The Hollywood Bowl has been Los Angeles’s premier large-format outdoor venue for more than a century. With a capacity for 17,500, the Bowl remains an iconic place for Angelenos to enjoy music, theater, comedy, and movie performances accompanied by a full
orchestra. Since the Los Angeles Philharmonic began performing here in the 1920s, it’s become one of the most special venues to enjoy classical music under the stars.
The Bowl has also hosted many historic events, from the Beatles in 1964, Jimi Hendrix in 1967, and an epic mariachi show in 1990. Many Angelenos who grew up coming to the Bowl remember bringing picnics and takeout, with the parents opening up bottles of wine as their children listened to world-class orchestral music in the summer. Thanks to ownership under Los Angeles County, the Bowl’s mission has always been to be accessible and affordable, with many $1 tickets available throughout the summer for the community. (Note: parking is very difficult at the Bowl; check this guide on how to take a shuttle, Metro, and trek up Highland Avenue.)
Eight years ago, the Bowl’s food and beverage company Sodexo Live partnered with chef Suzanne Goin and restaurateur Caroline Styne, who brought culinary and wine expertise to elevate the options available at the venue. Now, there are two full-service restaurants (the Backyard and Ann’s Wine Bar), a full-service box seat area, and numerous other casual and grab-and-go options meant to reflect California’s diasporic cuisines and produce. Remember, any takeout food is allowed and can be enjoyed at the plentiful outdoor picnic areas spread across the venue, especially Highland Camrose Park, which has the Bowl’s largest collection of tables surrounded by trees, grass, and adjacent bathrooms. Bring-your-own wine and beer are allowed for most Philharmonic shows and non-leased shows, meaning that most of the big bands and artists don’t accommodate outside alcohol.
The Los Angeles Philharmonic also has programming that doesn’t require a concert ticket. Wednesday and Sunday wine tastings are open to the public, with bottles selected by Styne. Locals can attend a rehearsal or sound check. Always check with the box office, but grab a seat for the classical concert rehearsals on Tuesdays and Thursdays during the Bowl season. Note: telephoto lenses and tripods are not permitted.
As Southern California’s warm weather extends from spring into the fall, the Bowl’s season now starts in early April and runs through mid-October. Here is the Eater’s Guide to dining at the Hollywood Bowl.
The reservable restaurants
There are two full-service restaurants at the Bowl inspired by James Beard Award–)winning chef Suzanne Goin’s other Los Angeles establishments. The Backyard draws inspiration from Goin’s former Brentwood restaurant Tavern (which eventually became A.O.C., but closed in August 2025), with many dishes prepared on the restaurant’s open grill. Start with a charcuterie board and some of the Larder’s (Goin and Styne’s wholesale bakery) crusty sourdough bread. The menu of mostly small plates adjusts through California’s growing season, which might include the blood orange salad with arugula, radicchio, citrus, dates, and Parmesan; a refreshing and easy summer salad that fits right into the sunset dinner vibe. The shareable rib-eye steak comes with a potato-mahon gratin, dandelion, romesco, and marcona almonds. Fresh berries with crème fraîche are the lighter option, but the chocolate torte with a toasted marshmallow and graham crumble is worth it.
Ann’s Wine Bar assumed the name of an LA Phil donor but serves a vintage version of Goin’s iconic A.O.C. restaurant. The market fish of the day comes over French-style lentils, local citrus, and a ginger mint chutney. Share the truly satisfying focaccia, speckled with braised leeks, green garlic, Taleggio cheese, and a hazelnut vinaigrette.
There’s also a Lucques menu served at the Pool Circle, an exclusive set of dining tables at the very front of the Bowl. These are only available for those who have Pool Circle tickets, and dishes can be ordered à la carte from the ever-changing menu inspired by Goin and Styne’s now-closed West Hollywood restaurant.
Box seat dining and picnic baskets
Those eating at the Garden and Terrace box seats can order an entire meal with the Bowl’s Supper in Your Seats. Meals can be selected by up to 6 p.m. the day before the event. Three-course meals offer plenty of options for two, such as piri piri chicken, surf and turf (with a 32-ounce tomahawk steak and buttered lobster), barbecue, or a Baja seafood feast. Goin designed new three-course meals for these sections, including one combination meal featuring fried chicken with buttermilk dressing. The prices range from $72 to $160, and the 30-piece sushi combination box is $125.
Picnic boxes can be ordered and enjoyed anywhere in the Bowl (and on the Hollywood Bowl app), and include fried chicken, vegan, steak, salmon, and charcuterie themes.
The quick and casual
Here are all of the dining options where the food is made on-site:
- Chao’s Popcorn: One well-known donor gets their own brand of popcorn, which is popped by the hundreds of pounds for every show. There are multiple flavor options, but the off-menu “Around the World” offers a blend of four different ones. This stand also has soft serve from Magpie’s Softserve.
- Suzanne’s Fried Chicken: Suzanne Goin’s famous Spanish fried chicken comes in tender form here with cornbread and coleslaw.
- Burritos: Three kinds of burritos make for easier transport and eating with vegan rajas, chicken tinga, and beef birria fillings.
- Hot Dogs: All-beef hot dogs, because nothing feels more like summer than a fully dressed hot dog with relish, ketchup, mustard, and onions.
- Pizza: Hand-stretched dough produced by the Larder, plus pulled pork sandwiches, are available at the pizza kiosk.
- Burgers: The Kitchen 22 kiosk features burgers, grilled cheese, and Goin’s Spanish fried chicken.
- Desserts: Soft-service ice cream, cookies, brownies, panna cotta, budino, and Magpie’s non-dairy ice cream pies, cones, and ice cream sandwiches.
- Snack bar: Located near the top of the Bowl, this handy rest-stop slings candies, chips, and more.
The grab-and-go marketplaces
There are three marketplaces with prepared foods, including sushi, sandwiches, salads, cheese plates, Magpie’s soft serve pints, chocolate-topped cones, ice cream sandwiches, ice cream pies, chips, candy, beer, and wine. There’s also a candy section like a shopping mall Sugar Factory to load up on more sweets to graze on during the show. Before shows, the Plaza and East marketplaces tend to be swamped, so find your way over to Buzz McCoy’s marketplace (on the western side, near the Field Gate or valet area) and find a fully stocked market with far fewer people.
