THE OVIATT BUILDING
The Historic Home of Cicada
A Los Angeles Art Deco landmark since 1928
STEP INTO ANOTHER ERA
Cicada Restaurant & Lounge occupies one of Downtown Los Angeles’ most distinctive historic interiors. Inside the Oviatt Building, Art Deco architecture, decorative glass, sweeping staircases and finely crafted details create a setting that has endured for generations.
Today, those original architectural elements remain an essential part of the Cicada experience. This is not a recreation of the past. It is a genuine historic setting that continues to live, entertain and welcome guests today.
1927
A LANDMARK TAKES SHAPE
Construction began in 1927 on a new Los Angeles home for Alexander & Oviatt. James Oviatt had already found inspiration abroad; during his European travels, including a visit to the influential 1925 Paris Exposition, he encountered the emerging Art Deco style and the work of French designers and craftsmen. Those influences would ultimately shape the extraordinary interiors of his new building.
1928
THE OVIATT BUILDING IS BORN
Designed by the prominent Los Angeles architectural firm Walker & Eisen, the Oviatt Building opened in 1928 as the headquarters of Alexander & Oviatt, one of the city’s most prestigious menswear establishments.
The building combined an elegant retail store at street level with offices above and a private penthouse created for James Oviatt. The former Alexander & Oviatt shop is the space that is now home to Cicada Restaurant & Lounge.
The building’s exterior was only the beginning. Inside, James Oviatt created an environment shaped by the modern European design he had encountered abroad.
The interior was conceived with the same ambition as the building itself, transforming the Alexander & Oviatt store into an experience unlike anything else in Los Angeles at the time.
Art Deco was built into the identity of the space from the beginning.
CRAFTED TO ENDURE
Geometric forms, rich materials and elaborate decorative details transformed the Alexander & Oviatt store into one of Los Angeles’ most distinctive Art Deco interiors. René Lalique’s glasswork became one of the defining elements of the space, alongside custom metalwork, stair rails, lighting and ornamental details that remain part of the building’s character today.
A LIVING PIECE OF LOS ANGELES
As Downtown Los Angeles changed around it, the Oviatt Building endured. Its architecture, materials and surviving decorative details preserve the character of an era when craftsmanship was meant to make an impression.
Nearly a century after its opening, the building remains more than a backdrop. Its history is still visible in the spaces, surfaces and details experienced by everyone who walks through its doors.
1997 - PRESENT
CICADA TODAY
In 1997, Cicada moved into the former Alexander & Oviatt retail space, beginning a new chapter in the building’s history.
The historic architecture remains an essential part of the experience, from the dramatic staircase and mezzanine to the decorative glass, metalwork and Art Deco details that define the room.
Rather than recreating the glamour of another era, Cicada lives within it. The building’s original character now provides the setting for dining, live entertainment, weddings, private events and film productions.
Nearly a century after the Oviatt Building opened, its story continues every night at Cicada.
