Whether you prefer city or country, coast or forest, this selection of homes inspires some incredible holiday hosting ideas. From high rises on Manhattan’s posh Fifth Avenue to sweeping modern estates in the sun-soaked Hollywood Hills, these residences offer distinct and diverse settings for epic seasonal gatherings. Read on for a closer look.
New York
20 Pine Street #1416, Manhattan
Set within a divine, Armani Casa-designed building in Manhattan’s Financial District, this 1,005-square-foot loft-like residence is replete with 10-foot-high ceilings and presents an airy, versatile living and dining space perfect for hosting drinks, dinner and gift exchanges. Plus, the nearby South Street Seaport offers prime opportunities for holiday shopping.
Revel in epic Central Park views from this bright, 1,700-square-foot residence within 200 Central Park South, an esteemed cooperative building on the city’s most desirable Central Park South block. Built by developer Bernard Spitzer and designed by the architectural firm Wechsler and Schimenti, this home’s wrap-around balcony provides park views and serves as the perfect place for holiday get-togethers. A custom mixology counter next to the kitchen and dining areas also allows for seamless entertaining. Conveniences and thoughtful perks abound in the building, which encompasses a full-time doorman, concierge, valet services, on-site garage, gym, storage and rooftop observatory with 360-degree views of the Manhattan skyline, Central Park and New Year’s Eve ball drop in Times Square.
A refined Fifth Avenue oasis, this fully-renovated, pre-war home boasts a sprawling north-facing layout, with bountiful room for entertaining. Inside, high beamed ceilings are illuminated by large street-facing windows, a formal dining room presents an elevated space for holiday meals and an eat-in kitchen offers a guest-ready banquette. Eye-catching interior elements include original herringbone hardwood floors and a wood-burning fireplace.
California
9422 Sierra Mar Drive, Los Angeles
Invite family, friends, colleagues and, well, anyone to this palatial, modern hillside estate in the beloved Bird Streets. Its grand interiors are backed by epic, sweeping city views and provide ample indoor-outdoor space for festive gatherings. Designed by Hagy Belzberg, FAIA, this home is brimming with party-ready features and amenities. A Calacatta and steel staircase serves as a functional sculpture and a double-height family room seamlessly connects the pool and lounge/dining terrace. Nearby is a media room, spa and yoga pavilion. Ascend to the rooftop cabana to bask in L.A.’s mild winter weather and toast the season beside the fire pit as you watch the sun set over Beverly Hills.
Balancing redwood-steeped privacy with posh conveniences and amenities, this incredible new construction estate sits on 10 acres laced with trails and promises unobstructed views of the Pacific Ocean and surrounding woodlands. Designed with a fluid, breezy layout that allows for flexible and creative hosting, the 3,000-square-foot home offers an open-plan kitchen and dining and living spaces that weave seamlessly together, leading out to expansive main-level decks and patios. Want to impress your guests? Head down the road for a spa treatment at the world-renowned Ventana Big Sur resort or grab drinks at the popular Post Ranch Inn.
A rare architectural home in the Hollywood Hills’ sought-after Nichols Canyon, this tranquil retreat’s 30-foot-tall living room windows frame lush tree and mountain views that will leave guests breathless. Adding to its appeal is an inviting interior palette with naturalistic redwood, stone, slate and copper materials. Guest-friendly amenities include a saltwater pool, a versatile upper-level loft (with more mesmerizing views), a chef’s kitchen and an outdoor entertainment area with a fireplace—ideal for happy hours, appetizers or starry night gatherings.
East Hamptons meets Encino in this designer home, set in the prestigious guard-gated Royal Oaks Colony. Host with ease in the light-filled formal living room, delight design-lovers with the sultry dining room’s snakeskin wall coverings and hand-blown glass sconces, then have a nightcap in the library or watch a movie in the private theater. Open accordion window doors to the backyard, which features a sports court, a pool and a barbecue with space to dine and relax. Need to primp before a party? The primary suite’s hidden Glam Room is replete with a full-service hair salon.
Revel in L.A.’s all-season sunshine at this classic Spanish-style estate. Also located within the guard-gated Royal Oaks Colony, this 7,765-square-foot home is perfect for open-air entertaining with an expansive grassy yard, newer outdoor BBQ kitchen and sparkling pool with dazzling mosaic tile. The detached guest house offers a full kitchen and generous comforts for long or short-term holiday guests. The main home’s sophisticated entertaining spaces provide fabulous indoor/outdoor flow. An updated modern kitchen has a walk-in pantry and an adjacent wine cellar that hosts a world-class collection—we’ll cheers to that!
This gated, designer Spanish-style retreat will delight guests with its fusion of old-world charm and modern amenities. Impeccable details abound at every turn—think custom woodwork, exotic Italian marbles, lime-washed walls and an elegant two-story original fireplace, the centerpiece of the formal living room. The dining, kitchen and family room all open out to the charming backyard with lush landscaping and a pool. Have overnight revelers? A downstairs guest suite with an ensuite bath and generously sized bedrooms provide ample space for comfortable hosting.
Set behind a privacy-enhancing olive tree grove on a quiet Venice walk street—just moments from the sand and sea—this iconic stand-alone architectural gem offers endless space for entertaining. The living spaces feature walls of glass that open to the neighborhood’s leafy streetscapes, multiple balconies and ocean views. Gather round the sunken living room’s fireplace for family fun and cozy celebrations. Outside, the concrete bar above the courtyard presents a chef-grade Bulthaup kitchen with Gaggenau ovens and Miele appliances—making this the ultimate home for hosting during the holidays. To raise the bar (literally), the rooftop living area has a BBQ kitchen, dining terrace and mesmerizing views of the Pacific.
British Columbia, Canada
10015 Panorama Ridge Road, North Cowichan
Say “joyeuses fêtes” with family and friends at this French chateau-style Vancouver Island estate, set on 2.2 private acres with 180-degree views of the Gulf Islands and mainland mountains beyond. With more than 8,000 square feet of luxurious living space, this five-bedroom, five-bathroom home offers exceptional ocean and treetop views from nearly every room. Thoughtfully designed for hosting and toasting, the home’s one-of-a-kind downstairs pub leads out to a gazebo and garden with panoramic sea vistas. Have friends who want to stick around? Invite them to the property’s one-bedroom self-contained suite, set above its three-car attached garage.
Find the perfect home to host your holiday gatherings today at TheAgencyRE.com.
