Virginia Robinson Gardens

Truly a hidden gem of Los Angeles. Go online to Los Angeles County website to get tickets as it’s by reservation only. The tickets are $15 and totally worth it. Our docent was amazing filled with so much knowledge about the history of the family and property. My friend and I absolutely loved the 90 minute tour of the home and surrounding gardens. They are truly spectacular. At one point in time, I thought I had wandered off into Maui. It’s really that beautiful! Parking was on site and free in a small lot adjacent to home. Great experience!

Robinson Gardens is a wonderful estate just north of the Beverly Hills Hotel. I love gardens and there are two fabulous gardens on either side of the main house. The tropical palm garden featured an abundance of exotic palm trees, orchids and clavias. The italianate terraced garden is just lovely: water cascading down the steps, beautiful fountains and statuary everywhere, espalier apple trees, lots of camelias and azeleas. The pool pavilion is gorgeous, especially the wood paneled billiard room. I didn't expect to be able to step into one of these great estates in Beverly Hills and it was a truly memorable experience.

I have been to this estate and gardens twice before when multiple areas were abloom but wanted to go earlier in the year this time to see more Spring blooms, and wasn't dissappointed. The estate is only available weekdays by rsvp on docent-led tour and you are only allowed to take pictures outside the buildings, but the estate has one-of-a-kind antiques and pretty furniture, sconces and rugs all collected from this wealthy couple's travels in the early 1920's as owners of the Robinson store chain. The pool pavilian has a lovely paneled and beamed ceiling "billiard parlor/smoking room" with intricately carved grandfather clocks and antique chairs. You can go out onto the balcony behind it to see the frescos painted on arched plaster above the doors, and to view neighboring mansions. After viewing the house you proceed past camelias and other flowering bushes into the tiered gardens (with azaleas, hydrangeas, other bulbs and flowers) which include the "musical" steps where water flows from a small fountain through a spanish tile trough down brick steps to the citrus terrace where lemon, lime, and orange trees were budded and antique pottery funerary urns in the shape of lions look out over the lower tiers of trees and flowering shrubs on the hill and an enormous Corral tree sits on the Western edge of the property. You advance past the "kitchen" and servant's quarters to the motorcourt and then decend into an incredible Austrailan palm forest with a huge banyon tree and a "carpet" of bright orange & "yellow" clevea blooms. After looping through another fountain & water lilly courtyard, you cross past the parrot cage and into the tennis court with a giant red bougenvilla, which is flanked by a pillared rose garden. It's about 90 minutes and is serene and refreshing, a gardener's inspiration!

I had made the mistake of reading many of the most recent reviews, which were quite effusive (“don’t miss!,” “hidden gem!,” etc), so I was expecting quite an interesting tour.
While the gardens are nice, the house itself is of little architectural or historical value, aside from being the first estate in Beverly Hills. The owners were likewise not particularly distinguished (indeed, the house website lists, “Known for hosting the area’s most legendary parties, it was not uncommon to catch famed individuals entering and leaving the estate,” as its primary attribute.)
Before you go you should know that it is a *90 minute* tour, which could easily be 30. As an example, I would estimate that around half of the time the guide spent discussing the house, involved the renovations of the swimming pool and the pool house. There is a lot of minutiae!
As I said, the gardens are quite nice, but why not just go to the Huntington . If you are interested in visiting an important & interesting historical home, pick the Hollyhock House, the Gamble House, the Eames House, or the Adamson House instead. You’ll learn so much more.

This is the site of the first estate in Beverly Hills. Originally built for the son of J.W. Robinson of department store fame, it is situated on a hill above the Beverly Hills Hotel. The tour is docent led by appointment. It begins in the Pool Pavilion, continues to the home for a very limited look. Then you will begin to see the gardens that were built on various levels on the property. There are a lot of stairs with no railings, uneven brick walk ways and multiple levels. It's a moderately strenuous walk but worth it. Our docent, Lee Gale Gruen, was marvelous. She really gave us a glimpse of what life was like for the Robinsons. Virginia died in 1977 at the age of 100. It makes for an interesting day of learning some Los Angeles history. Be warned that there is no water for purchase on the premises and you are on your feet for more than 2 hours. Be sure to have water, we didn't.

Yesterday I was traveling with someone who had a 3-4 hour appointment in Beverly Hills. I had already done the Rodeo Drive viewing and walking up through the Roxbury Drive last year. So when I googled something to do in B.H. this came up. I called to see if I could get in the 10:00 tour and left a message. Apparently, it is recommended that you e-mail for tour reservations. It was 9:00 and I was on Wilshire and Doheny. As I enjoy walking, I thought maybe I can make it by 10:00 and see if I can get on that tour. I meandered thru Roxbury Dr, stopped at one of the 3 or 4 foodtrucks I saw parked to get iced cold water and finally turned up Elden Dr. I thought if nothing else maybe I could see something from the front of the estate if I couldn't get on the tour.

It was 10:30 and I buzzed the front gate. I was informed that the 10:00 tour had already begun. I asked if I could join them and they said "we usually don't allow this but you'll have to pay the full price - $11. I was glad to do this as the tour is 90 minutes and I was here already. It was well worth the price of admission.

I missed the initial history so when I got home,I did some research. But otherwise the tour was fantastic! I'm sorry since I was late so I don't know the docent's name but she has blond hair and she really made the tour come alive. She knew and described some of the plant history and uses and regaled us with some stories and about Mrs Robinson and also about the parties she had with old Hollywood, Anyone who has enjoyed hearing about old Hollywood star stories from visiting Hearst Castle, would also enjoy this.

The house was built in 1911 and is 6000sf. The house itself isn't really that glamorous or large in comparision to homes built after it. The tour includes the main entry way with the ability to stand at the openings of a living room, library, "mother's bedroom" and dining room. The openings are cordoned off but have all the original furnshings and decoratons. The dining table is set even down to the silver bell Mrs Robinson rec'd from Tiffany's on her 40th birthday. It gives us a peek into life lived in that time and financial status.

Ahhhhbut the gardens!! When I walked up Elden Dr to the estate I saw all these palm trees to the right side of the estate. I'm not a big palm fan but it did look beautiful. I wasn't sure if this was part of the estate or not. When I joined the tour, they were in the Italian garden-beautiful. Apparently at one time before Century City was built you could see the ocean from the upper garden. When I asked if the palm area was part of the garden I was told yes and that we would tour it. The palm forest was planted after a Mediterrean garden did poorly there. It was reported that it is 10-15 degrees cooler in that garden. It is very lush with the palms creating shade for greenery that grows underneath them, there is even a Banyan tree in the palm forest. There were several landings with balustrade. The tour continues thru a small area that was left of the the Mediterrean garden.

I think the spectacular thing is this estate not only shares Mrs Robinson's beautiful garden with the public but also gives you a glimpse of the life of wealthy people and old Hollywood. I wonder if anyone in this day in age would go to the extent she did in planting these gardens and staying at their estate a lifetime to nurture them into maturity.

It seems that this tour is not well known, Again if you love gardens and old Hollywood it is well worth the admission. It is in a neighborhood with parking issues. If you like to walk, I recommend parking in downtown B.H. and then you could google the fastest walking route there or google the address of stars that lived on Roxbury Dr and see what their houses looked like when they lived there and what they look like now. It was fun for me to do that and it made me appreciate this home even more because it is frozen in time for us to see a glimpse of B.H. in it's glamour heyday.

This is the place to visit on your second trip to Beverly Hills. The Gardens and House give you a glimpse of a golden time in the history of Beverly Hills. Docent tours are available. There is a nice mix of formal (the great lawn) and natural gardens (the king palm grove). There is a discount on the entrance fee for students and seniors. Be sure to wear comfortable shoes. Even though the walks through the gardens are well maintained, there are a number of stairs.

Visited this garden on a weekday and there was a small tour group. Our Docent was very well versed regarding the history of the residence and grounds. I was expecting a exceptional garden and spectacular residence. The residence is well preserved, but considering this was the home of the Robinson Family (owners of a well respected Los Angeles area Department Store) I was expecting a less sedate home. The grounds are well tended and include a number of stairs. I would recommend taking a tour as a glimpse into the early years of Beverly Hills and Los Angeles. If, however, you are looking for a garden of singular beauty then visit the Huntington Gardens or the grounds of the Getty Villa.

One year before the Titanic sank the first mansion was being built in Beverly Hills which had not been incorporated as a city. The Beverly Hills Hotel was still in the planning stages. This is a visit & tour worth taking to learn about the grand history of Beverly Hills before it was famous for the homes of movie stars. This was the beginning of an idea that lead to the grandness of the city that now is famous for Rodeo Dr. The actual home & pool house & pavilion showcase planning by a young successful couple who knew how to spend their money. J.W. Robinson's was a very prestigious department store in Los Angeles early in the 1900's & Mr. & Mrs. Robinson founders were ready to live a wonderful life in a new up & coming paradise..
Go see magnificent gardens & rare flora some no longer allowed to come into the country. See how the rich & famous of the time lived & entertained. This is a hidden gem deep in the heart of Beverly Hills but its easy to reach. Wear walking shoes & be prepared to climb some steps into secret gardens & catch glimpse of one of the most breath taking views all the way to the Pacific ocean. Its the reason the Robinson's bought the property The early swimming pool is beautiful & don't miss the garden table that was brought over from Pompeii. Don't miss this treasure.Its early Los Angeles at its best..

It was so quiet and peaceful place. Very nice. Nice view of LA. If You around You can visit but from far away maybe no.