Everyone told us we were crazy to go to Palm Springs in August, and honestly, we agreed! But, when we got invited to a wedding in LA, I knew I was probably going to deal with the heat to experience a city that has been on my bucket list for years. Don’t get me wrong, it was very hot, and if you have a choice, I would recommend not going in the summer. Aside from the 100+ degree temperatures, a lot of restaurants close in August to give their staff some time off and to make improvements to their space. There were a few places on my list that we didn’t make it to, but the things we did and saw were great, and I’m excited to share!
About Palm Springs
Palm Springs is about a two-hour drive West (and a little bit South) from Los Angeles. There’s an airport there, but since the second half of our trip was in LA, we decided to rent a car from LAX and drive. The drive is beautiful, especially once you get into the desert, and I couldn’t stop taking pictures out the window. Palm Springs is known for its hot springs, spas, stylish hotels and mid-century modern architecture. Back in the day, Palm Springs was a popular destination for Hollywood stars looking for a secluded getaway, and it has started to become popular with modern day celebs too. Because it’s in the dessert, Palm Springs boasts 350 days of sunshine a year. Who could resist?!
Where to Stay
It should come as no surprise that the Instagram-famous Saguaro was my first choice for hotels. It’s a primary-colored paradise with a fabulous pool, and spacious rooms. Ours had a view of the mountains, a little balcony, and plenty of space to unpack. We enjoyed eating at El Jefe, the Mexican restaurant on site, and sipping cocktails poolside. The pool itself is lovely, and has plenty of chairs and umbrellas. What we didn’t know (until we checked in) was that in the summer, they open the pool to the public on the weekends and host a giant pool party with a DJ. Not a problem if you want to party, but if you’re looking to read a book and relax, it’s definitely something to keep in mind. That said, everyone at the hotel was very friendly, and we also took advantage of their free shuttle service to downtown. There are a ton of hotels in Palm Springs and plenty of great houses to rent if you’re there with a group. Many of the hotels are along the same street, but just know that if you want to go to restaurants and bars, you’ll need to either drive or get a ride.
Where to Eat
The food scene in Palm Springs is amazing. I did A TON of research before our trip and made a few reservations ahead of time. The best meal we had was probably dinner our first night at FARM. This charming, family-owned restaurant pays homage to Southern France with a menu of French dishes with a local twist. Dinner is a five course prix-fixe, and the menu changes daily. I’m always a little wary of set menus because I have some dietary restrictions, but there were plenty of choices, and they were all so good. The space was beautiful (we sat on the patio, pictured below), and the owners came around to check on every table, which was such a nice personal touch.
For brunch the next morning, we went to the place we had a reservation…only to find out that they no longer served brunch. It was frustrating, but we ended up at Lulu California Bistro, which was great. They offer breakfast every day, and an extensive brunch after 11 on weekends.
The second night, we had dinner at Eight4Nine, which was on every “best of” list I’d seen. Located in the Uptown Design District, this restaurant is creatively decorated in a palette of mostly white and pink. They serve “Modern American Cuisine,” and have an impressive cocktail list. Although we usually try to order different things, we both indulged in the fried chicken, and it was amazing!
Day three, we had planned to have brunch at the famous Cheeky’s, but sadly they were one of the restaurants that was temporarily closed. Instead, we went to The Broken Yolk Cafe, a chain, but one with some of the tastiest (and most indulgent) pancakes I’ve ever had. For dinner on our last night, we opted for Italian at Al dente, which was super tasty and located downtown.
Also of note: Koffi for coffee and Great Shakes for dessert. Both were so good that we went back multiple times!
What to Do
I always love visiting botanical gardens, so I was excited to check out the desert version: Moorten Botanical Garden. It was stunning, with more varieties of cacti than I ever knew existed, plus agave plants, and a special indoor “cactarium”! They had mini succulents available for purchase on the way out and I was a little sad I couldn’t take some home.
Another must-do is the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway. You drive to the base of the San Jacinto Mountain and park your car. A bus takes you to the tram station and you buy a ticket for the next tram. The ride itself is ten minutes long, a little bumpy, but breathtakingly beautiful. Once at the top (8500 feet), you have the opportunity to check out the view and explore the mountain further. Not only was it about 20 degrees cooler up there (a blessing in August), but beautiful and quiet. We had lunch at the restaurant with a spectacular view.
That’s how we spent our time in Palm Springs. I definitely want to go back in cooler weather and explore more. Let me know if you have any questions & feel free to pin this guide for later with the graphic below! Check out what I wore in Palm Springs here, here and here.
