The Bradbury Building

Step inside this slice of DTLA history for a breathtaking peak at turn-​of-​the-​century décor. One look and you’ll be memorized by the intricate ironwork and sandstone interior. Although filming and photo-​shoots are prohibited, feel free to bring your camera phones and cameras for selfies and travel photos. It’s the perfect way to cap off a visit to Grand Central Market!

Nice architecture for this building. Too bad you can only goto the 2^nd floor. I would have loved to see this place from the top floor.

This is SUCH a cool building. The architecture inside is incredibly ornate and truly breathtaking. The iron work is stunning on the railings and the elevator. The staircases are perfectly aligned and really just so pleasing to the eye. It costs nothing to go here and you can only go to the first floor and up the first staircase. The rest of the buildings are used for offices. I would recommend coming in the afternoon so the sun doesn’t white out your pictures. Such a cool building. You can see why movies and TV shows shoot here.

I’ve walked by this place several times and I’ve seen it countless times. I never knew that The Bradbury Building was such a historic building. It was completed in 1893 so you know its HISTORIC. It is located right across The Grand Central Market — so I recommend grabbing a bite and walking over or vice versa.
From the outside, you won’t think that there is anything special. But once you walk in, you will understand. The architecture and the infrastructure are incredible. Lots of movie scenes were filmed here. Unfortunately, you cannot go more than 1 flight of stairs up, but that’s high enough for an incredible photo.

The Bradbury Building is located across from the Grand Central Market. Opened in 1893, it is is an active commercial building with ornate railings, cage elevators, and marble staircases that has been featured in a number of movies such as Blade Runner, (500) Days of Summer, and Lethal Weapon 4.
We stopped by for a looksee and a few photos for our private use. Photo taking was a little tough due to the lighting and narrow space.

This is a cool building with beautiful architecture inside. It’s right across from the California Grand Market so if you have the chance before or after lunch, check this place out. Should only take about 10 – 15 min.
This was also where the last scenes from 500 Days of Summer was filmed so if you remember that scene, this is where it’s at. Everything inside is so nice… it’s almost unreal and doesn’t really feel like LA… since there’s a Subway nearby up front, the inside of the building does smell like Subway at times. Also, it’s kinda hard to take a nice picture due to the lighting and there’s always people bound coming in here but I mean it’s still nice. You can’t really go inside/​higher up because there’s office buildings but people are free to go inside and roam around in the first floor :)

You can check out The Bradbury Building for FREE, it’s open to the public but you can only go in the Lobby and the First landing of the Staircase. They filmed a scene for the movie Blade Runner here.
You can take lots of pictures.
Hrs:
M-​F 9 – 6
Sat-​Sun 9 – 5

My fiancé and I came here hoping to snap our engagement photos. Unfortunately, security informed us that this is not allowed and you need to call management for approval l, which now that I think about is understandable, as it is private property…
The building itself is gorgeous, but if you’re hoping to come in and take some engagement photos or any kind of photo shoot, check somewhere else or get a permit, so you don’t waste your time and money.
After all, there’s plenty of other great places for photos shoots in LA.
Just wanted to let ya’ll know so you don’t get yelled at by security.

This cool building is a breathtaking example of Victorian architecture. It looks totally nondescript from the outside, so much so that I almost passed it. Inside, however, natural light floods through the windows in the high ceiling, bathing the iron-​wrought stairs and elevators in a gorgeous way. It’s right by Grand Central Market, so if you’re already there you thankfully don’t have to re-​park.
Even though the interior is really neat and beautiful, I suggest making this a stop if you just happen to be there already. It’s not really a stand alone destination because you’ll only spend 10 minutes tops there. However, if you enjoy learning more about the history behind DTLA, the Conservancy offers walking tours at reasonable prices, with the Bradbury Building as one stop (
).
Temporarily transport yourself back in time by taking a stroll into here. I really wish they’d let people ride the elevator!

A historic building with beautiful interiors. I came here last week right before heading to Grand Central Market for lunch. Note that non-​tenants are only allowed on the ground floor and the 1^st landing of stairs, so you really don’t need much time here. 5 – 10 minutes is really all you need to take a few Instagram-​worthy shots.
I wouldn’t come to visit just for the building but you can make it a day and have a bite right across the street at GCM.

This particular building has appeared in a lot of different movies but it’s probably most well known for its features in (500) Days of Summer, Lethal Weapon 4, and Blade Runner. According to Google, the Bradbury Building was commissioned by Lewis Bradbury in 1892 and completed after his death in 1893. From the outside, the building really doesn’t look any different from the other buildings in the area, but once inside, you’ll see that the Bradbury Building is actually something quite special. The wrought iron grill work and bird cage elevators are really distinctive and I haven’t seen this particular style anywhere else. There are also marble staircases and a skylight above that casts a natural light into the building. If you go around the holidays, they decorate it too!
When you visit, you’ll be allowed to explore the first floor only. You can’t go anywhere else so you’re probably going to be done in 5 – 10 minutes tops. I really wish they would allow us to go up on the elevators of offer tours of some sort. But anyways, the building is open Monday — Friday from 9am — 6pm and on Saturday and Sunday from 9am — 5pm. Well worth a visit to see some beautiful architecture in Los Angeles! ⁴⁄₅

Saw this building in 500 days of summer and since I was eating right across the street over at Eggslut I decided I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to visit! The building has some spectacular architecture. Its pretty breathtaking once you enter, but it gets kind of old quick. There’s literally nothing to do but observe, and theres only so much you can observe…

I’d seen this building in a magazine and was immediately drawn to see it before I even realized the Blade Runner tie in. I knew it was downtown but rarely have an excuse to get there or off go downtown it always seemed to be elsewhere. Until I was summoned for jury duty.
When I emerged from my rushed lunch at the Grand Central Market I did a double-​take when I saw the name on the building across the street! It was meant to be and I immediately crossed the street in disbelief and awe thinking about what I hoped to see. I couldn’t believe that this stubby brick building could contain such elaborate structures inside!
When you step inside the ironwork makes it feel as though it goes up 10 stories (really only maybe 4?!) and the huge majestic skylight reaches to the sky and floods the building with sunlight. The effect makes the industrial rod iron feel like delicate filigree.
Our Three-​Thumb Review is 3 thumbs way up. My teen son was impressed to see that a film worth Harrison Ford was filmed there as noted by a plaque in the wall. My 11-​yo daughter is an architecture buff and just loved seeing what the imagination can create. The elevator, the wooden ceiling details that looked like cabinetry. For me, stepping into this buildings seems magical and so far I’ve been there twice and each time felt just as amazing. Seeing it through my kids’ fresh eyes today was totally magical!
#ThreeThumbReviews

Woot Woot!
Another checkmark on my list of things to see in Los Angeles!
On the corner of Broadway and 3^rd Street in Downtown Los Angeles, a gold-​mining millionaire named Lewis L. Bradbury, began planning the five-​story structure in 1892 in the Italian Renaissance Revival Style. The building opened in 1893, but was completed in 1894. From the outside, it looks «normal», but the inside is very fancy with marble staircases edged in brown wood and black iron. The natural light from the skylight above is like a spotlight on this masterpiece!
This building has appeared in music videos by Genesis, Janet Jackson, Heart, and Earth Wind and Fire. It was featured in movies such as Pay It Forward, (500) Days of Summer, Chinatown, Lethal Weapon 4, and Blade Runner.
When you visit, you’ll be allowed to explore the first floor only. The security is protective of this National Historic Landmark for good reason. The Bradbury Building is the oldest Landmarked building in Los Angeles. It’s open Monday — Friday from 9am — 6pm and on Saturday and Sunday from 9am — 5pm.
Go check it out! It’s free and amazing!

If you live in LA and you haven’t been here, go! The building itself is not that interesting but when you walk in, it’s breath taking! The Victorian interior is beautiful! The stairs, wow! It’s a really neat place to take pictures! However, your only allowed to stay on the first floor. I believe that the other floors are used for offices. On the plus side it’s located in front of the Grand Central Market so after your quick, and I mean quick tour, you can get some yummy food!

THERE ARE TWO TYPES OF ARCHITECTURE – GOOD ARCHITECTURE, AND THE OTHER KIND
This building that sits across the street from the Grand Central Market was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1971, and made a National Historic Landmark six years later. There are only four such honored buildings in L.A. and the Bradbury is the oldest of the four.
I know, its Romanesque façade looks rather drab and down right homely, but in this case, appearances are deceiving. This seemingly unassuming structure in LA’s historic downtown is one of the city’s true gems and just a glimpse inside you will be in awe.
Although the Bradbury Building is a major architectural and cultural landmark with a magnificent center core. The atrium is a bit stuffy but remember at the time of its construction air conditioning technology was somewhat limited. The later addition of air conditioning systems solved the office spaces issues, but not for the atrium space. The highlight of the building is the five-​story central court in the center, filled with light and topped with a towering glass skylight. The building gives a sense of elegance and old luxury combined with an open-​air atrium and a light feeling – a nice building to check out if you’re in the area.

Beautiful building located right across the street from the grand central market.
I really wish you could explore the building more, but like everyone said, you can’t go past the roped off section of the stairs leading up to the second floor. The elevators are exquisite and I was half tempted to just try and use it.
I understand that it is a working office building and it’d be incredibly disruptive to their work if hordes of people were walking around, but they should consider maybe doing a very small group tour on the weekends.

THE famous Bradbury Building. Thanks to 500 Days of Summer for showcasing this place. I know it’s known for other things but as a millennial, that’s my hook.
Ambiance
Parking | Street parking could be pricey so I prefer valet/​lot parking. If you’re lucky, garage parking.
Seating | There is probably bench inside and a Subway restaurant. You can also sit on the first flight of stairs but you shouldn’t stay here very long unless you’re a architecture enthusiast or you’re taking photos with your family and trying to capture the perfect picture.
Feels | It definitely makes you feel like you’re in another place. I get this flashback titanic vibes as the structure was just extremely bright and shiny.
Customer Service | The security guard was friendly and not a jerk.
Overall | 4.5 stars. Great place especially if you’re looking to do things for free. Awesome place to take a picture and admire architecture.
TL;DR Tips:
* Hungry? Check out Grand Central Market right across from it.

Very disappointed that you are only able to walk around on the 1^st floor and the 1^st set of stairs. Se-​CUR-​ri-​ty be watching your every moves. Just kidding, there is one lazy security sitting on the 1^st floor, but the point here is that you can’t go on an exploration journey here.
Nevertheless the building is a beautiful structure. with its fancy ironwork elevators, stairs, and see-​through ceiling; I would compare this building to the young Lindsey Lohan with a see-​through shirt.

A historic site right in the heart of Downtown LA. It’s located across the street from the Grand Central Market, which is awesome because you can just walk over to the building after you grab a bite to eat. :) Parking available on the street via meters, but very pricey.
You can only access the lobby and the first floor (public access), as the other floors are exclusive to the tenants of the building. :) It’s a fantastic, mesmerizing historic site, and highly recommend to at least swing by for 15 – 20 minutes. :)
It’s best to view during sunny days, when the light shines through the class ceiling/​rooftop. :)
More photos here: