Review: Thompson Palm Springs

Swaying palm trees, azure skies and majestic mountain peaks all come to mind when I think of Palm Springs, California, a historic hideaway just over 100 miles east of Los Angeles. The destination has a distinct natural beauty that is reason enough to visit, but what I love most about the desert city is how multifaceted it is — a truth I have tested over many years.

I’ve gone for milestone birthdays, toasting on the pool deck of mid-century modern homes with fellow celebrants. I’ve bar-hopped around town for typical bachelorette party shenanigans. On our first babymoon, my husband and I chilled at the Ace Hotel & Swim Club, and twice I’ve driven out for Coachella, when poolside brand parties and strategically dolled-up influencers infiltrate the region. Nowadays, I usually trek to the desert with my kids — which brings me to my latest visit.

Last October, the 168-room Thompson Palm Springs joined the local hospitality scene; my daughters and I visited two months later, and it’s the first property I’ve ever stayed at that's right on Palm Canyon Drive. Like Ocean Avenue in Miami or Market Street in San Francisco, Palm Canyon is a live wire of a road, with bars and restaurants, souvenir shops and design-forward boutiques drawing steady crowds most of the day. If it’s easy access clients are looking for, the Thompson provides it — and more.

On-Site Amenities at Thompson Palm Springs

Guests arrive at Thompson Palm Springs via an open-air lobby filled with eye-catching, large-scale art, including a sculpture by Gerald Clarke, a member of California’s Cahuilla Band of Indians. A nod to the traditional handcrafted baskets of his people, Clarke’s piece is made with recycled and crushed cans, positioned to create the appearance of weaving — it’s a mesmerizing sight that invites people to linger longer in the lobby.

RELATED: Review: Thompson Playa del Carmen

Adjacent to the check-in desk is Hall Napa Valley, a chic wine bar offering a taste of Northern California’s wine country with flights and light bites. But the primary dining space at the Thompson is one level up — the sprawling Lola Rose Grand Mezze, helmed by executive chef Quentin Garcia. Middle Eastern plates dot the menu here (think shakshuka for breakfast, falafel for lunch and kebabs of all sorts), and there are ample seating options: a beautiful bar with high stools, couches for lounging as you enjoy your order and a cocktail, plus a more traditional and table-filled dining space. Like Palm Springs itself, there are multiple ways to experience Lola Rose.

After checking in late on a Friday, we discovered yet another way to try Lola Rose eats: poolside. It was cool out, but the hotel’s heated pool was perfect; we ordered hummus topped with smoked sundried tomatoes, crispy chickpeas and parsley and dredged warm pita slices through the bowl between dips in the pool. Two orders of chicken tenders and fries for my daughters made us a very happy crew.

In the morning, we found ourselves back out on the umbrella-clad pool deck, which is wide and well furnished, and benefits greatly from its west-facing, second-story location. Palm Canyon Drive is just below it (the Palm Springs Pride Parade and Palm Springs Festival of Lights Parade will cruise right by here), and the San Jacinto Mountains loom large behind that. It’s a gorgeous landscape in which to sunbathe year-round, so even in December, this is where we hung out for hours, three lounge lizards moving from hot tub to pool to deck chair.

Accommodations at Thompson Palm Springs

Our double queen room was as comfortable as it was stylish, with warm wood and brass accents and a curvy loveseat and table in lieu of a desk — who sits down to work in Palm Springs, anyway? The warmed up mid-century modern design made the space perfect for a takeout pizza dinner and an in-room holiday screening of “Home Alone” on our second evening at the hotel.

The accommodations to book for clients or families are the show-stopping Alejo Suites, Hardy Suite and Thompson Suite, all dapper and quite spacious. With incredible mountain and pool views and a giant wraparound patio, the 1,750-square-foot Thompson Suite is arguably the top pick — there’s even a private butler’s entrance and a curated wine case.

Nearby Eats, Shopping and Entertainment

I keep a running list of restaurants I want to try when I’m in Palm Springs, and a priority this time was Lost Property Restaurant, set in the Skylark Hotel. Chef Brandon Kida makes a wildly good breakfast sandwich, and the miso caramel French toast is a deliciously over-the-top morning dessert. We also love The Heyday for burgers and fries and Lappert’s for ice cream (and Dole Whip); the latter has been serving scoops in Palm Springs since 1981.

Shopping along Palm Canyon Drive and its parallel neighbor, Indian Canyon Drive, is a must when here. The Uptown Design District is just north of the hotel and fabulous for anyone hunting for new or vintage treasures. The shelves at newer store Phylum are bursting with gifts, glassware and other home goods I loved. And The Shops at 1345 are a must-visit; I’ve purchased many a vintage brass tchotchke here for my own mid-century home.

And if clients have children with them, a drive to The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens is in order. Set about 16 miles from Palm Springs in Palm Desert, this zoo offers up-close encounters with animals such as giraffes, rhinos and wallabies, plus private tours and special programming. Wandering in the gardens here introduces you to all kinds of flora. There are even hiking trails, if you’d like to work up an appetite before you head back to the Thompson and Lola Rose.