A Guide to the City's Northern Side
Palm Springs is famous for its downtown shopping, midcentury modern architecture, poolside resorts, and lively dining scene. But there's more to discover beyond the familiar downtown streets. Head north for vintage treasures, distinctive boutique hotels, mountain adventures, local restaurants, and some of the city's most recognizable landmarks.
Located just north of the vibrant Uptown Design District, North Palm Springs is less concentrated than downtown, with attractions spread along North Palm Canyon Drive and Indian Canyon Drive. That means exploring this part of the city is often best done by car, with time to stop at places that catch your eye.
From the iconic Palm Springs Visitor Center and the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway to independent shops, neighborhood dining, and outdoor adventures, the northern end of Palm Springs offers a different perspective on the desert city. Here's where to start.
Start at the Gateway to Palm Springs
For many visitors arriving from Los Angeles and other western destinations, the northern end of Palm Springs offers their first glimpse of the city. Two landmarks make particularly good starting points: the Palm Springs wind turbines and the Palm Springs Visitor Center.
See the Palm Springs Windmills
Rows of wind turbines rising from the desert landscape have become one of the region's most recognizable sights. Their enormous blades create a dramatic contrast against the mountains and open desert, making the wind farms a memorable introduction to the Coachella Valley.
Want to learn more than you can from the road? Palm Springs Windmill Tours offers opportunities to explore the wind energy installations and learn about their role in renewable energy production. Check the tour operator's website for current tour options and availability.
Learn more: Exploring the Palm Springs Windmills
Visit the Palm Springs Visitor Center
The Palm Springs Visitor Center is worth a stop even if you've visited the city before. Designed by renowned midcentury architect Albert Frey in collaboration with Robson Chambers, the building was built in the former Tramway Gas Station and opened in 1965.
Its distinctive roofline and dramatic geometry make it a standout example of desert modernism. Inside, you'll find visitor information, maps, local recommendations, and Palm Springs-themed merchandise. The exterior is also a popular photo stop, with a colorful mural celebrating the city's architecture, mountains, palm trees, and resort lifestyle.
Visitor Center: 2901 North Palm Canyon Drive.
While at the Palm Springs Visitor Center, get a selfie at the custom mural.
Ride the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway
One of the city's biggest attractions is the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway. The rotating tramcars travel up Chino Canyon from the desert floor to Mountain Station, 8,516 feet above the desert floor.
The approximately 10-minute journey offers spectacular views as the landscape changes from rocky desert terrain to the cooler mountain environment of Mount San Jacinto State Park.
At the top, visitors can explore hiking trails, take in panoramic views, visit the natural history museum, or enjoy a meal overlooking the valley. Temperatures are often significantly cooler than in downtown Palm Springs, so bring layers even when it's warm below.
The tramway is an excellent choice for outdoor enthusiasts, families, and anyone looking for a memorable experience beyond the city's resort pools and shopping districts. Check the official website for current operating hours, tickets, and trail conditions.
Vintage Shopping and Design Finds in North Palm Springs
North Palm Springs is a rewarding destination for vintage lovers, midcentury modern collectors, and shoppers who appreciate the unexpected. Along North Palm Canyon Drive, independent businesses offer everything from retro fashion and quirky collectibles to iconic furniture, lighting, and contemporary design.
Set aside time to browse these individual shops. Each has its own personality, specialty, and carefully curated selection.
Melody Note Vintage
For vintage fashion with personality, Melody Note Vintage offers clothing spanning multiple decades, from classic midcentury styles to late-20th-century fashion. Owner Meghan Smith brings decades of vintage expertise to a collection that includes vintage denim, Levi's, bell-bottom jeans, mod fashion, and distinctive pieces for men and women.
The shop also serves as a resource for film, theater, and editorial stylists seeking authentic vintage clothing. Whether you're searching for a specific era or simply enjoy discovering one-of-a-kind fashion, it's a worthwhile stop.
Bridges Over Time
Located in the North Palm Canyon design corridor, Bridges Over Time brings together vintage and contemporary furniture, fine art, sculpture, lighting, and decorative objects. The gallery appeals to collectors and design lovers seeking distinctive pieces spanning styles and periods.
Gypsyland
Colorful, eclectic, and full of surprises, Gypsyland is known for vintage clothing, accessories, home décor, and eye-catching collectibles. Its playful personality begins outside, where a distinctive mannequin display invites passersby to stop for a photo, and continues inside with rooms of vintage treasures.
Fashion lovers will appreciate the shop's statement-making dresses and retro styles, while those interested in Palm Springs kitsch and unusual decorative finds will have plenty to explore.
ModernWay
A longtime Palm Springs design destination, ModernWay specializes in vintage furniture and accessories inspired by the midcentury modern era. Its selection includes furniture, vintage audio equipment, artwork, lighting, and decorative objects that celebrate modern design's clean lines and enduring appeal.
Whether you're furnishing a home, searching for a collectible piece, or simply appreciating the design movement that helped define Palm Springs, ModernWay is a must-see for design enthusiasts.
Boomerang for Modern
For collectors who appreciate classic modern design, Boomerang for Modern offers a curated selection of furniture, lighting, and accessories. Its inventory includes vintage pieces sourced from local estates as well as contemporary work from established manufacturers and craftspeople.
Expect to find design-focused furnishings and objects that balance function, craftsmanship, and enduring style. Even if you're not shopping for a major furniture piece, it's an inspiring place to explore the details of modern design.
Re[x] Haus
Formerly known as Haus of Re[x], Re[x] Haus is a large design destination offering vintage and contemporary furnishings, collectibles, artwork, and decorative objects. The expansive showroom brings together personality-filled pieces, from midcentury furniture to unusual finds and statement-making collectibles.
It's a particularly good stop for shoppers who enjoy browsing a broad selection and discovering something unexpected along the way.
Find a Hotel with a Different Kind of Palm Springs Style
The northern part of Palm Springs offers a range of accommodations, from intimate boutique properties to larger, pool-focused hotels. This area appeals to visitors who want a distinctive hotel experience and easy access to the tramway, northern shopping areas, and outdoor recreation.
Mahala Hotel by AvantStay
Mahala Hotel by AvantStay offers a more intimate Palm Springs hotel experience. Its 14 rooms surround a shared pool, spa, and courtyard, creating a neighborhood-like atmosphere rather than a large-resort feel.
Design is central to the experience, with colorful interiors, custom furnishings, and distinctive graphics by Barcelona-based Colorola Studios. It's a compelling option for travelers who appreciate creative design and a smaller, more personal setting.
L3 Oasis Hotel
Want a pool vibe? The 101-room L3 Oasis Hotel boasts two pools and two Jacuzzis. Split your sun time between the Bamboo Pool, with 120,000 gallons of saltwater, and the freshwater Riviera Pool, where you can relax in a cabana or on a luxury teakwood lounger. Then, take a dip in the freshwater jacuzzis.
The Palm Springs Hotel
Live the Hollywood dream at The Palm Springs Hotel Midcentury Inn. Sleep with your favorite star in one of the ten guestrooms named and themed after heartthrobs, including The Presley, The Deluxe Sinatra, The Newman, and The Retro Raquel. Circular windows, midcentury and industrial flair, and bright orange furnishings around the bright blue pool create a cinematic tone.
The Cole
Located on North Palm Canyon Drive, The Cole blends midcentury character with contemporary comforts. The property features a spacious outdoor pool and courtyard, along with on-site dining and bar service.
Its location makes it a useful base for exploring the northern end of Palm Springs, while its outdoor spaces provide a place to unwind between outings. Check the hotel's current age requirements, dining hours, and booking details when planning your stay.
Inn at Palm Springs
Are you bringing your dog? The Inn at Palm Springs invites you and your pooch to enjoy “a comfy, clean, and convenient” stay in one of its 18 rooms, each uniquely styled with contemporary furnishings. Laze by the heated pool. A business center is at the ready (if you need it).
Compare More Places to Stay
North Palm Springs and the surrounding corridor offer other hotel choices, too. If you're deciding where to stay, compare properties by pool amenities, room style, location, and access to restaurants and attractions.
Hotel rates in Palm Springs vary widely by season and day of the week, so check several properties before booking.
Explore more: Palm Springs Places to Stay Guide
Enjoy Local Dining and Neighborhood Favorites
The northern part of Palm Springs may not have as many restaurants as the downtown core, but it still has worthwhile places to eat, from long-standing local favorites to hotel restaurants and casual neighborhood spots.
Boozehounds
Boozehounds is dog-friendly and even has its own menu! For you, perhaps the amazing “Maguro Tataki’ salad of local mixed greens topped with Tamari garlic butter-seared tuna, avocado, fried shallots, and creamy sesame dressing! Or “Miso Chilean Fish & Chips,” with 48-hour miso-marinated Chilean seabass, beer-batter-fried. For Fido, the “Weenie-tini” dog martini, with chicken broth, chicken whipped cream, and doggie biscuit crumble, “is the favorite,” says general manager Tom Vasquez.
Billy Reed's Restaurant, Bakery and Bar
Billy Reed's is a long-running Palm Springs dining institution on North Palm Canyon Drive. Known for its expansive menu and nostalgic atmosphere, the restaurant serves classic American fare, including breakfast favorites, sandwiches, seafood, and traditional comfort food.
The on-site bakery adds another reason to stop, whether you're sitting down for a full meal or finishing your visit with dessert.
Palmina by Puglia Italian Restaurant
Enjoy cuisine from southern Italy’s Puglia region at Palmina by Puglia restaurant for dinner. Inspired by his mother’s cooking, Puglia-born Owner/Executive Chef Antonio Zito dishes up authentic fare from savory braciola and pasta like the signature “Spaghetti Zito,” tossed in white wine, oil, and lemon zest with roasted garlic, parsley, black pepper, fresh diced tomatoes, and shrimp, to finger foods and pizza, using generations-old recipes and locally sourced ingredients. Don’t miss the live jazz on Saturday nights.
Freddie's Kitchen
Have French for dinner. Freddie’s Kitchen at The Cole specializes in French-Californian cuisine by French-born Owner/Chef de Cuisine Frederic Pierrel, from “French Escargot à la Bourguignon” to “Peppered Elk Medallions” and “Tahitian Vanilla Bean Crème Brûlée.”
If you're spending time shopping along North Palm Canyon Drive, consider planning a meal around your stops. Brunch, a relaxed lunch, or an early dinner can turn a few individual errands into a more enjoyable neighborhood outing.
For more choices across the city, browse the Palm Springs Restaurant and Dining Guide
Find Entertainment Beyond Downtown
North Palm Springs also offers options for visitors who want something more interactive than shopping or sightseeing.
Toucans' Tiki Lounge
The one and only! Celebrate a festive night out at Toucans Tiki Lounge & Cabaret. Established 20 years ago, it’s home to the city’s longest-running drag show. Plus, drag nights like “Latin Fever Mondays,” “Lips, Looks & Lashes,” and its “Live on Stage” series showcase top-tier cabaret and performance talent. Visit Toucan's website for a full list of events.
Escape Room Palm Springs
At Escape Room Palm Springs, groups work together to solve puzzles, uncover clues, and complete a themed challenge. It's an entertaining choice for friends, families with older children, and groups looking for an indoor activity.
An escape room can also be a welcome alternative during the hottest part of the day, when outdoor sightseeing is less appealing. Check the website for available games, age recommendations, and reservations.
Get Outdoors in the Northern Part of Palm Springs
The mountains and desert landscape are never far in Palm Springs, and the city's northern end offers easy access to some of the area's most memorable outdoor experiences.
Explore the Mountains from the Tramway
The Palm Springs Aerial Tramway provides access to Mount San Jacinto State Park, where visitors can hike forested trails and enjoy a dramatically different environment from the desert below.
Trail conditions and temperatures vary with the season. Bring appropriate footwear, water, and extra layers, and check official park and tramway information before setting out.
Take a Self-Guided Architecture Drive
You don't have to visit a formal attraction to appreciate Palm Springs' architecture. Driving through the northern neighborhoods offers glimpses of the city's midcentury character, distinctive residential streets, and varied desert landscaping.
If architecture is a priority, pair your drive with stops on our midcentury architecture self-guided tour.
Remember that many architectural landmarks are private residences. Enjoy the views respectfully, observe posted signs, and avoid entering private property.
A Neighborhood Still Evolving
North Palm Springs continues to evolve, with new business concepts and redevelopment projects adding to the area's potential. One example is the former Days Inn property at 1973 North Palm Canyon Drive, where plans have been approved to redevelop it into a 179-room hotel with a restaurant and renovated and new buildings.
For visitors, the northern end of Palm Springs appeals for its mix of established landmarks, smaller businesses, design discoveries, and easy access to the mountains. It rewards a little curiosity.
Make Time for North Palm Springs
North Palm Springs may not offer the same concentration of attractions as downtown, but that doesn't mean you should overlook it. You can photograph an architectural landmark, learn about wind energy, ride a rotating tramcar into the mountains, browse vintage design shops, discover a distinctive boutique hotel, and enjoy a meal at a neighborhood favorite.
The best way to experience this part of the city is to choose a few stops and take your time exploring along the way. Whether you're visiting for an afternoon or staying outside the downtown core, the northern end of Palm Springs offers another perspective on what makes the city special.
Planning your trip? Start with the Palm Springs Things to Do Guide to discover more attractions, experiences, and neighborhoods throughout the city.
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