Palm Springs, CaliforniaDowntown Palm Springs
Drift Palm Springs
Baja-inspired desert retreat
Downtown Palm Springs Palm Springs, California
Opened
2023
Price
$$
Rated for
Design Social LocalOutside the door
Baja-inspired desert retreat
White stucco architecture, native cacti, and yellow pool umbrellas set a laid-back, Baja-infused rhythm in the middle of downtown.
“This intimate 39-room desert-modern hotel within walking distance of the heart of downtown Palm Springs is an ideal headquarters for a group getaway.”
What it’s good at
Notable
Concrete floors, cedar accents, and custom Mexican textiles create a tactile, minimalist desert aesthetic across airy guest rooms.
Notable
Maleza anchors the property with a wrap-around bar, outdoor fire pits, rare mezcal selections, and weekend DJ sessions.
Listed
Situated in downtown Palm Springs, surrounded by native cacti and palo verde trees alongside Baja-influenced culinary offerings.
What they say
Michelin Selected
Michelin
Also in Condé Nast Traveler and AFAR.
Instead of mimicking the neighbors’ midcentury modern aesthetic, the designers went for a minimalist industrial look, softening the white stucco buildings’ geometric lines with vibrant murals.
Right in the middle
Well-located: walkable to some things, a short ride to more.
Tucked one block off Palm Canyon Drive, the hotel offers a tranquil hideaway within easy reach of city trails and cultural hubs.
The rooms
Spacious suites feature living areas, full kitchens stocked with Balmuda appliances, and private balconies strung with Mexican hammocks.
The pool
Bring a swimsuit.
Daybeds and private cabanas sit under misting pergolas along the pool, looking out toward the San Jacinto Mountains.
Restaurant
Maleza
The indoor-outdoor dining room opens onto a patio with fire pits, serving Baja California dishes and rare mezcals.
The angular, white-stucco buildings are dotted with pops of muted murals, and surrounded by native succulents, statuesque cacti, tall palms, and green-trunked palo verde trees.
How it began
Built from the ground up in 2023, the property trades mid-century clichés for minimalist industrial lines softened by desert plantings.
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Good to know
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Drift 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.