Los Angeles City Hall, at 200 N Spring St in Downtown Los Angeles, combines classical details with Art Deco design. The 27th-floor observation deck is free to visit and gives you a 360-degree view across the city; on clear days, you can see the mountains. Inside, look for the marble-floored rotunda and mosaic dome on level three. The building also has a place in screen history: its tower stood in for the Daily Planet in the Superman TV series.
A civic building with a distinctive profile
Los Angeles City Hall was completed in 1928, following a design by John Parkinson, Albert C. Martin and John C. Austin. Its appearance brings together classical elements and Art Deco details rather than following one style throughout. The grand entrance columns and monumental steps give the base a classical character; higher up, the tower’s stepped form creates a different profile against the Downtown skyline.
The white concrete tower is 27 stories tall. Its upper section was designed to recall the Mausoleum at Halicarnassus, an ancient structure counted among the Seven Wonders of the World. City Hall was once the tallest building in Los Angeles, a distinction it held until 1966. Today, newer towers rise around it, but the building remains easy to identify by its shape.
The rotunda on level three
The original main entrance is on the third level. Inside, the rotunda has marble flooring and a mosaic dome, details that offer a closer look at the building’s interior design. The lobby and other interior spaces use marble and high ceilings, alongside decorative architectural details.
If you are going up to the observation deck, level three is a useful stop on the way. The rotunda shows how the building’s formal interior relates to its grand exterior entrance, without relying on the tower alone to make an impression.
Views from the 27th floor
The observation deck occupies the 27th floor and is free to visit. From there, you can look across Downtown Los Angeles and, on clear days, see the surrounding mountains. The view also gives you a sense of how the city’s skyline has changed as newer buildings grew around City Hall.
The deck is reached by elevator from the first floor, but entry begins with a security check. Bring photo identification and collect a visitor pass at the front desk. City business or filming can affect access, so check whether a self-guided visit is available before setting out. The building is open to visitors on weekdays during public hours.
A familiar screen location
City Hall has appeared in film and television for decades. The building is particularly associated with the Superman TV series, where it served as the Daily Planet headquarters. Its screen appearances also include the films Speed, The Bodyguard, Eraser, Barton Fink and L.A. Confidential, as well as television series such as Dragnet, Alias and Torchwood.
The tower’s recognizable outline has also been used on Los Angeles Police Department badges since 1940. Looking up from the observation deck or back at the building from the street gives you a different view of the same civic landmark that has appeared on screen and in city life.
Preguntas frecuentes
Is the Los Angeles City Hall observation deck free?
Yes. There is no admission fee for the observation deck on the 27th floor.
What can you see from the observation deck?
The deck has a 360-degree view across Downtown Los Angeles. On clear days, you can also see the mountains.
Do you need ID to visit Los Angeles City Hall?
Yes. Bring photo identification for the security check and visitor pass at the front desk.
Can you visit the inside of City Hall?
Visitors can go to the observation deck and see the rotunda on level three. Access can change because of city business or filming.
