The Best Airbnbs in Los Angeles

We all know that Los Angeles has far (far) more to offer than just Hollywood and movie stars. From pristine beaches to great street food to shopping to...ok, we could be here for a while and we don't want to spoil it all for you. Seeing as you'll have so much to explore, you'll need a rather remarkable place to rest your head. So, we here at Plum Guide have gathered a list of the most spectacular holiday homes and the best Airbnbs in Los Angeles for you to choose from.

The Sculpture Garden is a mansion in the plushest sense of the plush word so if grandeur is your thing, this is pretty hard to beat. High in the Beverly Hills, this home reflects the luxury living that makes the area one of the most exclusive cities in the world. Like most places in LA, you'll need a car to get around, because walking from here is not practical...especially in your finest shoes. With an interior look created by Chad, the home's owner who just so happens to be a professional designer, this modern home has it all. With a swimming pool, lush garden, huge kitchen, and movie-theatre-like screening room, you may never want to leave. But when you do, Rodeo Drive shopping is just down the hill and the best clubs in town (think Soho House) and the restaurants of Sunset Boulevard and West Hollywood are all just minutes away.

You'll feel like a million dollars walking through that arched doorway of Street of the Stars. This luxurious home is perfect for keeping the whole family entertained, complete with a games room and swimming pool. Within walking distance from the central shopping and dining areas of Beverly Hills (one of our favourite places to stay in LA), it's easy to sample chef Helene An's indescribably good garlic roasted Dungeness crab and famed garlic noodles at Crustacean. For the thrill seekers among you, surfing beaches are an easy 16 km drive west, while Hollywood's late night hotspots are a similar distance east.

Nestled on a secluded cove just north of Malibu Pier, Malibu Beach Colony has long been a place where Hollywood goes to hang out, from Liz Taylor and Cary Grant to Leo DiCaprio and Tom Hanks – they own homes there, too. It's also where the Charlie Harper character of 'Two and a Half Men' ostensibly lives...but it is a real place where kids (and adults) can run free on the beach and surf from right outside the door. With views for miles, homely interiors and a great location, there was no doubt when it came to adding this to the list of best Airbnbs in Los Angeles. Walk across Pacific Coast Highway to Malibu Country Mart to take a yoga class, shop for t-shirts at John Varvatos or treat yourself to some moreish homemade spaghetti carbonara at Tra di Noi.

Want the ultimate Malibu experience? Then you'll need to head way out along PCH to Beauty and the Beach, a past-Point Dume beachfront home where ocean, sun, and sand reign. This is what locals call being 'way out' in Malibu, as it's 65 km just to get to Santa Monica and the same distance – but literally over the hills and through the woods – to Hollywood. So, make a plan to settle in and enjoy this home neighbouring Barbra Streisand's in Point Dume and live like a movie star.

Why not choose this large, multi-level house with views right down into WeHo and beyond as your base in LA, especially if you're planning to host a few business meetings, have a few friends over for a pool party and barbecue, or just need a place for the whole family to happily stay together? One thing about living in the hills is the need for a vehicle to get you back down to the hubbub of Sunset Boulevard below. If you're the party type, The Viper Room, Whiskey A-Go-Go and The Roxy are all right down the hill to the west, while The Comedy Store and Chateau Marmont are just to the east. Of course, when you're in the beautiful setting of Tic Tac Toe, you may just want the party to come to you.

With a classic indoor-outdoor design, Green Tangerine is a cosy place that allows the wonderful Southern California weather to fill the house with warmth and light. Add in the piano and the hot tub in the garden and this picturesque place is perfect for happy hour festivities. You'll probably be ready for a cocktail after spending the day walking in this neighbourhood, where the Petersen Automotive Museum shows off cars most of us can only dream of owning, like a bright-red 1955 Ferrari 125S or the Batmobile. And as of early 2021, the exciting new Academy Museum of Motion Pictures will be a quick stroll from this home as well, just past LACMA.

Located in the south end of Hollywood, The Fun Guy is a cool townhouse with an artsy atmosphere and a key location if visiting Paramount Pictures and Raleigh Studios is part of your LA plan. Walk there to take a meeting or two, then celebrate your Tinseltown success – or drown your sorrows – with a stroll over to Providence, where Chef Michael Cimarusti's award-winning tasting menus full of seafood and wagyu beef will make everything seem right with the world. Wander back home and jump in the hot tub, or head north toward Hollywood Boulevard where there's always something happening until the early morning hours.

Get immersed in the Hollywood scene in Above the Stars. This elegant apartment is located inside a historic building perched at the famed intersection of Hollywood and Vine. It's right next door to The Pantages Theatre, an Art Deco masterpiece built in 1930, so plan to grab tickets to one of the Broadway shows there. Look down at the sidewalk wherever you walk around here, as the famous golden stars embedded there are part of the Hollywood Walk of Fame. See if you can spot Neil Patrick Harris, Kristin Chenoweth and Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber's stars right outside your front door. You'll also be just over the hill from the Universal Studios Theme Park, where Harry Potter lives, and Warner Bros. Studio, which offers a fascinating behind-the-scenes tour of their working studio.

With its central location in Downtown LA, Shades of Grey is a charming one-bedroom apartment that can easily do double duty, as a work-centric spot during the day and a get-out-and-have-fun home base in the evenings and weekends. With corporate offices and law firms surround it and the LA Convention centre just a quick walk away. LA Live, The Grammy Museum and Staples centre are all even closer too. If you've got a sweet tooth, don't miss nearby Bottega Louie on 7th and Grand streets, for their French macarons that melt in your mouth.

Urban living with all the amenities is what this spacious apartment offers, with easy access to some of DTLA's coolest venues for music and the arts just down the street. Spend some time wandering around here and you'll discover the Orpheum Theatre, the Theatre at the Ace Hotel and The Mayan – one of the most out-there desigsn you'll ever set your eyes on. All of these are constantly filled with well-known as well as more local bands, while stepping a few more blocks to the east you'll find the big time acts that fill the Staples centre arena. Walk to any one of them from this well appointed home, then if the weather's fine, head up to the rooftop swimming pool that's included with your rental stay.

Has our guide to the best Airbnbs in Los Angeles inspired a trip to the city? Check out our guide to spending a weekend in LA next. After that, carry on your search for a remarkable home to stay in by browsing our full collection of LA Airbnbs. Our home critics personally vet each and every Plum awarded home on our site to ensure it really is one of the world's best vacation homes. We're serious about standards, and we know you are too.