A secret-ish Japanese-style listening lounge just opened inside the Hollywood Palladium

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Fans can now enjoy dinner and a more personal concert experience at the historic Hollywood Palladium. The iconic Art Deco venue, which has hosted legendary artists like Frank Sinatra, Jimi Hendrix, and Lady Gaga since 1940, recently opened a stylish new lounge called Vinyl Room.

Taking inspiration from the intimate listening rooms of 1970s Japan, and created by Live Nation, this venue offers concertgoers a place to eat, drink, and enjoy vinyl records before or after a show – all within the same location.

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Get ready for a full night of music! Geni Lincoln, who heads Live Nation’s California operations, says her team spent over two years carefully planning the event’s sound and overall experience.

She says she’s been attending shows at the Palladium since she was a teenager, making this a particularly meaningful experience for her.

Vinyl Room feels like a hidden gem for music fans – a cozy spot filled with legendary music collectibles, delicious food, and incredible sound. Curious to learn more? Here are five things you should know before you visit.

1. Vinyl Room is exclusively open to members and concertgoers with an upgraded ticket

Vinyl Room is exclusively open during Hollywood Palladium concerts. It opens 90 minutes before the doors and stays open for an hour after the show ends. Access requires a concert ticket upgrade, starting at $35, and it’s best to book your upgrade in advance.

Vinyl Room has yearly memberships available starting at $2,000. These memberships include perks like free guest passes, a special menu, valet parking, guaranteed table reservations, a private entrance, free coat check, and credits towards concert tickets.

2. Hi-fi is having a moment in Los Angeles — and Vinyl Room delivers on sound quality

Over the past few years, Los Angeles has seen a growing number of spots dedicated to hi-fi – a term from the 1950s meaning high-quality sound reproduction. From places like Common Wave Hi-Fi in Boyle Heights to Slow Jamz Gallery and Gold Line bar, these venues offer a unique experience for music lovers. Vinyl Room is now part of a small group of places where audiophiles can enjoy music played on hi-fi equipment, which many believe provides the best possible listening experience.

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Similar to renowned venues like the Hollywood Palladium, Vinyl Room focuses on high-quality sound. They use excellent audio equipment, including Master Sounds Clarity-M speakers, to make sure records sound clear and vibrant. Live DJs play vinyl records on turntables, creating a warmer, more authentic sound experience compared to digital formats like MP3s.

3. All of the decor ties back to music and the Hollywood Palladium’s rich history

I recently visited Vinyl Room, and wow, the theme is everywhere! Seriously, records cover almost every wall and shelf. They even have vinyl-shaped coasters and tables, and the light fixtures fit the whole vibe. It’s so detailed – they even used vinyl as wallpaper in the photo booth! My favorite part was this cool corner where you could flip through records under a neon sign that said, “But have you heard it on vinyl?” It was such a fun and immersive experience for any record lover like me.

Ruthie Embry, who leads architecture and design at Live Nation, explains that the records and memorabilia inside the venue immediately immerse visitors in its history.

As a movie and music lover, I was really blown away by some of the memorabilia! They had a Red Hot Chili Peppers show flyer, and this amazing old postcard from the Hollywood Palladium signed by Lawrence Welk – can you believe it? There was also a cool photo of Bonnie Baker and Orrin Tucker performing there. But honestly, even the bathroom was a trip! The stalls were covered in musician photos, and there’s this ‘On Air’ sign that lights up when someone’s inside – it’s such a fun, quirky touch!

4. Don’t worry about dinner plans before or after the show. Vinyl Room has got you covered

Vinyl Room offers a full Asian-inspired menu created by Chef Ryan DeRieux, so you don’t have to worry about finding a place to eat before or after your show.

Imagine exciting dishes like sushi-flavored tater tots (similar to crispy tuna rolls but using tots instead of rice), tuna poke served as nachos, chili crunch chicken wings, and burgers with shiitake tempura. They also have a huge 100-ounce American wagyu skirt steak with shishito peppers, pickles, and charred carrots. Don’t miss the taiyaki for dessert – it’s a classic Japanese fish-shaped treat filled with a wonderfully creamy passion fruit filling that was so good I wanted to take some with me!

5. The craft cocktails aren’t just delicious — they each have a story

As a total movie and music fan, I was really intrigued by the cocktail menu at this place. It’s all built around the artists who’ve played the Hollywood Palladium! The bartender, Sean Kenyon – a third-generation pro – has created drinks inspired by their songs. There’s “Superfly,” a bubbly, citrusy drink based on Curtis Mayfield’s classic, made with Roku Gin and a really interesting yuzu-sencha syrup. If you’re a piña colada person, the “Escape” is a rum drink with coconut oolong, pineapple, and a touch of miso. They also do a “Smoke on the Water” that’s tart, sweet, and definitely evokes Deep Purple. Beyond the themed drinks, they nail the classics too – a perfect espresso martini they call the “MT Joy,” a killer Old Fashioned with Nikka Yoichi whisky, and a beautifully made Japanese highball with Hibiki Harmony. And for anyone not drinking alcohol, they’ve got plenty of options too.

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2026-02-27 14:31