Noma's Scandal-Plagued LA Pop-Up Hosted at Historic Paramour Estate

The storied Paramour Estate in Silver Lake has ties to Old Hollywood, bankruptcy, and Britney Spears as it hosts the embattled Noma residency.

Published on Mar. 11, 2026

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As the award-winning Copenhagen restaurant Noma kicks off its 16-week LA residency at the Paramour Estate in Silver Lake, the pop-up is facing growing scrutiny over past allegations of abuse against chef and co-owner René Redzepi. The Paramour Estate itself has a colorful history, from its origins as a lavish 1920s mansion for a silent film star couple to its more recent entanglements with Katy Perry, nuns, and bankruptcy.

Why it matters

The Noma residency was meant to shine a positive light on the Paramour Estate, but the growing scandal around Noma's workplace culture has cast a cloud over the high-profile pop-up. The estate's storied past also highlights the complex history and changing fortunes of iconic Los Angeles properties.

The details

The Paramour Estate was originally commissioned in 1923 by petroleum heiress Daisy Canfield for her silent film star husband, Antonio Moreno. The sprawling 5-acre property with a 22,000-square-foot mansion later served as a boarding school and convent before being acquired by designer Dana Hollister in 1998. Hollister renovated and operated the estate as a boutique hotel and event space, even hosting a Britney Spears music video shoot. But Hollister's legal troubles, including a $6.5 million judgment against her, led the property to fall into bankruptcy in 2021 before being acquired by new owners who are now 'gently restoring' it.

  • The Paramour Estate was commissioned in 1923.
  • Daisy Canfield died in a car crash on Mulholland Drive in 1933.
  • The estate was gifted to the Franciscan Missionary Sisters of the Immaculate Conception in 1953.
  • Dana Hollister acquired the property in 1998 for $2.25 million.
  • Hollister listed the Paramour Estate for sale for $40 million in 2021.

The players

Daisy Canfield

A petroleum heiress and socialite who commissioned the Paramour Estate in 1923 for her silent movie star husband, Antonio Moreno.

Antonio Moreno

A silent film star who was gifted the Paramour Estate by his wife, Daisy Canfield.

Dana Hollister

A designer and restaurateur who acquired the Paramour Estate in 1998, renovated it, and operated it as a boutique hotel and event space for over 20 years.

René Redzepi

The chef and co-owner of the award-winning Copenhagen restaurant Noma, which is hosting a 16-week residency at the Paramour Estate.

Jason Ignacio White

The former head of Noma's fermentation lab and a social media whistleblower who is organizing protests against the Noma residency.

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What they’re saying

“The bold colors, opulent gilded mirrors, crystal chandeliers, allegorical artwork, taxidermy and silk upholstered settees that decorate the mansion set a feeling of environmental submersion or time travel. A visitor can experience what it must have been like to visit the mansion in its glorious prime.”

— Dana Hollister, Designer and former owner of the Paramour Estate (Los Angeles Times)

“It's become my life's mission to help rehabilitate these historic structures. I grew up as a kid who fantasized about Hollywood. LA has this storied quality. This place is really special. It's a walled estate in the center of the city.”

— Ken Fulk, Interior designer and partner in the Paramour Estate's restoration (SFGATE)

What’s next

Hospitality industry workers and labor advocates are organizing a protest at the Paramour Estate on the eve of Noma's first $1,500 dinner, demanding accountability from chef René Redzepi over past allegations of abuse.

The takeaway

The Paramour Estate's storied past as a glamorous Old Hollywood mansion, convent, and boutique hotel highlights the complex history and changing fortunes of iconic Los Angeles properties. As Noma's scandal-plagued LA residency unfolds at the estate, it serves as a reminder that even the most prestigious culinary ventures can face reckoning over workplace culture issues.