Palm Springs, CaliforniaSouth Palm Springs
Ace Hotel & Swim Club Palm Springs
Desert swim stage
South Palm Springs Palm Springs, California
Opened
2009
Price
$$
Rated for
Social Design ResortOutside the door
The house
Ace HotelDesert swim stage
Sun-drenched loungers encircle the Swim Club pool, where weekend DJs spin and guests gather around outdoor fire pits at dusk.
“Rather than the usual Rat Pack retro or duffer chic, this hip oasis is a slightly rugged desert escape.”
What it’s good at
Remarkable
Weekend poolside DJ sets, dark cocktail lounge gatherings in the Amigo Room, and communal evening fire pits.
Notable
Commune Design repurposed a 1965 motor lodge with canvas wall coverings, vintage vinyl, and salvaged furnishings.
Notable
Two outdoor swimming pools, poolside cabana dining, cruiser bikes, and open-air lawn events across desert grounds.
What they say
Michelin Selected
Michelin
Also in Condé Nast Traveler and Wallpaper*.
the poolside atmosphere, and in fact the atmosphere throughout, is more summer camp than fashion show, and it threatens to put Palm Springs back on the map
Right in the middle
Well-located: walkable to some things, a short ride to more.
Set on East Palm Canyon Drive, the hotel sits a quick cruiser bike ride from downtown vintage shops and local diners.
The rooms
Interiors feature tent canvas wall coverings, macrame details, and vintage record players, opening onto private gardens and patios in select units.
The pool
Bring a swimsuit.
Striped A-frame cabanas and timber pergolas line the water against the San Jacinto mountain backdrop.
The spa
Treatment rooms feature slatted wood walls and woven art, hosting botanical scrubs, facials, and massages.
The gym
Vintage bodybuilding posters and neon accents line the walls around strength machines in the 24-hour fitness room.
Dogs stay too.
Restaurant
King's Highway
Set in a former roadside diner, leather booths and stone walls host Southwestern-inspired plates and morning espresso.
The Ace Palm Springs is a sprawling, high-design 1970s throwback – renovated from a 1965 Howard Johnson motor Lodge.
At the table
The Amigo Room serves craft cocktails on red swivel barstools beneath a fluted glass gantry.
How it began
Originally built in 1965 as the Westward Ho and Howard Johnson motor inn, the complex was reimagined by Commune Design in 2009.
Good to know
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Ace Hotel & Swim Club Palm Springs
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Our shorthand
How we rate hotels.
The medals
Gold
Extremely rare. Sets the global standard.
Silver
Brilliant execution. And we’re picky.
Bronze
They did this well. You’ll notice.
Listed
A defining trait. Makes the hotel what it is.
The eight vibes
Design
Built around a vision. Even the door handles have a designer.
Luxe
Cared for at every turn. The bath is drawn before you ask.
Local
It could only be here. You wake up knowing where you are.
Social
Where the city goes out. The bar is full and the night is young.
Heritage
A building with a story. Once a palace, a monastery, a station.
Wellness
You leave feeling new. Rest, sweat, soak and sleep like a stone.
Classic
The city grew up with it. Same rituals, same regulars, same bar.
Resort
A world of its own. Something to do from breakfast to nightcap.
The scene
Lively
Where things happen: restaurants, shops, people.
Central
Well-located: walkable to some things, a short ride to more.
Quiet
Away from the crowds. Getting around takes intention.
Secluded
A place apart: the property is the destination.