Palm Springs, CaliforniaSouth Palm Springs
Royal Sun Palm Springs
Mid-century motor lodge
South Palm Springs Palm Springs, California
Renovated
2023
Price
$$
Rated for
Design Resort SocialOutside the door
Mid-century motor lodge
A reimagined 1960s desert lodge built around an open courtyard pool, fringed parasols, and retro social spaces.
What it’s good at
Notable
Stone facade and preserved 1960s signage ground the desert modern roadside architecture.
Listed
A year-round heated swimming pool framed by desert cacti and San Jacinto mountain views.
What they say
Michelin Selected
Michelin
Also in Wallpaper*.
The aesthetic is particularly well executed at the Royal Sun… the sharply angled canopy over the entrance calls to mind a classic roadside motel, as does the boxy stone facade with its outdoor corridors and bold tangerine-hued details.
Right in the middle
Well-located: walkable to some things, a short ride to more.
Downtown Palm Springs is a five-minute bike ride north along South Palm Canyon Drive.
1 of 6
The rooms
Beds have sunset-toned headboards and Revival linens. Bathrooms come stocked with Le Labo products.
The pool
Bring a swimsuit.
The heated courtyard pool stays open year-round, lined with wooden cabanas and red fringed parasols.
Bar
High Moon
The diner bar serves Californian plates and craft cocktails amid checkered floors and turquoise counter stools.
Inspired by desert modernism and old Hollywood charm, Royal Sun Palm Springs is a 66-room property that romances guests with its geometric-patterned flooring and plush velvet furniture in jewel tones.
At the table
A stucco bar on the pool patio serves brick-oven pizzas and cocktails against the San Jacinto mountains.
How it began
The motor lodge launched the Royal Inn chain in 1965, and its original roadside sign still stands out front.
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.