12 Best Hotels in Palm Springs and the Desert Resorts, California

Tucked at the border of the Uptown Design District and an area known as the Movie Colony, the hip, modern, and affordable Alcazar features ample, blazing-white guest rooms that wrap around a sparkling pool; some rooms have Jacuzzis, and many have private patios or fireplaces. Gardens holding beds of geraniums and lemon trees frame the pool area, where guests hang out on warm afternoons. The hotel's two restaurants are among the area's trendiest: Cheeky's, which serves a gourmet breakfast, draws long lines from the moment its doors open. Nearby Birba is packed for dinner.

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.

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.

A half-block from El Paseo shopping strip, this hip, pet-friendly hotel (under Marriott's Autograph Collection umbrella) reflects the mid-century modern history and upscale, yet casual lifestyle of the desert. Contemporary art is on display in public areas, as well as in rooms and suites, most of which have a balcony or small terrace. Regular pop-ups take place in the lobby, which contains a 1955 cherry-red Cadillac, or in the courtyard, which has an airstream trailer, a pool, a hot tub, firepits, lawn games, and a putting green. Amenities also include a café, restaurant, spa, and morning yoga classes.

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.

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.

When new owners took over this motel built in 1946 as a bunkhouse for film stars shooting in and around Pioneertown (like Gene Autry, who used Room 9 for late-night poker games), they gave it a much-needed rehab while respecting its cowboy movie roots, so, although there are still beat-up wood doors and exposed-beam ceilings, there are also new sink basins, tiled showers, air-conditioning, and property-wide Wi-Fi. The decor leans hard into the Western-meets-high-desert aesthetic, with Mexican blankets, potted succulents, rope curtains on the closets, black-and-white photos of rock formations, and cowhide rugs. Guests can gather at outdoor tables and seating vignettes or in a 24-hour lounge with games and gourmet coffee; there's also an event space. It isn't fancy, but it isn't trying to be, and it definitely has a vibe. 

Old-world French design, contemporary style, and luxe creature comforts make this lakeside inn a good choice for those who want intimate, upscale lodgings near La Quinta's main attractions. Rooms range from deluxe to bungalows, and all have a private or semi-private balcony or patio. Some have fireplaces. Order a cocktail from the bar, nab a seat by a firepit, and watch the swans and turtles swim in the lake before a fine-dining feast at the on-site restaurant, Mélange.

Blink and you'll miss this Miracle Hill adults-only gem, the sole Black-owned hotel in the Greater Palm Springs area, which—with a tiny spa, a sizable yard, a springs-fed pool and hot tubs, a chaise-lined terrace, and a firepit—feels like a cross between an updated Joshua Tree hotel, a wellness camp, and your childhood friend's parent's ranch house. Despite being peaceful, there's no escaping other guests or day-pass holders in the common areas so make sure to book one of the five suites with a back patio to give your best-behaved public persona a reprieve. Good House gets bonus points for participating in the Kind Traveler program and emphasizing sustainable tourism measures.  

A startling, rainbow-hued oasis—the brainchild of Manhattan-based architects Peter Stamberg and Paul Aferiat—the Saguaro caters to young, hip, pet-toting partygoers who appreciate its lively pool-party scene. Swathed in purple carpets, multicolored striped throws, and orange curtains, rooms also embrace the exterior's rainbow theme. For a splurge choose a room facing the Olympic-size pool and its two flower-shaped hot tubs.