Beverly Hills City Hall in Beverly Hills, California, is closely associated with the “Beverly Hills Cop” films, where it appears as part of the Beverly Hills Police Department. In the original 1984 film, the grand civic building becomes the polished police headquarters where Detroit detective Axel Foley arrives after following a murder investigation to California. The location is a perfect visual contrast to Axel’s rougher Detroit background: instead of a gritty urban precinct, Beverly Hills gives him an ornate, elegant and unmistakably wealthy-looking police station. The building returned as part of the police headquarters setting in the sequels as well, including “Beverly Hills Cop II” and “Beverly Hills Cop III”, although the second film also used Pasadena City Hall for some of its police station material.
The real Beverly Hills City Hall stands at 455 North Rexford Drive and has been one of the city’s major landmarks since it opened in 1932. Designed by William J. Gage and Harry G. Koerner, the building is known for its Spanish Revival and Churrigueresque-inspired architecture, with its tiled dome, tower and richly decorated façade making it one of the most recognisable civic buildings in Los Angeles County. For film fans, it is especially tied to Axel Foley’s visits to Beverly Hills, but the building has also appeared in other productions, including “In a Lonely Place” from 1950. The location is still easy to recognise today, although some entrances and surrounding details have changed over the years.
Beverly Hills Cop
Beverly Hills Cop was shot partly in Michigan but mostly in and around Los Angeles, with that geographical split reflecting the story itself.
O’Neill House
The O’Neill House is best known as a filming location in two feature films: Breathless (1983) and 8 Million Ways to Die (1986).
The Viper Room
The Viper Room appears in Valley Girl (1983), The Doors (1991), Be Cool (2005), Daisy Jones & the Six (2023), and Walking the Edge (1985).
Griffin Club Los Angeles
Griffin Club Los Angeles appears in the dark comedy thriller series Based on a True Story, where it is used as the private club attended by the characters.
The Shelley
The Shelley appears in Seinfeld (1989–1998). In the series, it serves as the exterior of Jerry’s apartment, even though the character’s address is in Manhattan.
Family Arcade LA
In Dexter: Original Sin, Family Arcade LA appears in episode 9, Blood Drive. Dexter lures Captain Spencer to the arcade, transforming it into a kill room.
Griffith Observatory
Griffith Observatory appears in Rebel Without a Cause, The Terminator, Charlie’s Angels: Full Throttle, La La Land, Transformers, and many more.
Pann’s Restaurant
Pann’s Restaurant has appeared in several films and television productions, like xXx, Bewitched, Next and the TV series Based on a True Story.
The MacArthur
The MacArthur has been used in a large number of films, with its lobby, ballrooms, rooms, exterior and restrooms appearing in films across several decades.
Circus Liquor
Circus Liquor appears in several films, like Clueless (1995), Blue Thunder (1983), and Alpha Dog (2006).
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