Capitol Records Building
Capitol Records Building
4
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Monday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
About
Even though this famous recording studio is not open to the public, it is worth a visit to gaze at its unique circular design, which looks like a stack of old 45s.
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Neighborhood: Hollywood
Hollywood undoubtedly conjures up images of movie stars and high-end lifestyles, and to this day, tourists flock here from around the world to see the iconic Hollywood Walk of Fame, Chinese Theatre and to catch a glimpse of the famed Hollywood sign up close. Celebrity impersonators and crowds give these areas the feeling of an amusement park while many clubs and hotels fill up around the weekends for late-night partying - the Hollywood club scene is a haven for thumping music and table-side bottle service. But parties aren’t the only way to enjoy this area, many visitors come to the neighborhood to sit back with a picnic to watch a performance at the Hollywood Bowl and those looking to stay fit trek along nature trails in the Hollywood hills and in Griffith Park.
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.0
71 reviews
Excellent
18
Very good
29
Average
23
Poor
1
Terrible
0
George Vreeland Hill
Beverly Hills, CA1,706 contributions
Feb 2020
Designed and built to look like a stack of records, Capitol Records is a must-see Hollywood experience.
Legends have recorded here over the decades which also makes it a great photo-op.
And The Beatles stars are in front of the building on Vine Street.
George Vreeland Hill
Legends have recorded here over the decades which also makes it a great photo-op.
And The Beatles stars are in front of the building on Vine Street.
George Vreeland Hill
Written July 2, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
TeamWard
Nottingham, UK5,683 contributions
Jul 2019
When wandering Hollywood Blvd spare a few minutes for a walk to see the Capitol Records building, you won't be disappointed, iconic and worth a viewing, might see some one famous.
Written December 24, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Petruk
Phoenix, AZ40 contributions
Nov 2016 • Family
....and deep down, isn't that all of us? I'm 61 but my tastes in music is much older than that due to influences from my mother and my babysitter. So if you are a music history buff. Or if you like American popular jazz like Nat "King" Cole or Frank Sinatra. Or if you are an American who is a Beatles fan. Or if you wanted to to ride the waves (which they really didn't do) or ride the charts (of which they were the masters) with the Beach Boys... You have to go here and take a few selfies. So why only 4 $tars? You can't get in. The people who own Capitol Records would win tons of accolades if they would open the place to the public for a few days a year. This needn't be a charitable thing. I'd be willing to bet they could find it a profitable venture while winning lots of PR Points. I hope they read this (but they've probably heard it all before).
Written August 12, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Daveygrohl
Yorkshire Dales National Park, UK339 contributions
Dec 2019 • Family
Iconic building and just a short distance from the main Hollywood walk of fame. Directly outside are the Beatles stars. You can have your photograph taken directly outside the building.
Written February 2, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Colby S
Irvine, CA1,117 contributions
May 2019
One of the most iconic buildings in the city, it really leaves an impression whether you're driving by on the 101 or walking around Hollywood! It is a very distinctive cylindrical shape stacked with ring-like levels and topped with a stylized spire that lights up "Hollywood" in Morse code at night.
Even though this has been pointed out by everyone regarding the building, it does look very similar to a set of vinyl records stacked on top of one another which makes sense for a record studio and gives it even more of a legendary status.
It would be nice if this building was open for tours because it is such a famous landmark and if those walls could talk, they would have so many stories to tell of the great musicians (Frank Sinatra, The Beach Boys, The Beatles, etc) who have walked through those hallowed halls since its construction in 1956.
Even though this has been pointed out by everyone regarding the building, it does look very similar to a set of vinyl records stacked on top of one another which makes sense for a record studio and gives it even more of a legendary status.
It would be nice if this building was open for tours because it is such a famous landmark and if those walls could talk, they would have so many stories to tell of the great musicians (Frank Sinatra, The Beach Boys, The Beatles, etc) who have walked through those hallowed halls since its construction in 1956.
Written May 13, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Indah Edlightz
Ontario, Canada3,650 contributions
Nov 2021
Capitol records building is an iconic LA building and historic city landmark. This is one building that I made sure to visit while in LA and its actually only minutes from Hollywood walk of fame so when you are doing the walk, take a break and check it out.
Written August 18, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
JNYCwriter
New York City, NY7,574 contributions
Jul 2022 • Friends
You will find the Capitol Records building on the outskirts of Hollywood. You do not find that many circular buildings in the US and this one certainly is well known.
Written July 22, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
permia
Ireland60,841 contributions
Oct 2019
Close by the famous Hollywood & Vine intersection, it is one of the most individualistic edifies in the city.
Symbolising a stack of LPs or 45s, it produced some classic recordings by legends such as Frank Sinatra, Beach Boys and Paul McCartney.
A couple of intriguing aspects of its design include its tall spire that flashes the word Hollywood in Morse Code. Apropos which it was fitting that the granddaughter of Samuel Morse, the code’s creator, switched this feature on during the opening celebrations.
Symbolising a stack of LPs or 45s, it produced some classic recordings by legends such as Frank Sinatra, Beach Boys and Paul McCartney.
A couple of intriguing aspects of its design include its tall spire that flashes the word Hollywood in Morse Code. Apropos which it was fitting that the granddaughter of Samuel Morse, the code’s creator, switched this feature on during the opening celebrations.
Written October 30, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Belgo96
Brisbane, Australia3,476 contributions
Sep 2015 • Couples
It is hard to rate this one because it is a landmark Los Angeles building but is kind of overshadowed by so many other large buildings now. However, it is significant for a number of reasons. Built in 1956, it has featured in a number of Hollywood Movies (e.g. Earthquake and Hancock) and has been the recording home of some iconic recording artists including Nat King Cole, Frank Sinatra, The Beatles and The Beach Boys. Contrary to popular urban myth that it was built to resemble a stack of vinyl records (which it does), in reality, it was built with less external walls (due to its circular shape) to purposely cut down on construction and air conditioning costs. Presumably this was made up for in costs by some of the specialist recording studios, including an underground reverberation recording chamber engineered by the legendary guitarist Les Paul. So, it has a lot of history, but perhaps people may be expecting it to be a bit bigger when they see it. It is just north of Hollywood and Vine.
Written October 1, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
The World is My Oyster
Orlando, FL21,578 contributions
Jun 2015 • Friends
We stopped by the building as part of our city tour and as much as it was pretty cool to see it, there is really nothing that impressive about it. The architecture is a little different and unique and there is some cool history behind it. It is obviously one of the most famous buildings in all LA with so many celebrities getting their start there. It was worth a few pictures and that was pretty much it for me.
Written June 8, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
sandra Dyson
Wath-upon-Dearne, UK1 contribution
Hi, I was just wondering you there are studio tours? Thanks
scraggyaggie
Gillingham, UK56 contributions
I believe not.
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Claim your listingCapitol Records Building - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)
Frequently Asked Questions about Capitol Records Building
- According to Tripadvisor travelers, these are the best ways to experience Capitol Records Building:
- Hollywood History Tour (From $38.00)
- Small-Group Day Tour of Hollywood, Los Angeles and Beaches from Anaheim (From $99.00)
- Hollywood Tour (From $199.00)
- Hollywood Tour: Sightseeing by Electric Bike (From $114.00)
- 2.5 Hour Private Tour of Hollywood and Beverly Hills (From $218.75)
- Hotels near Capitol Records Building:
- (0.09 mi) The Aster
- (0.08 mi) Kimpton Everly Hotel
- (0.15 mi) The Hotel Hollywood
- (0.16 mi) W Hollywood
- (0.20 mi) The Adler a Hollywood Hills Hotel
- Restaurants near Capitol Records Building:
- (0.12 mi) Katsuya
- (0.08 mi) Jane Q
- (0.09 mi) Ever Bar
- (0.12 mi) Hollywood Burger - Los Angeles
- (0.04 mi) Frolic Room