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For the last century, Palm Springs has been a go-to 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 film directors looking for vast landscapes that could double as far-flung deserts across the world. But the talent soon took note of Palm Springs' virtues, and it quickly blossomed into a second-home retreat. Just two hours from Los Angeles, stars flocked here for recreation, enjoying mornings playing tennis, afternoons by the pool, and evenings filled with revelry.
With the celebrities came acclaimed architects, who were commissioned to build vacation homes and hotels throughout the growing city. Thus Palm Springs became a laboratory for experimental midcentury-modern architecture, and it continues to be one of the best-known destinations for the architectural style.
Today, it's not only the Hollywood elite that comes to play in Palm Springs. Visitors run the gamut between retirement-age snowbirds from the north to party-hard Los Angelenos looking for a quick weekend getaway.
An impressive number of hotels in Palm Springs could technically be considered boutique properties, given their generally small sizes, historic architecture, and stylish decor. So in order to narrow down the list, we've had to come up with some Palm Springs-specific restrictions for the definition of a boutique hotel—namely, we're limiting the list to properties that have 50 rooms or fewer, which knocks out some of the heavy hitters in town. (Sorry, The Saguaro and Ace Hotel & Swim Club!)
L'Horizon | Villa Royale | Fleur Noire | Korakia Pensione | Orbit In | Sparrows Lodge | Trixie Motel | Ingleside Inn | La Serena Villas | The Weekend Palm Springs | Holiday House | Monkey Tree | The Willows | Les Cactus | Casa Cody | Arrive Palm Springs | Talavera Palm Springs
All listings featured in this story are independently selected by our editors. However, when you book something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission.
What is the best area of Palm Springs to stay in?
If you're looking to be in the heart of the action, downtown Palm Springs is the best area in town. Up and down 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 it's all walkable. The one thing lacking in downtown Palm Springs is space and privacy, which you'll find in the surrounding neighborhoods. That said, most boutique hotels are built around serene courtyards that serve as oases. You can also stay in adjacent neighborhoods to take advantage of the walkability: we recommend the historic Tennis Club Neighborhood.
L'Horizon
The vibe: Laid-back, elegant
Top amenities: Adults-only restaurant with firepits, Frette bedding, Le Labo toiletries, weekend yoga classes, indoor-outdoor spa
Location: Deepwell Estates
Best for: Enjoying the midcentury architecture or the rays by the pool
With 25 bungalows and one Residence (the former home of Hollywood producer Jack Wrather) spread across three acres, L'Horizon might more accurately be called a boutique resort than a boutique hotel. And yet, it's an intimate one where the staff will quickly learn your name. Amenities include a pool and poolside bar that serves drinks and bites to the cabanas; the adult-only So-Pa restaurant; and an indoor-outdoor spa that offers yoga classes on the weekend. Acclaimed midcentury architect William F. Cody designed the hotel in 1952, and each of the 25 accommodations retains his original design ethos, with the addition of contemporary upgrades like Nest thermostats, Nespresso machines, Tivoli speakers, and Apple TVs. Though there's no need to ever leave the property during a weekend visit, L'Horizon is located less than a mile from downtown Palm Springs, and there are a number of restaurants within walking distance.
Villa Royale
The vibe: Eclectic
Top amenities: Del Rey for dinner and cocktails (priority reservations for guests), free rental bikes, helpful virtual concierge, welcome beer or cocktail at check-in
Location: Tahquitz River Estates
Best for: Relaxing by day, going hard at night
The historic Villa Royale has an eclectic design style that blends Spanish Revival architecture with bold art and a touch of glam—particularly in the sultry restaurant and bar Del Rey, outfitted with velvet seating, wood-paneled walls, a marble bar, and a wood-burning fireplace. (Guests receive priority reservations, and they should absolutely take advantage of that.) The 35 rooms are spread across the terracotta-roofed, whitewashed buildings built in 1947, which are separated by lushly landscaped courtyards and two pools. The property's aesthetic continues into the accommodations, though they certainly have a midcentury bent.
Fleur Noire
The vibe: Desert-style flower power
Top amenities: Rosé speakeasy, text concierge service to order pool towels and drinks to your lounger, a clubhouse lounge with all-day snacks and coworking space
Location: El Mirador
Best for: Rosé all day
There are two things that stand out about Fleur Noire: its floral wall murals and its rosé speakeasy. Artist Louise Jones, also known as Ouizi, is responsible for the colorful exterior paintings, while artist Ellie Cashman designed the floral wallpaper seen in each of the hotel's 21 rooms. As for the rosé bar, it lies behind the pink French doors—and you can order from dozens of rosé bottlings, as well as a menu of other wines, beers, and spirits. Guests can even text hotel staff to deliver drinks to the fire pits or poolside loungers. Though there's no on-site restaurant right now, the owners plan on bringing a crêpe (and mimosa) food truck to the property for breakfast in the near future.
Korakia Pensione
The vibe: Swoon-worthy
Top amenities: Moroccan tea, two saltwater pools, seasonal yoga and meditation classes, nightly outdoor movies, indoor-outdoor spa, complimentary bike rentals
Location: Tennis Club
Best for: Romantic getaways
Korakia Pensione just might be the most romantic hotel in Palm Springs. The property is comprised of two villas: the Moroccan villa and Mediterranean villa, each adhering to its namesake region's architecture and decor styles, both in the 28 guest rooms and the public spaces. Walk through the keyhole-shaped double doors and you'll be whisked away to Morocco, then cross the street and you'll find yourself in Greece. Amenities include complimentary breakfast, Moroccan tea service in the afternoon, and a serene indoor-outdoor spa (plus in-room treatments if you'd prefer.) If you find yourself sick of the ubiquitous midcentury architecture of Palm Springs, Korakia Pensione is the perfect hotel for you—looking around the property, you'd have no idea you were still in California. But impressively, Korakia Pensione is just a few blocks away from downtown Palm Springs, making it perfectly accessible to all of the destination's highlights.
Orbit In
The vibe: As midcentury as it gets
Top amenities: Free happy hour Thursday-Saturday, record players in rooms (and an on-site vinyl library), cruiser bikes
Location: Tennis Club
Best for: Embracing Palm Springs' midcentury modern architecture and decor
Originally named The Village Manor, the Orbit In was built in 1957 by architect Herbert Burns, who owned the property with his wife, Gayle. The layout of the nine themed rooms remains the same, laid out around the small freshwater pool. And while the interiors have since been renovated, they very much retain the midcentury style, from the authentic furniture by such midcentury designers as Charles and Ray Eames, Eero Saarinen, and Harry Bertoia, to the vintage record players. A continental breakfast is served daily and guests are treated to a free happy hour from Thursday to Sunday.
Sparrows Lodge
The vibe: Desert farmhouse chic
Top amenities: Rustic-American restaurant Barn Kitchen that focuses on regional specialties, temperature-controlled massage tent, Grown Alchemist toiletries
Location: Deepwell Estates
Best for: Retro summer camp vibes
Sparrows Lodge expertly blends a touch of Old West rusticity with Palm Springs' signature midcentury style. The adult-only hotel originally opened as Castle's Red Barn in 1952 by actor Don Castle, catering to his Hollywood pals, and the country theme still holds strong today. The original barn is now the social hub of Sparrows Lodge, where you'll find the lobby, the bar, and the California cuisine restaurant Barn Kitchen. The 18 rooms and two suites are split between poolside accommodations and garden-facing ones, each featuring wood-paneled walls and lofted ceilings, and most feature steel horse trough bathtubs.
Trixie Motel
The vibe: Over-the-top '60s fab
Top amenities: Café and bar, complimentary in-room breakfast, on-site boutique open to the public
Location: Little Tuscany
Best for: Instagrammable moments
Leave it to iconic drag queen Trixie Mattel (and the man behind her, Brian Firkus) to dream up the most delightfully campy boutique hotel in Palm Springs. Rather than go for cookie-cutter midcentury style, Mattel and her partner, David Silver, fully embraced '60s camp for the Trixie Motel. The exterior, the lobby lounge, and the pool are all pink everything, while the seven kaleidoscopic guest rooms go all-in on retro themes, from the Pink Flamingo Suite to Atomic Bombshell. There's a small on-site bar and café for guests only, but the public is welcome to shop in the boutique or peek at Trixie's Cactus Garden.
Ingleside Inn
The vibe: Spanish-style oasis
Top amenities: Historic Melvyn's Restaurant, access to pools and amenities at sister property Avalon Hotel, 24/7 gym, spa
Location: Downtown Palm Springs
Best for: San Jacinto Mountain views from the ultra-private pool
The Spanish-style Ingleside Inn has quite the Hollywood pedigree; under the ownership of hotelier Ruth Hardy in the late 1930s into the 1940s, it was an invitation-only retreat for the likes of Marilyn Monroe, Clark Gable, Elizabeth Taylor, Marlon Brando, and even Salvador Dalí. Today, it's the adult-only counterpart to the Avalon Hotel next door, which means that all Ingleside guests have access to the sister property's more robust selection of amenities, including the Estrella Spa and a 24-hour gym. While the Ingleside Inn has its own pool—with spectacular San Jacinto Mountain views—its main attraction is the fine-dining restaurant Melvyn's, a favorite of Frank Sinatra.
The vibe: Globally-inspired boho-chic
Top amenities: Latin-inspired restaurant Azúcar, Frette linens, L'Occitane toiletries
Location: Downtown Palm Springs
Best for: R&R for couples
Opened as the Hispanic Hotel in 1933, La Serena Villas underwent a head-to-toe renovation in 2016 by its new owners Kelly and Lars Viklund, Palm Springs hoteliers who filled the Spanish Revival-style property with antiques they collected on their world travels. It's quite romantic, so it's no surprise that many of the guests in the 18 rooms are couples looking for a little R&R. During the day, lounge by the pool or indulge in a spa treatment. In the evening, have margaritas or dinner at the Latin-inspired restaurant Azúcar before moving to the fire pits on the accommodations' private patios.
The Weekend Palm Springs
The vibe: Quiet, relaxing, and residential-style
Top amenities: Frette linens; L'Occitane toiletries
Location: Old Las Palmas
Best for: Low-key group or family vacations
If you're not looking to partake in Palm Spring's party scene—at least not at your hotel, anyway—The Weekend Palm Springs is the perfect retreat for you. Downtown is only a 20-minute walk or a five-minute drive away, but this quiet hotel provides a relaxing home base with plenty of space in its 10 large suites. The smallest accommodation is 700 square feet with a living room, king bedroom, kitchenette, and private patio, while the upgraded suite has an extra 100 square feet and includes a kitchen with a full-size fridge but no stove. All of the suites can be expanded to include a queen-size bedroom and a second bath, making the hotel perfect for small groups or families (but the pool is strictly a quiet zone, so don't plan on bringing inflatables).
Holiday House
The vibe: A blue-and-white playground of art and design
Top amenities: Art collection featuring David Hockney and Roy Liechtenstein, complimentary continental breakfast, bikes
Location: Downtown Palm Springs
Best for: Design lovers
Just off downtown Palm Spring's main drags, Holiday House is a decor-lover's dream—the interiors of this 1950s property were redone in 2017 by acclaimed designer-to-the-stars Mark D. Sikes. Its blue and white patterns pair with a stellar art collection featuring works by David Hockney and Roy Liechtenstein. As is standard in Palm Springs, the hotel's social scene revolves around the pool, which has a shuffleboard court on the lush lawn. You can order dishes to your lounger from the hotel's breakfast and lunch restaurant, The Pantry, which is open to guests and the public alike.
Monkey Tree
The vibe: If a boutique hotel were run by Airbnb
Top amenities: Resort sports like croquet and ping pong, spa with thermal plunge pools and a dry sauna, BYO poolside food and drinks
Location: Desert Park Estates
Best for: An affordable, largely self-service stay
For a budget-friendly hotel that still has Palm Spring's signature midcentury style, Monkey Tree hits the mark: the building was designed by legendary architect Albert Frey, and the rooms are decorated with colorful period details. The adult-only hotel is largely self-service—it's managed by short-term rental company AvantStay— but that's what helps keep prices pretty low. There's no formal check-in; you use a keypad to let yourself into one of 16 rooms. And while there's no on-site restaurant or bar, you're allowed to BYO food and drinks to the pool, where you'll also find lawn games like croquet.
The Willows Historic Palm Springs Inn
The vibe: A weekend at a country estate
Top amenities: Three-course breakfast, free wine and hors d'oeuvres hour
Location: Tennis Club
Best for: A refined stay just blocks from downtown Palm Springs
Forget midcentury—the Willows Historic Palm Springs Inn is housed in two Italianate Mediterranean mansions, and the interiors are timelessly traditional, though not at all staid. Each of the 17 rooms is filled with a combination of contemporary and antique furnishings. Every day, guests are treated to free iced tea poolside, as well as a free wine and hors d’oeuvres reception in the evening. A seated three-course breakfast is also included in the rate. And if the weather is pleasant (when is it not in Palm Springs?) you can sit on the veranda overlooking a 50-foot waterfall. Fun fact: While most Palm Springs hotels were known for their Hollywood guests, The Willows' big-name guest was from an altogether different field: Albert Einstein frequented this property as a friend of its former owner, Samuel Untermeyer.
Les Cactus
The vibe: Paris in the '60s meets California cool
Top amenities: Saltwater pool and hot tub, hammock garden, bicycles
Location: Warm Sands
Best for: Those seeking an aesthetic, no Instagram preset needed
The trendy little Les Cactus is a quaint getaway in a quieter part of Palm Springs, though it's still quite close to the action—it's just over a mile from downtown Palm Springs. The 27-room boutique property is named for the 1960s French rock song by Jacques Dutronc, and it certainly takes its design cues from the same era. Rattan and cane furniture is paired with retro patterns in textiles and wallpaper, all in California-appropriate pastel hues. There's a communal kitchen space from which guests can nab canned cocktails, beer, and wine, and a complimentary continental breakfast is brought to your door in a cute basket.
Casa Cody
The vibe: Secret garden
Top amenities: Lobby cantina with an all-day menu, two pools, massage room
Location: Tennis Court
Best for: Drinking mezcal margaritas made with freshly picked fruit from the property's trees
Built in the early 1900s by Harriet and Harold Bryant Cody as their private home, Casa Cody transformed into a hotel just 20 years later—and that makes it Palm Springs’ oldest continuously operating hotel. Though it's just a few blocks from downtown Palm Springs, the one-acre, 30-room property feels like Eden, brimming with bougainvillea and fruit trees. (Guests are actually encouraged to pick fruits from them—and make mezcal margaritas with their harvest.) Casa Cody underwent a renovation during the pandemic, reopening in 2021 with new furnishings in the guest rooms and a lobby cantina that serves coffee, cocktails, and light bites like chia pudding, charcuterie, and salads.
Arrive Palm Springs
The vibe: A social hub
Top amenities: Ice cream shop, California cuisine restaurant, evening events like drag queen bingo and DJ sets
Location: Uptown Design District
Best for: Solo travelers looking to mingle
Arrive Palm Springs is a contemporary property (it was built in 2015) that doesn't go all-in on the midcentury theme—though it does nod to it with its butterfly roof, a midcentury hallmark. The decor, though, is more millennial minimalism meets grandma-chic, with plenty of tech throughout the hotel: text-to-order room service, automatic shades in the room, and Apple TVs, for instance. (The Arrive brand, now part of the Palisociety hospitality group, was founded by an early Facebook employee.) The travelers who are drawn here are undoubtedly social types, ones who are ready to mingle over poolside ping-pong, play drag queen bingo, and dance the night away to DJ sets.
Talavera Palm Springs
The vibe: Bali in the desert
Top amenities: Kitchenettes with cooktops in most rooms, private in-room hot tubs, electronic check-in via text
Location: Tennis Club
Best for: An anti-party pool scene
Are you in California or in Bali? It's hard to tell at Talavera Palm Springs, which has a distinctly tropical vibe, thanks in part to bamboo throughout the property, plus antique wood furnishings and colorful textiles. You might even think you're in Morocco in the Kasbah Hacienda, Hawaii in the Puka Hacienda, or Mexico in the Coba Hacienda—these are just three of the 11 wanderlust-inspired suites. But then you see the olive and lemon trees and remember you're right in Coachella Valley and that the downtown neighborhood is just a block away. But this is not a Palm Springs party hotel. There are two pools, but you won't find DJs blasting music here. Instead, one gets full sun throughout the day for sunbathing, while the other is shaded for those seeking a quiet place to lounge.
