17 Best Palm Springs Boutique Hotels: From Spanish Revival Villas to Historic Getaways for Hollywood Stars
Since the last century, Palm Springs was a must-see desert retreat, first as a wellness destination at the turn of the 20th century, then as an escape for Hollywood stars a few decades later. In the 1920s, the Coachella Valley attracted filmmakers looking for vast landscapes that could double as distant deserts around the world. But the talent quickly took notice of Palm Springs’ virtues, and it soon turned into a second home. Just two hours from Los Angeles, stars flocked here for recreation, enjoying mornings playing tennis, afternoons by the pool and evenings filled with revelry.
Along with the celebrities came renowned architects, who were commissioned to build vacation homes and hotels throughout the growing city. Thus, Palm Springs became a laboratory for experimental mid-century modern architecture and continues to be one of the most well-known destinations for the architectural style.
Today, it’s not just the Hollywood elite who come to play in Palm Springs. Visitors run the gamut from northern retirement age snowbirds to Los Angeles partiers looking for a quick weekend getaway.
An impressive number of hotels in Palm Springs could technically be considered boutique properties, given their generally small size, historic architecture, and elegant decor. So in order to narrow down the list, we had to come up with Palm Springs-specific restrictions for the definition of a boutique hotel, namely, we’re limiting the list to properties that have 50 rooms or less, which knocks some of the weights off. city heavy. (Sorry, The Saguaro and Ace Hotel and Swim Club!)
The Horizon | Royal Villa | Black Flower | Pension Korakia | Incoming Orbit | Sparrow Pavilion | Trixie Motel | Ingleside Inn | La Serena Villas | The Palm Springs Weekend | Holiday home | Monkey Tree | Willows | Cacti | Cody House | Arrival in Palm Springs | Palm Springs from Talavera
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What’s the best area in Palm Springs to stay in?
If you’re looking to be in the heart of the action, Downtown Palm Springs is the best neighborhood in town. Along the two main roads here, Palm Canyon Drive and Indian Canyon Drive, are restaurants, bars, shops, and museums like the Palm Springs Art Museum, and everything is within walking distance. The only thing downtown Palm Springs lacks is the space and privacy you’ll find in the surrounding neighborhoods. That said, most boutique hotels are built around serene courtyards that serve as an oasis. You can also stay in the adjoining neighborhoods to enjoy walking: we recommend the Historic Tennis Club District.
The Skyline
The atmosphere: Casual, elegant
Main equipment: Adults-only restaurant with fireplaces, Frette bedding, Le Labo toiletries, weekend yoga classes, indoor-outdoor spa
Location: Deepwell Domains
Best for: Enjoy mid-century architecture or poolside rays
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