Kimpton Rowan Palm Springs Hotel

Kimpton and Palm Springs were made for each other. This venerable American boutique-hotel brand, now under the IHG umbrella, made its reputation on the wager that boutique hotels could be a lot less forbidding and exclusive, but still remain stylish — an attitude that’s perfectly suited to the easy, extraverted hedonism of this Southern California desert town. (And both, it must be said, share a certain predilection for mid-century Modernism.) The Rowan Palm Springs presents both of these hospitality institutions at their best.

At seven stories high, and containing some 153 rooms and suites, the Rowan is sizable by boutique standards, but it’s far from crowded. The rooms are spacious, and light is plentiful, thanks to the floor-to-ceiling windows; there’s a yoga mat in every room, and the elevated views offer an unusual perspective on this low-rise town — as does the rooftop swimming pool.

Spa services are available in-room, and there’s an extensive fitness center as well as a fleet of PUBLIC bikes for exploring the town. The rooftop is home not only to the pool but to a modern Californian restaurant called 4 Saints; there’s also the Mediterranean-inspired Juniper Table and two bars, the indoor Window Bar and the poolside High Bar.