The Best Hotels In Palm Springs

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As a huge fan of mid-century architecture, it’s fair to say that I’m more than a little bit in love with Palm Springs. This southern Californian city is a hotspot, and not just because it’s in the middle of a desert but because it has probably the greatest concentration of modernist homes and buildings of anywhere on the planet.

Another lovely thing about Palm Springs is that it has hardly any big hotels. Instead, it has a huge number of small hotels, each with their own vibe, whether it be mid-century modern, Mexican hacienda, Hollywood glam, Old West, quirky, charming, or even clothing-optional.

Regardless of what your perfect weekend looks like, there’s a hotel in Palm Springs for you. So, kick back and relax, sip on a cocktail, whip out a good book, and choose a spot by the pool. This is our guide to some of the best hotels in Palm Springs.

Azure Sky

Quintessentially mid-century, Azure Sky was built in 1959 and retains its original name. But while its 14 rooms remain the same structurally, a sensitive restoration has transformed this resort into the epitome of style. A complimentary slushie — spiked if you will – awaits guests in the lobby / lounge, where the luxe seating, shaggy carpet, cream brick walls and lightly stained timber ceiling beams look like they are straight from the pages of Architectural Digest.

At one point, the accommodation was time-share condominiums. These days, the adults-only rooms and suites come in a variety of configurations, labelled Fig, Olive and Agave. Many of the rooms have patios and/or kitchenettes, encouraging longer stays. The second-tier Olive rooms all have king beds, and the Agave suite has a separate living area. Breakfast is delivered to the rooms.

A particularly nice feature is the pool terrace with bar, firepit, hot tub and swimming pool surrounded by palms in a secluded courtyard with a stunning view of the mountains. With no TVs in the guest rooms, Azure Sky is perfect for a quiet and peaceful escape.

Azure Sky
1661 S Calle Pao Fierro
Palm Springs CA 92264
USA
Tel: +1 760 469 4498
www.azureskyhotel.com

Alcazar Palm Springs

I adore this 34-room boutique hotel which shimmers in an abundance of white – white shutters, white bed linen, white tiled floors, white furnishings, white courtyard walls. Even the Townie bikes provided for guest use are white. It all looks so fresh and stylish, perfectly befitting its location in Palm Springs’ Uptown Design District.

A gorgeous pool and jacuzzi, and a shady courtyard with a striking feature wall of water, provide welcome respite from the desert heat. You could never guess the original hotel was built in 1927, so easily do newer buildings blend in with the old. There’s a huge variety of room configurations: some have fireplaces, some have private patios, some have big white soaking tubs with separate showers.

The hotel has 24-hour parking, and for those who can’t escape the real world entirely, a small, well-equipped business centre. Attached to Alcazar are popular brunch spot, Cheeky’s, and for evening dining, Birba, with cool cocktails and a modern Italian menu.

Alcazar Palm Springs
622 N. Palm Canyon Drive
Palm Springs CA 92262
Tel: +1 760 318 9850
www.alcazarpalmsprings.com

Los Arboles Hotel

Feel right at home in the warm embrace of the Castaneda family, whose lovely 21-room hotel exudes classic Mexican charm. With a hacienda feel, the accommodation nestles around a heated pool and hot tub with mountain views. The hotel was built in 1937 and lovingly restored in 2011 and 2024.

Rooms are decorated with colorful Talavera tiles and equipped with flat-screen TVs, mini fridges, and super-comfy beds with pillow-top mattresses. We stayed in a king room which had a full-sized bathtub and a private patio with hammock. One room that quickly sells out is a stand-alone king room with fireplace and jacuzzi. There’s also a suite with a separate lounge room.

One of the loveliest things about Los Arboles, apart from its delightfully personal feel, is its restaurant, El Mirasol, serving regional Mexican specialties made from family recipes with the occasional modern twist. The restaurant has a very festive patio setting with lush greenery and twinkling lights. We loved the food and can highly recommend the Cadillac margarita cocktail!

Los Arboles Hotel
266 E Vía Altamira (off N Indian Canyon Dr)
Palm Springs CA 92262
USA
Tel: +1 760 459 3605
www.losarboleshotel.com

Mahala

Mahala means neighbourhood in many ancient languages and that’s one of the key assets of this hotel, which is surrounded by popular venues such as Sandfish restaurant, 1501 Gastropub, The Heyday burger restaurant, an icecream shop, a coffee shop, and the iconic Billy Reed’s which has been a Palm Springs institution since the mid-’70s.

Cleverly screened from the main road, the 14-room hotel is very private. Once inside the door, it’s like stepping into a peaceful enclave with views to the mountains (and even a view of the Aerial Tramway). Parking is at the back of the hotel, out of sight.

Although the hotel has 1950s bones, hotelier David Dean says they weren’t working with anything that was very significant architecturally, allowing for a complete revamp of the property, including reconfigured bathrooms that are considerably more spacious than they were originally. In addition to massive walk-in showers, every one of the seven king and seven queen rooms has platform beds and other custom-designed furnishings, high-end electronics, Smeg mini fridges, and original artworks.

Greeted with date shakes – a local speciality that is gently spicy and utterly delicious – we couldn’t help but smile at the décor, which leans more to the psychedelic ‘60s and ‘70s than the 1950s. Colourful pop art and elements from ‘70s Billboard graphics feature in this design-centric hotel.

Mahala
1777 N Palm Canyon Drive
Palm Springs CA 92262
USA
Tel: +1 760 699 2470
www.mahalahotel.com

Casa Cody

As well as being a collection of 30 unique rooms, there’s a wonderful back story to Casa Cody, starting with the fact that it is the oldest continually operating hotel in Palm Springs. Founded in 1936 by Harriet Cody, a cousin of legendary showman Buffalo Bill, the hotel was popular with entertainers such as opera singer Lawrence Tibbett, who installed a stage in Adobe House where Charlie Chaplin is rumoured to have performed.

Built in the early 1900s, Adobe House is the jewel of Casa Cody and the oldest building on the property. A rare example of an original adobe house, it sleeps four people in two king bedrooms with a spacious living area, full kitchen and outdoor porch with views of the mountains. It even has an underground cellar where you can arrange to have a private wine tasting.

If you’re seeking something more intimate, consider Olympic Cottage, built to house athletes for the 1932 Los Angeles Olympic Games and transported to this site behind Casa Cody’s edible garden. It boasts an extended patio with mountain views, outdoor shower and full kitchen.

Another interesting building on the property is Winter’s House, a 1930’s ranch house with king-sized four-poster bed, outdoor tub, living room fireplace, full kitchen and private indoor and outdoor dining areas.

The entire property is serene with expansive lawns and splashes of colour from bougainvillea and other plantings. Unusually for a boutique property, Casa Cody has not just one but two swimming pools. Accented with colourful décor and artworks, every room on the property is one of a kind.

With such a history, Casa Cody is extraordinary, but in the hands of the Casetta Group the guest experience has been elevated to even greater heights. Here, old Palm Springs meets contemporary expectations in the most remarkable way.

Casa Cody
175 S Cahuilla Road
Palm Springs CA 92262
USA
Tel: +1 760 320 9346
www.casacody.com

Old Ranch Inn

Jason Ball and Troy Jones have thought of everything at this quaint and intimate eight-room inn. So much so that they have even covered the swimming pool handrails with cloth because they get so hot in the desert sun. That’s a first for us. Clearly their guests appreciate their attention to detail as many are return customers.

Inspired by the Old West, the atmosphere here is informal and relaxed despite the hotel’s location in the Historic Tennis Club District, a ritzy neighbourhood long associated with celebrities and glamour.

Tell a cowboy tale or two around the pool or firepit or borrow a bike and go exploring. The inn sits on former ranch land within walking distance of downtown shops and galleries. Like many of the hotels here, it has spectacular mountain views.

The inn is private and secluded, its guest rooms nestled around the pool amidst palms and flowering gardens, shady patios and fountains. The tastefully decorated rooms all have kitchenettes, spacious baths, and semi-private patios. One of the suites even has a fireplace.

Old Ranch Inn
220 South Patencio Road
Palm Springs CA 92262
USA
Tel: +1 877 565 3726
www.oldranchinn.com

The Velvet Rope

Saving the newest and most OTT hotel till last, The Velvet Rope is the creation of the incomparable Davis Rios, an interior designer known for his distinctive, sometimes even outlandish, transformations of old homes and buildings in Palm Springs. Rios took inspiration from Hollywood to transform this mid-century hotel into a lavish oasis with nine luxurious suites, each one more outrageous than the last.

From the (anything but) Standard rooms honouring Elizabeth Taylor and Jean Harlow, to the Luxury suites honouring Elvis, Lucille Ball and Liberace, it’s all one flamboyant romp after another. Most glamorous of all is the $US999+ a night Presidential Estate, an opulent, expansive suite in marble and gold with a nod to JFK and Marilyn Monroe. Jackie Kennedy hangs on the wall, observing it all.

Despite all the flamboyance, the hotel is intimate and secluded, with a speakeasy-style bar, lush gardens, and a sparkling pool with adult-sized rubber ducks. The Velvet Rope is not just a place to stay; it’s where history, design and luxury converge in one audacious package.

The Velvet Rope
120 W Veredasur
Palm Springs CA 92262
USA
Tel: +1 (760) 285 5074
www.thevelvetropeps.com

Palm Springs Preferred Small Hotels represents 70+ hotels in Palm Springs. These boutique hotels offer an authentic Palm Springs experience that is totally different from anything you will find in a large hotel or home rental.

More information:
www.authenticpalmsprings.com
www.visitpalmsprings.com
www.visitgreaterpalmsprings.com

Thanks to Palm Springs Preferred Small Hotels, Maurie and I have personally inspected all the hotels listed here. We have had the pleasure of being hosted at both Los Arboles and The Velvet Rope.

With 350 days of sunshine a year, amazing landscape, fabulous architecture, and a thriving cultural and culinary scene, there are many good reasons to visit Palms Springs. We can’t wait to go back and check out more of these small Palm Springs hotels.

Story and photographs © Christine Salins and Maurie O’Connor

If you enjoyed this post, you might also like our post on another iconic Palm Springs hotel, Ingleside Estate. The story ran a few years ago but still has some great advice on why Palm Springs deserves to be on your wish list.