M X.
Yelp
With the exception of their crazy parking prices situation, this place is a gold mine for tourists.
Bathrooms, free, on the 2nd Floor, next to the escalators: Go in pairs or with a friend. You do have to navigate your way down a long tunnel looking thing to get to the bathrooms. But at least they have them, and they are free.
Taking the Red Line Metro here: highly recommended if you know how to navigate your way around the Los Angeles metro train system. The red line train will put you right on to Hollywood Boulevard, turn right, and you'll see the facility.
If you keep walking West down Hollywood Blvd, you'll see the entrance where they do the Academy Awards, and if you keep going straight, you'll eventually run into Grauman's Chinese.
Parking, ugh: If you do decide to park here, it is pretty pricey, so be prepared for that. It's also a long huge line to get out of the complex when you leave.
On the other hand, if you're looking at exploring Hollywood Boulevard, the Walk of Fame, Grauman's Chinese, and that kind of stuff, this could be your One-Stop shop for parking your vehicle, and then using it as the mothership to go out and explore the surrounding area.
The experience: I prefer coming during the day when things are a little bit slower and quiet. You also have more room to walk on the sidewalk. Not a whole lot of people that get up in your face from say the early morning hours to about early evening, like 3 or 4 p.m. So go as early in the day as you can.
What I do like about this place is that it's great for treating your visiting family or friends to a tourist type destination crypto.com if they really want to see what Hollywood is like.
Caution/s at night: at night time, is when all of the wild life comes out. Both figuratively and literally. It's a sea of crowded, and packed people. Some nefarious activity has been known to happen. So be on the lookout, have your situational awareness sensors on. Stay close to the group that you're with, always be in visual contact with them at all times. There are tons of people here that want your money, literally. This includes street performers, Street artists that are selling their paintings and portraits and things, and a small but present crime element. So beware, be safe, and keep your eyes and ears open at all times.
Food: kind of tourist trap like places all around. So be prepared for that, and the high prices. There used to be a Asian buffet about a block away that shut down. So pissed about that! Wish they would reopen. But you're kind of stuck with high price restaurants in the complex for now. Maybe go to lunch afterwards, or plan on eating before you arrive. Just a thought. ;-)
Suggested Food: in the surrounding area, if you're willing to go north south east or west, you will find better restaurants that are a long walk away. If you're willing to drive your car, you will find a few good restaurants with free parking, and also better prices! Just keep in mind that for a mile or two in every direction, this whole area really is a huge tourist trap. Do your homework.
Coffee Date: There is a Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf on the South east corner of Hollywood Boulevard and orange. It's about say a good long city block away from the complex on the other side of Grauman's Chinese, and across the street.
Why 4 stars: the parking situation underground, the slight element of criminal activity, and just the hassle of this thing being a huge tourist trap. Take it or leave it, it's what you make of it, and your mindset going into the whole thing.