photo by Scope
Travel
The Ultimate Guide to 50 Group Getaway Ideas in Palm Springs, California
California’s much-adored desert town, Palm Springs offers an appealing medley of great architecture, cool boutique hotels, bohemian shops, dimly lit Tiki bars and warm summer breezes. You can spend your days Goldilocksing your...
photo by Scope
California’s much-adored desert town, Palm Springs offers an appealing medley of great architecture, cool boutique hotels, bohemian shops, dimly lit Tiki bars and warm summer breezes. You can spend your days Goldilocksing your way through all the pools in town or brushing up on your Hollywood history. Whatever your agenda, we’ve got you covered on where to stay and what to eat, drink and enjoy.
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Reporter: Alyssa Brown
Palm Springs is the land of Mid Century Modern, Moroccan and California cool hotels. From villa only hotels that will transport you overseas to retro-camp inspired hotels that will take you back in time, there's something for everyone in this desert town.
Romantic courtyards and a Moroccan aesthetic set the tone for this sophisticated Palm Springs retreat. Korakia has a collection of 28 bungalows and suites, each with its own personality and access to the beautiful grounds.
Holiday House is home to 28 suites, expertly designed by interiors maven Mark D. Sikes. The digs here are simply divine, and home to prints by the likes of David Hockney.
Fresh onto the PS scene, Kimpton Hotel’s The Rowan is making a big splash with its glass-walled suites and modern lobby bar. A rooftop pool and bar is perfectly enveloped in the surrounding mountains and sun-drenched scenery.
Soak in mineral-rich hot springs, get a deep tissue massage or take a mud bath followed by a body wrap at Two Bunch Palms. The best part? Your extremely comfortable bed awaits in a gorgeous room of this desert hotel.
You can easily sleep up to a dozen party people at this charming mid-century modern getaway. Each suite at The Amado is private from the next, so it makes traveling in a pack easy. Not sure if we’re more enamored by the courtyard pool or the orange accent doors.
Designer Martyn Lawrence Bullard is behind the gorgeous furnishings and design of this 46-room boutique hotel in Indian Wells. Besides offering luxurious, well-appointed suites, Sands has a fabulous pool deck and pool cabana restaurant, and a Moroccan Spa that’s next-level.
Pool party central, the Palm Springs Ace Hotel and Swim Club is the local go-to for sun worshiping while listening to good DJs and sipping great cocktails. The rooms have an old-school motel vibe and the gathering spaces make it awesome for rolling with a big crew.
Bold color blocks and an Olympic-sized pool keep The Saguaro packed with people and energy. If living a weekend of your life in Technicolor sounds like something that’d boost your creative juices and get you feeling ready to tackle whatever lies ahead, a stay here is most definitely in order.
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Spacious rooms, luxurious outdoor showers, cushy furniture and a modern edge give L’Horizon a very polished feel. Check out the residence for an apartment-style stay with a private pool, wood-burning fireplace, marble baths and all the other things your actual apartment doesn’t have.
Mid-century vibes abound in Palm Springs, yet no hotel feels quite so retro as 1950s getaway Sparrows Lodge. Recently restored, the accommodations here tow the line between modern and rustic, with each of the 20 rooms having its own cozy hideaway feel.
Whitewashed interiors with exposed wood beams and accents of blue hues give La Serena Villas a real Mediterranean feel. If you think that sounds like enough to send you into a state of bliss, wait till you check out the spa.
Colorful, eclectic and upbeat, The Parker blends luxury and character like no other hotel in town. The grounds are alive with gorgeous gardens, overgrown bougainvillea at every turn and tons of citrus trees. The rooms are totally plush and inspired. Oh, and the spa is all about that luxury experience.
Originally built for Frank Sinatra, this sprawling mid-century manse is about as authentic as it gets in modern day Palm Springs. Four bedrooms and seven baths sleep up to eight guests in the house, while the oversized pool deck can easily be turned into a party spot.
A 32-room boutique hotel with a great swimming pool and cool, modern lined architecture, ARRIVE is all about the lifestyle. Grab a morning cold brew at Customs Coffee, go for a walk through town in the afternoon, settle in for a homemade ice cream while you hang by the pool, and spend your night dining in the on-site restaurant.
Palm Desert’s newbie hotel, Hotel Paseo offers a whole slew of peaceful, sunshine-filled rooms. Soak in the rays poolside or try your hand at a round on the putting green.
This 16-room property backs right up to the San Jacinto Mountains and offers cozy rooms in a retro setting. If you make it to The Monkey Tree Hotel, be sure to check out their Scandinavian spa with a sauna, hot tub and cold plunge pool.
Set in the middle of Palm Springs’ old downtown, this collection of Spanish bungalows and villas is easily accessible to all things PS while feeling tucked away in its own little paradise. Enjoy poolside cocktails or snuggling up in the big, cozy beds.
This old getaway for the Hollywood elite dates back to the 1930s and was once frequented by Frank Sinatra. The Colony Palms Hotel doles out luxury and history hand-in-hand, offering modern suites and a peek into Palm Springs’ legendary past.
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Merv Griffin didn’t do anything small, as evidenced in this massive 13-bedroom estate with an equestrian racetrack, bocce ball courts, infinity pool, and multiple gathering spaces and decks. If you’re planning something major, this estate could be your spot.
Despite that it gets hot, hot, hot in Palm Springs, there are a lot of outdoor dining options to soak up the California sun at (and of course, plenty of AC equipped spots too). From ultra sleek bars to kitschy diners, there's more than enough places to carry you from breakfast through the wee hours of the morning.
Grab a cocktail upstairs on the rooftop at Sugar High before making your way down to Azúcar Restaurant for ceviche, seared scallops, and crab-stuffed poblanos. With its open walls, summery hues and Frida Kahlo tributes, the atmosphere here will have you ordering bottle after bottle of rosé.
Brand spankin’ new on the scene, The Pink Cabana at Sands Hotel is a vintagey, tropical delight designed by Martyn Lawrence Bullard to be reminiscent of the tennis and racquet clubs of yesteryear. On the menu you’ll find Mediterranean bites that are easy to share and entrees that are more substantial to go with all the sparkling rosé you’ve popped.
With its dramatic cathedral ceiling, black and concrete furnishings, and cool lighting installations, it comes as no surprise that Workshop Kitchen + Bar won a James Beard Award for best restaurant design. Filling up the stunner of a space, diners here flock to the standards like wood-fired pizzas and juicy burgers alongside more sturdy dishes like the mesquite-grilled pork chop with bacon marmalade.
It’s a cultural mash-up at Sandfish, where Scandinavian interiors make way for a sushi and whiskey focused menu. It all sounds a little incongruent until you take your first bite into scallop aguachile and wash it down with a Ginger’s Revenge cocktail of Old Grandad, ginger, lemon and honey.
This roadside diner is located at the Palm Springs Ace Hotel and is nearly always a hotbed of action. Monday night bingo, Thursday taco parties and karaoke nights are all part of the King’s Highway lineup.
Fried chicken Fridays. Need we say more? The space is gorgeous (located in the Holiday House) and the eats are comforting Americana fare. If you’re not a guest of the hotel, be sure to make a reservation.
Brunch at the courtyard of Chi Chi brings ricotta pancakes with blueberry compote and meyer lemon curd, while dinner might include grilled artichokes followed by cavatappi bolognese with a fried egg. It’s comfortable, it’s friendly and it’s a very lovely place to spend an afternoon with your people.
Tiki cocktails and punch bowls are the call to action at Bootlegger. Oh, and if you’re looking for something to do with a group, the head bartender offers cocktail classes too.
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You can eat indoors or out at this citron courtyard located in The Parker. The menu is big on breakfast, brunch and lunch, but dinner is also available daily with extravagances like lobster mac n cheese, crispy fish tacos, and bacon cheeseburgers.
The bright and cheerful space is as welcoming as the service at Evzin, where Mediterranean fare lights up the menu. Expect to nosh on classics with a twist, like black garlic hummus followed by citrus zaatar roasted chicken.
Hot days and hot nights in Palm Springs call for an ice cream break at Ice Cream & Shop(pe). Cool down with a blackberry cabernet sorbet while perusing the retail section that includes some rad floating devices.
At the Kimpton Rowan Hotel’s Mediterranean style café and eatery, Juniper Table, the food is fresh, bright and organic. The same could be said for the setting, which spans indoors and out with cozy interiors and a sidewalk café.
A Vietnamese restaurant with an American spin, Rooster And The Pig offers a delicious eats in a casual setting. It’s especially perfect if you’re rolling with a crew.
Beer hounds, this one’s for you. Draughtsman offers a long list of craft beers and a solid menu of pub grub. If there's a game you just can't miss out on, they've got you covered for that as well.
Stumptown coffee, mimosa or both? Thankfully the legends at Ernest Coffee don’t make us choose.
Elevated not only in its stature – 4 Saints is located on the seventh floor rooftop of the Kimpton Rowan Hotel – but also in its menu selections, this dining venue is setting a whole new precedent for Palm Springs eateries. With chef Stephen Wambatch at the helm, you can expect a meal that you won’t soon forget.
Part of the Workshop gang’s Palm Springs dynasty, Truss & Twine does cocktails by era. From Golden Age to Prohibition to Tiki to the Dark Ages and modern day, whatever you opt to sip is guaranteed to come with a story.
It’s pizzas, pastas and all things Italian – including Nonna’s meatballs – at Birba. Go for the delicious eats, stay because the courtyard is so darn welcoming.
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With all the Tiki cocktails you’ll be sipping, you’re sure to need a morning pitstop for some serious comfort food. Cheeky’s does pancake stacks, fluffy scrambled eggs, and melt-in-your-mouth cinnamon rolls like no other place in town.
Yes, there is a lot to do in Palm Springs beyond pool lounging (although, that's totally acceptable and encouraged). Mid Century museums, sculpture gardens and pop-up art exibihits are all commonplace in this desert town.
Wedged into the San Jacinto mountainside is a former home of master modernist architect Albert Frey. February’s Modernism Week is the perfect time to visit and have a docent-led tour, or you may be able to make a special request for a private tour through Palm Springs Art Museum.
Wandering around this desert town always has us in awe of all things horticulture, so it should come as no surprise that Moorten Botanical Garden and Cactarium makes the list of Palm Springs highlights.
You’ll probably note on your arrival in Palm Springs just how gorgeous the San Jacinto Mountains are, but it’s only upon exploring them from above that you realize how vast and varied the landscape really is. Get on up to the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway for views like you won’t get any other way.
This estate, architectural monument, garden and musuem is frequented by U.S. presidents. Entry is free to walk the grounds but paid tours are also offered for access to restricted buildings.
Whether you’re planning to ride around town with friends or hit the trails, Bike Palm Springs has rental bikes for every need. Located just beside the Hard Rock Hotel, this spot is open daily.
Palm Desert’s Living Desert Zoo lets you get up close and personal with the giraffes. And by up close and personal, we mean you get to feed these not-so-little cuties. How fun!
Roam the halls of downtown’s Palm Springs Art Museum and you might stumble upon a Warhol, Picasso or Lichtenstein. Modern and contemporary art fill the walls of this free-entry cultural center.
What you’ll find on the racks and shelves at boutique shop Elizabeth&Prince is a collection of bohemian-luxury brand ready-to-wear and accessories. The Palm Springs shop also has a menswear selection so you can bring along the boys
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Formerly home to Elvis (yes, that Elvis!), this mid-century modern mansion is a relic of its time. The space can be rented out for photoshoots and events, but it’s just as much fun to stop by for a tour and check out the pink satin bed and kitschy memorabilia.
This dome-like structure is more than a cool art installation – it fuses art, science, magic and sound to create an experience that you’d probably only find in the Mojave Desert. Sound Bath at Integratron dip into quartz singing bowls to awaken the chakras and promote relaxation from within.
A great little shopping collective of 13 shops and galleries, The Shops at 1345 offers fabulous finds from vintage rugs to sculptural, handmade jewelry.
The Fine Art of Design in Palm Desert is the place to go for the best vintage shopping in the area. You can expect to find major design labels on the racks, and a passionate crew of vintage aficionados.
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