Piazza del Sol

The Piazza del Sol is now an office and apartment building, but it has an historic property destination and a rich history making it one of the area's most popular structures. It is located across from the Mondrian Hotel, the Sky Bar and the House of Blues. It is located on Sunset Boulevard, within walking distance of a number of well-known Hollywood destinations. Built in 1927, the style is that of a classic Italian Villa and features antique Italian marble and stonework, plaster edifices and wrought iron features. The building stands four stories and offers over 50,000-square feet of space. In the 1930's, the building was known as the House of Francis, one of the most famous brothels in California. Regular customers included Jean Harlow, Spencer Tracy, Erroll Flynn and Clark Gable. In the 1970's, rock singer Rod Stewart purchased the building with the intention of turning it into a hotel. The plan dissolved into a bitter legal dispute and after a robbery in the early 1980's, Stewart moved overseas and lost interest in the project. In 1983, the building was nearly destroyed in a fire, but managed to survive and underwent renovations. Today, in addition to housing tenants for business and private purposes, the Piazza is home to Katana, a restaurant co-owned by actress Tori Spelling and Hollywood mogul Ryan Seacrest.