Planning a palm springs weekend getaway ? Then this travel guide is for you! This travel guide shares the perfect place to stay, drink, eat and relax during a long weekend in Palm Springs with friends.
I just got home from a trip to the coachella valley and palm springs….and it was absolutely heavenly. One of the best things about Palm Springs is it’s location for MOST of Southern California. Palm Springs is an easy drive from orange county , san diego (it was about a two hour drive for me) , and los angeles (although I’d try to avoid high traffic times if you’re coming from the city of angels).
This desert oasis has perfect weather almost any time of year and is pretty much never too cold. Our palm springs weekend getaway was in January (ironically during a very rainy week in the entire state from san francisco to san diego)….but somehow, we ended up with perfect weather in the greater palm springs area the entire weekend. It was in the 60s during the day, and did cool down at night. We were able to comfortably walk to dinners and drinks and just brought a jacket for the walks back later in the evening.
In terms of weather for any palm springs weekend getaway , the summer does tend to get VERY hot. I’d suggest planning a winter or spring trip for the best weather. In terms of timing, if you love mid-century modern architecture then you may want to visit during modernism week . It’s in February, and is definitely the most popular time to visit. You can book special tours, and buy tickets for really fun events if that’s your thing!
Palm Springs Weekend Getaway : Where to Stay
There are a ton of fun and unique options for hotels and homes in palm springs that are perfect for a palm springs weekend getaway . I think that the boutique hotels in palm springs are especially fun and a great way to have a truly unique experience .
During our trip, we stayed at the Del Marcos Hotel. The Del Marcos Hotel was designed by architect William F. Cody in 1947 and is now a Class 1 historic site . It’s small (17 rooms total), adults only (21 and up), and an absolute gem. Each of the guest rooms is unique (we got a great room with a patio and two queen beds, plus a small kitchen). There is a heated pool if outdoor pools are your thing, and a lovely fire pit with couches.
They have happy hour each day (the blood orange margaritas served during our stay were divine) and breakfast in the morning. The breakfast had a ton of options, including frittatas for us gluten free people. The hotel is also right near downtown palm springs and perfect for walking to dinner or drinks. We kept talking about how we couldn’t wait to stay there again! Bonus, it was a great price!
A few other hotels that were suggested to me : the parker palm springs , ace hotel , and korakia pensione (I think this one might be better for a romantic trip).
Palm Springs Weekend Getaway : Where to Eat and Drink
One of the great things about palm springs? There are SO MANY great food and drink options. From casual local favorites to high end dining and brunch spots…..there is something for everyone. We definitely made dining a priority, and I’m so glad we did. Our trip was filled with great coffee, great drinks and some amazing food experiences.
palm springs dinners
Las Casuelas Terraza : Our first night in Palm Springs, we had a VERY late dinner reservation. Now, this may have been a sign that we have outgrown super late dinners. We arrived in Palm Springs from San Diego and Los Angeles by about 5:30 and there was no way we were waiting until an 8:30 dinner reservation. We wandered from our hotel to the downtown area and found what looked like a great local mexican spot. The verdict? Great jalapeno margaritas and classic mexican dishes. They had some really nice patio seating and live music.
Farm: Our dinner at Farm was the meal I was looking forward to the most and…..it did NOT disappoint. When I asked for Palm Springs recommendations before our trip, Farm was the MOST recommended of anything. After researching it myself, I knew it was a must visit. Farm is housed in a lovely courtyard in the middle of the downtown area.
They do NOT take reservations for brunch or lunch, but they do for dinner (and from my understanding, you’ll need one…they book up quickly). Dinner at Farm is a prix fixe menu (priced at $67 a person currently) with multiple options for each of the three courses (including multiple gluten free options). The menu is inspired by the South of France and is filled with great fish, meats and flavors (and they’re got some pretty great drinks as well). The ambiance makes the amazing food even better. From twinkling lights to great live music , Farm really creates a special dining experience. I absolutely loved it!
Palm Springs Brunch / Lunch Options
Grand Central Palm Springs : Looking for a great brunch? We grabbed food at Grand Central Palm Springs on our last morning before heading home. It is included in Yelp’s California Top 100 Brunch spots, and I can see why. They had a GREAT and well rounded menu with lots of omelettes and some amazing chilaquiles. If you’re looking for a good breakfast or brunch spot, this hit the spot!
Crepes de Paris : After we hiked the indian canyons, we wanted a quick and easy brunch. Crepe de Paris is ADORABLE and perfect for a simple and quick brunch option. They have everything from crepes (obviously) to salads to omelettes (and some great lattes).
Palm Springs Coffee
Koffi coffee shop : Now, I love a great coffee drink. From our trip to Seattle to the best coffee at Disneyland…..on any trip, finding a great coffee spot is a priority to me. Therefore, I was pretty excited when my friend Cassie mentioned that she’d read about a great Palm Springs coffee shop. Koffi has a couple of locations and I can’t rave enough about how delish their drinks were. They have pastries, a full coffee drink menu, and some snacks and dessert items.
Don’t Miss Activities
Palm Springs has a variety of fun activities beyond lounging by the pool (although that’s pretty great too).
palm springs aerial tramway : Want a birds eye view of Palm Springs? Behind the visitor center, you can take a trip up into the mountains with the aerial tramway. This tramway takes visitors to the top of park of the san jacinto mountains. At the top you’ll see a mountain station, an amazing place to dine and some times of the year…..snow!
downtown palm springs shopping: looking for a little relaxing time near your hotel? Palm Springs is filled with great shopping and fun neighborhoods where you can see some amazing midcentury modern homes. Plan to have some time to just….explore. You can also stop by the palm springs art museum during your stroll!
indian canyons : You don’t need to go all the way to joshua tree national park to get a great hike in while visiting Palm Springs. We took a short drive (about 15 minutes) from our hotel to the indian canyons, an area that is the ancestral home of the Cahuilla people. This canyon is still run by the tribe, and has some absolutely amazing hikes. We did the murray canyon hiking trail , which is about 4 miles out and back (with some fairly big rocks to climb over and rivers to cross since we were there JUST after a rain). You’ll see amazing palm trees , and may even see some horseback riding tours going through.
I hope that this guide will help you to plan a palm springs weekend getaway that you love! If you find any spots that you think should be added to this, leave them in the comments so we all have some more ideas!
