8 California Filming Locations You’ll Recognize From Beverly Hills, 90210

Remember watching Brenda, Brandon, Dylan, and Kelly navigate high school drama in sunny California?

Beverly Hills, 90210 wasn’t just a show about teenagers living glamorous lives.

It was a love letter to Southern California itself.

The series filmed at real locations across the state, turning ordinary streets and buildings into iconic backdrops that fans still recognize today.

From the high school hallways where friendships formed to the diner where everyone gathered after class, these spots became characters in their own right.

Many of these places still exist, waiting for you to visit and relive your favorite moments from the show.

Whether you grew up watching the original series or discovered it later through reruns, seeing these filming locations in person brings the magic of Beverly Hills, 90210 back to life.

Pack your camera and get ready to explore the real California neighborhoods where television history was made.

These ten spots will transport you straight back to the 1990s.

1. Torrance High School

Walk through the gates where Brandon Walsh first stepped onto campus, and you’ll find yourself at an actual working high school in Torrance.

The building’s classic California architecture made it the perfect stand-in for West Beverly High throughout the series.

Students still attend classes here today, completely unaware they’re walking the same hallways that Dylan and Brenda once roamed on screen.

The courtyard became one of the most recognizable settings in teen television history.

Countless dramatic conversations, breakups, and reconciliations happened right here.

You’ll instantly recognize the layout if you were a devoted fan of the show.

The school’s exterior appeared in episode after episode, establishing the setting before cutting to interior scenes filmed on studio sets.

Located at 2200 West Carson Street in Torrance, California, this spot remains largely unchanged from its television days.

Photography from public areas is possible, though remember this is an active school with students present during weekdays.

Visiting during weekends or after school hours shows respect for the educational environment while still letting you capture that perfect nostalgic photo.

The palm trees swaying in the background complete the quintessential Southern California high school experience.

Standing here connects you directly to one of television’s most beloved teen dramas.

This location truly defined what high school looked like for an entire generation of viewers.

2. Walsh Family House

Nestled in the charming neighborhood of Altadena sits the actual house that represented home base for the Walsh family.

Every exterior shot showing Brenda and Brandon arriving home or Jim and Cindy pulling into the driveway was filmed right here at 1675 East Altadena Drive.

The residence is privately owned, so respectful viewing from the street is the only option for curious fans.

Its distinctive facade became instantly recognizable to millions of viewers worldwide.

The home’s warm, welcoming appearance perfectly matched the Walsh family’s role as the show’s moral center.

Altadena itself offered the perfect suburban California setting the producers wanted.

Tree-lined streets and well-maintained homes created an atmosphere of comfortable middle-class life.

This contrasted beautifully with the wealth and excess often depicted elsewhere in the series.

The neighborhood remains quiet and residential, much as it appeared during filming.

Driving through these streets gives you a sense of the real California communities that inspired the show’s setting.

While the interiors were all studio sets, the exterior shots grounded the series in reality.

Fans traveling to California often make pilgrimages here to see where television’s most famous Minnesota transplants lived.

The house stands as a monument to family values and the immigrant experience of starting fresh in a new place.

3. Dylan McKay’s House

Just a few doors down from the Walsh residence stands the house that served as Dylan McKay’s brooding bachelor pad.

Located at 1605 East Altadena Drive, this property became synonymous with the show’s resident bad boy.

The proximity to the Walsh house made filming logistics much easier for the production crew.

It also created a believable neighborhood dynamic where characters could easily walk between homes.

Dylan’s complicated relationship with his wealthy, troubled family was reflected in this location choice.

The house suggested comfort and affluence without the over-the-top mansion aesthetic.

Fans remember countless scenes of Dylan’s Porsche pulling into this driveway.

The exterior became a visual shorthand for the character’s independence and emotional isolation.

Like the Walsh house, this is a private residence requiring respectful distance from visitors.

Altadena proved to be an ideal filming location for the production team.

Having multiple key locations within walking distance of each other streamlined the shooting schedule considerably.

The neighborhood’s aesthetic perfectly captured that aspirational yet attainable California lifestyle.

Today, both houses stand as quiet reminders of television history.

Visiting both locations on the same trip lets you recreate the geography of the show’s most important teenage friendship.

The real neighborhood feels just as welcoming as it did on screen.

4. California University Campus

Higher education came calling when the characters graduated from West Beverly High.

Their fictional California University was actually Occidental College in Eagle Rock.

The beautiful campus at 1600 Campus Road provided the perfect setting for college-aged storylines.

Occidental’s architecture blends Spanish Colonial Revival and modern styles beautifully.

Lush green quads and stately buildings created an instantly believable university atmosphere.

The college’s real students occasionally appeared as extras, adding authenticity to campus scenes.

Filming at an actual institution gave the show’s college years a grounded, realistic feel.

Viewers watched characters navigate new academic challenges, relationships, and personal growth against this stunning backdrop.

Eagle Rock itself is a vibrant Los Angeles neighborhood with its own distinct character.

The area offered production crews easy access while providing a campus that looked appropriately prestigious.

Occidental College has appeared in numerous films and television shows over the years.

Its photogenic qualities and cooperative administration make it a popular filming location.

For Beverly Hills, 90210 fans, though, it will always be California University first.

The campus represents that transitional period when teenagers become adults.

Walking these same paths connects you to the characters’ journeys of self-discovery and independence.

The college remains a beautiful, functional educational institution that welcomes respectful visitors to its grounds.

5. Beverly Hills Beach Club

Summer episodes brought the gang to the exclusive Beverly Hills Beach Club for sun-soaked adventures.

These scenes were actually filmed at Santa Monica’s former Sand and Sea Beach Club.

The location provided everything needed: pristine beaches, sparkling ocean water, and that upscale atmosphere.

Beach club storylines often explored class differences and social dynamics among the characters.

Summer jobs, romantic entanglements, and family drama all played out against this gorgeous coastal setting.

Santa Monica’s beaches rank among California’s most famous and beautiful stretches of coastline.

The area has long been synonymous with the Southern California beach lifestyle.

Filming here connected the show to decades of beach culture and Hollywood history.

While the specific club from the show no longer operates, Santa Monica Beach itself remains gloriously accessible.

Miles of sandy beaches welcome visitors year-round to enjoy swimming, sunbathing, and people-watching.

The iconic Santa Monica Pier adds to the area’s charm with its amusement park and restaurants.

Standing on these beaches, you can imagine the characters playing volleyball or having heart-to-heart conversations by the water.

The ocean breeze and crashing waves create the same sensory experience viewers saw on screen.

Santa Monica embodies the California beach dream that the show celebrated.

Visiting here immerses you in authentic coastal culture that defined many memorable episodes.

6. Greystone Mansion

When the show needed a location suggesting wealth, power, and old Hollywood glamour, Greystone Mansion delivered perfectly.

This historic Beverly Hills estate appeared in various episodes as different characters’ homes or venues for formal events.

Built in the late 1920s, the mansion represents the golden age of California luxury.

Its Tudor Revival architecture and meticulously maintained grounds create an atmosphere of timeless elegance.

The estate has appeared in countless films and television shows over the decades.

Its versatile spaces and dramatic visual appeal make it a favorite among location scouts.

For Beverly Hills, 90210, Greystone provided instant credibility when depicting the lives of the wealthy and privileged.

The mansion’s grand rooms and sweeping staircases suggested the kind of old money that fascinated viewers.

Today, Greystone Mansion operates as a public park managed by the City of Beverly Hills.

Visitors can explore the grounds and gardens while admiring the exterior architecture.

The property offers stunning views across Los Angeles, adding to its majesty.

Special tours occasionally provide access to interior spaces, revealing even more of the mansion’s splendor.

Photography enthusiasts love capturing the building’s distinctive features and beautiful landscaping.

The mansion represents a piece of California history that extends far beyond television.

Visiting Greystone connects you to Hollywood’s golden era and the show’s most glamorous moments simultaneously.

7. Griffith Observatory

Few Los Angeles landmarks are as instantly recognizable as Griffith Observatory.

This iconic hilltop attraction appeared in the Beverly Hills, 90210 episode titled Rebel with a Cause.

The episode’s title itself referenced the James Dean classic film that made the observatory famous decades earlier.

Perched high in Griffith Park, the observatory offers breathtaking views across the entire Los Angeles basin.

On clear days, you can see from the Pacific Ocean to downtown’s glittering skyline.

The building’s Art Deco architecture has captivated visitors since it opened to the public.

Its distinctive copper domes and white walls photograph beautifully against the California sky.

Beyond its appearance in Beverly Hills, 90210, the observatory has starred in numerous Hollywood productions.

It represents Los Angeles itself in the public imagination, symbolizing both scientific achievement and romantic possibility.

The facility offers free admission and features fascinating exhibits about astronomy and space exploration.

Visiting at sunset provides spectacular views as the city lights begin twinkling below.

The observatory remains one of Southern California’s most popular attractions for both tourists and locals.

Standing where the characters once stood connects you to both the show and broader Hollywood history.

Griffith Park surrounding the observatory offers hiking trails and natural beauty throughout its vast acreage.

This location perfectly captures the magic of Los Angeles as a city where dreams and reality intersect.

8. Rodeo Drive

No street says Beverly Hills quite like Rodeo Drive.

This world-famous shopping destination appeared throughout the series in establishing shots and shopping scenes.

The three-block stretch of luxury boutiques represents the ultimate in high-end retail therapy.

Designer names line both sides of the immaculately maintained street.

Palm trees sway overhead while luxury cars glide past storefronts displaying the latest fashions.

For the show’s characters, Rodeo Drive shopping trips were as natural as breathing.

These scenes reminded viewers of the wealth and privilege that defined much of the show’s world.

The street itself has been synonymous with luxury since it became a retail destination.

Window shopping here costs nothing and provides endless entertainment.

The architecture blends classic elegance with modern sophistication throughout the district.

Even if high-end shopping isn’t in your budget, walking Rodeo Drive offers a quintessential Beverly Hills experience.

You’ll likely spot luxury vehicles, well-dressed shoppers, and perhaps even a celebrity or two.

The street perfectly embodies the aspirational lifestyle that Beverly Hills, 90210 both celebrated and occasionally critiqued.

Photographers love capturing the iconic street signs and glamorous storefronts.

Visiting Rodeo Drive completes any tour of Beverly Hills, 90210 filming locations by showcasing the community that gave the show its name.

This is where television fantasy and California reality truly merge.