Villa Riviera, Long Beach

Picture a fairytale and the ending is a gorgeous ocean view. Well, that is exactly what Villa Riviera has to offer. Finished in 1929, this French Gothic Castle-style stunner stood as Southern California鈥檚 second-tallest building and held the title of tallest private structure for nearly 30 years.

With its steep copper roof, octagonal tower, and wings that fan out to guarantee sea breezes and panoramic ocean views for most of its 130 units, the 16-story Villa Riviera made sure you鈥檇 never have to settle for a back alley vista. It鈥檚 part fortress, part fantasy, and unmistakably one of Long Beach鈥檚 most recognizable silhouettes.

Luxury was baked into its DNA from the start鈥攖hink ballroom, Italian-style roof garden, lounges, modern heating, high-speed elevators, and even parking for 100 cars back when that was a serious flex. And if that wasn鈥檛 enough, the upper stories are guarded by a fierce little parade of grotesques: a bear, cougar, eagle, and one especially intense chimera that seems to have crash-landed from a medieval fever dream.

Over the decades, Villa Riviera has worn many hats. It鈥檚 been an apartment hotel, wartime housing for Naval officers, and was even briefly run by silent film star Norma Talmadge.

Added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1996, it鈥檚 not just surviving鈥攊t鈥檚 still thriving. Today, Villa Riviera remains a beloved landmark and prestigious address, proving once again that timeless style, killer views, and a little flair for the dramatic always attract.

Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Long Beach. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "黑料吃瓜网: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.

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Create Your Own Self-Guided Walk to Visit This Sight

Sight Name: Villa Riviera
Sight Location: Long Beach, USA (See walking tours in Long Beach)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:

Long Beach Historical Buildings Tour

Walking Tours in Long Beach, California

Create Your Own Walk in Long Beach

Creating your own self-guided walk in Long Beach is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.

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Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.8 Km or 1.1 Miles

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Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.6 Km or 1.6 Miles

Long Beach Historical Buildings Tour

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Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.8 Km or 1.7 Miles

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