Go On Location: The Ultimate Guide to "Clueless" Movie Locations in Los Angeles (Part 1)
Updated on July 17, 2015
Written and directed by Amy Heckerling, the hit comedy Clueless premiered July 19, 1995 and introduced countless catchphrases and slang into the common lexicon. ("Monet," "Baldwin," "buggin'" anyone?) The way popular modern adaptation of Jane Austen's Emma, which centered around Beverly Hills teen Cher Horowitz (played by Alicia Silverstone), was lensed in and around Los Angeles in early 1995. Read on for the ultimate guide to each and every locale featured in the movie – like, all 40 of them.
Cher’s House (0:01)
The “classic” mansion where Cher lived, with its columns that date all the way back to 1972, is not actually located in Beverly Hills (gasp!), but in the San Fernando Valley – Encino to be exact. The interior and exterior of the massive 9,441-square-foot residence were used extensively in the film and the picturesque backyard was the site of Mr. Hall (Wallace Shawn) and Miss Geist’s (Twink Caplan) wedding in the final scene. Unfortunately, the residence is situated behind a large wall and is not at all visible from the street. “What-ever!”
5148 Louise Ave. Encino, CA 91316//} ?>
Cher Drives to Pick Up Dionne for School (0:02)
On her way to pick up BFF Dionne (Stacy Dash) for school, Cher shows off the tricked out Jeep daddy bought her (“It’s got four-wheel drive, dual-side airbags and a monster sound system!”) while driving south on North Bedford Drive in Beverly Hills.
800 N. Bedford Dr. Beverly Hills, CA 90210//} ?>
Cher Hits a Potted Plant (0:02)
During the drive, Cher takes out a large potted plant in the yard of a gated home on Bedford Drive (“Oy! That came out of nowhere!”). The Spanish-style home visible in the background of the scene is at 801 North Bedford Drive.
801 N Bedford Dr. Beverly Hills, CA 90210//} ?>
Dionne’s House (0:02)
One of the few prominent Clueless locations actually located in Beverly Hills, Dionne’s Tudor-style mansion can be found in the flats, just off Sunset Boulevard. A fence has since been added to the property, along with quite a bit of foliage, but it is still recognizable from its silver screen appearance.
705 N. Sierra Dr. Beverly Hills, CA 90210//} ?>
“Hello! That was a Stop Sign!” (0:02)
After picking up Dionne and insulting her Dr. Seuss-like hat, Cher "totally pauses" at the stop sign located at the intersection of Elevado Avenue and North Hillcrest Drive. The house that Cher drives by in the scene is at 701 N. Hillcrest Dr. in Beverly Hills.
701 N. Hillcrest Rd. Beverly Hills, CA 90210//} ?>
Bronson Alcott High School Exterior – Johnson Student Center and Freeman College Union, Occidental College (0:03)
Occidental College was used for all of the exterior scenes that take place at Bronson Alcott High School (named in part after director Amy Heckerling’s then-boyfriend Bronson Pinchot). The south side of Occidental’s Johnson Student Center and Freeman College Union masqueraded as the front of the fictional Beverly Hills-area high school.
1600 Campus Rd. Los Angeles, CA 90041//} ?>
Bronson Alcott High School Walkway – Central Quadrangle, Occidental College (0:03)
The esplanade that Cher and her friends are often seen strolling along (and where the movie’s infamous “As if!” moment takes place) is Occidental’s large tree-lined Central Quadrangle. The Quadrangle also serves as the hangout of Bronson Alcott’s various cliques, including Alana’s group (“They do the TV station. They think that’s the most important thing on earth!”), the Persian Mafia (“You can’t hang with them unless you own a BMW.”) and the Crew, aka the most popular boys in school (“If you make the decision to date a high school boy, they are the only acceptable ones.”).
1600 Campus Rd. Los Angeles, CA 90041//} ?>
Bronson Alcott High School Interiors – Ulysses S. Grant High School (0:04)
Many of the Bronson Alcott interior scenes were shot at Grant High School in Van Nuys. Cher debates about partying with the Haitians under the tutelage of Mr. Hall while in Room 201. Production designer Steven J. Jordan significantly altered the room for the shoot so that it would better match the Spanish-style architecture of Occidental College. Changes included the installation of a fake wall that obscured portions of the windows in order to make them appear arched. It was through those windows that Travis Birkenstock (Breckin Meyer) tried to jump after receiving a less than stellar report card. The orange-hued hallway outside of Room 104 provided the backdrop for Cher and Dionne’s post-class cell phone conversation.
13000 Oxnard St Van Nuys, CA 91401//} ?>
Bronson Alcott High School Athletic Field – Patterson Field, Occidental College (0:10)
In a scene filmed on Occidental’s football field, Cher convinces her P.E. teacher, Ms. Stoeger (Julie Brown – yes, that Julie Brown), to raise her grade from a "C" to a "B."
1600 Campus Rd. Los Angeles, CA 90041//} ?>
Mall Exterior – Westside Pavilion (0:10)
The Westside Pavilion was used for the establishing shot of the mall that Cher heads to in order to find sanctuary and regain her strength after being brutally rebuffed in her attempts to have Mr. Hall raise her debate grade.
10800 W. Pico Blvd., Suite 312 Los Angeles, CA 90064//} ?>
Contempo Casuals – Wet Seal, Westfield Fashion Square (0:11)
All of the interior mall scenes in Clueless were shot in the Valley at Westfield Fashion Square. The mall’s former Contempo Casuals space (now occupied by Wet Seal) was utilized twice in the movie. The first time is when Cher and Dionne decide to try to make Mr. Hall “sublimely happy.” Later, Dionne call Cher from in front of Contempo Casuals to inform her that they will be making a cameo at the Val party.
Mr. Hall’s Pathway – Booth Music and Speech Center, Occidental College (0:11)
The tree-lined walkway leading to the south side of Occidental’s Booth Music and Speech Center, which has since been slightly re-landscaped, is where Cher observed Mr. Hall and came to the conclusion that he was in need of a “good, healthy boink fest.”
1600 Campus Rd. Los Angeles, CA 90041//} ?>
Bronson Alcott High School Teachers’ Lounge – Gresham Dining Room, Occidental College (0:11)
Occidental’s Gresham Dining Room masked as the faculty lounge where Cher decides to set Miss Geist up with Mr. Hall - and covets a Snickers bar. The opulent space features arched windows, towering wood-beamed ceilings and French doors, though little of it was shown onscreen.
1600 Campus Rd. Los Angeles, CA 90041//} ?>
Bronson Alcott High School’s Main Office – Student Activities Office, Occidental College (0:12)
Bronson Alcott's main office, where Cher and Dionne leave Miss Geist an anonymous love note (complete with a famous quote from CliffsNotes) was the former Student Activities Office at the Johnson Student Center and Freeman College Union. The interior of the student center was largely gutted and remodeled in 1998 and then again in 2012 - the vast majority of it looks completely different today. The Student Activities Office was a casualty of the 1998 renovation and no longer exists.
1600 Campus Rd. Los Angeles, CA 90041//} ?>
Driving Lessons - North Bristol Avenue, Brentwood (0:16)
Josh (Paul Rudd) gives Cher driving lessons (“Hey, James Bond! In America we drive on the right side of the road!”) and advice on using her popularity for a good cause (like Marky Mark) while driving north on North Bristol Avenue near Ashford Street in Brentwood.
359 N Bristol Ave Los Angeles, CA 90049//} ?>
Bronson Alcott High School Cafeteria Exterior - Johnson Student Center and Freeman College Union, Occidental College (0:17)
The eastern side of Occidental’s Johnson Student Center and Freeman College Union served as the exterior of the Bronson Alcott cafeteria. Though still recognizable from the film, the addition of stairs and a ramp have altered the look of this location.
1600 Campus Rd. Los Angeles, CA 90041//} ?>
Cher Gives Coffee to Mr. Hall – Fowler Hall, Occidental College (0:17)
Cher offers her father’s “sucky Italian roast” to Mr. Hall while walking along the eastern portion of Occidental’s Central Quadrangle, in front of Fowler Hall.
1600 Campus Rd. Los Angeles, CA 90041//} ?>
Mr. Hall and Miss Geist’s Bench – Central Quadrangle, Occidental College (0:18)
Mr. Hall shares the coffee with Miss Geist - and gets her digits – at a shaded bench in the central portion of the Quadrangle’s southern end.
1600 Campus Rd. Los Angeles, CA 90041//} ?>
Bronson Alcott High School Faculty Parking Lot – Admission and Visitor Parking, Occidental College (0:19)
While Cher and Dionne watch from behind some hedges, Mr. Hall and Miss Geist share their first kiss in the parking lot located between Newcomb Hall and the Admission Office/Collin House.
1600 Campus Rd. Los Angeles, CA 90041//} ?>
Bronson Alcott High School Tennis Courts - McKinnon Family Tennis Center, Occidental College (0:20)
Cher laments the travesty of Bronson Alcott’s physical education program (“I doubt I’ve worked off the calories in a stick of carefree gum!”) and first meets Tai (Brittany Murphy) while hitting balls at Occidental’s large tennis court pavilion.
1600 Campus Rd. Los Angeles, CA 90041//} ?>
Bronson Alcott High School Cafeteria Interior – Johnson Student Center and Freeman College Union, Occidental College (0:24)
The interior of the Bronson Alcott cafeteria, where Tai and Travis first lock eyes, was formerly located inside the Johnson Student Center and Freeman College Union, but was remodeled during the 1998 renovation.
1600 Campus Rd. Los Angeles, CA 90041//} ?>
Grassy Knoll - Samuelson Campus Pavilion, Occidental College (0:25)
Travis and his fellow Loadies (whom “no respectable girl actually dates”) hang out at this hilly spot situated along the western side of the Samuelson Campus Pavilion.
1600 Campus Rd. Los Angeles, CA 90041//} ?>
Fountain Photo Shoot - Booth Music and Speech Center Courtyard, Occidental College (0:30)
Cher’s impromptu photo shoot with the gang, during which Tai poses like “one of those Botticelli chicks,” takes place at the fountain located in the courtyard of Occidental’s Booth Music and Speech Center.
1600 Campus Rd. Los Angeles, CA 90041//} ?>
You wouldn't dare skip the rest of the ultimate guide to Clueless film locations, would you? As if!
The Ultimate Guide to “Clueless” Film Locations in L.A. (Part 2) →