Gay Palm Springs

Palm Springs is famously low-rise, which makes the rooftop at Kimpton Rowan Palm Springs Hotel feel almost mischievous. Its seventh-floor pool is the only rooftop hotel pool in town, with uninterrupted mountain views that become particularly gorgeous around sunset. The 153 rooms and suites are sleek without losing the desert feel, while High Bar and 4 Saints mean the rooftop remains lively well after pool time. There’s a 24-hour gym, six pickleball courts, complimentary bikes and the classic Kimpton evening wine hour too. Step outside and you’re right in Downtown, with Palm Canyon Drive at the door and the gay bars around Arenas Road only a short walk away. That combination of proper hotel facilities and genuine walkability is surprisingly rare in Palm Springs. GayMapper tip: Time at least one evening around the rooftop – sunset, cocktail, dinner and then Arenas Road makes for a very easy Palm Springs night.

Descanso is one of those hotels where plans for the afternoon can very quickly become “perhaps I’ll just stay by the pool.” This intimate gay men’s resort has a polished Hollywood Moderne feel, but the mood is friendly and relaxed rather than overly precious. A heated saltwater pool and outdoor spa sit among lush gardens, with mountain views above the palms. Continental breakfast is included, as is a poolside lunch, while snacks and drinks are always available from the cantina. Weekend Wine O’Clock adds an easy social moment without turning the whole place into a party resort, and bikes are available when you finally decide to leave. The location north of central Downtown feels pleasantly tucked away but keeps Palm Canyon Drive and the rest of Palm Springs within easy reach. GayMapper tip: A very good gay-resort choice if you like meeting people but want the atmosphere to feel more cocktails-by-the-pool than all-day pool party.

Santiago is where you go when the exhausting Palm Springs itinerary consists mainly of moving between a sun lounger, the pool and the spa. This long-established gay men’s resort sits behind private gates in the Tahquitz River Estates area, with mountain views adding to the feeling that the outside world can wait. The swimsuit-optional pool is the centre of things, backed up by a hot tub and comfortable landscaped grounds. Breakfast and lunch are included, removing two daily decisions from your holiday, while the atmosphere manages to be social without making participation compulsory. Rooms range from kings to larger suites, some with private patios. Downtown and Arenas Road are a short ride away, but there’s very little pressure to leave Santiago once you settle in. GayMapper tip: Excellent if your ideal gay resort is relaxed, polished and sociable rather than relentlessly party-focused – sunscreen remains non-negotiable.

Sometimes you want Palm Springs character; sometimes you want a big pool, a proper spa and a hotel where everything simply works. Hilton Palm Springs falls firmly into the second camp, with a central location that also happens to be very handy for going out. The large outdoor pool deck is the focal point, backed up by Elements Spa, a fitness centre and mountain views. Rooms are generously sized, and the complimentary airport shuttle is particularly useful if you’re doing Palm Springs without hiring a car. Palm Canyon Drive is a few blocks away and Arenas Road’s gay bars are easily walkable, so dinner, drinks and nightlife don’t require much planning. The Convention Center is also nearby. GayMapper tip: A dependable all-rounder if you want full hotel facilities and a proper resort-style pool without giving up the ability to wander into the gay nightlife on foot.

Pink, camp and completely unapologetic, Trixie Motel is one of those rare hotels where the place itself is part of the reason for coming to Palm Springs. Created by drag superstar Trixie Mattel, this restored 1950s motel has just seven individually themed rooms wrapped around its instantly recognisable pink pool. Each room goes all-in on its own fantasy, from Flower Power and Pink Flamingo to Yeehaw Cowgirl, with larger suites adding kitchenettes and private or semi-private patios. There’s also an on-site bar and café for cocktails and casual food, while the adults-only setup keeps the whole experience firmly aimed at grown-up fun. The Uptown location is a little north of the main Downtown action, so Arenas Road’s gay bars are a short ride away rather than outside the door. GayMapper tip: Book the room whose theme makes you smile most – subtlety really isn’t the point here.

Ten rooms, one pool and a mountain backdrop: The Three Fifty Hotel understands that Palm Springs hotels don't necessarily improve by becoming bigger. Built in 1950 in the Historic Tennis Club neighbourhood, it still has the intimate courtyard layout that makes mid-century desert hotels so appealing. Every room faces the pool, which is heated year-round, and the adults-only setup keeps the atmosphere relaxed. Breakfast and parking are complimentary, bikes are available for exploring, and the hotel is now pet-friendly too. New independent ownership is promising further updates while keeping the property's original mid-century character. Palm Canyon Drive is only a few minutes away on foot, with Downtown restaurants and galleries close by and Arenas Road comfortably reachable when it’s time for a night out. GayMapper tip: Still one of our favourite little Palm Springs stays – especially if ten rooms sounds much more appealing than ten floors.