity to do so. To Christi, he said, "I'd love to look through that 200" telescope and try to find my wife in Heaven." Definitely a tug on the heartstrings moment... and she responded with the sort of compassion one would expect from a family member. As other reviewers have noted, the public is not allowed to look through the scope; that privilege is reserved for nighttime astronomers. News to this 70-year-old reviewer... learn something new every day! That said, Christi explained to us the intricate construction of the telescope, the "re-mirroring" every two years, how the entire dome rotates to accommodate the different astronomers' needs, why the inside of the observatory is kept at a chilly 40°, and so much more. She told us she was "...new here..." but would answer as many questions as she could. Well, I'm a questioner, especially when seeing an incredibly complicated device such as the Hale Telescope (named after astronomer George Ellery Hale). Christi was able to answer most of my inquiries, and I have no doubt she will research the answers to any questions that stumped her. I cannot recommend this young woman highly enough to the powers that be at Mt. Palomar Observatory. Next to the gift shop is a small but very informative room for visitors thirsting for more information. The infinity of the Universe has always fascinated me, along with the mind-boggling intelligence of those who wish to explore its vastness. This tiny room is bursting with their stories. To those who posted "glass-half-empty" reviews here, I'm sorry the wonder of this landmark was lost on you. Perhaps you'll give it another look sometime. Getting a feel for how tiny our little planet Earth is when compared to the infinite puts our very existence into an entirely new perspective.

They have a "folded lens " telescope. Basically, a huge telescope that takes up way less space…read more It's a little difficult to find, the gps failed us on that one. But when we called, they knew exactly how to guide us. We had to find the entrance behind a high school football field if I recall. Great tour, the kids had a blast. Wonderful gift shop as well. They treated us wonderfully.

Great little observatory run by passionate and educated locals! Events are paused for COVID but you…read morecan take a free guided tour of the telescope on Saturdays and visit the gift shop.

This is mostly for the VIP area. I'm at the age where I don't want to stand for an entire show nor…read moredo i want to push and throw elbows with fellow music fans. Bought reserved seats upstairs. Decent view of the stage. Great sound. I paid extra for premium parking. There is free parking within a couple of blocks. I think premium parking is worth it as I've heard there are predatory tow services that tow cars parked in lots of nearby CLOSED businesses. Douchey move. Enjoyed the show, food was decent "pub grub" but pretty limited menu. Nice selection of beers, cocktails and seltzers, really limited wine options.

I have been to many shows at the Observatory and I am quite disappointed with my last experience. I…read morecame to see Plain White Tees, New Found Glory and Yellow Card, who were playing at their festival grounds. I saw a bunch of bands play at that space many years ago, and it was a great time. I go to shows often and have never experienced something as horribly organized and planned as this. The first thing is that there was no approved parking in the nearby area. They had everyone park at Santa Ana College and take shuttles and buses to the venue. There are several businesses in the area, with large parking lots and it would have made way more sense to have people park there (even for a fee). We drove by one and there were actually security guards from the venue posted up, not allowing anyone in. I even asked a guy if there was paid parking options, because I really didn't like the idea of my car being so far away + feared the lines and getting back (post show). We couldn't find an alternative, so we did park at the college and waited in an enormous line to take a city bus. The bus was packed with concertgoers and was not comfortable, with many of us standing. The driver drove extremely erratically and I felt very car sick. He slammed on the breaks and even stopped in the middle of the road at one point. I was so happy to get off the bus and we realized the driver dropped us off at the front, which meant we had to walk nearly a mile to get into the back of the line. The line moved somewhat quickly, but it was wrapped around the nearby buildings 2xs. It was so awful, especially because that whole experience made us miss the first band, despite getting there over an hour early. I heard many other people talking about how terribly organized this was and how they came just for the first band and were pretty upset. Going through security was ok, but they made some people go through the serpentine line and others didn't, so if you were the one in the serpentine line and your friend didn't, guess what, they're waiting for you! It's just so strange, everything felt so horribly planned, despite the fact that this is what the venue does on a regular basis. I honestly don't feel a huge draw to go back to this venue for a long, long time.

This review is regarding The Alchemist & DJ Premier World Tour. First time at this venue. FIVE…read morethings I look for and hope for at my age (44) when going to see live shows: 1) Seat view. Here, VIP balcony or Lower Balcony is the only way to go. 2) Sound. Here, especially on the balcony, bass and clarity for a hip hop show of this caliber was on point. 3) Cleanliness and Space. Restrooms were very clean, well tended to and sufficient with enough stalls so no lines stealing from your time to enjoy the show. Whole venue has simple, real class to it. 4) In & Out with ease. Security smooth, plenty of exit options, including an elevator with an attendant. I don't like feeling crowded or like I'm gettin' caught in a cow herd. The Hollywood Bowl is the only venue I'd compromise this preference for simply because it's the only venue worth that sacrifice. 5) Parking. Lots of parking but get there early enough and check for other events the same day as your show. We made the mistake of not coming early enough to account for the Laker game that day. I had a great time, especially for it being my first time there.

I came here twice for two concerts, the most recent one being Machine Girl's tour with Bonnie…read moreBaxter/Kill Alters and Lightning Bolt (this is a late review). I enjoyed this show WAY more than the previous show with Dayseeker, but this is mainly because I am more familiar with the artist, so this would be the second time that I got to see Matt and their crew perform twice. The venue itself is really nice and modernized, and is located in an entertainment hub, so you will see a good amount of bars and other entertainment venues nearby. I do know that it is not a ground-floor venue, so you have to climb stairs or take an escalator/elevator. I personally do not buy concessions here due to me being cheap, but they offer free water at the bars, which I personally like, as most venues force you to purchase bottled water or use a drinking fountain. The cheap tickets are all part of the upstairs seated area, while the lower floor area costs more. From what I know, there aren't really any assigned seats, so it's first come first serve, but you will have people standing up during the main act, of course, because concertgoers will be concertgoers. The seats are very comfortable, bathrooms are accessible, and people who need ADA seating get their own separate section. The location, given that it's in DTLA, is so accessible by public transit that I can't even name all of the buses that run nearby off the top of my head. You can also take the 2 nearby trains, the A and the E, and get off at Pico station the same way you would for a Lakers, Sparks, or Kings game, Crypto.com Arena concert, or LA Convention Center event. I am somewhat familiar with the DTLA area, and I recommend concertgoers, if they feel comfortable doing so, to explore cheaper eating options away from the area if they plan to save money-- I do this all the time. I know that there is a Denny's, Wendy's, and Fatburger down the street. You have Chick Fil-A, Chipotle, 7-Eleven, and Jollibee along 7th Street by the BLOC area. You can also ride the train or bus to go further out-- there is a Dave's Hot Chicken by Little Tokyo Japanese Plaza that I love going to all the time. Dutch Bros by USC just opened up, by the California ScienCenter.

An intimate space for only 226 people? Amazing! Yes, standing room only, but decent air flow, good…read moresound, and great visibility of the stage from anywhere in the room (unless a really tall person stands directly in front of you). We came to see Tanukichan tonight and had a great time. The venue does sell drinks and food which are way overpriced. ($31 for two drinks). Parking on site $15. It was our first time here. We've been to the larger Observatory room for concerts twice before. We'll be back!

The staff are nice and fast with check in. The room is well decorated but it can get very stuffy…read moreeasily. If you like more air, highly recommended to stand near the door. The drinks are reasonable. You can request less ice in cocktails. Do not buy parking in advance online. The GA parking is very far from the entrance. They sell parking right in front of the entrance for $30. The music and the lights are ok. They are not night clubs so we can't expect too much. Will definitely come back for their next events :)

Came here on 11/25/2023 to find out that they are closed...it seems like they are currently kept…read moreclosed and they are not doing public tours for now according to their website

"Daddy. It looks like a ghost. Or Eva from the movie Wall-E."…read more I love those goofy kids!!