12 Best Hotels In Palm Springs 2024

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8 months Ago

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Andrea Bennett, Contributor
Forbes Vetted

Few places have as recognizable a style as Palm Springs, California, and even fewer places have revitalized their historic hotels as boldly or built new hotels that honor its own design heritage as beautifully. The best hotels in Palm Springs still feature mid-modern vibrant colors and geometric shapes, but today, you’ll also find a distinctive Desert Modernist style: clean lines, glass walls and natural colors that barely separate you from the sun-soaked environment of the San Joaquin Mountains and Coachella Valley. There have also been revivals of the area’s much older gems: the rare Spanish Revival and Mediterranean buildings of the early 20th century.

In the 1930s, Hollywood stars—bound to the movie studio rule that actors under contract had to stay within two hours of the studio—made Palm Springs their getaway, and its hotels became their social centers. Today, properties like The Ace Hotel, Sparrows Lodge, The Drift and The Colony Palms still remain the cultural hubs of Palm Springs, showcasing the city’s creative heartbeat and abundant natural beauty. If you’re planning a Palm Springs trip this year, we’ve narrowed down the hotels that are best carrying out that legacy based on numerous trips and stays. Below, our selections for the best hotels in Palm Springs in 2024.

Best Hotel For Foodies In Palm Springs: Sparrows Lodge
Best High-End Hotel In Palm Springs: L’Horizon Resort And Spa, Hermann Bungalows
Best Hotel For Couples In Palm Springs: Korakia Pensione
Hotel With The Best Location In Palm Springs: Holiday House
Best Resort In Palm Springs: Parker Palm Springs
Hotel With The Best Views In Palm Springs: Kimpton Rowan Palm Springs
Best Hotel For A Social Scene In Palm Springs: Ace Hotel And Swim Club
Best Hotel For Families In Palm Springs: JW Marriott Desert Springs Resort And Spa
Best Large Resort In Palm Springs: The Ritz-Carlton, Rancho Mirage
Best Hotel For Groups In Palm Springs: Drift Palm Springs
Hotel With The Best Pool In Palm Springs: Villa Royale
Hotel With The Best Amenities In Palm Springs: Colony Palms Hotel And Bungalows

Best Hotel For Foodies In Palm Springs: Sparrows Lodge

Staying here is one good way to ensure you get a table at the popular Barn Kitchen, one of only a few restaurants that made it into Michelin’s first Palm Springs guide.

Sparrow’s Lodge

Sparrows Lodge

Who Will Love It: Travelers looking for serenity and the opportunity to unplug

All-Star Amenities: Swiss army blankets; rain showers; outdoor fire pit

What Not To Miss: The Michelin-recommended Barn Kitchen, which serves refined, locally-sourced New American cuisine

Palm Springs may be known for its legendary late-night pool parties, but for some, an escape to the desert means the desire for ultimate relaxation. There’s no better place to fully unplug than at Sparrows Lodge, a serene, adults-only oasis where the only music you’ll hear is the sound of hummingbirds. It’s not hard to imagine movie stars of yesteryear flocking here to get away from the headlines—perhaps because they actually did. Built in 1952 by MGM actor Don Castle, Castle’s Red Barn, as it was called then, was the place to be for celebrities who didn’t want to see or be seen. Today, the 20-room rustic retreat provides the same kind of refuge for non-famous travelers.

There are plenty of great places to eat in Palm Springs, but booking a room at Sparrows Lodge will ensure you get a table at its popular Barn Kitchen, one of only a few restaurants that made it into Michelin’s first Palm Springs guide in 2022. Those staying at the property can dine on rustic American dishes that are influenced by the Coachella Valley: think a Creekstone Ranch ribeye for two with salt-crusted potatoes, or fresh carrot cavatelli pasta with maitake mushrooms and goat cheese. The popular restaurant is guests only at breakfast, and outsiders need to make reservations for lunch and dinner.

Best High-End Hotel In Palm Springs: L’Horizon Resort And Spa, Hermann Bungalows

The 24 guestrooms feel like Neutra houses, with 18 feet of floor-to-ceiling glass, overlooking an 85-foot infinity pool and the mountains.

JIM BARTSCH

L’Horizon Resort And Spa, Hermann Bungalows

Who Will Love It: Desert Modern design lovers; fans of quiet luxury

All-Star Amenities: Frette sheets; Le Labo Santal 33 amenities; a seemingly miles-long pool

What Not to Miss: Complimentary weekend yoga in the shadow of the San Jacinto mountains

Celebrity designer Steve Hermann made news in 2015 when he bought the old Horizon Hotel, built by celebrated Desert Modern architect William F. Cody as a private retreat for “Lone Ranger” producer Jack Wrather and his wife Bunny to entertain their many Hollywood friends—Betty Grable, Marilyn Monroe and others—in a complex of 25 low-slung bungalows. Hermann clad their ceilings in pine and stocked them with Frette linens, creating one of the most luxuriously low-key addresses in Palm Springs. But recently, Hermann did one better and added the new Hermann Bungalows on an adjoining lot, connected to L’Horizon.

The 24 guest rooms here (junior suites, one-bedroom, and studios) feel like Neutra houses, with 18 feet of floor-to-ceiling glass overlooking an 85-foot infinity pool and the mountains. (This glass should come as no surprise to those who know Hermann for his jaw-dropping Glass Pavilion in Montecito, a minimalist ode to Mies van der Rohe’s Farnsworth House.) This is desert luxury at its finest, with Italian fluted walnut and hand-chipped stone walls, Italian glass doors and smart everything. You can have your ultra-private desert idyll and then walk over to L’Horizon’s serene indoor-outdoor spa and its al fresco SOPA restaurant, serving progressive SoCal-influenced dishes of biodynamic and farmer’s produce from within a 150-mile radius.

Best Hotel For Couples In Palm Springs: Korakia Pensione

A room inside the Naish House at the Korakia Pensione Hotel in Palm Springs.

Courtesy of Korakia Pensione

Korakia Pensione

Who Will Love It: Romantic bohemians who want to be transported

All-Star Amenities: Nighttime movies; included breakfast

What Not To Miss: The library, where the former owner entertained guests like Errol Flynn, Rudolph Valentino and Winston Churchill

Built as a Moroccan hideaway in the 1920s by Scottish painter Gordon Coutts, Korakia Pensione is a unique getaway that occupies buildings on both sides of a street in the Historic Tennis Club neighborhood. The property is within walking distance of both Tahquitz Canyon’s hiking trails and downtown Palm Springs, and anyone with an Instagram account will recognize its iconic keystone-shaped grand entrance. Across the street, the artist’s neighbor, early silent-screen star J. Carrol Naish, owned a 1930s Mediterranean villa containing a rare 1918 California adobe cottage with a private courtyard and citrus grove. The two villas are now combined as Korakia Pensione, comprising 28 private and beautifully restored guest rooms with features like wood-burning fireplaces and high, wood-beamed ceilings.

On the Mediterranean side, most open right onto a tranquil little pool. On the Moroccan side, there’s a gorgeous pool grotto as well, with private courtyards and blooming vines. Both sides are surrounded by citrus trees, olive trees, date palms and vibrant bougainvillea; an included breakfast in the fountain courtyard, nighttime outdoor classic movies and private little nooks make the stay even more special. In 2023, Auric Road, which owns Korakia, renovated a beautiful family-friendly Spanish Revival adobe home, Auric House, just a short walk away. If you’re traveling with a group and need both adults-only and family options, pairing your stays at Korakia and Auric House is a perfect choice.

Hotel With The Best Location In Palm Springs: Holiday House

A guest room at the Holiday House Hotel, Palm Springs.

Courtesy of Holiday House

Holiday House

Who Will Love It: Art and design lovers who want a location close to hiking and the museum

All-Star Amenities: Nespresso machines; kitchens

What Not To Miss: Outdoor showers and mountain views from the “Best” rooms; the property’s famous fried chicken dinners every Wednesday

Those who come to Palm Springs for mid-century design, a vibrant pool scene and fantastic art will want to check in to the 28-room Holiday House and never leave. Architect Herbert W. Burns, famous for his pool-centric apartment hotels and residences, designed it in 1951. It was reimagined by interior designer Mark D. Sikes in lively blue and white, with a wild pop of color from the “Big Red Poppies” garden sculpture by Donald Sultan. Art appreciators will love the impressive collection in the cobalt blue lobby, with works by John Baldessari, Alex Katz and Herb Ritts. Rooms, too, are awash in whimsical art and bold-patterned cornflower blue and white décor with Mark D. Sikes custom textiles.

Holiday House, in its perfectly situated Tennis Club location close to downtown and with gorgeous views of the mountains, has a million things to do. You can take out its adorable blue and white bikes for a spin, cuddle up in the library with all the art books you desire or walk five minutes to the Palm Springs Art Museum. But you’re missing the best part if you don’t spend a whole day by the massively long pool under a (what else?) blue umbrella, soaking up the vibe—and some rosé. You might limit your commute on such a day to the poolside honor bar or the tiled Pantry patio café for classic “Americana” cuisine (Holiday House is famous for its fried chicken dinners on Wednesdays, which are a must).

Best Resort In Palm Springs: Parker Palm Springs

Designer Jonathan Adler amped up the Hollywood glam, with sunny awnings and movie art that somehow works against shiny gold ottoman poufs and wildly colorful Suzani cushions.

Parker Palm Springs

Who Will Love It: Design-centric Palm Springs buffs

All-Star Amenities: Tennis; petanque courts; croquet

What Not To Miss: Breakfast icon Norma’s; the totally delightful Palm Springs Yacht Club (the property’s spa)

The Parker Palm Springs opened as California’s first Holiday Inn in 1959, was purchased by Gene Autry (yes, the singing cowboy) in 1961, and variously served as spring training housing for the Los Angeles Angels, as well as Merv Griffin’s Resort Hotel. It was bought by hotelier Jack Parker in 2003 to become what most people think of as the first 5-star hotel in Palm Springs when it reopened as Le Parker Meridien, or The Parker Palm Springs, in 2004. Young upstart designer Jonathan Adler designed the project, with a kind of Valley of the Dolls trippiness, and then redesigned it in 2017. Recognize that mind-bending carpet? You’re supposed to: It’s a tribute to the hotel in The Shining.

Adler also amped up the Hollywood glam, with sunny awnings and movie art that somehow works against shiny gold ottoman poufs and wildly colorful Suzani cushions. Recently, all the baths got a glam renovation, and there’s new custom carpet throughout. You won’t want to miss dining at the Parker’s fine dining restaurant, Mister Parker’s, with its full-glam aesthetic (dimly lit, mirrored ceilings, white baby grand piano) and indulgent American and French menu. You’ll want to go full martini mode before launching into the lobster bisque, pan-seared scallops with smoked pork belly and Wagyu New York strip.

Hotel With The Best Views In Palm Springs: Kimpton Rowan Palm Springs

A corner suite at the Kimpton Rowan Palm Springs.

Courtesy of Kimpton Rowan Palm Springs

Kimpton Rowan Palm Springs

Who Will Love It: Those who want to get as close to the San Jacinto Mountains as they can without actually camping in them

All-Star Amenities: A superlative pet program; a new bedside reading program featuring complimentary hardcover and paperback books to take home

What Not To Miss: The new culinary direction at 4 Saints—and the views

The Rowan, a rare new build, opened in 2017 on a corner in downtown Palm Springs that has since exploded with every retail opportunity you could imagine. At seven stories high, the hotel, which anchored downtown’s revitalization plan when it was built, is the tallest building downtown, and nearly backs right into the San Jacinto mountains. Where the traditional hotel layout around Palm Springs is a central pool with one or two levels of hotel rooms arranged around it, The Rowan is a modern hotel tower topped with a rooftop pool. In 2023, the pool was upgraded with all new furnishings in muted desert hues. The hotel nods to its mid-century surrounds in mid-mod-inspired furniture, natural materials and the occasional piece of intentional kitsch (like a monumental macrame wall hanging behind the front desk).

The best guest room views are the mountain view premium rooms, with floor-to-ceiling windows that look right to the side of the mountains; to get the very best views, you can rent rooftop cabanas either during the day or in the evening for cocktails. The rooftop 4 Saints restaurant received one of the Michelin nods in the inaugural Palm Springs guide in 2022, and the hotel recently welcomed a new executive chef, Richard Crespin, who has worked in kitchens around the world adding his global influences—Spanish, Japanese, African, Thai and French—to the modern American cuisine.

Best Hotel For A Social Scene In Palm Springs: Ace Hotel And Swim Club

The Ace Hotel in Palm Springs, Calif.

Courtesy of Ace Hotel & Swim Club

Ace Hotel And Swim Club

Who Will Love It: Those attending Coachella; those in their twenties or reliving their twenties

All-Star Amenities: Monday night bingo; sunset yoga; open mic night at the Amigo room; DJs spinning old-school vinyl

What Not To Miss: The Amigo Room hideaway bar, with a few fun throwbacks, like a very adult Orange Julius

When most people think of the hotels that set off a tidal wave of classic hotel restoration in Palm Springs, the Ace comes to mind. Fun, young and fab, the property was built on the foundation of a 1965 Westward Ho Hotel, and much of the hotel is a creative rethink—or in the case of the unearthed terrazzo floors in the restaurant, actual reuse of—the original five-building structure. Each room embraces indoor-outdoor living, opening onto patios with outdoor fireplaces. There are two pools: the large, lively Main Pool (which was unearthed in the reno), and the Commune Pool, which is more geared towards relaxation.

The hotel’s very fun King’s Highway restaurant celebrates the classic roadside diner with specialties like blueberry waffles, fried chicken sandwiches, and a very good Twin Palms burger—but also throws in a few California necessities, like avocado toast and an acai bowl. More importantly, it’s in a remastered Denny’s, whose original terrazzo floor was sandblasted and whose flagstone walls and leather booths will remind you of your childhood in the ‘70s (or your mom’s childhood).

Best Hotel For Families In Palm Springs: JW Marriott Desert Springs Resort And Spa

The JW Marriott Desert Springs Resort & Spa.

Courtesy of JW Marriott Desert Springs Resort & Spa

JW Marriott Desert Springs Resort And Spa

Who Will Love It: Golfers; families with small kids and teens

All-Star Amenities: Boat rides; a great mix of upscale and more accessibly priced restaurants; tons of kids’ activities

What Not To Miss: A visit to Flamingo Island

Palm Springs is largely an adult destination; in fact, allowing children is the exception, not the rule. But that doesn’t mean there aren’t fantastic places for families nearby. JW Marriott Desert Springs Resort and Spa, about 25 minutes southeast of Palm Springs, is a massive resort with 884 rooms, five huge pools, tennis courts and approximately 1,000 activities for kids, all around two golf courses. It’s the antithesis of the tiny Palm Springs boutique, and families will love kids’ programming like nature walks, craft classes, ice cream socials and even a tour of the property’s own Flamingo Island. (Yes, there are real pink Chilean flamingos that live in and around their own island on the lake that surrounds the property’s two golf courses.) The waterways are big enough that you can reserve free boat rides to tour you around—and they dock, in novel fashion, right on the golf course side of the lobby. There’s even a new entertainment zone for tweens and teens that are too cool for flamingos, with a 12,000-square-foot arcade, air hockey and plenty more activities to keep the family’s least easily satisfied members happy when they’re not at the pool.

Best Large Resort In Palm Springs: The Ritz-Carlton, Rancho Mirage

Pool at The Ritz-Carlton, Rancho Mirage

Courtesy of The Ritz-Carlton, Rancho Mirage

The Ritz-Carlton, Rancho Mirage

Who Will Love It: Mountain view fanatics; travelers looking for a luxury desert experience

All-Star Amenities: Unparalleled views of the San Jacinto Mountains; locally inspired spa treatments

What Not To Miss: The adults-only infinity edge pool overlooking the Coachella Valley

Sometimes a resort getaway just needs a luxurious touch, and luxury is the name of the game at The Ritz-Carlton, Rancho Mirage, one of the esteemed hotel chain’s very first properties. Serene and dripping in opulence, the guest rooms here feature elegant, natural hues with pops of Palm Springs color, deep soaking tubs and stone flooring, with several rooms on the ground floor boasting outdoor fire pits inviting you to cozy up outdoors while gazing at the stars. The views of the Jacinto Mountains are hard to beat, especially from the infinity edge adults-only pool, one of the most popular spots on the property (the resort also has a family pool for children to enjoy). It’s not hard to achieve ultimate relaxation here, and guests can lounge around in a plush robe and take advantage of the spa’s deep tissue massage, steam bath and sauna. For those who want to get out and explore, the property is conveniently located across from several walking trails; ask the concierge for a map before that morning hike.

Best Hotel For Groups In Palm Springs: Drift Palm Springs

The hotel’s hub is its long central pool surrounded by day beds, lounge chairs and cabanas.

Drift Palm Springs

Who Will Love It: Groups and families, plus those who want to be walking distance to downtown

All-Star Amenities: Complimentary bikes; yoga mats and blocks; a personalized digital text concierge

What Not to Miss: Maleza, the hotel’s Baja-inflected restaurant and its massive agave-based spirits menu

Drift Palm Springs opened in spring 2023, the third Drift hotel following San Jose Del Cabo and Santa Barbara. The 39-room hotel takes its design cues from its Baja roots and Palm Springs mid-century modern surrounds, pulling influence from the city’s Spanish revival architecture. Despite being a new build, the property feels like a tranquil, insiders’ private compound. Rooms, which start at over 400 square feet, are spare but warm, with natural fiber rugs and lime-washed concrete floors, and many of its suites have multiple bedrooms plus nice-sized full kitchens. Many hotels in Palm Springs are adults only, but Drift welcomes children, so it’s the perfect place for a multi-generational or multi-family getaway.

The hotel’s hub is its long central pool surrounded by day beds, lounge chairs and cabanas. During the day, you don’t even have to move, because its Drift Pool Bar serves bites like ceviche and shrimp tacos plus drinks from its extensive beverage menu. The hotel’s location is so central that you can walk to the downtown restaurants and shopping, as well as the Palm Springs Art Museum—a ten-minute walk away. For meals, Maleza, Drift’s Baja-inspired restaurant with a wrap-around bar and floor-to-ceiling garage doors, has the largest selection of tequila in the desert—160 agave-based spirits—making it a popular spot for guests and locals.

Hotel With The Best Pool In Palm Springs: Villa Royale

The hotel’s designers are masters of atmosphere, from the low-key glamour of the three pools to the paella nights at Del Rey, the hotel’s Spanish and Mediterranean restaurant.

Villa Royale

Who Will Love It: Those seeking Old Hollywood glamour

All-Star Amenities: Fit kits; bicycles; pet amenities, priority access to the on-site restaurant

What Not To Miss: Poolside “Deep Dive” happy hour with tapas, Spanish and Basque wines, sangria and cocktails

One of the first hotels to open in South Palm Springs, in 1947, Villa Royale is a sexy hideaway, with beautifully restored rooms appointed with every amenity under the sun. The property still feels as gracious and as intimate as it did when stars of Hollywood’s golden era sunned themselves around its beloved pool, still a Palm Springs staple all these years later. The 37 Spanish Mission Revival bungalows here reopened in 2018 after a refurbishment, and its owners kept all of its original classic mahogany woodwork, terracotta floors and exposed beam ceilings while adding colorful graphic Portuguese and Spanish tiles and 50 commissioned pieces of artwork channeling the star-studded history of Palm Springs.

Palm Springs devotees with a keen eye for style won’t be surprised to see the artistic influence of new Villa Royale partners Jeff Brock and Richard Crisman, founders and owners of Holiday House and Sparrow Lodge. Del Rey, the hotel’s Spanish and Mediterranean restaurant and bar that extend out to a lovely patio, is where in-the-know locals go for tapas and paella by the glow of a fire. Its newly refreshed menu offers lunch, dinner and poolside dining, and the cocktail program is not to be missed. Think pitchers of sangria with house-made cardamon and citrus syrup by the pool, and a pre-dinner Royale Old Fashioned, with fat-washed whisky, sherry and black walnut bitters.

Hotel With The Best Amenities In Palm Springs: Colony Palms Hotel And Bungalows

Although the hotel has a more subdued palette than previously, there are flights of fantasy; namely in the hand painted De Gournay gilded wallpaper in its Colony Club restaurant.

Colony Palms Hotel And Bungalows

Who Will Love It: Design fanatics seeking inspiration

All-Star Amenities: Frette sheets and robes; Le Labo bath amenities

What Not to Miss: A day by the super-long saltwater pool, with a treat from its poolside gelato cart

The Colony Palms has had a colorful history and a penchant for reinventing itself since it was opened in the 1930s by notorious mobster Al Wertheimer (back then, a speakeasy and brothel was accessible by a pantry cupboard). In 2007, it was revamped by star decorator Martyn Lawrence Bullard, and it has now entered a luxurious new iteration courtesy of designer and architect Steve Hermann (owner of L’Horizon), who has taken the 41 rooms, 14 bungalows and 2 grand suites full circle. Today, the property channels its original era through the lens of the French and Italian Rivieras, with a SoCal twist. Think rhombus-patterned marble floors, walnut-clad walls and an Art Deco reception desk.

Though it has a more subdued palette than previous iterations, there are still flights of fantasy to be found, namely in the hand-painted De Gournay gilded wallpaper in its Colony Club restaurant. Cap Ferrat circa 1940 turns to mid-century Palm Beach thanks to the green-trellised wallpaper in each room, as well as the banana leaf-patterned daybeds under green-and-white tasseled umbrellas around the 70-foot-long saltwater green mosaic pool. The hotel, classically rethought and tastefully curated with Frette sheets and robes and Le Labo bath products, is a beautiful combo of lush throwback and modern design gravitas.

About Andrea Bennett, Your Palm Springs Guide

I have covered travel for more than 20 years, identifying trends, vetting mileage programs and travel hacks, and sussing out the best in hotels. As the anonymous hotel critic for The New York Post, I enjoyed spending Rupert Murdoch’s money in the name of public service in the early 2000s. I’m a former longtime contributing editor and columnist for Travel + Leisure and The Wall Street Journal, the former group editor-in-chief of Vegas and Modern Luxury San Diego magazines and a contributing writer for Condé Nast Traveler. My writing has also appeared in O: The Oprah Magazine, Town & Country, Departures, T: The New York Times Style Magazine, Fortune, Money, Outside, TripSavvy, TripAdvisor and many others.

Why Trust Forbes Vetted

The Forbes Vetted travel team has researched, written and published dozens of hotel guides featuring cities across the globe. The travel section is overseen by Vetted’s senior travel editor, Astrid Taran, a 7-year industry veteran who’s visited over 35 countries. The writer of each of our hotel roundups is handpicked based on their area of expertise, whether they are area locals or avid travelers who have visited the destination frequently—and all have bylines in other reputable travel publications. Further, this story is regularly checked to ensure that all prices and information are as current as possible. It was last updated in March 2024 by travel writer Claire Epting.

How Many Days Do You Need In Palm Springs?

There are plenty of great outdoor activities, fascinating museums, chic restaurants and hip bars in Palm Springs, not to mention an incredible hotel scene. To get the most out of everything Palm Springs has to offer, you’ll need at least three days. This ensures that you have enough time to properly explore Downtown Palm Springs and take in the surrounding scenery, while also carving out ample time to lounge by the pool. It’s possible to squeeze a Palm Springs getaway into one weekend—just keep in mind you’ll have to be more selective with your itinerary.

What Is The Nicest Part Of Palm Springs?

The best area to stay in Palm Springs for first timer visitors is Downtown Palm Springs, which puts you within walking distance (or a short drive) to many restaurants, shops and attractions. Those seeking nightlife should scope out the Palm Desert neighborhood, which is home to more of a late-night scene, including cozy cocktail bars and watering holes. For those looking for a chic day of shopping and lunch, Uptown Palm Springs, particularly North Palm Canyon Drive, is filled with independent boutique shops, farm-to-table restaurants and several luxury properties.

What Is The Best Month To Visit Palm Springs?

With its location in the Sonoran Desert, Palm Springs is known for its hot temperatures, especially in the summer months. The best months to visit Palm Springs for more temperate weather is February through April, when you can enjoy 80-degree temperatures during the day and a cool desert breeze in the evening.

However, visiting during the winter months (December through January) has its perks, too. You can typically expect lower hotel rates and fewer crowds than during the peak months, and the weather is still enjoyable: around 70 degrees during the day and high 50s in the evening.