Holiday House is the boutique hotel for travelers who want Palm Springs to feel like a stylish friend's house. It occupies a 1951 hotel designed by Herbert W. Burns, one of the architects who defined the town's postwar small-hotel style, in downtown Palm Springs a short walk from Palm Canyon Drive. The interior designer Mark D. Sikes, working with the team behind Sparrows Lodge, reimagined it with his signature classic-American look: crisp blue and white, stripes and florals, rattan and wicker, framed art, and a relaxed, preppy elegance that feels more country house than desert motel. There are just 28 rooms, all remodeled, and they come in clear tiers. Good rooms have Waterworks fittings, Sikes textiles, oversized showers and a mini bar; Better rooms add space and a better position; Best rooms are among the largest, with an indoor bathtub, a balcony or patio with outdoor shower and mountain views; the Big Room adds a sitting area; and The Suite has its own entrance, patio, fireplace and living room. All rooms have Nespresso machines, Italian linens and seersucker robes, and pointedly no televisions. The Pantry is the social heart, serving lunch on weekdays and dinner daily, with a full bar open until 11pm, and a simple continental breakfast of homemade breads and pastries, fruit, yogurt and cheese is included in the daily resort fee. Guests must be 21 or older to check in. The hotel has carried the MICHELIN Guide's Key distinction, a sign of its standing among the city's small hotels.
The appeal is intimacy and taste. With only 28 rooms, the pool area feels like a private house party at its best, and the absence of TVs nudges guests toward the pool, the bar and conversation. The design rewards attention, from the patterned fabrics to the art on the walls, and it photographs beautifully without trying too hard. Breakfast at The Pantry is the kind of unfussy, good-quality start that sets the tone for an easy day.
Room choice is straightforward: Good rooms are comfortable but compact, Better rooms add breathing space, and Best rooms with balconies or patios and mountain views are the sweet spot for most couples. The Suite, with its fireplace and private entrance, is the special-occasion pick. Because the hotel is small, weekends and Modernism Week sell out early, so book well ahead. Check the resort fee amount and parking arrangements when reserving.
Who should stay: couples, friends traveling together and design-minded travelers who want walkable downtown access with a residential feel. Who should not: families with children (21 and over to check in), travelers who want a big spa or resort facilities, and anyone who cannot live without a TV. For a similar small-hotel romance with a Moroccan accent, compare Korakia; for downtown with a rooftop pool and more buzz, the Kimpton Rowan.
Why stay here
- ✓Just 28 remodeled rooms
- ✓Mark D. Sikes interiors
- ✓The Pantry restaurant and bar
- ✓Continental breakfast included
- ✓Outdoor pool
- ✓Rooms with balconies or patios
- ✓No TVs by design
- ✓Walk to Palm Canyon Drive
Good questions
Is breakfast included at Holiday House?+
Yes. A simple continental breakfast at The Pantry, with homemade breads and pastries, fruit, yogurt, granola, cheese and charcuterie, is included in the daily resort fee.
Is Holiday House adults-only?+
Guests must be 21 or older to check in, so it is effectively an adult hotel.
Do the rooms have TVs?+
No. The rooms deliberately have no televisions, though they include Nespresso machines, Italian linens and robes.
