After talking about visiting Palm Springs for a few years now, I finally got to cross it off my list last weekend! And today, I’m so excited to share more about this desert oasis and all our favorite spots we visited during our trip.
PALM SPRINGS TRAVEL GUIDE
WHERE TO STAY
Avalon Hotel & Bungalows
A literal dream. Located a short walk from downtown, this hotel is made up of a variety of rooms and private villas, all tucked in and surrounded by greenery. The hotel has three pools, a spa and a great restaurant and bar so you can wander throughout the property. It truly felt like we were in a Nancy Meyers movie, thanks to the simple and chic décor, without feeling too fussy. We also loved how close it was to downtown so we could walk around easily. If you’re looking for a true relaxing oasis, this is the spot to stay at. We noticed when visiting other hotels that they felt more like motels and were much more party focused, which wasn’t what we were looking for our girls trip.
Other spots to look into (all varied styles): Holiday House, La Serena Villas, The Ace Hotel, Parker Palm Springs, The Saguaro (come for a photo of the rainbow hotel!), Dive Palm Springs, The Kimpton Rowan, Arrive Hotel
WHERE TO EAT
BREAKFAST/LUNCH
Cheeky’s
A Palm Springs classic, we headed here on the earlier side our first morning and only waited about 20 minutes. My favorite breakfast of the trip (I got the croissant breakfast sandwich), it’s a casual fun spot not to be missed.
Norma’s at The Parker Hotel
Located about fifteen minutes from downtown, The Parker is truly it’s own world, tucked in the a winding road and surrounded by greenery. We had brunch at their famous Norma’s and it was a fun way to experience the hotel. While expensive, the portions are huge (and delicious) so we loved our visit. The rest of the property is closed for the public so plan for a meal here or their other restaurants if you want to visit.
Wexler’s
Our last day we wanted something casual so we ended up trying this famous LA deli spot. Nothing fancy, we got to sit outside and soak up our last bit of sun while enjoying classic Jewish deli favorites.
Tac/quila
Before we left for the airport, we wanted to grab a final meal and chose a local favorite for tacos and modern Mexican. We had an amazing grilled avocado salad and tacos and it was a great final meal.
DINNER
Workshop Kitchen + Bar
A super modern space, we shared a variety of small plates and amazing tequila drinks to kick off our first night!The dishes are farm to table and we had a great mix of veggies, fish and unique dishes to share.
Sandfish Sushi
My favorite dinner of the trip, this sushi and whiskey spot had some of the best sushi I’ve ever had. The menu is perfect for sharing and the cocktails were also incredible so make sure it’s a must during your visit.
Birba
The same owners as Cheeky’s, this casual outdoor Italian spot featured a ton of amazing pizzas, pastas and small plates to taste. We loved everything especially the brussel sprouts, meatballs and pizza and it’s great for all ages. We also realized after we left dinner that Brittany Snow was celebrating on her bachelorette party with her Pitch Perfect costars a few tables away from us!
Where To Drink
Azucar
Located inside La Serena Villas, we watched the sunset at their rooftop bar. The space is gorgeous and we loved our drinks (amazing margaritas) so definitely make sure you grab a drink here during your stay.
Bootlegger Tiki
A fun tiki bar with amazing cocktails, we loved grabbing drinks here our first night. They had some great deals too so we couldn’t resist staying for a few extra sips.
Chi Chi at The Avalon
Our hotel bar had amazing cocktails (including cute coconut ones!) so come by for a poolside drink one afternoon.
4 Saints or The High Bar at The Rowan
This new hotel is the tallest in the area so the views are great from their rooftop pool bar. We came for sunset but think it would be better for more a casual lunch spot. We then headed inside to their other restaurant and bar, 4 Saints, where we had cocktails at the bar before heading to dinner.
The Tropicale
Old school vibes, we had a final final here with mojitos outside. Drinks were great but the atmosphere wasn’t one of our favorites as it’s a much older crowd.
Spots we didn’t have time to try and on our list next time: The Pink Cabana, Great Shakes, King’s Highway Diner, Jake’s
WHAT TO DO
Hike
I’m so glad we kicked off our Saturday with this gorgeous hike. We did the Tahquitz Canyon trail which was exactly an hour round trip. It cost $12 and we were able to see an amazing waterfall and views of the city.
Go Dancing
Palm Springs has a ton of fun gay bars so we headed to Hunter’s on our last night for dancing and drinks.
Relax!
Best part of the trip? Taking time to relax! We spent time laying in the sun, reading and sipping on cocktails and it’s just what we needed!
WHAT I WORE
All the color! I also can’t stress enough how RTR Unlimited saved the day. So many brands don’t have spring things out yet and I was able to find a ton of pieces to bring. Use code RTRCARLYH for $100 off your first month!
