Academy of Magical Arts

Being a member for 9 years I can truly say the Magic Castle is an amazing experience- whether you've gone once or many, many times. You have to be with a member or have a pass from a member to get in- the biggest downfall is its a little pricey, but it's definitely a unique/cool night out. Definitely try to go in with a member if you can- If you do, you don't have to pay the $20-25 door charge (and on top of that, you don't have to make reservations for dinner, though it's worth it for the experience). The drinks are around $10 each and the food is around $30-40 each. Not too bad. All in all, do it, it's awesome.

-Magic Mike Jacobson
w w w.magicmikela.c o m

PS If you ever need a pass (or a magician), let me know!

Pros: A really fun, unique evening

Cons: Pretty expensive and the food is sub-par

Possibly the coolest / most unique dinner setting in LA....truly amazing experience for my date and I. Had no idea what to expect and had read all the reviews....the food was GREAT - the filet was perfect. The staff was really nice and the magic shows were very cool - not cheesy like I thought they might be - some of those magicians are really good.

Pros: Great food...even better magic!

Cons: Gotta know someone to get in

This was definitely one of the more unique nights out I?ve had in L.A. The whole place really does looks like an enchanted magical castle; every room filled with either magicians performing for guests or practicing their tricks for each other. I?ve never seen so many talented magicians in one place in my life. FYI, you either have to be member of Magic Castle or be invited by a member to come, and the evening can get expensive between valet parking and the required dinner reservation. Good news though, the food at the place is actually just as good as the magic acts! My steak was cooked wonderfully, and my apple pie was deliciously sweet with perfectly flakey crust!

I've been granted the opportunity to visit the Magic Castle three times now since moving to Los Angeles, and each time has been a uniquely rich and incredibly enjoyable experience. The atmosphere is like nothing else - the required formal dress and singular ambience really make you feel as if you have been teleported back a few hundred years and across the ocean into a mystical (possibly haunted?) castle. The magicians are top-notch, especially those performing in the close-up gallery, which is not to be missed. There is a wide range of entertainment aside from the shows, including Irma the ghostly pianist, the WC Fields museum and more. The food is also fabulous - on my last visit I ordered a meat sampler special, and the filet and lamb were both out-of-this-world (not to mention the parmesan mashed potatoes). Hopefully you can make nice with someone who is a member there, because you can't get in otherwise. If you ever have the chance - GO. You'll be in for a truly unforgettable experience...

First of all I didnt even know about this place until recently. I had so much fun. I will not say my age because I am a lady but im no spring chicken. The magic shows were great, the magicians really are quite good. We were going to go and eat after but then saw that they had a restaurant in the castle so we just decided to stay. I had the Steak Milton (it had a crab and hollandaise sauce which was really good. Im not a big fan of hollandaise but it went with it very well.) the actual steak was cooked to perfection. I asked for medium well and I got a perfect medium well. Not many place can cook it just perfect like that. The service was very attentive and personable, not snobby and snippy like other "Hollywood places". The reason we went out was for my husbands birthday, we had only mentionied it to the waiter in conversation and after we finished our meal a Birthday Wizard came out and celebrated our birthday with us. It really was a wonderful night. Between the magic shows and the food I was really impressed. Its too bad I didn't know about this place sooner. If you have never been then I recommend going it is one of Hollywoods unknown magical secrets.

Pros: Everything

Cons: Not any I can think of

I visited the Magic Castle on Tuesday May 13th for the First time. The evening was planned out to be a very special occassion. I was on a First Date with someone whom I was very intersted in. He is a member of the LAFD and thought the Magic Castle would be a perfect place for our first date... The Magicians were amazing and I had a great time participating in the card tricks. When it came to the dinner, I was EXTREMELY disappointed. I got the Filet Mignon and my date got the Lobster Tails. I ordered my steak Medium Rare and got a black on the outside and red on the middle mess!!! I felt like a dragon had cooked it! The $49 Lobster Tails were FLAVORLESS!! I frequent 5 star restaurants all the time and I will tell you that the food at your restaurant could be compared to Mid-West Diner's Special!!! The Date would've been 100% successful if it weren't for the disgusting food!! It makes me question the reasoning of memberships at such a place... shouldn't the members be getting 100% service all around?

This place rocks. You have to know a member to get in, but once you're in, it's amazing. Make sure to get a tour - half the fun is seeing all the cool little rooms and bars and getting the history of the place. The magicians there are great, they have shows going on all night in different rooms. Valet is the only option ($8) and the drinks are a little pricey, but you're paying for ambiance. It's so fun, I felt like a giddy 10-year old all night long!

I definatley recommend checking this place out if you can. The shows were a lot of fun! Enjoyed all the magic!!! The food was mediocre, but the service was great.

Pros: GREAT MAGIC!!! Fun STUFF!

Cons: Food was just ok

The Magic Castle home of the Academy of Magical Arts has always been a gathering place for top magicians from all over the world for over forty years. It has staedily improved in size and scope over the years. Public patrons need to be invited to enter this private club by a member or the management.
It is has an very active young magicians program. A brilliant line-up of famous close-up, parlour, stage magicians, mentalists and illusionists are booked throughout the year. The vintage victorian structure and ever changing show-biz decor meld into a potpourri of color and content that shouts out "work in progress" The seasonal decorations are always a treat. This is a venue for magic lovers, children of all ages and patrons out for a special evening of fun and entertainment. It was and is a magic club, magic theatre and magic place before it became a restaurant. If you like crowds, mystery and good food dine there.

Pros: Ambiance, Parking, Service, Entertainment

Cons: A little pricey

Tourist Trap. The best trick is the marketing campaign that draws an audience for a show who's value disappears in mid-air. Freshmen magicians who pay to perform are admirable in their effort but there's a reason they are not in Vegas or on 3rd Street Promenade. It is a show that fails in many respects but the hospitality is probably their biggest facade - they try to create a classy atmosphere which is virtually impossible due to the hired help, which is SF Valley at best. Cheap, low-budget dorks that try their best at acting high-brow are an insult to anyone's intelligence and sensibility no matter where you come from. If you want a fun evening, avoid Magic Castle and opt for Criss Angel reruns or better yet, an elementary school play.

Pros: they serve alcohol

Cons: minimum-wage help, hospitality, arrogant staff

I have visited The Magic Castle several times within the past two years and each visit has proven to be a very unique experience. I went there with expectations of magical meals as well as the performances. I was not disappointed. The meals and the service was excellent,the menu varied: the Sunday Brunch exceptional...(member escort required). I have sympathy for those who have had bad experiences,but this is not common at the Castle and is likely to happen at any restaurant... The Magic Castle is a experience that is unique and must be shared.

Pros: unique, entertaining, good location

Cons: steep driveway, overpriced, crowded

My girlfriend and I, and two friends visited the Magic Castle. We had dinner reservations for 8pm. We were seated and sat for an eternity. What ticked us off was watching the server taking the order of another couple that had already been served water/bread, when the couple had arrived after- us. The unapologetic server finally acknowledged us when we requested water and our orders be placed. We were never served bread, petty, but it surmounted by the fact that when our orders came (filet, prime rib, ny) the dishes came cold and overcooked. Prime prices, select quality. We had to rush through our meal because we wanted to catch a show before it was too late. The service and meal was terrible, shows were decent. Perhaps it was just not our night and not our castle to be in.

My husband and I were invited by a member to attend the Magic Castle for our anniversary. It was the most expensive meal we have ever eaten--and not really worth the money. It was a slow night at the Caslte, and one could feel the desperation in the air. We were hounded to purchase drinks all night long--they would even hold up the magic shows so that the drink girl could go up to every person and ask if they wanted to purchase a drink. When I asked for water with my meal, they brought a $6.50 bottle of water. When I looked around at another table, I noticed they brought them glasses of water not an expensive bottle. The magic shows were enjoyable, although the fellow magicians in the audience were a bit territorial and surly.

Pros: unique atmosphere, good shows

Cons: expensive, expensive, expensive

This place is amazing. You have to be or know a member to get in, but once you do, there's no place else like it. Five different venues for magic and a cool place to walk around. The food was o.k., as were the drinks (the meat dishes and the lasagna were wonderful, the fish... not so much). The staff was friendly and knowledgeable.

Neat place. Not like anywhere else we'd ever been.

Pros: Unique, Good shows

Cons: Crowded