Observatory, Greek Theater, and 4000 acre Griffith Park in background
Location: Los Angeles, Los Angeles County & Catalina Island, California, USA (Hollywood Hills) View Map
Accommodations: Villa, 1 Bedroom + No additional sleeping rooms avail, 1 Bath (Sleeps 2)
Keywords: Guest House
VILLA SOPHIA - Glamorous Hollywood luxury designer pool house (750 sq. ft.) located in the celebrity-filled hills of the exclusive Los Feliz neighborhood. (SEE PERSONAL WEBSITE PHOTOS - LINK BELOW) This gorgeous, relaxing, pool house is like a private spa suite at a five star hotel. Situated on the garden grounds of a 1927 Mediterranean estate. Bright, sunny and spacious it overlooks a large, 8.5' deep emerald tile pool and hot tub to view of downtown Los Angeles skyline and city lights. Mountains and Ocean visible from property. Located on a cul-de-sac for added privacy. Completely private,secluded and tranquil.**********************************Spa-like pool house built in 2003 has brand new surround sound system, Ipod dock, DVD player, Playstation. Ten foot Venetian Plaster walls, huge custom iron doors and windows, massive stone fireplace, hand forged iron sconces and chandeliers, limestone/tile floors, marble counter-tops, custom cabinetry of reclaimed wood. Grand master bath with double bathroom sinks, huge stone/marble shower with rain shower head, additional side mounted and hand held shower heads, double steam units with marble seating for 4, two terrycloth bathrobes, AQUA DI PARMA hotel amenities - shampoo, conditioner, body wash, body cream, glycerin soap and bar soap. King sized bed, kitchenette w/microwave, coffee maker, toaster oven, toaster, ice machine, wifi internet, 42" flat screen TV w/ cable T.V., 488 channels, 2nd flat screen TV in bathroom.***************************Seperate entrance with EXCLUSIVE USE of 500 sq. ft. covered grotto sitting area made of ancient terra cotta tiles. EXCLUSIVE USE of entire rear yard lawn and garden, POOL, HOT TUB, and additional 500 sq. ft. of outdoor patios.************************The Villa is situated next to Griffith Park, the largest municipal and urban wilderness area in the United States with many walking and hiking trails. The Park is the home of the Los Angeles Zoo, four Golf Courses, the Greek Theater, the Griffith Observatory, the Autry Museum, horseback riding, public tennis courts, bicvcle rental, pony rides, camping, picnick areas, swimming pool, athletic fields etc. Two Frank Lloyd Wright museums, the Hollyhock House and the Ennis-Brown House (by appointment) and Richard Neutra's most famous house, The Lovell House are all in the neighborhood. Walking distance to restaurants, coffee shops, mail/shipping store, grocery and health food stores in Los Feliz Village center.
Vacation Rental Features
- Amenities
- Air Conditioning
- Linens Provided : extra set of linens included
- Washer : House Keeper will do laundry for an extra charge of $20/hour.
- Gas Fireplace : Huge Stone Fireplace
- Beds
- King Bed
- Entertainment
- Private Hot Tub : large enough for 8 people
- Cable/Satellite TV
- DVD
- Video Library
- Video Game Console : Play Station
- CD Player
- Stereo System
- Private Pool : 8.5' deep, completely tiled
- Kitchen
- Full Kitchen : kitchenette with Nespresso Machine and complimentary coffee capsules, coffee maker, toaster oven, microwave, toaster, electric tea kettle, ice machine, sink, refrigerator
- Refrigerator
- Microwave
- Ice Maker
- Catering Available
- Outdoor Features
- Deck/Patio
- Gazebo
- View/Location
- Ocean View
- Communications
- Telephone : land line with private number - free of charge for domestic calls
- Free Long Distance : domestic only
- WiFi (Wireless Internet)
- Other Amenities
- ACQUA DI PARMA hotel amenities are provided to guests: bar soap, glycerin soap, shampoo, conditioner, body lotion and shower gel. The Italian luxury perfume maker's prestigious hotel amenities line is inspired by the brand's flagship scent, Colonia. Created exclusively for only the most elegant 5/7 star luxury hotels and resorts worldwide. Reminiscent of Italy, Colonia amenities have a light, fresh and crisp fragrance containing Sicilian citrus, lavender, rosemary, verbena, Bulgarian rose, sandalwood, vetiver, cedar and ylang-ylang. The line is suitable for both men and women. Also, brand new surround system, Ipod dock, Playstation, DVD player, rain shower, multiple shower heads, double steam units, marble bench in steam shower, double bathroom sinks, bidet, 42" flat screen TV, bath robes, board games, hairdryer, straightening iron, private entrance, desk, kitchenette, Nespresso machine with complimentary pods, coffee maker, coffee, tea and condiments, small movie library, toaster
- Suitability
- No Pets Allowed
- Smoking Not Allowed
- Activities
- Golf
- Tennis
- Shopping
- Swimming
- Biking
- Wildlife Viewing
- Health/Beauty Spa
- Basketball Court
- Antiquing
- Live Theatre
- Miniature golf
- Horseback Riding
- Theme Park (Amusement Park)
- Fitness Center/Gym
- Cinemas/Movie Theaters
- Museums
- Zoo/Wildlife Park
- Restaurants
- Hiking
- Other Activities
- walking distance to public golf course, public tennis courts, hiking trails. Five minute drive to horseback riding, bicycle rental, pony rides, picnic areas, athletic fields, museums
Rate Details (In US Dollars)
$395/night - $2370/week
$395 = security deposit
stays of 3 nights or less - $85 cleaning fee
Note: Until confirmed, rates are subject to change without notice.
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Credit Cards Accepted:
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Map & Owner's Profile
The Villa Sophia - Romantic Honeymoon Spa Retreat
Year Purchased: 1997
Why the Owner Chose Los Angeles
The Villa Sophia is located in the eastern Hollywood Hills, in the Los Feliz neighborhood of Los Angeles. Although you are walking distance to Los Feliz Village where you can find all the conveniences of a major city, up here in the Hills you feel as if you are in the country. The guest house faces south providing all day sunshine and the only sounds are of the birds singing, the gentle breeze blowing and the soft murmur of the fountain...
The Unique Benefits at this Villa
Villa Sophia is the most luxurious and romantic accommodation in Los Angeles. In addition, you may have the uncanny feeling that you have been magically transported to the Tuscan countryside. As one of my guests wrote in their review: "we felt like we were standing in Italy and looking at a picturesque view of downtown Los Angeles at the same time. It was truly a surreal feeling"
Griffith Observatory is an icon of Los Angeles, a national leader in public astronomy, a beloved civic gathering place, and one of southern California's most popular attractions. The Observatory is located on the southern slope of Mount Hollywood in Griffith Park, just above the Los Feliz neighborhood. It is 1,134 feet above sea level and is visible from many parts of the Los Angeles basin.
Live music under the stars in the heart of Los Angeles: The Greek Theatre, Los Angeles’ premiere outdoor theatre, is nestled in the picturesque tree-enclosed setting of Griffith Park. This award-winning theatre is one of Los Angeles' most historic entertainment venues and has played host to some of the biggest names in entertainment, from pop to classical, reggae to rock. Recent seasons have featured performances by a wide variety of artists such as The Who, Sting, Alicia Keys, Pearl Jam, Jose Carreras, the Dave Matthews Band, Tina Turner, Elton John, Santana, The White Stripes, the Gipsy Kings, Jack Johnson, the Russian National Ballet, Paul Simon with a special guest appearance by Sir Paul McCartney, just to nam
The Los Angeles Zoo and Botanical Gardens opened on November 28, 1966. The Zoo is home to more than 1,100 mammals, birds, amphibians and reptiles representing more than 250 different species of which 29 are endangered. In addition, the Zoo’s botanical collection comprises several planted gardens and over 800 different plant species with over 7,400 individual plants. The Zoo receives over 1.5 million visitors per year and is owned and operated by the City of Los Angeles.
Located in Griffith Park, one of the U.S.'s largest urban parks, Harding Municipal Golf Course is a beautiful, tree lined, well established course built in 1924. The fairways are somewhat narrow with many challenging, narrow approaches into guarded greens. Although 6,536 yards long, it plays much longer and is a challenge for both low and high handicappers alike. It requires accurate shot placement to be successful. Part of a 36-hole complex with Wilson Municipal Golf Course.
Wilson is a long 6,947 yard golf course with wide fairways nestled in a tree lined semi-forest setting with mildly sloping fairways. The course was built in 1923 by golf course architect George C. Thomas Jr. adjacent to the original L.A. Municipal Golf Course, the Riverside. It was originally known as the #2 course, but it quickly changed to the Woodrow "Wilson" Golf Course beginning a tradition of naming Griffith Park golf courses after presidents.
Roosevelt Municipal Golf Course is a picturesque executive 9-hole course located across the street from the Greek Theater. Roosevelt is a very hilly, challenging course with beautiful views of the whole Los Angeles Basin as well as the Griffith Park Observatory. Roosevelt is unusually long for an executive 9-hole course with many sand traps and plenty of trees and shrubbery surrounding it's rather narrow fairways. It is a walking only course with no drive carts.
Located on Commonwealth Drive, enter park through the Vermont Avenue entrance. These courts are fee reservation by the hour.
Large grocery store with pharmacy. Plenty of free parking.
Spokes n' Stuff Bike Shop Hours: Monday – Friday 2:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m., Memorial Day to Labor Day Saturday – Sunday 10:30 a.m. – Sundown, Year Round Cash only during weekdays
1822 Vermont Avenue 323-664-2169 Located in the up-market district of Los Feliz, to the east of Hollywood. The independent Los Feliz Art Deco Style Theatre opened in 1934 with a seating capacity of 780.
Hollyhock House is a National Historic Landmark located in Barnsdall Park in the East Hollywood neighborhood of Los Angeles, California. It was originally designed by Frank Lloyd Wright as a residence for oil heiress Aline Barnsdall, and built in 1919–1921. The House is currently under the aegis of the City of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs. 4800 Hollywood Blvd.
walk .3 miles from Villa Sophia and enter into Griffith Park here...
Owner's Map of Los Angeles
I am a single man who lives alone in the main house. The property is big enough so that guests and owner's paths rarely cross...although I am available at all times for any reason necessary.
Property Photos
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- Observatory, Greek Theater, and 4000 acre Griffith Park in background - Los Angeles Vacation Home with Private Pool
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- aerial view - Los Angeles Vacation Home with Private Pool
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- tuscan villa - www.thevillasophia.com - Los Angeles Vacation Home with Private Pool
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- good morning - sunrise view from bed
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- king size luxurious, romantic retreat
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- luxury honeymoon suite
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- spa resort experience
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- large stone fireplace
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- your private swimming pool is just steps away...
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- Loggia - private covered seating area
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- enter your private oasis
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- palm and banana trees
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- al fresco dining poolside...
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- lush garden, peaceful and private
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- hollywood glamour - 3 doors, 4 windows open onto private pool
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- view south to downtown L.A. skyline
Traveler Reviews (60)
Incredible stay, amazing place, awesome host, but... Request a few added conveniences
Guest: Mai
(New York, NY)
Date of Stay: 09/27/11
Review Submitted: 11/26/11
Even with a few very minor drawbacks that only mildly bothered us from time to time, this property provided us with a very pleasurable, relaxing experience overall. The host is very inviting, helps you with your luggage, explains how everything works & then... gives you your privacy! The only likely visitor is Sophia. She is such a sweet little dog! Her curiosity is very endearing. The view is beautiful from every angle & the pool house offers a stress-melting indoor/outdoor experience that can't be beat. We felt truly transported & our visitors were enchanted. The accommodations were eat-off-the-floor clean, well kept, brightly lit & luxuriously appointed. The kitchenette was small but user friendly. The breakfast bar only seated one comfortably but we spent every meal "in" at the glass table outdoors anyway. Besides the jaw-dropping view all-around, my other favorite features on the property had to be the incredibly large multi-function rain shower that turns into a steam-room on command & the lull-you-to-sleep, perfectly molded, chaise lounge in the bathroom's changing area. As for those drawbacks I mentioned, most of them are probably avoidable via early requests to the host (be prepared to pay for this added convenience, it'll surely be worth every penny)... 1) The pool... Must be heated to truly enjoy it, & you must pay additionally for that heat. Also, morning swims are best to avoid the bugs that are naturally attracted to the water by afternoon. For later bug-less swims, there's a skimmer near the pool. 2) If you plan to utilize the yard for meals alfresco, swimming & lounging, be sure to request that someone cleans the lounge chairs/cushions from top to bottom before your arrival & also be sure to arrange a clean up after any landscaping. We found the conditions outside to be less pristinely managed than the ones inside. As it is expected outside (and only so manageable), spiders were living in the lounge cushions, webs were in the flower plants & statues near the pool, but it was probably most uncomfortable returning to find landscapers' clippings covering every surface (including the pool) at a vacation stay. 3) As for the unavoidable. There's only street parking. Don't bring an SUV or other large vehicle -- it's on an extremely narrow road in the hills. There's also conditional parking here, so know before you go. All told, this place was worth every penny & unforgettable. We just wish we planned ahead for the extras!
Owner response:Well, all winning streaks eventually come to an end. This is our first non-5 star review since we opened 3 years ago. I certainly will have a talk with my housekeeper and gardener regarding the seat cushions, spider webs and grass clippings although they have both always been exemplary employees and exceptionally fastidious. Regarding the bugs, Southern California has very few bugs but like all pools some bugs will land on the water. The pool filter (skimmer) can be turned on by the guest at any time. Pool heat is a personal preference but I was able to go back and find that the Los Angeles temperature was 85 degrees upon check-in for Maitley on September 27. The pool is completely tiled, has southern exposure for all day sunshine and is shielded from any possible wind so therefore warmer than other pools. If this pool needed to be heated then all pools need to be heated. Regarding parking I myself have parked my Range Rover SUV's on this dead-end street every day since I moved here in year 2000 with never a problem. Also, to illustrate, I built much of what is now the Villa Sophia over a couple year period, which required that very many, larger than SUV, trucks needed to park on my street with never any issues. Lastly, the conditional street parking applies to approximately 50% of this empty, dead-end street. The marked areas only apply on "Red Flag Days" which according to the local fire department we have had 4 in 2011. We alert guests when such a day is upon us and instruct them to park directly up the street about 50 meters. We will be sure to address that in our rental agreement forthwith. Thank you Maitely and I hope you will come again! Tim
Recommended for:Adventure seekers, sightseeing, romantic getaway.
Tuscan Inspired Oasis in Los Angeles
Guest: Cynthia from Las Vegas
(-)
Date of Stay: 08/14/11
Review Submitted: 10/25/11
The Villa Sophia will not disappoint even the most discerning traveler. Its astounding beauty and tranquility provide an atmosphere ripe for relaxation, all the while the excitement of Los angeles is a stones throw away. We visited for my husband's birthday getaway and the Villa Sophia provided a serene backdrop for our la adventures.
Recommended for:
Tuscan Inspired Oasis in Los Angeles
Guest: Cynthia from Las Vegas
(-)
Date of Stay: 08/14/11
Review Submitted: 10/25/11
The Villa Sophia will not disappoint even the most discerning traveler. Its astounding beauty and tranquility provide an atmosphere ripe for relaxation, all the while the excitement of Los angeles is a stones throw away. We visited for my husband's birthday getaway and the Villa Sophia provided a serene backdrop for our la adventures.
Recommended for:
Luxurious place to stay! Absolutely one of a kind!
Guest: Heide & Dennis from Helsinki
(-)
Date of Stay: 10/06/11
Review Submitted: 10/25/11
We had the privilege to spend the last week of our three week honeymoon at Villa Sophia and we loved it !!! The apartment, the steam bath, the location, the beautiful house, garden and the private swimming pool were all just amazing!!! Perfect ending to our perfect honeymoon, which began in Bora Bora. If you visit la I strongly recommend you to stay at Villa Sophia! The beautiful pictures on the website don't do justice to the place - it is just sooo beautiful!Thank you Tim and thank you Sophia for the wonderful stay! We really, really hope to find time to come back soon!!!
Recommended for:
Just Amazing
Guest: Chris from Oxfordshire, UK
(-)
Date of Stay: 09/11/11
Review Submitted: 10/25/11
My wife, young 8 month old daughter and myself stayed at Villa Sophia in September 2011. We could not recommend it enough to anyone who is in LA for a week or more (or less for that matter) as it is far more convenient and on a par price-wise than many aspects of staying in la hotels. You will never get tired of the amazing views while sitting in the hot tub, large pool, steam room, the lovely big bed and the luxurious and tasteful nature of absolutely everything. This is near perfection, all down to the smallest detail. If you are a fan of peace and tranquility, this is also the place for you - well away from the hustle and bustle of Hollywood, yet perfectly placed for travelling to all parts of LA, indeed California as it is just 5 mins from the highway to SF. Tim is a perfect host - always around if you need anything but not obtrusive and we had a wonderful and restful week here. Kind of like staying in a relaxed hotel where the fridge is full of your own beers and snacks and you have total privacy. This will always be our home in future whenever we visit LA - would particularly recommend to European visitors not familiar with the areas as it is a great base.
Recommended for:
Heaven on Earth
Guest: Alicia from Seattle
(-)
Date of Stay: 04/05/11
Review Submitted: 10/25/11
What an incredibly peaceful and restorative stay! Not only does the Villa Sophia have a stunning view but it's location is next to Griffith Park with all the recreation and fabulous neighborhoods to explore. The light and love of this property radiates in the beauty and small details of the architecture and comfortable furnishings Our spirits so enjoyed every moment of our stay; swimming, soaking, steaming, meals around the pool and long nights under the stars. Tim and Sophia are lovely hosts and create a sacred and most private space to relax in. Bravo for a one of a kind experience!
Recommended for:
Cannot recommend Villa Sophia enough!
Guest: Ren and Mick from Australia
(-)
Date of Stay: 09/01/11
Review Submitted: 10/25/11
What fantastic memories my husband and I have of Villa Sophia! 7 nights in paradise is how we describe this Villa to our friends back in australia. We found Villa Sophia on line and booked our whole USA holiday around staying at this Villa! and we are so glad we did. The attention to detail, location & cleanliness of the Villa was excellent. The friendliness of host Tim & Pet host Sophie was really great, especially when nothing is too much for Tim (like checking I didnt leave the straightener on when I had left for the day!!). Tim leaves you to live in the Villa as if it where your own home! Pet dog Sophie visiting us for her dog biscuits helped too.. We spent many days sitting on the Deck Lounge chairs sunning ourselves & relaxing by the pool and thinking wow this is so awesome! I can't recommend Villa Sophia enough to anyone staying in the la area. The location near all the places we wanted to explore was ideal, like Runyon Canyon, Griffith Park, Beverley Hills, Venice Beach etc.. and best of all we felt safe. Thanks Tim & Sophie! We hope that we can stay with you again in the near future :-)
Recommended for:
Paradise
Guest: Rozalynd from Sonoma County, California
(-)
Date of Stay: 08/12/11
Review Submitted: 10/25/11
My husband and I have had on heck of a stressful summer, and really needed to relax and unwind. We found Villa Sophia and thought it was just the ticket...and it was! We swam in the beautiful crystal clear pool everyday, sipped champagne in the hot tub while enjoying the fabulous city lights of downtown la at night, and the steam shower in the awesome master bath was just what the doctor ordered. Our little dog, CoCo, loved the beautiful grounds so much, that when it was time to leave, she wouldn't budge. We had to carry her out (to be honest, we didn't want to leave either!). We come to la often and we will be back. Such a treat!!!
Recommended for:
!! 5 Star Luxury !!
Guest: Benjamin B.
Date of Stay: 09/14/11
Review Submitted: 10/21/11
We loved to be at the overwhelming tuscan hilltop villa, enjoying the pool, the luxury outdoor spa and of course the amazing, incredible Los Angeles skyline view. We definitey will come back again. Great and very secure neighborhood, great restaurants nearby, very nice village of Los Feliz. Griffith Park and Observatory very near. Espescially the big bathroom with the sauna we used everyday. Fire place at the bedroom is great for romantic evenings.
Recommended for:
Romantic Hideaway
Guest: Alex Henchley
(London)
Date of Stay: 06/24/11
Review Submitted: 08/08/11
This was the second time we have stayed at Villa Sophia. It is a fantastic place to stay. Close enough to downtown LA, 10 minutes drive, Universal Studios and Griffin Park but tucked away in the hills that you would not realise you were so close. We stayed here for our anniversary. It was extremely romantic. We especially enjoyed watching the sunsets from the hot tub. It is great value compared to a five star hotel with the various taxes, parking and internet charges. Facilities include a shower room that turns into a steam room, hot tub, swimming pool, exercise mats and weights. Villa Sophia has a homely feel added to with the appearance of the owners dog, Sophie who was really friendly and fun.
Recommended for:Sightseeing, pet owners, romantic getaway, age 55+.
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Vacation Rentals by Owner Listing #207172
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