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For nearly a third of the twentieth century Los Angeles City Hall (built 1928) stood as the tallest building in city (454 ft. high) thanks to a citywide height restriction instituted in 1904. That height limit was lifted in Downtown Los Angeles by the city government in 1957, and the build out that has followed over the past half century has made DTLA the skyscraper center of the SoCal. And while City Hall may not be the tallest game in town anymore, it’s still a great spot to view the skyline. Enter: The Los Angeles City Hall Observation Deck.
The Observation Deck is freely accessible to the public on weekdays, offering views of the L.A. Basin in all directions, including an up-close look at the high rises that dominate the skyline south of 2nd St. The interior of the 27th floor is the Mayor Tom Bradley Room, which includes a podium where you can snap a photo as if you’re giving an important press conference, and one floor down you’ll find a gallery of mayoral portraits depicting all of L.A.’s top elected officials dating back to the 19th century. It’s a fun little gem in the heart of DTLA, just make sure you bring your photo I.D., as you’ll have to pass through security on the first floor. And also note that on occasion the deck floor is reserved for city functions, so there is an off chance it’ll be closed during your time of visit.
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Who Might Enjoy This?
- Anyone who loves a great (free) view of Los Angeles
- History buffs.
- Folks who work nights/weekends and need a daytime DTLA adventure.
When: Weekdays during normal City Hall hours, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (subject to closures).
Where: Enter at 201 N Main St Los Angeles, CA 90012 and let security know you want to get to the Observation Deck. You’ll need photo I.D.
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