No matter if you’re looking for a rousing night on the town or a cozy evening in your residence, the holidays this year at Villa Carlotta will be magical! Join us fireside in the lobby and unwind with a glass of wine or cocktail amongst the twinkling holiday lights and warm glow of the menorah. Here’s to all the cheer while we joyfully wrap up this year.

Holiday meals at Villa Carlotta are a breeze as your options are plentiful. Prepare all your favorite holiday dishes in your fully equipped kitchen and dine en suite, or let the pro’s curate the culinary portion of the evening while you set yourself up for cocktail hour in The Palm Garden after catching the sunset on the roof. Pre-order your meal from this curated list of Thanksgiving Take-Out in Los Angeles or bask in the epicurean delight of one of the 100 Michelin rated restaurants available to you in LA.

Once the meal is over, take in the town. There’s nothing more nostalgic than watching a holiday parade. Experience The 89th Annual Hollywood Christmas Parade Supporting Marine Toys for Tots LIVE, in person this year on Sunday November 28th, just a few blocks from Villa Carlotta. Featuring Hollywood celebrities, movie cars, marching bands from around the country, the parade will be hosted by a star-studded line-up! Santa Claus and his reindeer even make an appearance to usher in the holiday season. Walk along the parade route or secure yourself an exclusive VIP ticket for the best views here.

Looking for something more traditional this holiday season? Enjoy the classic holiday favorite, The Nutcracker on December 23, 24 or 26^th at one of the world’s premier entertainment venues, The Dolby Theater located nearby in downtown Hollywood. If ballet isn’t quite your style, this beautiful venue is equipped with Dolby Vision projection technology and Dolby Atmos cinema sound playback that without a doubt will provide a memorable evening should you choose to attend a musical performance, motion picture showing or play.

Stay warm this winter by getting moving! The Studio at Villa Carlotta is well-appointed with state-of-the-art Peloton bikes and free weights with a personal trainer and a masseur available on request to make sure you stay well. There are also numerous hiking trails close by for you to choose from, here.  Upon your return cool down in the heated saltwater pool. The weather outside is rarely frightful in LA, so your options are plentiful.

From our Villa Carlotta family to yours, we wish you a happy and safe holiday season. Interested in staying with us this winter? Give us a ring at 213.460.5559 to book your stay. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to us with help in securing the perfect itinerary for your holiday celebrations.

Louella Parsons – a name both feared and revered in Hollywood. Just a few lines typed out on a typewriter could end someone’s career. Accurate or fabricated, neither mattered. What Parsons wrote stood as fact. Yet how was it that this once “nobody columnist” came to be a gossip column tycoon? It’s a story made for Hollywood (and Villa Carlotta) history.

It was said that Parson’s rose to infamy due to her perfect timing, but we’ll get to that later. Her story begins at the Chicago Tribune where she created the first movie column in the country. It was here that fate took its turn. William Randolph Hearst acquired the newspaper and Parsons found herself out of a job. She moved to New York and began a similar column. She received Hearst’s attention by writing an encouraging review of his mistress Marion Davies. Shortly after, Hearst commissioned Parsons to write for the New York American.

Wildly speculated, it was the scandal that Parson’s didn’t write about that some said earned her the claim to fame and the unbridled power of the Hearst empire behind her. Parsons’ flattering piece about Ms. Davies earned her friendship and an invitation on Hearst’s yacht for Labor Day in 1924. At some point in the evening another guest on Hearst’s yacht, director Thomas Ince, was shot and mortally wounded.

The rumors say Ince was shot by Hearst himself, though the bullet was possibly intended for Charlie Chaplin. Newspapers reported Ince was not on the yacht, but instead passed from heart failure in his home. Parsons also denied attendance. Whatever happened on that USS Oneida that fateful day it most likely catapulted her to gossip column fame, as she later became Hearst’s lead gossip columnist.

Louella Parsons and the unwritten scandal have ties to Villa Carlotta.  Not only was Louella Parson’s one of the famous inhabitants of Villa Carlotta, the building itself was once owned by the Elinor Ince, widow of Thomas Ince. It is speculated that the newspaper magnate financed the construction of the building as a “grief payment.” Scandalous, intriguing and (mostly) true – the exact events we’ll never know, but this story is one for the Hollywood history books.

Want to learn more about Villa Carlotta’s intriguing history, or perhaps find yourself staying with us? Give us a ring at 213. 460. 5709 or visit www.vilacarlottala.com to learn more.

Nestled in the heart of Hollywood, California, lies Villa Carlotta – a residence with a storied past dating back to 1926. With Valentine’s Day around the corner, it’s the perfect time to explore the romanticism and glamour that is Villa Carlotta. Stargaze on the rooftop deck, relax poolside or enjoy a bottle of wine with a charcuterie board in the Palm Garden. Whatever it is, you’ll be sure to experience one of the most romantic evenings in one of the most romantic locations.

Designed by Arthur E. Harvey, the iconic residential property was built in 1926 by Thomas Ince, for his wife, Elinor Ince, an American stage and motion-picture actress. Thomas Ince was the first producer-director turning moviemaking into a business enterprise by opening his own film studio “Inceville.”. Steeped in film history, Villa Carlotta beams chic, Old Hollywood glamour. Everywhere you look, you’ll find nuances of love and a haunting beauty.

Villa Carlotta’s iconic style and design have stood the test of time and stand as tribute to the Golden Age of Hollywood. The building was designated as a Los Angeles Historical Cultural Monument in 1986. Villa Carlotta’s architectural, historic, and cultural features continue to be a prominent example of Art Deco architecture in Los Angeles. When the building first opened its doors, it was named “the last word on luxury” by the Los Angeles Times. You might have seen it featured in Vogue, recognized for its infamous Hollywood history.

The hallways of Villa Carlotta have been trafficked by the most iconic people in Hollywood in its heyday, including Oscar-winning producer David O. Selznick and Oscar-winning director George Cukor. Many of Hollywood’s best continue to stay here while they record music, film, or work on location in Los Angeles. From past to present, Villa Carlotta has always been a residence for modern day dreamers.

Are you in love yet? Give us a ring, darling. Make this number one you won’t forget. Dial 213.460.5559 to book your stay.

Nothing sparks romance like a relaxing evening at Hollywood’s most desirable address. Living at Villa Carlotta makes date night easy with a plethora of shops and restaurants at your fingertips. Set in the heart of Hollywood’s eclectic Franklin village, here are three easy ways to impress that special someone with an out-of-this-world evening.

Scenic rooftop date night

Grab your favorite bottle of wine and an assortment of the best cheese from Gelson’s Market– the most exquisite gourmet market that Los Angeles has to offer – just steps away from our marvelous property. Head to the beautiful rooftop of Villa Carlotta with your decadent snacks- and sprawl out on our plush outdoor patio. A rooftop is one of the most magical date night settings imaginable.

Date at the Villa Carlotta Pool 

Poolside libations is the ideal way to bring about a spark of romance. A day at the pool at Villa Carlotta will not disappoint. Lounge around and take a dive in our state-of-the-art heated salt water pool. Enveloped in greenery and lined with chaise lounge chairs- it’s the perfect setting to soak up some sun in the company of that someone that matters the most.

Takeout in the Palm Garden

Nestled in the heart of Los Angeles- the world is your oyster. Satisfy any craving your heart desires by picking up takeout in the iconic Franklin Village. Bring back your chosen treats to the Palm Garden- Villa Carlotta’s central courtyard.

When trying to choose a place to eat with your significant other, here are a few of our favorite eateries just moments away from Villa Carlotta. Take your taste buds on a trip to France by stopping by La Poubelle Bistro. Or, stop by for a late night coffee run at the Bourgeois Pig– a funky coffee shop with a jungle theme. And finally- curb your sweet tooth with some homemade ice cream from Van Leeuwen Artisan Ice Cream.

For decades our building has inspired creatives in art and love. Give us a call at 213.463.2639 or visit www.villacarlottala.com for more information. We’re looking forward to hosting you and that special someone.

George Cukor – A talented motion picture director whose career spanned over 50 years of filmmaking working with the industry’s brightest actors and actresses. Known for his attention to detail and skilled direction, his eyes had been set on the entertainment industry since childhood.

He was fast friends with the likes of Katherine Hepburn and responsible for major changes to character images in films such as The Wizard of Oz (though he was never formally credited for directing). He was also another revered guest at our very own Villa Carlotta.

Cukor was born in 1899 in Lower East Side, Manhattan to Hungarian-Jewish immigrants. His father was a district attorney, a career choice the young Cukor was supposed to pursue as well. But he had his eye on the theater. As a child, he took dance lessons and even performed in a recital with David O. Selznick who later became a legendary Hollywood producer. Cukor would frequent the New York Hippodrome, a popular Manhattan theater, and would regularly cut class during his senior year for matinees instead. It is no wonder that he left college early to pursue other interests.

After finishing high school, Cukor became an assistant stage manager for a touring production of a British musical “The Better Ole.” By 1920, he became the stage manager for the Knickerbocker Players and in 1925 he formed his own company –C.F. and Z Production Company. Cukor was off and running. Hollywood began recruiting New York talent for films and Cukor was eager to take the chance. He was hired by Paramount in 1928 and co-directed three films by 1930, after which he was granted his first solo directorial credit in 1931 with Tarnished Lady. He later left Paramount after not receiving directorial credit for a film and joined his old friend and now producer, David O. Selznick with RKO. He made his first box office success with Little Women in 1933, earning him his first Academy Award nomination.

Though he worked with and directed male actors, Cukor was known for his direction of actresses and his capability to elevate their performances and was sometimes referred to as a “women’s director” – to his disliking. Cukor continued to ride the highs and lows of Hollywood filmmaking and his career earned him several Academy nominations. His last film, Rich and Famous was made in 1981, a year before his retirement and two years before his death.

For more information on Villa Carlotta’s storied history and its legendary guests, visit www.villacarlottala.com or call 213. 320. 5951. We welcome you to become part of our legendary story.