The Most Romantic Hotels in Palm Springs

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Dubbed ‘one of the sexiest hotels in America’ by The New York Times, Korakia is a boutique with a Mediterranean/Moroccan feel. The 1.5 acre (0.6ha) property features two villas split into bungalows and guesthouses, along with a series of gardens and pools surrounded by bougainvillea vines, date palms, olive trees, citrus blossoms and oleander bushes. There’s a stone waterfall in the main courtyard and a library where Gordon Coutts exposed his paintings – the artist was the original owner of the property. Enjoy a massage, do some yoga, meditate with a cup of Moroccan tea or enjoy a sunset classic film projected on the courtyard wall of this romantic Palm Springs hotel.

Built in 1933, La Serena Villas sits in more than an acre of landscaped grounds in downtown Palm Springs within walking distance of the Palm Canyon Drive main drag. Redeveloped as a luxurious romantic hotel in Palm Springs in 2016, the 18 private villas each have their own patio, complete with a claw foot tub, fire pit and built-in benches. The Azucar restaurant is on-site – try the skuna bay salmon risotto with goat cheese, asparagus, hollandaise, lemon confit and pistachio relish – and has the rooftop Sugar High lounge for enjoying the sunset with a Rooftop Lemonade cocktail – Tito’s Vodka, fresh lemonade, cucumber and soda.

Renting in its entirety, The Marley gives you the privacy of a villa with all the facilities of a boutique hotel. Built in the late 1950s, this romantic Palm Springs property offers nine bedrooms and nine full baths, and sleeping accommodation for up to 22 guests. There’s a commercial-sized pool and spa, a full catering kitchen, fire pit and plenty of outdoor hang-out space. The decor is all modern desert chic – think palm frond-patterned feature walls and Kate Moss portraits – and your concierge will order everything from groceries and a private chef, to a yoga teacher, massage sessions or a bartender.

This contemporary wellness hotel is shaded by palm and tamarisk trees the opposite side of the Coachella Valley from Palm Springs. The natural springs discovered by a settler in 1857 are great for a romantic twilight soak and the mineral-rich lithium waters will rejuvenate any couple looking for a desert getaway. Enjoy a private teak-and-concrete soaking tub with one of the Capone suites, named after gangster Al Capone who is said to have once owned the resort. Other suites at this romantic property have their own outdoor patios and there are communal areas made from organic materials, ipe wood and hand-crafted vintage tiles.

This collection of whitewashed terracotta-roofed villas has a wonderful Spanish Revival feel – all dark woods, earth-brown textiles and shady verandas. There’s a lovely fountain in one courtyard and an even more lovely pool surrounded by lawn. Most of the 30 rooms and suites at this romantic hotel in Palm Springs have private sun terraces. Melvyn’s restaurant is a great place to dine or enjoy a cocktail on the patio, such as a Melvyn’s Martini with vodka and regular, or blue cheese-stuffed, olives.

The four acres of grounds at the Avalon are some of the best-kept in Palm Springs, with a choice of three swimming pools around which you can lounge in a private cabana or try a spot of table tennis in the shade – providing you’re a couple who can play against each other without arguing. The Spanish-style villas and studios have been given Hollywood Regency interiors by renowned designer Kelly Wearstler. There’s great food at Chi Chi restaurant – try the jidori chicken with delicata squash, chicken apple sausage, kale, farro and chicken jus.

This is another Spanish Revivalist classic, built in 1935 and with an element of the Craftsman style from that time. Some suites at this Palm Springs romantic hotel boast marble and stone bathrooms with oversized hot tubs and separate walk-in showers. Don’t miss happy hour every day at the poolside bar. The location is right in downtown with plenty of attractions within walking distance, from the Walk of the Stars to the Palm Springs Art Museum, and hiking trails in the San Jacinto Mountains.

This arresting seven-story purpose-built romantic downtown hotel is a contemporary take on Palm Springs modernism, with full-height glass windows, wide overhangs and lots of angular lines, not least the roofline cutting a dramatic swathe across the San Jacinto Mountains backdrop. You can enjoy in-room spa treatments and a discount on yoga classes from Power Yoga Palm Springs. The rooftop pool is a great spot for couples to canoodle and there are all sorts of dining options – try Juniper Table for great sandwiches and snacks, such as the Impossible Burger.

This desert hangout is a mecca for hipsters nowadays but it wasn’t always so – it used to be a motel and a Denny’s until it was given an uber-cool makeover. There’s a spa, utilizing organic botanicals made from pure, natural ingredients, but what really grabs the attention is the aesthetics – artfully displayed LPs (some of which you can play on the in-room record players), a vintage photo booth and minibars with addictive caramel popcorn. The King’s Highway diner will keep you fueled for a night at the jumping Amigo Bar – try the chicken tacos with flour tortilla, cabbage, poblano crema, red onion and cilantro.

This romantic boutique hotel in the historic Tennis Club District of Palm Springs has been popular since the 1920s, when it was known as The Wigwam. Each of the 11 suites has a private patio and hot tub and their own names and vibes – there’s Mediterranean-style Fountain, rustic Sedona and vintage Ranch, which has a private lawn and sunbathing area with views of the San Jacinto Mountains. The main pool gets sun from the early morning until evening, and a lounge pool is shaded by bamboo and tropical foliage.

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