• Parking: Nearby, On Site, Paid Lot, Street Parking Difficult
• Details: Wine, Live Performances
• Hours:
  Box office open daily
  noon-6 p.m.

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The Geffen Playhouse was originally built in 1929 as the Masonic Affiliates Club, or the MAC, for students and alumni of the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA). One of the first 12 structures built in Westwood Village, it was designed by renowned architect Stiles O. Clement and maintains its affiliation with UCLA today, providing students with master classes, workshops and internships. The theater was renamed the Geffen Playhouse in 1999 after a hefty donation from mogul David Geffen.

The Geffen's stone cottage exterior stands out among its shopping center neighbors. Upon entry, an ivy-lined courtyard and small fountain greet patrons. Equipped with round tables and chairs, it's a charming place to sip on wine while you wait for the performance to begin. The 525-seat main stage has hosted works from locals like Sandra Tsing Loh to David Mamet, Arthur Miller and Sam Shepard. Among those to take the stage there are Mary Steenburgen, Laurie Metcalf, Neil Patrick Harris and Carrie Fisher.

To make a night out of a performance at the Geffen, area dining options include Nine Thirty at the nearby W Hotel, stylish sushi at Yamato or the rustic wine menu at Napa Valley Grille. You can also see a performance during one of the theater's Signature Series nights: Wine Down Sundays, which offers complimentary wine tastings, and Talk Back Tuesdays, where complimentary coffee and tea from Peet's are served pre-show.