The 10 Best Hotels in Palm Springs For Design Lovers

From midcentury-modern gems to over-the-top drag queen-owned motels, Palm Springs has a hotel for every design aesthetic.

Published on Mar. 10, 2026

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Palm Springs, California is a haven for design lovers, with a rich architectural legacy and a bevy of stylish hotels to choose from. From the retro-glam Parker Palm Springs to the Baja-inspired Drift Palm Springs, the city offers a range of design-forward accommodations that cater to every aesthetic. This article highlights the 10 best hotels in Palm Springs for design enthusiasts, showcasing a mix of boutique gems, amenity-filled resorts, and even a drag queen-owned motel.

Why it matters

Palm Springs has long been a destination for design lovers, with its midcentury-modern landmarks, dramatic desert vistas, and Hollywood-tinged history. The city's hotels reflect this design-centric legacy, offering visitors a chance to immerse themselves in the region's rich architectural and artistic heritage. This roundup showcases the breadth of design-forward accommodations available in Palm Springs, from classic midcentury-modern properties to contemporary boutique hotels and even a one-of-a-kind drag queen-operated motel.

The details

The article highlights 10 standout hotels in Palm Springs, each with its own distinct design aesthetic. These include the retro-glam Parker Palm Springs, the contemporary Kimpton Rowan Palm Springs, the Hollywood Regency-style Colony Palms, and the Baja-inspired Drift Palm Springs. The list also features the historic Villa Royale, the midcentury-modern Hermann Bungalows, and the over-the-top Trixie Motel, owned by RuPaul's Drag Race star Trixie Mattel. Each property is described in detail, with information on its design, amenities, and unique features.

  • The Parker Palm Springs debuted in 2004.
  • The Kimpton Rowan Palm Springs opened in 2017.
  • Villa Royale originally opened in 1947 and was recently refreshed in 2018.
  • The Colony Palms reopened in 2021 after undergoing renovations.
  • Drift Palm Springs debuted in 2023.

The players

Parker Palm Springs

A 114-room hotel spread across 13 acres on the former estate of actor Gene Autry, with retro-glam interiors by designer Jonathan Adler.

Kimpton Rowan Palm Springs

A 153-room property that was the first new hotel built downtown in decades, featuring contemporary minimalist interiors with bold flashes of color and pattern.

Villa Royale

One of the oldest hotels in Palm Springs, originally opened in 1947 and recently refreshed to retain its Mission Revival–style bones while injecting color, pattern, and texture into the cozy interiors.

Drift Palm Springs

A 39-room hotel that debuted in 2023 with a Baja California–inspired design and interiors featuring hand-crafted ceramics from Mexico City and artisanal textiles from Oaxaca.

Trixie Motel

A seven-room motel opened by RuPaul's Drag Race star Trixie Mattel in 2022, featuring over-the-top, kitschy-chic design in each unique room.

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What they’re saying

“Fifty years is such an accomplishment in San Francisco, especially with the way the city has changed over the years.”

— Gordon Edgar, grocery employee (Instagram)

The takeaway

Palm Springs' hotels reflect the city's rich design heritage, offering visitors a range of stylish accommodations that cater to every aesthetic, from midcentury-modern classics to contemporary boutique gems and even a one-of-a-kind drag queen-operated motel. Whether you're drawn to retro-glam, Hollywood Regency, or Baja-inspired design, Palm Springs has a hotel that will satisfy your design sensibilities.