The 12 most unique Airbnbs that you can rent in Los Angeles

Part water tower, part lighthouse (but at least a dozen miles from the nearest beach), this 45-foot-tall East Hollywood property certainly stands out. But this building from artist Christoff Van Kooning gets even weirder inside: You’ll climb 32 steps up a spiral staircase and into a red, Victorian-esque bedroom (complete with an in-room hot tub) that feels like something straight out of the Madonna Inn.

Situated on a private slice of the aptly-named Paradise Hill, this 20-foot-diameter yurt is a step above your average boho hideaway (of which there are many in L.A.). Not only does it offer a clawfoot solar-powered bathtub, super-comfy furnishings, heating and cooling, but you'll also share the property with a menagerie of animals including goats, chickens and even a giant tortoise called Rex. Incredibly, you're just ten minutes from Downtown L.A.

This Venice guest cottage feels like it’s distilled every aesthetic of the California dream into a single structure: raw wood and industrial-chic surfaces meet clean, cushy furniture and a vine-covered outdoor bathroom, all wrapped up in an airy Craftsman-inspired space.

This house, which calls itself a Pirates of the Caribbean getaway, is a lot. It’s all tiki and seashells and laser lights, with Jungle Cruise-meets-Indiana Jones decor (and a questionable teepee). But we legitimately love the lush flora and general vibe—just make sure your tolerance for kitsch is strong.

This studio inside of a train car combines rustic charm with some lavish-looking touches. Outside, you can climb atop the caboose to find a patio with views of the surrounding Santa Monica Mountains. Do note that there’s a metalworking studio on the property that’s active on weekdays—but the resident peacocks, parrots and hummingbirds should hopefully balance that out with some more pleasant noise.

In a hole on the Palos Verdes Peninsula there lived an adorable studio built into the earth. (In reality, it’s actually a shipping container cleverly disguised with stone and grass.) Through the circular glass door you’ll find a tight but bright space, with some extra room to stretch out by the outdoor firepit.

This award-winning, hand-crafted home may be small, but it offers everything you need to have an unforgettable forest getaway. Tucked into the trees on a one-acre property, the home overlooks a gorgeous view of Topanga State Park, with direct access to the state park trail. The home itself packs a stone fireplace, cute lofted bed, television and cute furnishings into just 30ft of space. Perfect for a couple's getaway or even a solo adventure. 

Speaking of celeb connections, this hilltop hideaway bills itself as a “John Lennon home”—as best as we can tell, the former Beatle, at most, attended a birthday party there in the ’70s. But that buries the lede on what’s easily the house’s most unique asset: a private tram that’ll pull you up a steep hill and to the house. (Oh, and the views are pretty fantastic, too.)

With a blue mosaic pool shaded by cypress trees and impeccable iron detailing all over, this hilltop villa conjures the Golden Age of cinema. The stylish decor, the massive arched window, the mezzanine bedroom, the fireplace, the 25-foot ceilings—we simply love everything about this Hollywood home (well, everything except the price tag).

Turrets, stained glass, high ceilings, chandeliers, details reliefs—yep, this is a castle, alright. But there’s nothing medieval about this stunning Hollywood Hills home; you’ll find fancy appliances, a bathroom with more showerheads than we could count, an outdoor fire pit and a pool and spa.

Airbnb is full of cutesy Airstream rentals, but we’d say this one sets the bar (and the pricepoint) sky-high. The classy inside of the trailer is only part of the story: a sliding glass door opens up to what we can only describe as heaven (a 12-acre slice of the canyons on the edge of Malibu and Topanga). You’ll find a lounge area gathered around a fire pit that’s flanked by a projection screen and a standing piano. There’s a chandelier hanging in the outdoor bathroom, because of course there is, and both a spa and swing literally on the edge of a cliff that overlooks the ocean.

The first thing to know about the Houdini Estate: It’s unlikely the legendary magician ever owned it or lived there, but he may have rehearsed acts in the property’s deepwater tank. The second: In the Before Time, this mansion was best known for big-budget weddings and parties. But now? It’s a (pricey) way to play king for the day and have an entire four-bedroom mansion to yourself—including its Escher-like tangle of staircases and who knows how many secret passages.