Observatory OC Reviews

This is one of the best places to see a great real punk show at 1so if you like real punk rock it's a must go to

Been enjoying this location since it was known as Galaxy Theater, from punk rock to underground hip-hop this place has always been great on prices for shows

Amazing place for concerts! There area two stages, a smaller and a larger, each one with its particular vibes.

Nice Venue but people fight in the lot right outside and its by the parking lot.

great venue... dont park at the del taco you will get towed

First time here. Getting inside was pretty fast as security was efficient. Multiple exits, which to me is important. Set up is cool so you can see the acts well.

Saw Bouncing Souls, Amazing place for shows for minors and adults.

Nice place. Does get overcrowded at times but overall, I had a good experience.

Venue has changed a lot and it just gets better and better every year havibg big artist coming over to perform

Not the cheapest, but super well organized parking and friendly staff. They did confiscate the pens in my purse when I entered, though.

It's a small venue with great general admission, any spot of the venue is going to be a good spot to watch your favorite artist perform

The Observatory is a fine name for a long standing icon of small clubs and live performance venue's in SoCal. It's been many names and has always been a hidden secret. When properly booked / promoted it has hosted some of the top acts in alternative music and ground breaking clubs, ie Club Rubber and Pimp n Hoe from 90's and many musical acts before and after. It appears to be back in action with a host of trending and old skool acts in the line up. The only issue I may bring up is the parking. If possible purchase in advance parking on the premises at the venue's website. It'll save you time and frustration. Check it out next time your favorite act is booked!

This is one of the best venues for live music in Orange County. The Observatory has an intimate setting which I have always been a fan of for concerts. My only complaint is the lack of parking which makes you have to pay for offsite parking, but it isn't too far away. Alternatively, you could park a little ways down and just walk to the venue!

The layout of this place is well suited to concerts. There are two bars, one near the stage, and one in the back of the building. The one in the back is much more laid-back and quiet, a perfect place to go for a well-crafted cocktail if you don't care for the opening band. The venue is intimate without being cramped, staff is kind and helpful.

This is the strictest venue you will ever go too. They will not hesitate to kick you out. And for the dumbest reasons. We go all the way over there to see our favorite artists but yet we almost never get to see them because they almost always kick us out. And when they do they are very aggressive about it. One time when I got kicked out a young women was begging the African American security guard to go back in. Once she realized she wasn't going back in she turned around and walked to her. As soon as she walked off the African American security tells the Samoan security guard, maybe if she sucked my d*** I would let her back in HA HA HA. Very immature. All the Samoan security guards are clearly related. They search you before you go in. Not to mention parking itself is 10$. And a tall can of blue ribbon is 9$. We are here to have a good time and it seems like they kick out the people having the most fun. I always say that I'm never coming back. But this time I REALLY mean it. Take my advice and not go or else you will learn the hard way, like I did

I had lil roaches in my tea. So grossed out. I didn't realize it until I had drink all of it.

They need an actual air circulation system they have zero A/C it's bad people pass out from it I'm surprised they haven't had the city or state crank dwn on it for being in the OC and them making all that money bottle service at minimum $300 starting.alot less people we'll get hurt or faint and hurt themselves if they have a actual AIR system circulating. It feels worse then a sauna in there!!

This is a great venue to see a live concert. The set up makes it so you can easily see the stage. The sound was fantastic. I look forward to potentially seeing another show here. The parking is okay. They charged $10 and didn't have a hard time getting out once the show ended.

Terrible venue with terrible organization all around.

Hands down the best music venue in southern California. The ticket prices for the caliber of talent is incredible. Nice staff, and nice security, for the most part.

we had a great time! plenty of bars so drinks were easy to come by i love the tiered arena -- it's like a small concert hall. the employees were nice and helpful. overall great venue

Intimate little venue. Great place to catch a show and a drink.

Great venue for concerts. Multiple rooms and showtimes

The main stage is great for getting up close to performances! VERY INEXPENSIVE SHOW TICKETS! Smaller stages are also pretty close but audience space is limited.Parking is sometimes very limited depending on the show - I have had to park over a mile away & I've also been able to park as close as behind the building. COOL atmosphere. Trendy! Bar near main stage. Some booth seating (limited). Great audio /visual experience! Great artists, both well-known & less known. The bathrooms (and floors) tend to get SUPER GROSS and dirty as the night progresses!

Great Sound, good artists on the reggs, really mellow, multiple bars.

Sick venue, place was packed! Show started an hour late though

Very clean, the venue is perfect size, drinks are reasonable. much better than house of blues in my opinion. Also parking is easy and freeway is close by.

Good time good food drinks cost to much but still good.

Cool venue! Loved the exterior and interior design. I also liked the fact that they had multiple bars spread throughout the venue. Location is the only thing I would change.

The space is awesome and the bar areas are pretty chill

I luv this venue, the small room is great! 10.00 parking.

Saw Panic at the Disco here and they were amazing. The place was nice and easy to get in. Don't know about the price of drinks but bottled water was a good price. Also stocked restrooms. I suggest getting reservations for their restaurant because you can get in earlier.

Saw Local Natives here and I have to say, this is by far one of my favorite venues. It's so close to where I live. There's parking there as well (I'm used to parking further away from venues and having to walk longer distances)! The music sounds awesome here and I actually did not have an issue with being able to see having been standing in the back. It does get a little bit cramped unfortunately.

I like the way the venue is organized. If you're not tall like I am, no worries, it's guaranteed you'll have a great view if you get there early. It feels very intimate and vibes are chill. Speaking of chill its cold there so I recommend a light cardigan.

Best place to go and enjoy a shoe you get a great viwe no matter where you are in the venue

The main room, pretty big otrat least it feels that way when your not at the bar under the upstairs. Not overly loud, but some of the larger more vocal rock/rap groups around will make it impossible to talk. Stage level on the sides have a great view.

Left of the entrance and straight ahead up the stairs. Come early for better locations. Bar requires ID for open tab (don't forget to close it, I'm notorious for forgetting till the next day or half way home).

It's easy to enter and leave the concert room and never really overbooked. No re-entry and smoking lounge is not attached to the Constellation Room

Staff is generally cool. I've been able to bend a few rules here and there. Bathrooms are kind of a bummer, mostly because the kids trash it. Prices are inexpensive compared to other venues, but drinks for when you have a wrist band for an all ages show are expensive. $9 for a modello tall box, $9 for a PBR tall boy (not that I would ever drink that). $7 for some pseudo craft IPA's and breweries are a decent deal. The drinks are ok, not strong like people say, but I feel like they aren't good quality. I go with a few fingers neat since I found their Vodka Tonics to be bland and their rum & coke are bitter. They need to clean their lines.

Parking sucks unless you come early and the popularity of the bands playing. Lighting is pretty good for some pano shots or from far away, but get washed out if your close to the stage. Things are great stage level on the sides, but by the bar and even upstairs are muddled.

Protip: go to the box office in person to avoid any additional will call and printing fees.

Super duper protip, uber/lyft it. I'm close enough to work where it's about the same price as paying teh $10 overflow parking.

Youre close up to the band and or artist all the time from any spot. Good atmosphere too.

This place always get lit! Great artist all the time! Does get ratchet on the hip hop artist but GUARANTEED A GREAT VIEW NO MATTER WHERE IN THE VENUE! been coming for years

Nice venue, parking is just across the street during shows.

The decibel tour 2016 w/ Abbath, High on Fire, Skeletonwitch, and Tribulation March 27.

Have you ever paid for dinner and reservations do you and your friends could enjoy a night out? Sure you have. Well suppose towards the end of your desert the restaurant begins sitting down the next reservation at your parties take, even though you're not finished, and they begin to enjoy your food, drink, and take your seats which you paid for. You would be outraged, and rightfully so! This is exactly what happened on Sunday night.

As Abbath was playing their set, the venue decided to key in the next shows concert goers. They came in packs and pushed their way to the front of the pit as to get a better view for their show, which had not even started as ours was still in full throttle.

I felt this was blatantly disrespectful to not only the artists who work their ass off for their fans, and disrespectful to the fans as well who paid good hard earned money to enjoy their show and not be rushed out from the venue.

I paid full price for my ticket to see Abbath, yet these other concert goers get to see him for free? That's not fair by any standard.

Beware of this practice. It could ruin your night.

I was in the pit, but it seems like there shouldn't be a bad "seat" in the place. Drink prices are average. Only complaint is parking seems expensive and a good walk away from the venue. On the other hand, there is parking available.

Great venue to see a show. The rules say no outside food but the guard let me bring w cookies in to see George Clinton.

They would not let me bring my selfie stick in. I came in Uber so I could not put it in car. Insteadnof checking it into coat check I chucked it in the foliage behind the coat check booth and I was there when the show ended.

The Observatory has two smoking balconies. Now I do not smoke but I love how the cross breeze from the enhances to the two balconies makes it so that the floor never gets stifling even when everyone is dancing.

It was not crowded. It was easy to order. Food was good. A was a little expensive.

If this venue sells out just like it had for Ekali, then you have a massive crowd crush that will happen on the main floor. The layout is not to par. There is sooooo much space not being used on the top deck that could be portioned little areas for non VIP members. I was surrounded by 10 people at all times on the floor, so pushing and drink spilling came out of nowhere. The barriers or walls that are set up take space that could be used for more people. I tried my hardest to get down, and I couldn't because of the bodies all around me.

This is a really nice concert venue, there always seems like theres a good place to see the whole band from. The one thing that I don't like is it seems like they never stop selling tickets for a show so you end up with an absurd amount of people in the main state area and it's almost suffocating at times.

Very good sound quality, reasonable priced drinks, good views of stage. Good small to mid size venue.

This venue is awesome. Plenty of room to party even during a crowded show. Sounds great even when near the back of the room. Affordable drinks and parking is cheap and readily available when you show up don't have to worry about finding parking. This venue was awesome I will be returning

the best music venue. drinks and reasonable and they have a variety of shows

Intimate venue. Security does their job and parking is a breeze for $10.

Having a person in a wheelchair can be nerve racking going to a new place but they were very accommodating. And all the employees where great

Best venue! Legit security and so great since it's small, all shows are very intimate with the artist and it makes the experience that much better. And the prices are outstanding

Small concert venue! Perfect if you don't care about standing and aren't into huuuuuge crowds! They also have good food!!

You can truly connect with the artists that perform here.

Great little venue with large talent that come through. Prices for drinks is very reasonable. It's a little local gem when bands that I am interested in come to town.

Good place with good AC. An essential in the concert experience. Bands come on within reasonable times. Also an essential in a good concert experience. Some people call me a concert expert, others call me Maurice.

Very Fun Place To See Ur Bands But Foods And Drinks Are Expensive
Other Than That It was Good

Crowded and tore up, sound man needs some lessons or they nerd to replace the sound. Parking is $10 and far away from the venue so walking and standing the whole night with prices$$$beer,food. Outside smoking area eas not fenced in so people we're sneaking in around Security and leaving the venue Cops in riot gear is not what you want to run into

Great venue. Always have a good time here. Just wish it were closer to Long Beach.

Nothing bad from my experience, workers just doing there job. The venue is a little cludder and full of steps and balconies, The lady at the bartender was very nice though. Icp show was really great

although the atmosphere is very nice. The sound quality was not good. can barely make all the different bands lead singers voices.

great intimate venue. consistently booking major touring acts. outdoor upgrades are key. the observatory is boss hogging freal.

Great spot in OC for a good show ... Its a smaller venue so you're never too far from the stage -- Even when your at the bar which is at the very back ... Seating (actually standing) is all GA and it is tiered into sections so you can almost always see the performers ... The acts are generally good and range all over from hip hop/rap to punk rock to alternative to EDM ... There's a patio/smoking/eating area on the premises ... They've added a new restaurant/bar inside that's supposed to be pretty good ... You should catch show there some time ...