Observatory OC Reviews

I showed up an hour early expecting a line to get through security, but there was not one. The concert was supposed to start at two, but the various band members did not start showing up until around three. Security did not start screening people and letting us in until 3:30. If I go here ever again, I will be coming late because I have better things to do than wait for security to decide to do their jobs and waiting extra for the show to start.

Fun venue with a nice space for dancing. No free water.

Lyft drivers give excellent rides to and from this location!

Been to two shows here, and both were really good. Seemed like the 2nd was a LOT louder though, and wish I had brought ear plugs.

The venue can get kind of cramped, but they always have really good bands or DJs here. Beware of the delirium beer. It'll get you messed up really quickly.

Love the intimacy of watching an artist here, but I dislike the smoke from the smokers. Other than that always a mix of fans that come to support and a great place for indie bands to throw shows at.

The standing only room is horrible. Waiting 6 hrs for the main person to perform isn't cool.

Great venue and they usually have really good bands, but the parking situation isn't ideal.

The place has a great set up. The music sounds great. It s not big but it definitely provides a more intimate experience with the artist you re trying to go see. The drinks are great and bathrooms are very clean. Nothing bad to say even after for than a handful of experiences here.

Great venue for a concert. They even have vegan options on the menu.

I love going to shows here. It's a smaller venue so it feels more personal. The standing room is tiered, so shorter people can still see from the back. Only downside is parking kinda far away, and the security guards were a little lax.

I asked for a $11 can of beer for myself, so I could give my girl friend a simple glass of water because she was dearly parched. They refused to serve the water, and offered to sell us a $2 bottle of water on top of the beer. That s really untactful, so I canceled the $11 can of beer and just bought the $2 bottle of water.

Please offer complementary cups of water to patrons that are throwing away cash on dehydrating alcohol to help keep them from passing out

Thank you!

Loved this venue. The layout is great. Small enough where no matter where you are the view of the stage is great.

Great venue for watching live performances. Very secure, almost overly secure, but better safe than sorry, but overall, one of my preferred venues for checking out locak bands.

This is my favorite, small/intimate venue to attend for big name artists. The place gets packed, which should be expected for a good show/concert. Variety of artists and talents. Balcony, seating, bars, great acoustics, wonderful environment. Two bathrooms (so convenient) outdoor smoking area. I love coming to this venue! (Paid parking - usually $10)

Great venue; there's secrets I feel compelled not to give away!

Ani Difranco....what's not to love!? Cool venue, good sound, easy restroom access, easy bar access!

Never again will I attend this place! Nothing but ratchet girls and place smelling like weed. Security doesn't even check purses. Zero star if possible.

Great venue for music, plenty of bar and bathroom access available.

If a band you want to see is booked here, great venue to see a show. The physical venue is great, the parking is spread out and you'll have to walk a bit, but they guide you in to your parking spot. Wouldn't be disappointed if another band I wanted to see was booked here.

Never had a bad show here. The sound was great and the venue was easy to find. Parking was pretty good, too. Overall a great place to see a show and would recommend to anybody looking for a great venue.

My favorite place to see bands in OC. Small and intimate atmosphere. Recently upgraded with new bar and food.

The best place for shows I've ever been in my life. The staff was very nice people and helpful.

It was cool thank you Dave for taking us (Cory &Me) plus the Donuts after

Nice venue, super packed with alot of kids for tonites concert.

Descent venue. Outdoor and indoor venues. Parking for large events tough. Don't park in surrounding businesses, your car will be gone when you return. Uber in. Worth it.

This venue is a favorite, it does get cramped up depending who plays.

this venue is awesome and has a ton of space for a nice size crowd.

Great venue for live music. The stadium type setup gives you a good view even back in the 3rd or 4th tier.

Best venue in town, large parking lot, plenty of space to park without having to walk too far. Revamped menu is the BOMB!!! Had the burger and it was well worth the $11. Wine selection is good for the price!!

Venue has been redone, but now the parking is terrible

Great intermediate venue for small and medium acts alike.

I've been coming here since it was the Galaxy Theater and now shows seem automatic, you get there, they play, you go home they squeeze two shows in one venue to make more profit giving the artist show a fast pace event

DO NOT BOOK OR ATTEND PUNK ROCK SHOWS HERE!!! Venue receives one star for abiding by its posted opening hours, and for selling $2 waters during The Exploited 26 May 2019. Venue loses four stars for the unprofessional and hostile Thugs working for and supposedly in charge of its 'security.' (These despicable cowards will henceforth be referred to as Thugs).

"Security kept treating us like animals," my punk-rocker nephew said, after Thugs hurled threats and verbal abuse at him and his punk-rocker friends for not immediately following their screamed command to move through a crowded area. Thugs were incapable of maintaining crowd-flow and allowed bottlenecks to form, which Thugs then tried to clear by shouting orders at paying concert-goers and banging their metal flashlights on corrugated metal walls in the manner of prison guards clearing a yard.

Thugs were seen and heard mocking paying concert-goers because of the colorful and inventive punk-rock style clothing they were wearing. Thugs were seen hurling an exhausted dancer back under the feet of a swirling circle-pit after the poor young man wasn't able to clear the press of people trying like him to flee the dance floor via one of but a few narrow and blocked stairs. "Get off the stairs!" they were heard to shout before gleefully ripping his hands free from the railing he was holding onto for dear life and shoving him out of control into the kicking mass, thus it appears knowingly exposing him to the risk of death or serious injury by trampling. [At every other professionally-run heavy metal or punk-rock show I've been to in the Los Angeles area, security has made an effort to keep people up off of the floor if possible, because anyone on the floor during a mosh-dance is in serious danger. At the Observatory however the Thugs were doing the opposite, seeming to take pleasure in exposing other people to pain or harm.]

The greatest threat to the health and safety of anyone and everyone at this venue were the Thugs making it insecure.
Please do not visit this venue if you love punk-rock and value your health. best wishes and om swastiastu, jP

We had a great time seeing Felipe Esparza. I can't speak for other shows, but it was a nice setup.for comedy show. All were good seats. It was general, first come first serve.

reserve a table the day of the show and your guaranteed a place to sit! love the venue!

The absolute BEST concert venue I've ever been to. Easiest and cheapest parking ever in a safe location. And the venue itself was so amazing. I was expecting one big pit and was prepared to be blocked by people in front of me, but I was pleasantly surprised. They have it set up as 3 or 4 tiered sections so the tier above you is a good 2 feet higher. So you can basically have an unobstructed perfect view even from the back of the room. And each tier has a wall so people can't push you off if the crowd gets pushy. It was so genius and I predict more and more venues start setting it up this way. I live 2 hours away but I will always come back here as much as possible.

Saw (I Don't Know How But They Found Me) here in the constellation room! It was so fun and you don't really get squished. It's so intimate and just sounds amazing!

Small local venue with usually good artist pulling up pretty often.

When i first moved here from San Diego this used to be a cool place for punk rocks concerts. Things have changed. I went there in 11/24/17 and the place had three different events in one night. There was so much stuff goin on at once it lead to a mess. It made it so the bands had a short time window. Everybody was rushed out of the place to accommodate both shows. The only reason I gave it 2 stars is there are still good bands.

Great concerts at an affordable price. However, its way to overcrowded at tgeir $5 all ages concerts. They pack you in like sardines and turn the ac off (i guess to force you to by more drinks)....but your packed in so tightly you can't even go get a drink. I might go back, but it WONT be at the $5 all ages events.

Seen soo many artist here. Great venue. Nice rooms for different events. Great security and team. Drinks are strong and good in price, best part is going onto the dance floor and dancing the night away! Have fun and be safe out there!

One of the best music venues in OC. Tiered space with 4 levels of viewing (pit, second level, etc) which sometimes helps those who are vertically challenged. There's also an upstairs area. There are a few bars for the drinkers. Whoever is their booking agent does a fantastic job, because they manage to get alllll different kinds of acts to satisfy most musical tastes. The only reason why I gave it 4 stars instead of 5 is because the sound is good, but not great; and sound is my #1 priority when it comes to music venues (duh).

Cool space. Several tiers lead down to a pit before the stage. A mezzanine overlooks all. Not a bad seat in the house. The bottom tier close to the center is the sweet spot. Venue parking is fairly close and costs $10. Not a bad deal considering it's socal.

This venue is one of my favorites because it's in a nice industrial area rather than a big city and they have great prices. Parking is $10 rather than the usual $20+ that LA venues charge. You can also buy water for only $2 rather than $4-5. You basically have a great view wherever you stand because it's such a small venue.

Saw LP, show was awesome. Venue cool and safe, could be cleaner. Use Google Maps to arrive, unmarked building.

Great for comedy and live music. Just wish the floor for concerts in the main room was larger.

A little too crowded and sometimes it's hot inside but still a dope venue

Loved this venue. Saw a concert here. Can get a bit crowded and too hot when its packed. But over all nice and cozy atmosphere with a patio and restaurant on site

Went for the pretty ricky concert. Great venue. Just hate you have to stand the whole entire time

Just saw twenty anniversary of the great mikenko and this venue was baller

The places it's okay the drinks are okay I guess I don't know be honest I only drink soda water but my husband never complain about the beer or about any alcoholic beverage the only issue there is the food really really gross especially the potato fries

It was absolutely freezing inside like a meat locker. I was so cold my teeth were chattering & I was shaking. The next day I came down with a horrible cold.

Bottles are hella expensive for the short time that your there

I've seen so many good shows here.. planning on being back April 06! SOBXRBE

Great place to go before the pandemic. Hope it opens again someday.

Security is rude and mean. All the staff there are ignorant it seems like they hate their life so they just pick on you. I was forced to drink my beer before I left and they kept telling me to hurry and shoved the cup on my face and it spilled all over.

Awesome music in smaller venue so always good view of performances, all for reasonable prices