When I am craving a quick and relaxing getaway, my go-to is always Palm Springs. I went there for a weekend away when I very first moved to California while I was going to Cal State San Bernardino, and have made it an annual tradition to go back whenever I could. My husband and I have stayed at a lot of hotels there and have tried lots of restaurants, so I thought it would be good to round up my favorites. If you are looking for the best hotel in Palm Springs or the best dinner in Palm Springs, keep reading!
Palm Springs is just about two hours outside of LA, but it feels like a really relaxing secluded place that moves as a much slower pace. The sun is out most of the year and it can get REALLY hot in the summer, but it’s the perfect place to go to if you don’t want to do much of anything except for lay around. We just went again this past weekend and it was so nice even with 104 degree weather. Our idea of Palm Spring is posting by the pool all day ordering food and drinks and reading books or listening to music. We also love to go out and try new restaurants there. Here are a few of my favorite spots.
Where to Stay in Palm Springs
Our very favorite hotel in Palm Springs is La Serena Villas. It is so beautiful, has the best rooms, is in a great location in downtown Palm Springs – walkable to shops and restaurants, but it’s also adults-only with around 20 rooms total! The pool is s quiet and peaceful and in fact has a no talking on cell phones rules, but we don’t mind that at all. The rooms are so big and luxurious and you have your own private large patio with a fire pit and outdoor tub! It is seriously fantastic. The food is great at the hotel too. If you are looking for more of a scene or are traveling with kids, I would recommend the Parker Hotel or Colony Palms. The Parker is huge with lots of luxe grounds and passageways surrounded by plants and decor and multiple pools, a lemonade stand like you see above and multiple restaurants. This hotel is usually pricey, but worth it, though it is a 10 minute drive into downtown where shops and restaurants are. Colony Palms is right in downtown and allows kids, but is also very chill and beautiful and nice. It has around 30 rooms and is very luxe. The food is awesome, and so is the pool.
Where To Eat
We tend to eat at the hotel for breakfast and lunch, but every once and a while we venture out when the weather is not cooperating. We loved the The Pantry at the Holiday House, which is right next to La Serena Villas. We had such a great and easy lunch there along with cocktails. We also enjoyed breakfast at Cheeky’s a few years back, but beware there is always a line! Dinner is where I am pretty knowledgeable in PS! I loooove sushi after a day in the sun and we just tried and loved Sandfish Sushi and Whiskey! It was some of the best sushi I have ever had and the cocktails (not just whiskey) are amazing and inventive. There were no reservations online, but we decided to call and they offered us a table at the bar, which was perfect so we headed over. Get the Sandfish and Venue rolls. So yummy. We also love Mexican food when we are in the desert and have been eating at Las Casuelas for years. It’s so solid and so are the margs there. If you are in the food for something more traditional but super nice and good, head to Workshop Kitchen – everything we had there was so good! I think it’s a tie between this and Sandfish for the best restaurant in Palm Springs. If you want outdoors and romantic, try Copley’s for an old school dinner.
Shopping and More
If you are in the mood for fancy shopping, art, salon services and food, and don’t mind a bit of a drive, head to El Paseo. From Louis Vuitton, Anthropologie, Bare Minerals and super yummy sushi, I love this place. It’s like an outdoor shopping street and there are also lots of amazing art galleries. It’s a fun day if it’s too cold to lay out in Palm Springs, which is rare, but it happens!