Discover Palm Springs MICHELIN Key Hotels

In the 1920s, the MICHELIN Guide made its first hotel recommendations — and hotels have been included in guides in Europe and Asia ever since. But just four years ago, they began a comprehensive refresh of their hotel selection with a mission to provide a complete travel experience to anyone who uses their Guide. They have now introduced a more comprehensive range of hotels in the world, including hotel recommendations in the U.S.

MICHELIN Key Distinction

From a selection of thousands of hotels, the MICHELIN Guide now spotlights the crème de la crème. These hotels are not just about design, architecture, service, and personality—they are the absolute most outstanding experiences in their selection, denoted by the prestigious MICHELIN Key. This exclusive distinction is a testament to their commitment to providing a complete travel experience to anyone who uses their Guide.

The MICHELIN Star is renowned for recognizing restaurants for outstanding cooking. Similarly, the MICHELIN Key is a symbol of excellence in the hotel industry, recognizing hotels for exceptional stays. This distinction is not easily earned; it is a mark of quality and guarantees a truly exceptional hotel experience.

This is the view from MICHELIN of the four Palm Springs hotels that earned a MICHELIN Key.

Dive Palm Springs

1586 E. Palm Canyon Drive
11 Rooms

Immerse yourself in the timeless charm of midcentury Palm Springs at Dive Palm Springs. This exclusive 11-room retreat, reminiscent of the vibrant spirit of 1960s St. Tropez, is a unique gem. Its Mediterranean-inspired design, adorned with sunny colors and eccentric, bohemian interiors, creates a haven for adults. The pool, a charming oasis, and the heavenly outdoor spaces of the garden and orchard offer a restorative atmosphere. While there’s no restaurant per se, beyond breakfast service, the location is conveniently close to a variety of fine dining options, and the staff is always delighted to assist you in finding the perfect place to dine.

Amenities & Services
Free wi-fi, Free parking, EV Charging Station, Bar bites, Complimentary breakfast
Concierge, Pets allowed (charges apply), Adults only 21+

Palm Springs Michelin Guide Restaurants Nearby:
The Barn Kitchen at Sparrows Lodge
Bar Cecil
4 Saints at The Rowan

Holiday House Palm Springs

200 W. Arenas Road
28 Rooms

At Holiday House, there’s no messing about with superior, deluxe, and the like: the room categories are Good, Better, and Best. And the good is pretty good, indeed. Good means bright and cheerful, with original artwork, bath hardware by Waterworks, and custom textiles by Mark D. Sikes, the same Hollywood-based designer who reimagined the hotel’s interiors during recent restorations. Better means bigger, in this case, with a wet bar for good measure. And Best means mountain views, plus a private balcony or patio where you can properly enjoy them. (If the Best isn’t quite good enough, look into one of Holiday House’s top-of-the-line options, the aptly named Big Room or The Suite.)

The tongue-in-cheek room categories are a new addition, but Holiday House has been around for decades. The hotel first opened its doors in 1951, during the resort town’s golden age — original amenities included a shuffleboard court and English bicycles for guests. Much of its midcentury character remains. But now, thanks to the design overhaul, it caters to the whims of modern travelers. A cool tile-lined bar serving classic cocktails all day, check. A healthy continental breakfast and the requisite swimming pool to lounge around in your vintage-inspired swimwear: double-check.

They liked Holiday House just fine without its art collection, but it just so happens that, yes, that’s a David Hockney painting and, over there, an original Lichtenstein print. The hotel also has works by Herb Ritts and Mr. Brainwash, not to mention a Donald Sultan sculpture in the garden. Well-chosen, we think: there’s nothing like Hockney’s shimmering blues to put you in the mood for an afternoon swim before retiring to your room to dress for a night out on the town.

Amenities & Services
Free wi-fi, Free parking
Restaurant, Bar, Mini-bar, Nespresso machines, Simple continental breakfast
Robes, Concierge, 24-hour front desk, Luggage storage
Pet Friendly (under 35-pound dogs), Bikes available, Adults only 21+

Holiday House has an on-site restaurant called The Pantry. In the morning, a complimentary continental breakfast is served, which includes a selection of homemade breads and pastries, fruit, yogurt, and house-made granola. They also serve lunch, dinner, and brunch on the weekend, which are open to the public, space permitting.

Palm Springs Michelin Guide Restaurants Nearby:
4 Saints at The Rowan
Tac/Quila
Colony Club at Colony Palms Resort
Cheeky’s

La Serena Villas

339 S Belardo Road
18 Rooms

Palm Springs may be virtually synonymous with midcentury modernism, but it’s far from the only style in town. La Serena Villas is the latest transformation of a 1933-vintage Spanish-style hotel, and while it has been thoroughly updated, they’ve kept its stylistic inspiration intact.  You’d be hard-pressed to find a lovelier example of colonial-contemporary architecture and design.

La Serena feels pleasantly private despite its central location, just off Palm Canyon Drive. It is a compound comprising 18 individual bungalows, each with a kitchenette and a private patio with an outdoor bathtub. They’re not all identical—some are rather more elaborate than others—but all are luxe enough and certainly more than spacious enough.

There’s a lovely pool just off the lobby and a second one at Whispers, the spa, which forms something of a compound within a compound. Guests can borrow bikes for a spin around downtown Palm Springs. Just be sure you’re back in time for dinner—Azúcar, the poolside restaurant, serves Mediterranean—and Mexican-inspired Californian fare and has a lively bar to go along with it. Or head to Sugar High, their rooftop lounge.

Amenities & Services
Free wi-fi, Free parking, Valet parking, EV Charging Station
Restaurant, Lounge, Room service, Whispers Spa, Fire pit, Patio soaking tub
Concierge, 24-hour front desk, Luggage storage, Pet Friendly
Bathrobes, Mini-fridge, Bikes available, Adults only 21+

Azucar is the on-site restuarant serving modern contemporary cuisine with an emphasis of using local ingredients. A menu is avaiable to guests starting at 7:30 am. Dinner and weekend brunch is open to the public. Reservation suggested.

Sugar High is a specail rooftop deck where Boho meets a Palm Springs cool vibe. Enjoy views of the sourrounding mountains while sipping cocktais.

Palm Springs Michelin Guide Restaurants Nearby:
4 Saints at The Rowan
Tac/Quila
Colony Club at Colony Palms Resort

Sparrows Lodge

1330 E. Palm Canyon Drive
20 Rooms

Take a hint from the word-of-mouth publicity, the quiet poolside crowd in retro swimwear, and the understated logo — a minimalist illustration of two little birds perched on a branch. Sparrows Lodge is not aiming for the mainstream. Recycled from the 50s and refreshed for a style-conscious clientele, this woodsy hideaway is the kind of place where people play horseshoes, swing wooden tennis rackets, and read books by their private campfires. The property’s original red barn opens for dinner and drinks at night. It’s like a dreamy hipster version of the summer camp of your childhood — complete with artisan cocktails and deep, luxurious bathtubs fashioned out of old horse troughs.

Considering the mini-Renaissance of Palm Springs as a weekend getaway for cool LA kids working in design and fashion, there’s certainly a place for a rustic-chic ranch in this corner of the desert. Unlike many of Palm Springs’s revamped boutique hotels, the 20-room Sparrows Lodge has a distinctly outdoorsy vibe: think built-in redwood furniture, tin roofs, patio fireplaces, stone floors, earth tones, and exposed beams.

There are four categories of rooms and suites: the most luxurious is the spacious Fireplace Room, named for its cozy gas-burning fireplace.

Throughout the property, there’s a noteworthy absence of TV screens. The idea here is to relax with old-school diversions like tennis, hiking, and roasting marshmallows — or, well, lying around the pool. Despite all the trappings of a midcentury mountain lodge, this is, after all, still Palm Springs.

Amenities & Services
Free wi-fi, Free Parking, EV Charging Station
Restaurant, Bar, Room service, Light continental breakfast
24-hour front desk, SMEG fridge, Luggage storage
Pet Friendly (under 40 pounds), Sole townie bikes available, Adults only 21+

MICHELINE Guide Restaurant: The Barn Kitchen at Sparrows Lodge

This on-site restaurant offers open-air communal seating in an idyllic poolside setting; this is hardly a typical restaurant. However, embrace the relaxation and allow yourself to be pampered by the effortlessly disarming service. Matching with the general wellness retreat aesthetic, the ingredient-driven cooking tends towards wholesome Cali-style simplicity—think fresh salads, grilled cauliflower steak with sauce vierge, and the requisite avocado toast at lunch. The menu is small (especially during the day), but dietary restrictions are readily accommodated.

You May Also Like:

Palm Springs MICHELIN Restaurant Guide