From Privacy to Panoramic Views, Here’s Why People are Flocking to the Hollywood Hills
High above the bustle of Los Angeles sits the Hollywood Hills: an area made up of several neighborhoods brimming with life. With seemingly endless winding roads, large lots, and incomparable views of the city below, the Hollywood Hills has become one of the most desirable areas to live in Los Angeles and served as a home to many high-profile residents over the years. Here’s why it is so beloved.
Privacy
A big draw of the Hollywood Hills is the idea that it can provide a patch of paradise tucked away from the chaos of the city. The greater Hollywood Hills area is divided up into a number of neighborhoods, which are made up of and connected by a network of winding tree-lined streets through the hills that offer residents a true sense of privacy and seclusion.
Before its development in Hollywood’s Golden Age by actors, musicians, producers, and directors, Hollywood Hills was untouched and inhabited only by citrus trees, shrubs, bears, and coyotes. When the area started to be built up, it was developed into large lots, where much of the greenery and scenery along with the distance from neighbors was maintained. Many homes feature unobstructed views all the way to the ocean on a clear day and easy access to hiking trails.
Architecture
As with much of Los Angeles, home styles in the Hollywood Hills vary from Spanish villas to iconic California mid-century modern bungalows to modern marvels. Original bungalows from the 1920s still stand, offering California cool charm, while Spanish-style homes with high ceilings and terra cotta tile fireplaces feel nostalgic and otherworldly. Estates developed in the 1950s and 1960s offer residents and prospective buyers a peek into the iconic mid-century modern architectural period, including large airy spaces, clean lines, and original hardwood floors. No matter your personal tastes, there is a home in the Hollywood Hills to suit your style.
Community
The Hollywood Hills is also dotted with charming neighborhood villages--many still standing from their establishment in the 1920s--which house small businesses from markets and bookstores to salons and gift boutiques. These whimsical commercial areas make the Hollywood Hills enclaves that much more appealing to its residents and give each community a small-town feel. Many of Hollywood Hills residents have also called the area home for years, helping each neighborhood feel tight-knit.
Views
Perched atop Los Angeles, many Hollywood Hills homes feature staggering views over the city below--from Hollywood to Downtown to the Pacific Ocean. The hills face southwest: an ideal position for watching the sunset over the ocean and enjoying the city lights at night. Living in the Hollywood Hills allows you to feel privacy and proximity at the same time, watching the city go by below you in peace.
Entertainment and Recreation
Despite the feeling of being removed from the world, the Hollywood Hills is just a short drive from all of the amenities the city of Los Angeles has to offer, including world-class dining, shopping, and entertainment. The trendy neighborhood of Los Feliz is to the near southeast while West Hollywood--full of bars, restaurants, and shops--flanks the southwest edge. Within the Hollywood Hills, you’ll also find the well-known
Magic Castle, an exclusive, invitation-only clubhouse where you can enjoy dinner and a show, as well as
Yamashiro, a replica of the original palace in Japan and upscale sushi restaurant.
As the neighborhood is nestled in the Santa Monica Mountains, there are plenty of opportunities to get outside, with Runyon Canyon Park, the Hollywood Sign hiking trail, and horse barns nearby. A Los Angeles icon and local favorite venue,
the Hollywood Bowl is also a short drive away, where concerts and other shows are put on in the country’s largest natural amphitheater.
Griffith Park Observatory, originally opened almost 100 years ago, is a must-visit and remains a go-to spot for Angelenos and visitors alike.
