El Rey Theatre

I saw Yola here last week. The venue is clean, well-maintained, and has a cool, classic vibe. The sound quality was solid, but I’d definitely recommend bringing ear plugs because it gets loud quickly. If you plan to drink, I suggest doing that beforehand. The drinks at the venue are overpriced and don’t have much alcohol in them. Street parking was super easy, which made the whole experience even better. The show itself was amazing. Yola was incredible live, and the crowd energy was great. I’d definitely come back for another show.

Staff was caring, professional and helpful when helping me in the ada situation. Still had a great view out of the way. Beautiful location with old Hollywood vibe. Concert was enjoyed, clean restrooms with attendants in women's. All staff went above and beyond.

This was my first time coming here to this theater and it was also my first time seeing better than ezra. And these guys are amazing Better Than Ezra is the best man I've ever seen live if they come back here I love the theater. The staff was very friendly and I'm glad they had security there were no incidents just one brief scare with a woman but she was okay. I appreciate that and they had EMTs on standby which is always good. So this was a great place for safety and entertainment I definitely plan to come back here again to see other shows and whatever other events they may have. They also had a bathroom attendant which is pretty cool. And I really love the decor and the decorations

Saw TV on the Radio and not only was the show amazing, the venue was fantastic! Clean, which I thought was amazing because they have carpet on the floors and drapes all around, but it didn’t smell dingy or beer soaked. I was very impressed with the venue!

Cool, saw Death Cult. Missed half the show cuz they were done by 1030?! I assumed Doors 8pm, opener at 9pm, headliner 1030-12am. Boy was I mistaken lol My bad, cool venue!

Had my first experience at El Rey Theatre, and it was great! The venue has a classic, old school vibe with excellent sound quality and plenty of room near the stage for a good view. Drink prices were fair, which was a nice surprise for an LA venue. Overall, a smooth and enjoyable experience I’d definitely come back for another show!

Small intimate venue with the best device and security I have encountered at a venue in LA. The drink options are amazing, electrolit, kombucha, cider, ginger beer and even a few snacks, vs only your typical liquor and beer selection. Some event goers were being disrespectful of the VIP areas and removing the reserved tables so they could dance there. Security was swift but calm and ensured all reserved areas were respected, even though he had to do this all night as people kept breaking the rules. At one point there was a taller gentleman standing on the stairs (which you aren't supposed to) and blocking the tables view. Again, with grace and composure the issue was addressed. Don't come here if you want to go "wild" and break the rules. They are on top of everything from rowdy attendees, to sets starting exactly on time, to ending exactly on time. I love this venue and will definitely be back! Head up, they blast the AC so be sure to bring a jacket!

Large enough for just 771 attendees the El Rey still sounds great with all sorts of old school charm. Saw TV on the radio here 12/7/24 and aside from being forced to throw away a whole pack of gum because the theater is still carpeted everything was excellent from the band, crowd and staff.

Great venue saw a few shows here, it's a really intimate setting as it's a smaller theater. The red curtains bring back old Hollywood vibes. There is a bag check and metal detector so venue feels secure. They also ID upfront while you're in line giving 21+ wristbands for efficiency. Standing room only so wear comfy shoes! AC works well as it was chilly when I got in as a early attendee. It filled up as the night went on and my T-shirt and shorts were acceptable to rising temperatue. No food or snacks available, but they have beverages: beer, cider and mixed drinks. It will set you back about $16-20. I feel the bar by the front entrance moved faster than the one in the back!

This is an absolutely beautiful, intimate venue but I hate coming here. I'll start by saying I'm unsure if it's actual El Rey staff or an outsourced security company, but their security is the worst. Completely rude, power tripping, shouting-as-a-means-to-get-their-point-across folks that really sour an otherwise great experience. I recently attended a show at El Rey and the band hung back afterwards at their merch table, set up at the back corner near the bar. As soon as lights came on our came security (there was one lady in particular who would NOT let up) shouting at people to move, leave, I don't care where you go get out out out out of here. Didn't matter what you said she was not having any of it. Listen, I get it, people-facing jobs are rough and you wanna close up shop and get home asap but literally this was the most chill, friendly crowd ever. At one point once the show ended and the band was hanging out near the merch, the band stopped to ask their tour manager what the problem was, if they needed to leave too, that's how chaotic this ladies energy was. A lot of folks traveled a really long way to come to this show, some from out of the country (including the band themselves!!) and it was just an embarrassing experience.

This was my first time here and it was real cool. I saw Leon Thomas and he was a Rockstar . I advise anyone who doesn't want to do standing room only to book a table in VIP upstairs. It gave us a perfect view of the stage. It was sexy, intimate and Trendy.

Large enough for just 771 attendees the El Rey still sounds great with all sorts of old school charm. Saw TV on the radio here 12/7/24 and aside from being forced to throw away a whole pack of gum because the theater is still carpeted everything was excellent from the band, crowd and staff.

Nice intimate theatre which makes for a good view anywhere. its a small place but Sound system was better then expected. Bar option was decent, credit/electronic payment only. bathroom was clean. Easy to check in and get in.

Enjoyed the show, live music is always a amazing experience, sound effects were good showmen ship Great atmosphere was down to earth

I hadnt been to this concert venue in a while even though I live fairly close. I won tickets for London based rapper Giggs from DOLA, so I ventured out this evening. Positives : Entry was quick, restroom was clean, and the show was not over sold . Negatives : Venue security was more concerned with protecting the 12 people in the VIP area instead of enforcing their own no smoking no vaping rule. I had to leave this show early because too many folks around me were smoking the nasty 'Larry David Schwag' ! When I got to my car, my clothes stunk of cigarettes- not good. I'm coming back in June for a paid show, so hopefully things will improve .

Saw Bob Dylan here in 1997 and just recently returned for Duff McKagan. Great venue, awesome acoustics, and not a bad view in the house, standing or seated.

Small yet beautiful venue at the most random industrial neighborhood in Los Angeles! I came to see the band LEISURE here, and it was my first time at this venue. So let's talk about the important highlights of this spot. PARKING You can pay for vallet, be sure to arrive early. There is nearby street parking if you lucky to find it (PLS BE AWARE OF THE PARKING SIGNS, so you don't get towed...), or you can take a risk and park at the Ralph's underground parking lot if you're gonna be out for a couple hrs. VENUE I recommend to come early as possible so you can find parking. You usually wait outside until the doors open. They will check bags and make you go through security detectors. The inside is GORGEOUS! They have an upstairs which is for VIP I believe, they had 2 bars, merch was in the back corner of the venue. Drinks are expensive as always. I wanted to drink and paid $19 for a bottled hard Kombucha. Prices seemed to range between $12-$25. They had trash cans to tell you what type of garbage of you can throw away. If you're on the floor, be sure to stay on the floor and not in the walkway or else security is gonna keep bugging you. Other than that, it was nice!

El Rey is an iconic L.A. venue but it's not my favorite lol. If an artist is performing here, it usually means they're just starting out and this is either going to make or break their career. It's definitely, to me, a small/medium sized venue. The first time I came here was for Cafe Bleu's 10 year anniversary in 2006. I remember dancing with Greg Lee on the dance floor and it was a fun night. Recently I was here to see Joy Crookes perform to a sold out crowd and Urban Heat perform their first headliner tour. Parking is down the street at a parking structure on the south east corner of Cochran and Wilshire. Prices vary but last show was on a Saturday night and cost was $15. Inside, the layout is raised platforms on either side of the stage with a dance floor in the middle. If you're a fan, I'd suggest standing on the left side (facing the stage) up front as the view is clear and there's no obstructions if you're up front. I've also stood on the right side of the stage behind the handicap seating area and had a clear view of the stage with no issues. If your favorite new artist performs here then you REALLY need to support them!

It's been a LONG time since I've been to El Rey. I honestly can't even think of a time after 2013 (I'm dating myself, I know). I really enjoy this venue, specifically for the show I went to. It has a smaller vibe to it, yet it can hold a ton of people. I stood by the stairs and had a perfect view of the stage the whole night. My biggest issue here is the bathroom situation, or lack thereof. There were only three stalls I believe for the entire facility. I don't know if there were others and I missed it, but everyone kept going to the bathrooms right by the exit and entrance. Overall, this is a great place to see a favorite artist perform!

Pretty chill, AC was blasting so I was happy I brought my jacket, music quality was alright, but $40 for a shock top and 805... that's so lame. No outside area to hangout.

I came to el Rey for 3 shows prior to this review. I quite like el Rey- I've had a good experience every time. There is a good view no matter where you are. The lines are very quick. 2/3 times I found street parking for free (1 time I got dropped off by a friend). Merch is usually sold in-venue so you could also line up while still watching the show. Once they had a special like.. teachers appreciation month shot at the bar and that was delicious

El Rey is LA MAGIC!!! BEST NYE EVERRRR!! I've had the opportunity to perform here a few times but this was my first time as a guest. And omg I'm obsessed. Nothing like bringing in the new year with Billie Joe Armstrong (swoon!!) *I didn't get there early, just a few songs before The Coverups came out and was still so close to the stage! *The floor isn't all the same level so if you wanna stand to the side you will get a raised view. *The venue was clean, effortlessly cool, and the perfect size to feel intimate but still hold a good 700 people. *I was wearing a faux fur coat, jumping up and down for hours, and got sweaty but nothing horrible - AC was the perfect temp. *There weren't ever long lines for the bathroom or bars - I was blown away by how stress free everything was. *At the bar, I got some Modelos and prices weren't bad at all. *Security and staff were all super friendly!! Had a blast chatting with them. *There is parking lot about a block away. There was a sign that said "El Rey Parking" that we saw off Wilshire that had plenty of spots and was $21 with Apple Pay. The only thing is they close the gates 30 minutes after the show ends so we weren't able to stay as long as we wanted to. El Rey - a place where you can literally run into rock stars and enjoy an A-list concert with a few hundred people. Seriously iconic!

Nice venue for concerts! Beautiful chandeliers and overalls decor. Small but makes for a nice vibe. There is a bar with drinks available for purchase. I would definitely come back here for any other concert!!

LOVED the old converted theater and enjoyed the venue for live music. I had a few hazy IPAs - I think they were like $16.50 each! Whoa!!! Not a deal-breaker, however. El Rey gotta make a living too, lol. Fun place, parking nearby was pretty easy. Seemed like staff and security had a good handle on things, no drama when I visited. I will return!

Wow. Where do I begin? Outside, the security staff was more interested in playing on their phones than assisting with letting people know where to line up. If there was interaction, I noticed them being very dismissive and rude. Walking in you are met with a heavy smell of urine and mildew. Absolutely disgusting. The floors have stains and dirt from what look like decades of traffic and people. The velvet walls are caked with oils and dirt and I'm sure several other liquids that could make you ill. Seriously, this place needs a deep clean. The security staff is not only rude outside, but inside as well. Flashing their lights while walking through the crowd. There's a large walkway on the sides, why interrupt the fans enjoying the music? More playing on phones instead of keeping the venue safe. Maybe someone should pick up a mop... The only thing giving them 2 stars was their sound system. It was very crisp. I would say clean, but NOTHING in that place was clean. We won't be back. I suggest going somewhere else.

flew all the way from Oklahoma to see Kaizers Orchestra live, the show itself was amazing and a 10/10. After the show as soon as the lights came on almost everybody (120-150 people) in the venue was treated disgustingly by the rude El Ray security/staff, they were yelling at people and the band for just standing in areas they didn't want people to stand in, forcing everybody to one side of the venue, it was very cramped and honestly a safety hazard. Such a shame that these types of people work there because this is a beautiful venue. Honestly, a fight/argument is waiting to happen if this keeps if the people working there keep doing this.

Trying to buy a ticket right now it's the most frustrating experience dealing with AXS- I've been on with customer service for an hour spoken to 4 people to purchase 1, ONE TICKET! WTF?? I'm so annoyed I don't even want to go to the show now

Great venue! Great vibes, great bar staff, service was great, no food. I will be back for sure!

A nice and intimate venue that is good for catching a show. Parking is a little bit of a pain (as with most places), but they have it! Caught the MisterWives show about a week ago and enjoyed the layout of the venue. If you want drinks, check out the upstairs balcony since the main floor usually has a line. Also, definitely recommend pre-gaming at All Seasons Brewing Company about a 5 minute walk from here. Great selection of beers and they even have an awesome taco place inside called "Chicas Tacos" that' pretty good!

The El Rey is one of the most comfortable and reliable venues for a rock show - an L.A. treasure. The atmosphere is friendly, the bars are first-rate, and the shows... Seen so many great shows here, I can hardly list them. Many were the best L.A. had to offer. Check the list on the website - I'd add Shout Out Louds, Chromeo, and Bitter:Sweet (ymmv). In summary: El Rey?? GO!!!

Saw a show tonight and it was amazing! The venue is so nice inside and the staff is amazing. We had a handful of questions and Fernando went above and beyond. Seriously I would give all 5 of these stars to him if I could, he made our night! Great place, great bookings, definitely a new fave.

Street parking. Free parking after 8pm. A really cool small venue Different levels of heights in front of the stage. The very front is the lowest. As you move outward there's a step. And move outward more it's the highest step.

Simply no greater gift in life than to be a virgin eyed patron at the concert of the millennium; Tom Sandoval and The Most Extras. I was absolutely hypnotized by his psychotic custom tailored LED jacket and tank top. His multi instrumental talents paired with his haunting vibrato sent me to another astral plane. His conga solo felt dare I say it...tribal. His pink panther trumpet solo pierced a brass arrow through my bleeding heart. Don't get it twisted sweetie, he had no problem filling the el Rey soundscape with his siren melodies. Albeit his bastard lore proceeded him, I was stunned by how pure he was when he hit that stage, born again, Christlike. A sinless man. Most extra, but just enough. Thank you Thomas, I will never forget this night.

Mr. Owen the manager stole my property. Said that it was protocol to throw away confiscated items. Although I was in with said items. He said he cannot "check everybody's bag" . Admitting to the he doesn't check. When security confiscated my phone he said his employees threw it away. (I highly doubt that's protocol) worst theater in LA. if I can rate zero stars, I would..

The venue itself (as in the building) was pretty cool (and the only reason they get 2 stars) the security on the other hand, must be smoking some good za... biggest complaint: I wish they'd let you know before hand or at least post the venue rules somewhere because they have a lot of unspoken rules that could get you kicked out, robbed, or at least yelled at; I went to go see a grunge/punk band play here and they were snatching peoples vapes and carts left and right w/o warning or chance to go lock it in your car, they'll reprimand you for standing on the edge of the pit (even if its too packed to stand inside), i even saw a girl getting ID'd because she was carrying a cup of water back to the pit lol. idk.. it all took some of the magic away.

Great venue. Quite fancy looking but that's just the charm of it. Security did a great job letting people in and bartenders didn't drop a beat while making the cocktails and drinks. Excellent service. Would here again when in LA

Great intimate concert venue. I love the old school Marquee sign. I saw Cypress Hill here. To say that it is 420 friendly is an understatement. It was like a Cheech and Chong shoot. The people were cool and nice. The only issue was parking! The valet was full. So we had to search the streets, it was stressful ti sat the least. But, worth it once inside.

Great artists come through but the security is extremely rude and aggressive. I have been here a few times and each time I leave in a bad mood. The staff also has messed up and not given me my VIP wrist band despite being on the artist list several times. Would not recommend this place.

Rude staff, rude security, poor communication with performers and staff. Sound cut if they feel like it. There are wayyyy better places to perform to be seen heard and respected.

honestly kind of hated this venue. security was incredibly strict. i wasn't even allowed to stand near the stage not in the crowd, i had to go back and stand at the bar. the security felt incredibly hostile and unnecessary. did not enjoy this venue

I love this place anytime it's a pleasure to see the creativity of an entrepreneur that turned it into what it is right now. I love the El Rey. Only great bands and great cocktails.

Staff was very rude. Bathrooms were unclean and not sufficient for size of the venue. Sound was muffled. And again, the staff was very very rude, especially the security staff.

Super Diamond was fun. The band before them was even more fun. Most of the front door staff made me feel like I was in jail. Really cut the fun out of the night. I understand they're doing their jobs but a smile can change anything. Do you have training for smiling?

security was not chill-- they confiscated all vapes and pens even if you were of age; if you were 21+ you had the option of putting it back in your car but nobody knew until they started taking them they would shine a flashlight at you if you were too close to the edges i've been to so many shows and this has literally never happened before free water by the bar was nice, bathrooms were fine but security killed the vibe from the start parking is down the street it's $15 so not awful

The El Rey Theatre is located off of Wilshire and is super cute and cozy for a concert venue. I LOVED THEIR LIGHTING. they did such a great job with the lights for the performance and the standing area is positioned in a way where you can see from every position since there are steps! The only issue is that the parking situation is very stressful and there are so many conflicting parking signs. Make sure to read the signs carefully so that you don't get a ticket. There is lots of street parking if you keep driving along the neighborhoods and most open up after 7pm.

The price for one beer clearly said $12 on the board. I was charged $18 and tax. Pro tip: To avoid this awkwardness, buy what you want before hand and drink it in the car to save on the roughly 500% increase on the price of a beer from what you would pay if you had bought a six-pack yourself. This way you can save more money to support more bands at live shows at this or other venues, of which you have no control over. The venue itself sounded great.

Intimate music venue with a mezzanine and side elevated platforms. Most recently came here to watch Hunny perform, and really enjoyed the show. The security line was short since we arrived pretty late, and you just have to go through metal detectors and scan your tickets (we used the axs app) at the door. Bathrooms are to the immediate right, and it was a very long line for the ladies room. Unfortunately there's only one bathroom (3 stalls), but on the other hand, there's two bars (one on the bottom and one upstairs). There's some tables with chairs to sit in the lounge plus some along the edge of the second level if you don't want to be down in the pit. Otherwise, for shorter people (like myself) the sides (there's little steps that you'll have to take up) provide an elevated view where you're still on the ground, but might be able to see a bit better. Parking is a miserable situation. You can pay for valet and there's various lots around. We got lucky and found parking in Wilshire that was free after 8pm, but most of the neighborhoods around are permit-parking. La Brea has some metered spots too, but those were all taken when we looked. The people who work here are standoffish and not that friendly. Note that they don't sell advance tickets for other shows, and only sell shows in-person for the show that's playing that very night. The website hadn't worded it clearly enough, so I was confused about that until I asked (unfortunately Eve 6 was sold out online so I was hoping to see if they had some in-stock at the box office while I was there).

Security was very bad, the crowd was lit, water was free so like a 6/10. It was alright other than that Homixide out on a good show

Came here to see Elephante and it was a dope experience. The show was sold out, but if you want space you can stand on the sides and back. There was plenty of standing room in those areas and you could still see the artist all the way from the bar because the stage was raised at a decent level. Parking was interesting. You could valet in the front for $10 or you can valet in. parking structure for $20. I'm almost 100% sure that when I did the valet in the front they put it in the structure lol. The dress code here is also casual.

The venue itself was cool with and old classic feel to it and the bands we saw were great, but I had a horrible experience with the security staff at the door. I have medical device inserted inside of me that is very sensitive to magnets and going through traditional metal detectors that work on magnets is very dangerous. I've never had any problems at countless other venues and with TSA. They either pull me aside to to manual frisk or in the case of TSA use non magnetic sensor. However, at this venue the lady working security told me step aside and pulled our wand type magnetic detector that also works on magnets. I told know she shouldn't use that and without my consent proceeded to swipe the wand directly over where I have medical device is located. I told her stop but she continued to do so and said " I know what i am doing." Obviously she did not. I send an email to the venue management with no response.

Went here to see Dirty Honey yesterday, and the theatre itself is really nice! All of the employees and staff were friendly, and not rude whatsoever. Very well organized and the process of getting in and out was calm. The sounds were okay. A bit muffled, but got better throughout the show. If you like the artists' crotches in your face, then this is the place to go!

Venue was good, service & security was horrible. Especially the manager, Roxanne , they were acting erratically and unreasonably.

Nice intimate venue, but is it just me or is security/staff extra aggressive? Must be tiring telling everyone to move out of the way of the barely marked walkway. I also got yelled at for using a camera flash when everyone with their phones were using flash. I did it at the end of the show cause I felt like I was gonna get scolded and that I did. Cool venue but I won't go here unless it was the only place an artist I liked was playing.

Really had a fun time at Tabitha Brown's book release. Listening to her an Loni Love was like watching two bff's just sharing some good laughs. Oh and Tab signed every single book that was shoved in her face! AMAZING lady!!

Came to see The Contortionist play two albums in their entirety. Amazing experience, the sound was awesome, loved the vibe with the curtains on the stage and the lights hanging from the ceiling. The drinks are expensive, but strong, so I guess worth it haha. They have parking down the street for 20$, a little pricey but very convenient cause parking is difficult.

Went last night for a show. Cool, Intimate theater that was great for the performance we saw by Rapsody. No place to sit except in the VIP in the rafters. The bathroom was well kept. The bar was stocked and had a line almost all night. Would definitely go back to catch another show.

Had a great night but the white guy with the beard who worked at the front bar asked my friend and I to leave a tip he said quote on quote "you guys need to learn how to tip" and it was our first drink. I am not obligated to tip some white man, learn your place. A tip is deserved and if I don't want to tip, I don't have to. Learn your place and stop being disrespectful. You have a job, you ain't the performer, I ain't tippin I'f I don't want to. You earn a tip, it's not mandatory and I ain't obligated to do so.