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Trying to find the perfect hotel in Palm Springs for your next desert escape? Look no further.
Palm Springs is one of my all-time favorite desert retreats in California—and one of my favorite things about it? There are SO many cute places to stay.
In Palm Springs, hotels aren’t just a place to lay your head in between exploring—your hotel is an integral part of the full experience here and many properties have taken the ethos of Palm Springs and nailed the vibe with colorful, kitschy, and retro-inspired decor along with elements that highlight the area’s mid-century modern roots.
While you can find every type of accommodation here from Airbnbs to big resorts, my personal favorite stays in Palm Springs are boutique hotels—they’re a bit more quiet and peaceful than the big resorts and have taken design to the next level.
In this post I’ll cover my picks for the best boutique hotels in Palm Springs giving details on room types, amenities, food, and more so you can skip the lengthy research and choose the best stay for your next desert escape.
Short on time? Here are my top picks for the best boutique hotels in Palm Springs:
- Korakia Pensione, for a romantic couple’s getaway.
- Terra Palm Springs, for the ultimate relaxing stay for wellness addicts and biohackers.
- Les Cactus, for classic kitschy Palm Springs vibes.
- Sparrows Lodge, for an elevated farmhouse-style stay with top notch dining.
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Best Boutique Hotels in Palm Springs
Yara Hotel
Yara Hotel is one of the newest and cutest boutique hotels in the desert and it’s truly a slice of heaven. In fact, I recently stayed here and it felt like a dreamy, Mediterranean escape tucked away right here in California.
It’s located in the heart of Palm Springs so it’s close to tons of restaurants and shops but also secluded enough to feel like a peaceful escape. There are only 10 rooms and suites, which provides a super intimate feel (honestly more like an Airbnb than a hotel), making it a great spot for events, bachelorette parties, etc.
With that said, I should note that you won’t find a ton of traditional hotel staff here—this is the kind of place to come if you want more of a private feel and don’t need a lot of service.
If you’re looking for the best boutique hotels in Palm Springs, add Yara Hotel to the top of your list.
Yara Hotel at a Glance
- Location: Downtown Palm Springs
- Overall Vibe: A bit hipster/boho with Spanish-style architecture, on-trend design details, and soft, neutral tones. It’s a small hotel and adults-only so it’s super chill and low-key.
- Room Types: There are 7 rooms and 3 suites that all face the pool and courtyard. The Surya Suite is the largest and also has its own private patio and hot tub.
- Amenities: Complimentary daily breakfast, central saltwater pool and firepit area with daybeds and cabanas for lounging and relaxing, and a poolside bar that serves natural wines and specialty cocktails and mocktails.
- Food: There’s a very informal bar on-site but not a restaurant, however there are a bunch of great restaurants within walking distance.
- Budget: $$
Sands Hotel & Spa
Ok, so this one is technically in Indian Wells and not Palm Springs proper, but if you’re in the area more for R&R time and don’t feel like you need to be right downtown, you’ll love the Sands Hotel & Spa.
They call it a “designer boutique hotel” because it was dreamed up in collaboration with English interior designer Martyn Lawrence Bullard. Design-lovers will appreciate the nods to Palm Springs’ retro past with modern luxe touches and pops of fun colors and patterns.
The hotel features a unique mix of colorful retro flair paired with Moroccan inspired details, and the on-site restaurant The Pink Cabana is worth visiting even if you’re not staying overnight.
Sands Hotel & Spa at a Glance
- Location: Indian Wells which is about a half-hour drive from downtown Palm Springs.
- Overall Vibe: Super cute, Moroccan-style, retro-chic is how I’d describe the style here. The Sands is adults-only too so you can expect a chill crowd.
- Room Types: It’s a little bit on the larger side for a boutique hotel with 46 guest rooms total, including two suites and one presidential suite.
- Amenities: Beautiful, newly-designed spa with intimate rooms and luxurious treatments, excellent on-site restaurant and bar, and a pool with lounge chairs, cabanas, and poolside food and drink service.
- Food: The Pink Cabana is The Sands’ in-house restaurant and not only is the design super fun, but the food is amazing and a fresh take on Palm Springs’ classic Tennis and Racquet club menus. Get the steak frites for dinner and the french toast for breakfast—you won’t regret it.
- Budget: $$
Terra Palm Springs
Hailed as the first wellness boutique hotel in Palm Springs, Terra offers a different kind of escape for desert travelers looking to continue or even amp up their wellness routines while away from home.
At Terra, every detail has been carefully concocted for maximum wellbeing. Guests have access to a sauna, cold plunges, an Ayurvedic spa and even an immersive meditation room where guests can get still to the sound of rain.
They’ve even included unique add-ons like PEMF therapy, guided meditations and evening red light therapy sessions if travelers want to take their wellness amenities up a notch.
Terra at a Glance
- Location: The heart of downtown Palm Springs.
- Overall Vibe: Think luxury wellness studio, but make it a hotel.
- Room Types: Each of their suites offer different amenities for each traveler’s unique wellness needs, whether that’s a workout space to stay on top of fitness goals or a cold plunge for daily dips.
- Amenities: All of the amenities are focused on wellness here, and guests can partake in treatments from the Ayurveda-focused spa, enjoy the Himalayan salt sauna, take a cold plunge, rent bikes, or even meditate in their immersive rain room.
- Food: You’ll find light pool bites here as well as a selection of wellness-focused cocktails and detoxifying juices.
- Budget: $$
Korakia Pensione
If you’re looking for a romantic desert getaway, Korakia Pensione is one of the best boutique hotels in Palm Springs to cozy up in with your special someone.
It’s an upscale, Mediterranean-style resort that will make you feel like you’ve escaped to Greece—even though you’re just steps from all that downtown Palm Springs has to offer.
Korakia Pensione at a Glance
- Location: Downtown Palm Springs.
- Overall Vibe: Korakia feels like a dreamy, Mediterranean villa that is peaceful and romantic. If you’re not into the typical midcentury/retro vibes that a lot of places in Palm Springs play up, you’ll love the European-holiday aesthetic here.
- Room Types: A collection of rooms and suites, some with full kitchens, private patios, and views of the San Jacinto Mountains. Every room is totally unique here.
- Amenities: Complimentary breakfast, afternoon Moroccan tea, two salt-water pools, firepit area, bocce ball court, Saturday morning yoga, and use of bikes for cruising around town.
- Food: No full-service restaurant here but breakfast is included with your stay and there is a lunch menu that you can order from while relaxing by the pool.
- Budget: $$$
Les Cactus
It’s hipster, it’s cutesy, and it’s midcentury all the way. Les Cactus is a fun little boutique hotel in Palm Springs that is very Instagramable. It was built in the 1930s but recently renovated, and it has the perfect balance of vintage Palm Springs style and modern design touches.
If you’re in search of a trendy but simple place to stay with all the amenities you need, Les Cactus is one of the best boutique hotels in Palm Springs to book.
Les Cactus at a Glance
- Location: In the Warm Sands neighborhood just a few minutes from downtown Palm Springs.
- Overall Vibe: Allllll the cutesy, retro Palm Springs vibes here. It’s a small, adults-only property that is meant to be a quiet and peaceful place to land.
- Room Types: 27 rooms total with four room types: Petite (perfect for solo travelers), Cozy (a little bit bigger), Comfortable (includes a small seating area), and Le Suite (with a kitchenette, living room, and separate bedroom).
- Amenities: Saltwater pool and hot tub, firepit, continental breakfast, hammock garden, and loaner bikes.
- Food: No restaurant on site, but beer, wine, and cocktails are available.
- Budget: $$
Sparrows Lodge
With a recent renovation that’s given the hotel a lighter and brighter feel, Sparrows Lodge is a welcome departure from the typical hotel vibes around town. Here, its less retro and kitschy and more elevated rustic farmhouse, with an iconic history that dates back to 1950s Hollywood when the original building served as one of the top getaways for Hollywood starlets.
Overall, Sparrows Lodge definitely brings a good crowd and it’s one of my favorite boutique hotels in Palm Springs for a relaxing getaway as there are plenty of spaces to chill out and feel inspired.
Don’t miss their Michelin Guide recommended restaurant, The Barn Kitchen, which serves rustic American cuisine.
Sparrows Lodge at a Glance
- Location: Downtown Palm Springs in a quiet neighborhood.
- Overall Vibe: Design here is rustic-chic meets modern sophistication and this is another adults-only hotel so the atmosphere is calming and spa-like.
- Room Types: There are 19 rooms total with a few different room types: Poolside and Garden Rooms, The Cabin which features a separate living area, kitchenette, and private patio, and the Owner’s Suite which is the most spacious and has a separate living area and a fireplace.
- Amenities: Daily light continental breakfast, excellent restaurant and bar, heated outdoor pool, communal terrace with a firepit, a massage tent for treatments, and loaner bikes.
- Food: The Barn Kitchen is the hotel’s on-site restaurant and it’s a favorite place to dine for both guests and non-guests. The food here is described as “a refined take on rustic American cuisine” and they’re open for both lunch and dinner.
- Budget: $$
Casa Cody
A refreshed version of the oldest operating hotel in Palm Springs, Casa Cody is a hidden gem with a storied past.
Not only are the grounds beautiful and the design impeccable, but there’s some fun Old Hollywood history here, as it was built by Harriett Cody (cousin to Buffalo Bill) and frequented by stars like Charlie Chaplin and AnaÏs Nin back in the day.
It’s now been updated while lovingly honoring its past, and is an idyllic spot for boutique hotel lovers who crave a laidback and under-the-radar spot with thoughtful design details.
Casa Cody at a Glance
- Location: In the heart of downtown Palm Springs.
- Overall Vibe: The design is hacienda-style with an upscale, luxurious ambiance while still feeling comfortable and down-to-earth. It’s a family-friendly spot too.
- Room Types: Studios, suites with full kitchens, living rooms, and private patios, and a few larger, private cottages if you’re looking for more space and privacy.
- Amenities: Breakfast is included in your stay, two pools and a hot tub, treatment room for massage or reiki sessions, and food and drinks available from The Marketplace.
- Food: The Marketplace at Casa Cody serves light bites for breakfast and lunch as well as snacks beer, wine, and cocktails throughout the day.
- Budget: $$$
Hermann Bungalows at L’Horizon
The ultimate in midcentury luxury, the Hermann Bungalows are a must-stay for a classic Palm Springs getaway.
A sort of resort-within-a-resort, Hermann Bungalows are located within L’Horizon Resort and Spa, and the 25 stunning suites here are gorgeously designed by interior designer Steve Hermann with high-end well, everything, and they’re spread out over three acres so you’ll feel like you’re in your own private little desert hideaway—but with a host of top notch amenities.
It’s definitely one of the best boutique hotels in Palm Springs if luxury stays are your MO.
Hermann Bungalows at a Glance
- Location: The south end of downtown Palm Springs.
- Overall Vibe: Tranquil, ultra-luxurious and adults only.
- Room Types: Twenty four beautiful bungalows, all with private patios and some with private backyard areas, outdoor showers, and jacuzzi tubs.
- Amenities: Pool with mountain views, outdoor bar and lounge, and access to the pool, spa, and SO•PA Restaurant at L’Horizon.
- Food: SO•PA is the renowned restaurant at L’Horizon and it’s a must for anyone staying at the Hermann Bungalows. The food is upscale American/International cuisine and you can also dine at your own private table or at a large communal table.
- Budget: $$$
Arrive Palm Springs
If you’re looking for hipster vibes and a fun communal feel for your Palm Springs vacay, Arrive Palm Springs is the perfect spot. The overall design is trendy and modern and there are fun communal spaces to enjoy events like drag queen bingo and DJ nights.
This is definitely one of the more social hotels in Palm Springs for those that want a bit more of a party vibe with elevated design and amenities.
As an extra bonus, Arrive is also next door to one of my favorite coffee shops in town, Cartel Coffee.
ARRIVE at a Glance
- Location: North end of Palm Springs.
- Overall Vibe: Hipster vibes here with stylish and contemporary design (think vibrant-patterned wallpaper and bright pops of color) and fun amenities. It’s adults-only but the scene is lively because of all the communal gathering spaces designed to encourage socializing.
- Room Types: 32 guest rooms with two types: Studio Rooms or Patio Rooms which include private patios with fireplaces.
- Amenities: Pool, firepits, lawn games and table tennis, poolside restaurant and bar, ice cream parlor, and also a coffee shop.
- Food: Palm Canyon Swim & Social is the poolside restaurant and bar at Arrive and they serve all-day brunch (yes!) and menu items like burgers, lobster tacos, and boozy ice pops.
- Budget: $$
Talavera
A lush bohemian retreat that feels like a welcome pause from the social scene of Palm Springs, Talavera is an eclectic escape that shouldn’t be overlooked on any Palm Springs itinerary.
The grounds are full of gorgeous tropical foliage and desert flowers, every suite has its own hot tub, and it’s located right downtown so you can walk to everything.
Talavera at a Glance
- Location: Historic Tennis Club District in Downtown Palm Springs.
- Overall Vibe: I’d describe the ambiance here as boho-luxe. The design is a little funky while still remaining elegant, and overall Talavera feels secluded and peaceful. Note that it’s an adults-only hotel.
- Room Types: 11 uniquely-designed suites decorated with antiques from all over the world, each with a private patio and hot tub and some with kitchenettes.
- Amenities: A little light on amenities here, but there are two beautiful pools, a cozy firepit area, and bikes available for guests.
- Food: There isn’t a restaurant at Talavera but there are many places to dine and drink within walking distance.
- Budget: $$
Fleur Noire Hotel
With floral murals by renowned artist Ouizi and vintage-inspired decor, this boutique hotel in Palm Springs screams feminine design and would be perfect for a girls trip or bachelorette party. The hotel even has a speakeasy rosé bar hidden behind pink doors.
Fleur Noire is one of the best boutique hotels in Palm Springs for that quintessential colorful and kitschy vibe the area is known for. It’s also one of the newer hotels in the area and it’s getting a lot of buzz for its mix of charm and affordability.
Fleur Noire at a Glance
- Location: North End of Palm Springs.
- Overall Vibe: Vintage Palm Springs meets hipster meets ultra-feminine. This is the ultimate spot for a little rosé all day by the pool with your best girlfriends. Adults-only.
- Room Types: 21 rooms, studios, and suites all uniquely designed with cute little details like Pink Keurigs and beautiful wallpaper by designer Ellie Cashman.
- Amenities: Heated pool, multiple firepits on the property, lawn games, continental breakfast, a Rosé & Champagne bar called La Boisson, and a Club House with a communal pantry and lounge seating.
- Food: No restaurant on-site but there are plenty within walking distance. Light continental breakfast is served daily.
- Budget: $$
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