The Paramour Estate: Hollywood’s Most Storied Hideaway
Where Gilded-Age Grandeur Meets Rock ’n’ Roll Edge
A Mansion with Many Lives
Perched high in Silver Lake with sweeping views over Los Angeles, The Paramour Estate is as dramatic as its history. Built in the 1920s by silent film star Antonio Moreno and his oil heiress wife Daisy Canfield, the 2000m2 (22,000 sq ft) Mediterranean Revival mansion was the most lavish private residence of its day. Over the decades, it has lived many lives—a convent, an orphanage, and later, a decadent playground for Hollywood creatives.
Architecture & Atmosphere
The estate’s design is pure Old Hollywood opulence: terracotta roofs, arched colonnades, ornate ironwork, and frescoed interiors that whisper of European palaces. Vast gardens, fountains, and cypress-lined terraces recall an Italian villa, while inside, grand staircases, carved wood ceilings, and gilded details set the stage for cinematic moments. Yet amid the splendor, there’s an irresistible patina—worn marble, faded murals—that gives the estate its hauntingly romantic character.
Cultural Icon
In the late 20th century, The Paramour found a second life as an artistic refuge. Musicians, designers, and filmmakers flocked here; rock bands recorded in its rooms, fashion shoots sprawled across its halls, and legendary parties unfolded under its painted ceilings. The estate has become as much a part of LA’s creative mythology as the Chateau Marmont—less polished, more raw, and undeniably magnetic.
DNA Hotels Verdict
The Paramour Estate isn’t a traditional hotel—it’s an icon, a stage, and a story. A rare blend of Old World grandeur and Silver Lake edge, it embodies the eccentric spirit of Los Angeles itself: glamorous, rebellious, and endlessly fascinating. Perfect for travelers who want their stay to feel like stepping into a film set—or a rock legend’s diary.
