Riviera

The Hollywood Riviera, or known by its residents as “The Riviera” is part of the city of Torrance, and part of Redondo Beach. The Torrance side has the zip code (90505), while (90277) is for Redondo Beach. There is a difference in home prices between the two areas. The Redondo Beach area has the homes right along the beach which offer amazing ocean views, whereas the Torrance side has some of the less desirable locations. Therefore, the cheaper homes are almost always found on the Torrance side. The community is tucked away against the hills of the Palos Verdes Peninsula. The developer of the Hollywood Riviera was fascinated by the movie business and felt that the seaside homes would make a great location for a Hollywood set. Only a few movies were made there in the thirties—the Hollywood scene just never happened.

Because of its removed location, the Hollywood Riviera escapes much of the through traffic the neighboring South Bay communities endure. The area has a charming Riviera Village. The Village has the cutest cafes and bistros. But it also has a Trader Joe’s, a post office, several small local shops, and the always popular Yogurtland. On warm days people line up outside to enjoy a cool treat. The Village also offers a Farmer’s Market on Friday afternoons, from 3 to 7 pm, rain or shine.

Hollywood Riviera consists primarily of one story homes, with lush yards and a beach atmosphere. On the 4th of July, people gather on the beach to enjoy the fireworks. Traffic gets pretty crazy after the show. It can take up to an hour to make it out of there. On normal days, however, the Riviera has the best parking compared to other beach communities, such as Hermosa Beach and Manhattan Beach. For $7 you can park in the big lot next to Torrance Beach. There is also metered street parking, or free parking in the smaller residential streets. Hollywood Riviera is not as busy as Hermosa Beach or Manhattan Beach. You can enjoy quiet strolls through the neighborhood, the parks, or the Village.