Photo Credit: Mor Weizman

Editors' Notes

The Pool Pavilion, inspired by the Villa Pisani in Italy, features a billiard and card room.

Photo Credit: Mor Weizman

Editors' Notes

The view from the Pool Pavilion, overlooking the Great Lawn and main residence.

Photo Credit: Mor Weizman

Editors' Notes

The view from the Pool Pavilion, overlooking the Great Lawn and main residence.

Photo Credit: Mor Weizman

Editors' Notes

The Billiard Room in the Pool Pavilion.

Photo Credit: Mor Weizman

Editors' Notes

A view of the Century City skyline from the gardens.

Photo Credit: Mor Weizman

Editors' Notes

Aptly named for the sound of falling water down the steps, the Musical Stairs can be spotted in the Italian Terrace garden.

Photo Credit: Mor Weizman

Editors' Notes

A view of the five terraced areas in the Italian Terrace garden, underneath the main residence. It includes citrus trees, a Coral tree, Italian cypress trees, and more.

Photo Credit: Mor Weizman

Editors' Notes

The lion statues in the Italian Terrace garden were imported from Italy.

Photo Credit: Mor Weizman

Editors' Notes

The entrance to the main residence.

Photo Credit: Mor Weizman

Editors' Notes

The tropical Palm Forest is filled with King Palms from Queensland, Australia.

Photo Credit: Mor Weizman

Editors' Notes

The trunk of the Morton Bay Fig tree from Australia in the Palm Forest.

Photo Credit: Mor Weizman

Editors' Notes

The tropical Palm Forest is filled with King Palms from Queensland, Australia.

Photo Credit: Mor Weizman

Editors' Notes

The 80-foot-tall Walking Banyan Fig tree in the Palm Forest.

Photo Credit: Mor Weizman

Editors' Notes

A view of the Palm Forest.

Photo Credit: Mor Weizman

Editors' Notes

Charlie Chaplin, Fred Astaire, and Ginger Rogers used to play tennis on this court every Saturday.

Photo Credit: Mor Weizman

Editors' Notes

The greenhouse, originally built to grow Virginia's orchids.

Situated on 6.5 acres in Beverly Hills, the Virginia Robinson Gardens is the perfect place to play hooky. Conceived in 1911 by department store tycoon Harry Robinson (of defunct J.W. Robinson department store chain), and his wife Virginia, the idyllic estate and gardens once played host to the Duke and Duchess of Windsor and Hollywood legends including Marlene Dietrich and Fred Astaire. The lush property, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, includes a Beaux-Arts-style main residence, tennis courts, and a Palladian-inspired Pool Pavilion.

Influenced by frequent trips to China, Japan, India, South America, and Hawaii, the Robinsons enlisted landscape architect Charles Gibbs Adams and Bill Evans (who worked with Walt Disney), to create five distinct gardens dotted with one-of-a-kind sculptures and fountains, a great lawn, four garden terraces, and an orchid-filled greenhouse. Standout features at the garden include the scarlet bloom-filled Red Powder Puff tree, a Coral tree, a massive, 80-foot-tall Walking Banyan Fig tree from Queensland, Australia, and a white camellia plant named after Virginia’s friend and designer, Coco Chanel.

For an up-close look at the estate and gardens, book a 90-minute guided tour or peruse the gift shop for garden-inspired goods. Consider it the next best thing to a mini Mediterranean vacation.

By Megan Meyer

Pictured: The Pool Pavilion, inspired by the Villa Pisani in Italy, features a billiard and card room.
Photo by Mor Weizman