Though the Hollywood Bowl may be L.A.’s most iconic open-air theater, the Greek easily rivals it as far as the setting goes. A night at the nearly 6,000-seat venue feels like seeing a concert in the middle of the woods—because you quite literally are within the boundaries of the rugged Griffith Park. It’s about the biggest venue you can go to that still feels somewhat intimate while managing to bring in just-below-arena-sized acts. The classically-inspired space is beautiful, as are the perpetual-summer vibes; linger in the handsome forecourt before the show for some stadium-style snacks and drinks, or opt for a pair of beer and wine terraces on the northern side of the campus.
The only downside? Traffic, of both the human and automotive variety. For all of the elbow room in the entry plaza, the pathways leading into the seating areas are an uncomfortably tight squeeze (made worse by their overlap with the bathroom lines). Meanwhile, traffic on Vermont Avenue comes to a notorious standstill ahead of shows, and getting out afterwards is nearly as jammed. Plus, the cheapest parking starts at $50, and the $135 “quick park” gets you closer to the entrance but really doesn’t avoid the bulk of the car traffic.
My advice: Opt for the off-site shuttle, especially if you’ll be driving to the Greek via a freeway. It only costs $10 per person in advance to park at the Pony Ride Train Lot near the 5, and there’s a steady stream of buses that’ll bypass nearly all of the car traffic (making for a mere 10-minute ride) and drop you off directly in front of the theater (pickup is also just across the street). You could also park in one of the residential areas south of Los Feliz Boulevard, grab a bite to eat along Hillhurst Avenue and hoof it over to the Greek, but you’re looking at—best case—a nearly mile-long, gradually uphill walk.