LOS ANGELES (February 2022) – As an entertainment capital of the world, it’s no surprise that Los Angeles is home to many iconic filming locations from beloved romance movies. From Pretty Woman to La La Land, Los Angeles invites you to create your own love story in the City of Angels with our romantic film spots as the backdrop.
THE DOME AT THE OBSERVATORY AT GRIFFITH PARK
King Richard
A story of familial love, Academy Award hopeful King Richard tells the true story of Venus and Serena Williams’ father Richard and his role in their iconic tennis careers beginning in South Los Angeles. Many of the film’s scenes were filmed in the Williams’ hometown of Compton, as well as Windsor Boulevard near Hancock Park. Visitors can also book a court at the Burbank Tennis Center where several tennis match scenes were filmed.
Licorice Pizza
Set in 1970s San Fernando Valley, quirky Oscar contender Licorice Pizza was filmed in several L.A. locations. The movie’s “Tail o’ the Cock” restaurant is based on the actual eatery in Sherman Oaks, recreated at the Van Nuys Golf Course for filming. The El Portal Theater in North Hollywood also makes an appearance in the film screening the 1973 James Bond film, Live and Let Die. Another moment in the film takes place by the radio towers in a field off Coldwater and Burbank boulevard, perfect for a casual photo op.
La La Land
Winer of six Oscars and a beloved ode to Los Angeles, La La Land includes favorite spots for both film fans and locals. Locations include Griffith Observatory, one of Los Angeles’ greatest cultural attractions where couples can experience some of the best views of the city. The Observatory has made cameos in numerous other TV shows and films, most famously in James Dean and Natalie Wood’s Rebel Without a Cause. Sebastian (Ryan Gosling) and Mia (Emma Stone) also visit the historic Grand Central Market in Downtown Los Angeles, housing a vibrant collection of traditional and modern vendors serving up global cuisine perfect for a casual date.
The Lighthouse Café in Hermosa Beach has showcased jazz since 1949, featuring legendary jazz musicians like Miles Davis, Chet Baker, Art Blakey and Cannonball Adderley. Today the club books music from jazz to reggae and rock. The nearby Hermosa Beach Pier where the “City of Stars” scene takes place is a very popular destination for a romantic sunset.
Grease
The classic 1978 romantic movie musical Grease starring a young John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John filmed in several locations around Los Angeles. The film opens with shots on one of the region’s most-filmed beaches, Leo Carrillo State Beach, where visitors can experience their own “summer fling” moments. Shots of Venice High School’s classic, Art Deco architecture in the movie have made it widely known as the face of Grease’s Rydell High. The school is home to two of the film’s most beloved musical moments, “There Are Worse Things I could Do” and “Summer Nights.”
Perfect for a romantic overlook, the film’s Lover’s Lane was filmed at the Bel Air Church on Mulholland Drive offering beautiful nighttime views of the twinkling city lights, while the Los Angeles River played host to the movie’s Thunder Road scenes.
500 Days of Summer
Beloved sleeper hit 500 Days of Summer set its non-linear love story in Los Angeles, with many film locations around the city where Tom and Summer’s story unfolds. Our main characters played by Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Zooey Deschanel meet in their office at the Fenton Building, encountering Downtown Los Angeles landmarks including the Arthur J. Will Memorial Fountain, Farmers and Merchants Bank Building, the Eastern Columbia Building and the Fine Arts Building, Tom’s proclaimed favorite, throughout the film. The Bradbury Building featured in Blade Runner is also highlighted at the close of the film, now housing the gorgeous Wyman Bar fitting for an exclusive date. These beautiful buildings are perfect for couples to spot while exploring the neighborhood.
Tom and Summer also land at Point Fermin Lighthouse in the film’s wedding scene, as well as visit Broadway Bar and Redwood Bar & Grill for karaoke. Most famously, the film features Angel’s Knoll above Hill Street as the setting for pivotal scenes and conversations, where Tom’s bench still stands. While the bench is currently inaccessible to the public, it remains visible through a chain link fence.
Pretty Woman
One of the most successful romantic comedies in history, Pretty Woman starring Richard Gere and Julia Roberts was a true blockbuster in 1990. Several scenes take place in Beverly Hills, including the iconic shopping spree scenes on Rodeo Drive where couples can take their own shopping trip or find the perfect gift for one another. Visitors can also request the “Pretty Woman table” for a romantic Italian dinner at the stunning Art Deco-style restaurant Cicada, the filming location where Julia’s character famously sends escargot flying across the room at “The Voltaire” restaurant.
Singin’ in the Rain
Often hailed as the greatest musical ever made, Singin’ in the Rain starring Gene Kelly, Donald O’Connor and Debbie Reynolds is a lighthearted look at 1920s Hollywood. Filmed largely on the MGM Studio lot, now Sony Pictures Studios, Singin’ in the Rain also features the TCL Chinese Theatre in Hollywood as the setting for the story’s silent film premiere at the beginning of the movie as well as the premiere of our protagonists’ first talkie near the end of the film. Then known as Grauman’s Chinese, this iconic setting serves as the backdrop for a key transition in Hollywood film history from silent films to sound as an integral piece of moviemaking. TCL Chinese Theatre is a wildly famous tourist attraction encapsulating Hollywood energy with the nearby Walk of Fame and dining and shopping experiences on Hollywood and Sunset Boulevards.
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