Huge space for our after-party for our film One Love. They had many stations set up. Food station, Latte station, bar station... it was great. And the food served was delicious. Baked sea bass, rice, jerk chicken, salad with a raspberry dressing was sooooo GOOD. Cool space to throw a party, was kind of too spread out, but tables were set up everywhere. Good times. read more

Hammer Museum - One Love after party - Museums Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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I forget this magnificent jewel of a museum exists. Love coming here and admiring their exhibits and collections. It's such a nice open air building with fun little spots to sit and unwind. It's very calming in the middle of the madness. They have a great restaurant on site that I didn't visit but will return for it. Free entry, paid parking underground. read more

I want to acknowledge Lilibeth for going above and beyond to answer my questions and being so wonderful helping my family with what we needed and being so knowledgeable about the art! read more

Unbelievable that this museum is free. Thank you, Hammer family and benefactors! I think we paid $8 for valet parking and we had in and out privileges. You check in to get the nifty Hammer Museum visitor sticker. The Hammer is a collection of contemporary, European and short term collections. To me it's larger than it looks from the outside. I saw the cool temporary exhibit showcasing Los Angeles artists last December. So much diversity and inspiration behind how they express themselves. The spinning seats/tops near the Lulu restaurant are fun and that open area is relaxing. The museum also has special events like movie screenings and guest speakers. I want to come back once the wing with Monet, Degas and Manet reopens. read more

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Wonderful museum. A variety of exhibits for all interests, from the avant- guarde to 16th century paintings by the Old Masters. It is airy with plenty of seating and a lovely courtyard restaurant. Underground parking is plentiful and validated (you pay a flat rate of $8). read more

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Love Hammer museum! What impressed me the most was their new renovation, and everything was so well-organized. All the staff members were friendly, and the courtyard cafe was a gem. Not to mention, the museum is free admission year-round. Would recommend to anyone who enjoys contemporary art. Parking is easy, $8 parking for 3 hours w/ validation (flat rate after 5pm). Overall, we had a great experience going through their collections. Worth visiting! read more

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super duper worth it if you are in the area!! one of the absolutely best museums in LA, i love the architecture!!! come here often, most recently to see yoshitomo nara's exhibit!! they also have this weekly event on saturdays where you can create small works of art for free!! read more

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It's hard to find free activities anywhere but the hammer was free to see! (Minus parking - which was $8 at the museum itself) a few rooms were underwhelming while others really caught our eye and had us in awe. the space itself is beautiful, outdoor seating, a restaurant, and cool rooms to explore. would come back! read more

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STEPH JUDGEMENT: Beautiful modern museum with FREE entrance--what's not to like? I've been to the Hammer several times now for various exhibitions and events (even before it was free), and had always enjoyed my visits. With their latest renovations and free admission policy, however, the Hammer experience has definitely been elevated a few notches. I was determined to catch the new lobby's inaugural exhibition by Chiharu Shiota, whose stunning fiber work encased the space with what looked like miles of red yarn that evoked thoughts of spider webs and arteries--amazing. They always have cool, thought-provoking exhibitions. They also have a lovely relaxing courtyard with fun spinny-top chairs, and their staff have always been friendly and welcoming. I haven't been to their restaurant yet, but I imagine it'll be only a matter of time. Looking forward to my next visit! Parking in their garage is not free, but you do get a discount with Museum validation, and valet parking is available for Museum and/or the restaurant. read more

Visited for the 1st time on Saturday (7/22/23). Entrance- FREE Parking- underground and on this day it was an $8 flat fee and no validation Pretty cool collection...not a huge place so an hour or two could be enough time. Places to eat a short walk away and I saw a place in the museum also serving food read more

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Loved the Hammer Museum it was just the right size. To spend an hour and a half or two. Some museums have too much it's impossible to really see it all. The Hammer has 2 exhibition rooms on the third floor and one on the 1st floor. They have a nice outdoor patio and there's even a couple of ping-pong tables available for play time. You should definitely check it out. Admission is free, no reservations necessary. They will be having summer concerts on Thursdays starting tomorrow June 6th read more

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Another museum conquered while here in Los Angeles!! Nice and pretty stunning stuff inside! Educational as always, and very friendly staff! read more

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I've been to the Hammer for a few events over the years, but last week, after almost a decade on the museum's mailing list, I finally went for my first proper visit. It should not have taken me so long. I now regret all the exhibitions I read about then skipped because I was too lazy to drive to Westwood. The Hammer is one of L.A.'s great cultural institutions. I first knew it as an impressive venue for literary events, where I attended readings by Michael Chabon and Karl Ove Knausgård at the museum's theater. I was also a mentor for the PEN America Emerging Voices fellowship one year, and the program had its closing event at the theater, followed by drinks in the lovely courtyard adjoining the restaurant (I don't remember what it was then, but the restaurant is now Lulu, a David Tanis and Alice Waters joint venture). It was all remarkably nice. The Hammer always has intriguing exhibitions on view, but the one that got me out of my house was Only the Young: Experimental Art in Korea, 1960s-1970s. This was an amazing show, put together by Korea's National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art and the Guggenheim, where it opened in the fall. It captured a time in Korean art that overlapped almost perfectly with the rule of a popular president turned military dictator. This was also a period of rapid modernization and economic growth, when memories of occupation and war were still quite recent. The art was thought-provoking and defiant, full of creativity and the fire of life. I browsed the whole museum while I was there and enjoyed the other art too, including a survey of over 500 years of intaglio printing and an exhibition on the work of conceptual artist stanley brouwn. The selections from the Armand Hammer collection were worth the visit on their own. The guy collected a lot of important European and American paintings. I was not expecting to see three Van Goghs that day. I always like browsing museum stores, and the Hammer has a nice one, with tons of cool books and accessories and home goods. I ended up buying a picture book for my kids and the Only the Young exhibition book for myself. I'm glad I caught this show before it ended. I almost didn't--I only went, alone, because of a light work day and a lull between errands. I had such a wonderful visit, I was reminded of the wealth of culture in L.A., and the extravagant wastefulness of letting it slip past me. It's also worth noting that the Hammer is a free museum. Parking isn't cheap (I paid $8 with validation), but it is easy. Next time I get a Hammer email about some fascinating exhibition, I'll make a point of going. read more

Beautiful, clean and bright museum! Although not very big, the exhibits are modern and thoughtful. Unfortunately, during our visit several of the exhibits were closed for maintenance. We also just missed "The Network" Chiharu Shiota installation. It was the one my daughter was most excited to see. Regardless, the exhibits we were able to visit were very nice. We had a lovely time walking around the open space. The gift shop is quite large and well laid out. The courtyard is a nice place to relax, especially on a cool, sunny day. My husband could not get enough of the spun chairs. :) Admission is free. Parking was $8. read more

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For the eight years that I've lived in LA I've never heard about this museum until one of my clients mentioned it! This museum is wonderful and beautiful. It's near the campus of UCLA. It's also free so that's a great incentive to go visit. Parking is inside and the fee it too much. Definitely worth checking out everyone there that works. There is super friendly! read more

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Super quiet. Niche spot but great place to study at infront of cafe lulu. I enjoyed their intro room and the top floor. Had some cool abstract art read more

Hammer Museum - Museums Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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Stumbled upon this FREE gallery while walking by. It was closed for a private show but they kindly let us in as it was our last day in town. It has a really nice courtyard with various rooms around it, both upstairs and down therefore, allowing for many different artists to present. I felt really fortunate to come upon it and highly recommend a visit. read more

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Presently, my favorite museum in the LA metro! They've got some of the most exciting exhibits of late. Props to the exhibition and curation teams! They also have excellent public programming which I wish I could take advantage of but it's simply too far of a drive for me to go frequently. I also like their onsite restaurant, though it is pricey and a bit slow. read more

This museum was so awesome! We started with lunch at the restaurant attached inside. To die for. So wonderful. Great soup, wine and service. We then headed through the multiple exhibits. Easy flow and awesome displays. Ended at the book store. Must go! read more

Hammer Museum is a gorgeous museum with outdoor amenities. I initially visited to see "The Network" by Chiharu Shiota. As you enter from the main entrance of the building, you are immediately greeted with the beautiful red installation. You are also welcomed by the front desk where they provide some information about the museum. As for admission, there is no fee so no worries on that end. The museum also has parking, but I would try and get street parking which is cheaper. One aspect I found confusing was the layout of the exhibit. The different exhibits are separated and scattered throughout the building. The entry doors to some exhibits were not clearly marked which led to some confusion whether or not I had already visited a particular exhibit or not. The outdoor space was also a highlight. There was ample seats with a cafe where visitors can enjoy food and beverages. This added to the overall experience and provided a place to relax. Overall, I'd recommend coming here to explore some contemporary and modern art and to enjoy the courtyard. read more

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Visited here on a rainy day and I wish i could've experienced the layout on a sunny day. All the galleries surround a giant courtyard with large, beautiful trees. They had some good exhibitions present like Groove with the intaglio prints. I also really enjoyed their gift shop as it was not only humongous but had some nice merchandise. We ended up having some drinks at the bar downstairs which was lovely as they had the heaters on and we just got to watch the rain comfortably. Can't wait to visit during the summer! read more

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I found the Hammer Museum to be interesting. I am not a Artist or have much knowledge into critiquing good art, but I had fun taking the time to check these guys out. They have displays of mainly famous people from all genres of life. Paintings are beautiful, and the displays are cool. People that work here are friendly and helpful. I recommend everyone stopping by to check out the Hammer Museum In West Los Angeles. read more

Thank you to the Hammer museum for a fun filled New Year's Day. Celebrating Lunar New Year with a new Korean exhibit, Dynamic Duo, and Prowdmon. Love the exhibit and the energy of the night. read more

Hammer Museum - DynamicDuo - Museums Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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Lovely ambiance, great exhibitions, really nice location close to ucla and various coffee shops.

First things first, can we just talk about the frames on their permanent collection?!?!! Holy wow!!!! Absolutely stunning, stole my attention from the second I caught the first glimpse. It was my first time visiting the Hammer. I wasn't there to get into the hot tub exhibit if that's what you were wondering. Really, I'd wanted to try Lulu for lunch and check out their galleries since I hadn't been here before and was needing a museum fix. I loved their permanent gallery the best, but I couldn't get over the frames and the spin top chairs in the foyer :) so much fun! The Hammer is free, it's the perfect museum to visit solo, on a date or with friends. Pair it with lunch at Lola and you have a 5 star afternoon that doesn't eat up your entire day. read more

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Truly a great museum! Easy parking, which is validated as well as metered parking all around. The entry is free, which is very much appreciated so that everyone can learn some thing. The staff is wonderful, informative, and helpful. They change exhibits frequently so there's definitely reason to come back again. Always very thankful for options like this, so everyone can continue to educate themselves! read more

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Great free museum. They have parking that is validated (not free) but I walked over during the weekday. I was able to see everything in about 1 hr. They have a Made in LA exhibit all on the third floor with some interest art by LA artists of various communities. There is also a laser-based exhibit in the L level with access to a small sculpture garden. read more

Attend the dims and special events on a regular basis. Wish Lulu's restaurant was geared more towards a menu that was priced and directed towards those who attend museum general programs and not just the top "5%". Art usually mediocre read more

Wonderful Musuem that is inspiring and delightful. We really enjoyed lunch at the beautiful restaurant inside the Hammer.

*This is a review for Hammer's MoMA contenders only.* I've been attending this series for a few years now, with a brief hiatus during the pandemic. The program offers a well-curated selection of films with accompanying talks by directors, writers, actors, and other talent. I saw Everything Everywhere All At Once last night and attended the post-film talk with the two director-writers. They let in Hammer Museum members first, but we were able to check in and get our seats about 25 minutes before showtime. The theater itself isn't the most comfortable and the seats are pretty close together, but the programming makes it worth catching a film here for the opportunity to hear from the talent afterwards. Parking is usually a $7 flat rate after 6pm, but the structure was open to everyone for free last when we went. read more

Hammer Museum - Director-writers of Everything Everywhere All At Once - Museums Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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The museum is free and the parking is $8 with a validation. I didn't connect with the installations today, but they change them every three or four months. I loved the plaza and it had a great vibe. Enjoy the restaurant and relax! read more

Great activity for the family, for solo dates, and for dates. Check in All they ask for is your zip code. No fee-free. Parking- If you check in the garage, it's $8 with validation. Get validation when you check in. You get 3 hoots for that price. 3 hours is more than enough time. Meter parking is $2 for 2 hours. Meters are all around. Food There is a cafe in the middle of the Museum. Have fun! read more

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STAY AWAY!!! OMG, the worst museum I have ever been to in my life and I have been to museums all over the world! This was by far the worst museum! You know how many non artists make fun on artists who have exhibits like showing glass in a piece of concrete...well guess what that is what this place is all about! They did in fact have this exhibit...a small piece of glass in square concrete. I saw a square glass and asked the attendant what was so special about it and they laughed because they knew it was ridiculous...a square piece of glass with some coating on it. This place had the most ridiculous exhibits which totally sucked. I would not recommend anyone going there...total waste of time! Yeah they had some Van Gogh and Cezanne paintings from Hammer's own personal collection but it just sucked. We made of fun of one exhibit with a piano that was broken and just had pieces...it's like that Andy Warhol nonsense where he had Campbell soup cans....this place is full of garbage like that. STAY AWAY!!! Thank god is was free otherwise I would have asked for my money back! read more

Hammer Museum - Upside down saxophone - Museums Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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The museum is good I like the art but the food is not that good when I asked for more chicken they didn't want to give me some over good but not that good. read more

Since it opened a few decades ago, the Hammer Museum has steadily expanded and become one of the finest art museums in town. It's free too, so no excuse for not going. The curators have exemplary taste. Many of the exhibits are contemporary and the artists are often international and unknown to me. They also have a very decent, though small-ish permanent display with a couple of impressive Van Goghs and a collection of satirical Daumier busts. Sanford Biggers' massive Oracle sculpture faces Wilshire Boulevard in the front of the building. You can easily miss it if you arrive via the courtyard, which is one of Westwood's most pleasant hangouts, with the spinny tops and the Billy Wilder Theater, where screenings are also usually or always free. Though, no more ping pong upstairs. read more

Generally love the Hammer but the current MADE IN LA exhibit is a misfire. I was hoping to see some of the Armand Hammer collection which is currently in storage. The choices in its place were...interesting. read more

If you're in the UCLA/Westwood area, the Hammer Museum is a great way to spend 1-2 hours. It is a FREE museum that houses an impressive permanent art collection of Armand Hammer from Van Gough to Rembrandt. At the time that we visited, we really enjoyed the temporary exhibit "Breathe" (which features global artwork depicting threats to climate and social justice) and "Bee Week" (in which we got to sample different honeys and see a sculpture of honeycomb made by live bees!). The one thing that won't change about this museum is the central courtyard, which has a quiet and comfortable atmosphere to have a drink and catch up on work outside. read more

Hammer Museum - Hammer Museum courtyard - Museums Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Cute place. Admission is free. Just get your parking ticket validated and you pay $8 for 2 hrs. Have lulu resto also in the first floor. Cute place would def come back cause when we came they were installing new exhibition. read more

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What this museum has got going for it is free admission. Otherwise, the staff are neither friendly nor knowledgeable about the art. Correction - the woman at the front desk was friendly, but after entering the exhibits, the staff inside seemed like they were all annoyed by visitors despite being in a customer-facing role. Nice courtyard, but seems like the atmosphere has gone downhill from when it used to be a more inviting space with ping pong tables and food by Wolfgang Puck. read more

The Hammer Museum doesn't get nearly the recognition it deserves. It's free, and much larger than I expected. We actually didn't allot ourselves enough time and ended up rushing through the exhibit. They also have a beautiful restaurant on site and a lovely courtyard where you could pass some time. This is definitely a must-see art museum when in LA. read more