Getting to the Greek Theatre: A Practical Guide to an LA Night Out

Seeing a concert at the Greek Theatre Los Angeles is one of the best ways to experience Southern California’s live music scene. Set in the middle of Griffith Park, this iconic outdoor venue offers incredible acoustics, scenic views of LA’s skyline, and an unforgettable night under the stars.

Whether you’re driving, using rideshare, or exploring nearby sights like the Griffith Observatory, Hollywood Blvd, or Los Feliz restaurants, getting to the Greek Theatre takes a little planning. Here’s everything you need to know to make the most of your night out in Los Angeles.

Where to Stay: Hotel Options Near the Greek and Beyond

We won’t lie, finding a great hotel for a good price near the Greek Theatre isn’t easy. The venue sits inside Griffith Park, which means no hotels are right next door.

We considered several options and would’ve picked Cara Hotel Los Feliz, if we’d wanted to stay close to the theater.

We decided to actually stay at the Hyatt Regency LAX, and here’s why:

• It was significantly cheaper than hotels near Hollywood or Los Feliz. (Just 12k Hyatt points per night). 
• It offered a free airport shuttle.
• We had to get back to LAX in the morning anyway, and everything else we wanted to see in Los Angeles was closer to the airport. 

The downside of the LAX Hyatt Regency: It’s a long expensive ride to the Greek, so you’ll need to budget for time and ride-share expenses to and from the venue.

If you want to stay closer, look at hotels in Los Feliz near Vermont Avenue, such as:

• Cara Hotel (pricey but stylish).
• Hotel Covell (boutique and well-rated, but expensive and limited availability).
• Hollywood Hotel (less expensive, but a little divey).

For an easy Uber and affordability, you should also consider options in Glendale about 15 minutes away. These two were recommended to us:

• Hampton Inn in Glendale. 
• Hyatt Place Glendale.

If it’s your first time visiting Hollywood and you want to check out all the tourist spots, maybe go with:

• Dream Hollywood by Hyatt (20k Hyatt points/night). This is about a 15-minute Uber ride to the Greek.

When deciding where to book, think about how your trip to the Greek fits into your bigger plans for ease and comfort.

Making an Afternoon of It: Pre-Concert Activities

We turned our concert night into a full afternoon outing in the area. Here’s what we recommend:

• Hollywood Boulevard: If you have time to kill, it’s a short drive to Hollywood Blvd. We wouldn’t call it a must-do, but it’s worth starting your excursion with a quick stroll if you haven’t been before. Hit spots like the TCL Chinese Theatre for a photo op.
• Griffith Observatory: We got dropped off at the Observatory around 2:30 PM and spent about a half hour exploring the exhibits and views. It’s free to enter and worth the stop. Plus you can get your iconic photo with the Hollywood sign in the background.
• Hiking in Griffith Park: From the Observatory, you can hike down into the park. It’s a scenic and active way to head toward the venue. Bring water and wear good shoes. The trails aren’t technical but are unpaved and steep. If you’re driving, you may want to visit around 5 PM, then find a place to park for the night down near Vermont Ave and get dinner before the show. 
• Dinner on Vermont Avenue: For dinner, we headed to Kismet, a modern Mediterranean spot in Los Feliz. The food was excellent. The small plates were fresh, flavorful, and not too heavy, which was perfect before a night of music and dancing. It’s definitely on the pricier side, but worth it.

For cheaper eats, Vermont Ave has plenty of options within walking distance of the Greek. Just wander up the street and you’ll find something good.

How to Get to the Greek Theatre

There are several ways to reach the venue, and they each have pros and cons:

• Ride-share drop-off at Griffith Observatory. We got dropped off here earlier in the day and hiked down. This route gives you beautiful views and a chance to stretch your legs. Just don’t do this if you’re in heels or pressed for time.
• Uber/Lyft up to the Greek. This is the most direct route. We took an Uber from Kismet and got dropped off near the entrance. It’s quick and easy, but post-show pick-ups can be chaotic.
• Walk up from Vermont Avenue. If you’re driving, the easiest option is to park or get dropped off near Vermont and walk uphill. It’s about a 20-minute walk and not too bad if you pace yourself.

Post-Show Tips: Avoiding the Exit Madness

Exiting the Greek Theatre can be a mess if you try to grab a ride right after the show. Prices surge, and wait times get long. Instead of trying to fight the crowd, we walked back down Vermont Avenue and figured we’d grab a drink somewhere while things cleared out.

We ended up at the Dresden, almost by accident. We saw people walking in, heard live music, and followed. It turned out to be a great decision. The band was fantastic, the drinks were (expensive but) delicious, and the vibe was old-school LA. It turned out to be a great ending to the night.

Greek Theatre Pro Tips

• Drinks are expensive. Like $20 for a cocktail. But at the main concession area near the merch, you can buy a bottle of wine for $60, and they’ll pour it into a plastic container that surprisingly keeps cool the whole show. So we shared a bottle. 
• Restrooms: Lines can get long right before and after the show, but there were plenty of convenient locations around the venue.  
• Seats: Our seats were North Terrace J 1-3, and we honestly think they were the best in the house. It’s a pair of seats off to the side with an amazing view. The trade-off is it’s a small space with a step in front, so you can’t really stand and dance like you could in the pit or orchestra area. 
• Merch: It gets crowded fast. If you really want something, get there early and buy it before the show starts.

Wrap-Up: Planning a Night at the Greek

Seeing a show at the Greek Theatre is an amazing experience. With a little planning, you can make a day of it. Visit Griffith Observatory, explore the park, have dinner on Vermont Ave, and enjoy live music in one of the best venues in the city.

We spent more money than we budgeted on dinner, drinks, and Ubers, but it was absolutely worth it. 

From the wine-poured-into-a-plastic-pitcher to closing out the night with more live music at the Dresden, it was the perfect night out in LA, even with the traffic.