Maison Twenty Seven
A 1927 Mediterranean Revival boutique hotel just blocks from the Santa Monica beach, still recognized by many couples under its former name, Palihouse Santa Monica — where Lulan Studio has shot sessions in the courtyard for years.
A storied 1927 hotel, recently renamed
Built in 1927 as The Embassy Hotel Apartments, this Mediterranean Revival building on 3rd Street has operated continuously as a hotel ever since. For years it was known as Palihouse Santa Monica, a Palisociety property, before a recent ownership change renamed it Maison Twenty Seven, now affiliated with Small Luxury Hotels of the World. The hotel and its event spaces remain open under the new name — the building itself never closed.
Inside, a dark-wood, old-world lobby with a stone fireplace opens onto a lush central courtyard behind wrought-iron gates, with 38 residential-style guest rooms and suites surrounding it.
Sessions in the courtyard, over several years
We’ve photographed at this property several times over the years, including an elopement celebration held in its lush, bougainvillea-lined courtyard and multiple engagement sessions for couples marrying elsewhere. As we’ve told couples considering the space, “Palihouse is quite straightforward for photos” once a permit is in hand. A photography permit is required for shoots here, and the fee has varied over time — confirm current requirements and pricing with the property before booking your session.
Good to know before you book
- A photography permit is required for shoots (fee has varied over time — confirm current pricing directly)
- No self-parking — valet only; a nearby public parking structure is a cheaper self-park alternative
- As a hotel, the property can house the wedding party and out-of-town guests on-site
- Event spaces are intimate by design: the Lobby, La Venue Garden, and the Combined Penthouses
Where we like to shoot
- The central courtyard under its bougainvillea canopy
- The old-world lobby lounge with its stone fireplace and antique curios
- Moorish-arched doorways, colorful tilework, and the wrought-iron courtyard gates
- Large-windowed interiors for soft, diffused natural-light portraits
What couples and guests notice about Maison Twenty Seven
A residential, design-forward feel — antique furnishings and colorful tilework that read more like a private villa than a hotel.
A lush, enclosed garden behind wrought-iron gates makes for an intimate, naturally framed spot for vows or portraits.
This is a small, intimacy-focused property best suited to elopements and engagement sessions rather than a large reception — and a photo permit is required.