Parker, Palm Springs

Palm Springs was once the polished party ground of Elvis Presley, Frank Sinatra, and a host of Hollywood stars. Now, it’s the home of retro-chic, famed for its elegant mid-century modern architecture. And there’s no better place to rock n’ roll than Parker – the former estate of Western movie star Gene Autry. Designed by Jonathan Adler, this hotel has style in spades – from neon signs and bold glass sculptures to velvet furnishings. Through the lobby’s bright orange double doors, it’s almost like stepping back in time. And it’s a whole lot of fun.

LOCATION

Just a five-minute drive from Palm Springs International Airport, you’ll find Parker – hidden off the main road, behind a swathe of palm trees. In less than a ten-minute drive, you’ll reach Downtown Palm Springs – where the city’s finest shops and restaurants can be found. You’ll be perfectly placed, against a magnificent desert backdrop. The property is vast, but never stops feeling private. Three swimming pools, fire pits, tennis and Pétanque courts, and a croquet lawn – amongst beautifully manicured gardens and towering palms.

YOUR ROOM

Stepping into your room – likely through a set of glossy red lacquer front doors – you’ll find four-poster beds and brilliantly kitschy furniture pieces that breathe pops of pattern and colour into elegant spaces. Whether a private villa, suite or hammock room – each is a one-of-a-kind retro paradise. For the complete experience, though, we’d book the two-bedroom Gene Autry Residence. Think full kitchen, massage room, sauna, secret cinema. It’s totally worth it.

WHY WE LIKE IT

Where to begin? Perhaps at Norma’s, the hotel’s open-air terrace restaurant and one of the city’s hottest brunch spots (the brioche French toast and lobster mac and cheese are particularly divine). We also love Counter Reformation, their sleek and exclusive twenty-seat bar – for small plates and a glass of wine (or two). Parker is also home to an enormous spa, the Palm Springs Yacht Club, where treatments are seriously indulgent – and the indoor pool is bordered by navy and white striped deck chairs. Need we say more?