The atmosphere of old Hollywood is palpable in a hillside house in Los Angeles that rents for $18,500 a month.

“When you enter the house, you feel like you’ve been transported back to the (19)20s,” says Dag Eliasonwho advertises the rental property at Hilton & Hyland as a colleague Alexandre Anu“It has all the creative energy – and all the elegant features.”

Anu adds that it is “a very romantic Spanish villa. The feeling you get when you walk in is just a magical place.”

In addition to its dreamy atmosphere, the house is designed to appeal to creative minds.

“We’re always trying to figure out who would be the perfect tenant for this house, and we feel like some houses are passed down from generation to generation and attract very artistic people,” says Eliason. “This will be the house where you’re going to write your next novel, or you’re going to record your new record, or someone is very creative, because the house kind of calls out to those people.”

A serious Hollywood pedigree

Those who rent this property can tap into the artistic energy of those who once lived in the 1927 house, including Ava Gardner, Lawrence OlivierAnd Stan Laurel.

“Everyone who was anyone in Hollywood has visited this house,” says Eliason. “What was interesting to us was that when we visited, it still had that vibe and energy. When we first walked into the house, we were completely seduced by the energy. It’s so rare to find the vibrant elements of that golden era of Hollywood and all the celebrities who lived there still intact.”

architect Franz Herding designed several houses on the same street in the Hollywood Knolls neighborhood.

“He was one of the first to advocate for improving and developing properties that were true to the elements and nature,” says Eliason, adding that Herding was one of the first architects to build into the hills. “This development was aimed at an upscale clientele. He wanted the views, but he also wanted the lifestyle and overall feel of being inside and out.”

And so the who’s who of old Hollywood ended up in the area – including Herding himself, who lived just down the street.

Your very own whisper bar

The home has five bedrooms and six bathrooms in 5,839 square feet, with most rooms offering views of the canyon below.

“It’s very, very original,” notes Eliason. “It still has the herding marks on the fireplaces and there have been a few changes, but overall the whole architect element is definitely there.”

Perhaps the most unique feature of this house is its speakeasy.

“Back then, it was completely normal for everyone to want a little speakeasy bar with a wine cellar,” says Eliason. “We like to see things like that and always think it’s particularly cool when they’re intact. When you walk in there, you can definitely feel that someone is drinking a glass of wine and having an interesting conversation, that’s for sure.”

Anu agrees that the house strongly embodies his past.

“When you walk into the bar, you can feel the people who were there,” he says. “It’s like their souls are still in the walls, so this part really transports you to another world. You forget you’re anywhere else.”

A rare rental opportunity

The rent includes the furniture and a sale could possibly be negotiable, but the agent did not want to commit to that.

“It has never been offered for rent before,” says Anu. “It’s actually very rare for a house like this to be rented out. Most of the properties that are rented out are not of this architectural significance and style. There are so many good things in this house – from the design to the furnishings, it’s just very rare.”

Although the chic property dates back to the 1920s, its mechanics and other systems are definitely state-of-the-art.

“It has been modernised to suit discerning people who want to live a luxurious lifestyle. But it still has the charm and character of 1927 and you can feel it,” notes Anu.