18 Best Hotels in Palm Springs, Palm Springs and the Desert Resorts

By day, sip cocktails at the indoor–outdoor bar (which doubles as the reception desk), lounge in the pool while a live DJ spins nearby, or browse the trendy gift shop while slurping scoops of Coachella Valley Date from the in-store ice cream counter; at night, relax in the pool-sized hot tub, socialize around communal firepits (half of the rooms also have private patios and fireplaces), play drag-queen bingo (every other Thursday), or cozy up in your king-size bed amid tasteful urbane furnishings and boldly patterned wallpaper.

It's easy to fall in love with this new-in-2022, adults-only Acme Hospitality property in a restored mid-century jewel of an apartment complex—we're talking sun-dappled breezeways, clerestory windows, carved doors, a low-slung roof, and a full-wall white-brick fireplace fronted by a shag rug in the lobby living room. Your stay starts with a warm hello, a boozy welcome drink, and the first opportunity to decompress amid the hushed peace that can only be found at 21-and-over accommodations. The recuperation will continue in your spacious room, which will likely have a kitchenette and a patio hammock and will definitely be swathed in soothing organic tones and have gorgeous tile, custom millwork, and a bed built for deep sleep. Complete the relaxation process by meditating poolside or next to one of the longest (and best) firepits in town.

Boutique hospitality firm Casetta dusted off a hodgepodge of buildings—including an early-1900s adobe, a rare 1932 Olympic cottage, and a hacienda hotel once run by Buffalo Bill Cody's cousin, Harriet—to create the kind of exceptional lodging where you can easily lose track of time floating in one of two pools, eating fruit plucked off a property tree and sipping tea or coffee (available all day) in the bougainvillea-covered arcade, or watching sunlight and shadows crawl across the walls from your snuggly, never-want-to-leave bed. Studios, suites, and stand-alone casitas feature dark woods, Zellige tile, burnished metals, and rich colors like hunter green and burnt orange, which, when assembled just so, create a tailored, refined, farmhouse-meets-Santa-Fe-artist-studio vibe. This is a hotel for those who want to linger, finish their books, and eat fresh berries and cream every morning.

Opened in 2023, the third hotel from a thriving new name in West Coast hospitality is a neutral-toned nirvana that combines a touch of Tulum with mid-century nods and offers a desirable, convenient location and free self-parking; suites and studios can accommodate individuals and couples or families and other groups of varying sizes.  Desert-sojourn musts like a refreshing pool, yoga, lawn games, firepits, and photogenic cacti; and such mod cons as digital check-in, coded room entry, pour-over coffee equipment, and steamers that actually work are included. The on-site Mexican restaurant, Maleza, serves tasty Baja bites like tacos, ceviche, queso fundido (melted cheese with chorizo), and chimichurri chicken.

Expect homey accommodations for all budgets at this delightful hotel that's decked out in rustic Mexican furniture. Rooms vary in size and style, but all feature wooden accent walls, iron flourishes, and brightly colored throws. Many rooms have kitchens, and all have access to the outdoor barbecue area and a communal kitchen with 24-hour snacks and coffee. The pool and hot tub area features a firepit, as well as some more secluded hangout spaces.

As the tallest building in town, this upscale boutique dazzles locals and guests (especially the under-45 set) with stunning mountain, museum-installation, and twinkling, after-dark, urban views from guest rooms and suites, the bar, the seventh-story restaurant, and the deck that surrounds the city's lone rooftop pool. It's classy and arty but unpretentious, making guests feel at home with free perks like sunrise coffee service, a daily social hour with beer and wine, and family fridges for nursing moms to store the goods. All accommodations have plush robes, Wi-Fi, a sense-of-place decor, and a signature Kimpton yoga mat.

This incredibly unique, Moroccan–Mediterranean mashup comprises Scottish painter Gordon Coutts' 1924 Tangier-inspired villa, a southern Europe–styled 1930s home once owned by silent film star J. Carol Naish, and a 1918 California adobe spread across 1½ acres on both sides of a quiet street a couple of blocks from downtown's main drag. Creative types and new bohemians are still drawn to the tranquil, sun-splashed grounds, which have generous day beds and turn sultry and dramatic at night with the flickering of hand-lit lanterns and fire bowls. In addition to full gourmet breakfasts served alfresco near the gurgling fountain, there's afternoon mint-tea service. No two rooms are the same, though most feature stone-heavy bathrooms, antique and hand-carved furniture, and plush bedding. Some have kitchenettes, outdoor showers, soaking tubs, or fireplaces. The resort fee is hefty at $60, but it funds lots of extras like poolside snacks, borrowable bikes, and welcome drinks. The spa is small and simple so opt for in-room chakra-balancing massages and vibrational scalp treatments.

At what is definitely not your grandad's luxury hotel, a cacophony of color, retro accessories, Moroccan textiles, and flamboyant art masterfully assembled by designer Jonathan Adler is paired with lush, mazelike grounds; attentive service; and amenities that include three saltwater pools, cozy firepits, free EV charging, clay tennis courts, pétanque, morning barista services, and a huge spa that looks like a Wes Anderson film set. The hip but rarefied air attracts a well-heeled and worldly clientele, who seem to enjoy not only the smell of the citrus trees and the jangly beats of a clubby soundtrack but also the wee bit of pretension. All accommodations—whether they be poolside kings, villas with multiple bathrooms and wooden swings, or quarters in the former Gene Autry residence—have private outdoor space that, in some cases, features a hammock secluded behind tall shrubs. This is a splurge for most people, but you can score deals on midweek or summer stays.

Set in two adjacent, opulent, Mediterranean-style mansions built in the 1920s to host the rich and famous friends (Clark Gable, Shirley Temple, Albert Einstein) of millionaire William Mead, this sumptuous hillside B&B has gleaming hardwood floors, stone fireplaces, frescoed ceilings, hand-painted tiles, iron balconies, and a 50-foot waterfall that splashes down outside the dining room window providing breakfast entertainment. Stroll the private garden, planted with native flora and affording one of the best views in the area. Guest rooms are decorated with antiques—some even have clawfoot tubs—to evoke Hollywood's golden era.

The good times always seem to be rolling at this former Howard Johnson's that was brilliantly transformed into a buzzy boho boutique hotel by the hipster, Seattle-based Ace brand. Don't be surprised to find gaggles of guests playing trivia games while gathered around cozy communal fire pits, waving their hands in the air during a live show at the big wackily shaped main pool, or guzzling drinks in the Amigo Room. Rooms, on two floors, are spacious and immaculate with simple vintage appointments and fully stocked minibars. Some have fun extras: turntables, open-air showers, or ground-floor patios with fireplaces. The hotel is canine-friendly, with its own dog park. Weekend events and the pool day-pass program draw locals and enhance the party atmosphere.

At the crossroads of the Uptown Design District and the Movie Colony neighborhood, Alcazar, with its ample, modern, blazing-white guest rooms that wrap around a sparkling pool, does hip, simple, and comfortable well—and at a more affordable price point than most of its competitors. Many rooms have private patios, fireplaces, and large soakers. Basic needs are met and then some, thanks to a heated saltwater pool, soft Italian linens, free morning coffee and pastries, a hot tub, two restaurants, and a small business center. 

With three pools and a spa spread over 4 acres of gardens, the upscale Avalon Hotel Palm Springs calls back to 1960s swanky, with private bungalows, lush gardens, and an emphasis on style. Guest rooms for two and villas for three or more, some with fireplaces and private patios, are spread out over four tree-shaded acres. Secluded nooks and black-and-white-striped cabanas make for excellent lounging. You can dine indoors or poolside on healthful Latin fare at the stylish restaurant, Chi Chi. The on-site Estrella Spa is one of the most luxurious and unique wellness centers in Palm Springs.

A hip place to stay since the 1930s, when gangster Al Wertheimer built it to front his casino, bar, and brothel, this Spanish colonial–style property later became the Howard Hotel (hosting a young Frank Sinatra, Elizabeth Taylor, and Liberace) and has now been been returned it to its art deco roots and further gussied up for the social-media age to once again attract tastemakers, pretty young things, and other adults with the desire (and budget) to live the good life. It's one of those places that seems to reverberate with the echos of the old Hollywood elite who once ruled the town. The center of the Colony-verse is the pool courtyard, with its darling striped cabanas and umbrellas, which is where you'll find the bar and the excellent contemporary-American restaurant. Rooms and bungalows radiate out from the courtyard along paths that wind through leafy grounds. All accommodations are striking, with bold wallpaper and velvety furniture, yet comfortable, with Frette linens, custom beds, and Le Labo bath products. Allow time to visit the spa or to just lounge around, whether inside or out.

Offering all the comforts of home, this small B&B contains large rooms that surround the terra-cotta–tiled and very comfortable pool area, where you can spend quiet time soaking up the sun or taking a dip. In the morning, guests and the convivial innkeepers gather for a light breakfast. The rooms, done in soft yellows and beige, have European accents—headboards that resemble rustic French gates in one, and antique furnishings in others. For the most privacy, ask for an upstairs room. The inn does not encourage guests under age 14.

Designed in 1935 by Albert Frey, this intimate, adults-only hotel leans hard into the mid-century minimalist aesthetic throughout its gleaming-white, balcony-studded, two-story buildings and its residential-style rooms, where the accents and bright colors are era-accurate. Although some of the furniture feels like its part of an IKEA golden age collection, the property has recently added such mod cons as Wi-Fi, Keurig coffeemakers, flat-screens, and pillowtop king beds. A cool vibe prevails—in the morning over coffee and continental breakfast, in late afternoon by the pool, and in the evening by the courtyard fire feature.

The exterior architecture—nearly flat roofs, wide overhangs, glass everywhere—of this hip, adults-only, Herbert Burns–designed inn on a quiet street dates from its 1955 opening, and the period feel continues inside, where rooms, some with kitchenettes, all have patios and are appointed with mid-mod furnishings by Charles and Ray Eames, Marcel Breuer, and other contemporaries. Vintage LPs and in-room record players add to the throwback ambiance. Retro cruiser bikes, books, games, and videos are available for guest use.

Manhattan-based architects Peter Stamberg and Paul Aferiat took a ho-hum Holiday Inn of yore and turned it into a rainbow-bright stay for sunseekers, where the proudly loud palette—said to be inspired by the surrounding desert's wildflowers—is carried through the grounds, the pool area (which always seems to be mid-party), and the rooms. Weekend DJs, reasonable rates, a 24-hour fitness center, two flower-shape hot tubs, and a speakeasy-style bar entered through a door hidden in a bookcase are all siren songs for the young and hip, especially those with active social feeds.

Rustic earthiness meets haute design (rusted rolled-steel roof, open shelving, concrete-pebble floors, gallery walls, and so many accent pillows) at the adults-only Sparrows, a restored 1950s retreat originally built by actor Don Castle just off the main drag. Rooms hug a central stone-tiled pool, an open-air barn/bar where guests converge for conversation and coffee-table books, an all-day kitchen, and sitting nooks near the vegetable garden. There are no TVs in the rooms, but the Wi-Fi is fast, and the sun-dappled courtyard is calling anyway.