The hotel where you’re most likely to spot celebrities in Palm Springs is by far the Parker Palm Springs.  Especially around Film Festival time.  Hidden behind a tall fortress of green hedges: the Parker is the ultimate modern celebrity hideaway….for those who don’t want to be seen ~ but in reality, kind of do!  When my friends & I had dinner at Mister Parker’s, we happened to sit right next to Chloe Moretz, a popular young actress.  The outdoor terrace of their restaurant Norma’s is another place for potential celebrity sightings, & it’s a great spot for breakfast as well. 

Brad Pitt & Angelina Jolie made the Parker world-famous when they held their iconic “W” photo shoot here, but the hip decor & ultra-private setting has kept the Parker a celebrity favorite through the years.

Check prices at the Parker here, & while you’re at it ~ book a spa treatment.  Who knows, you may end up in the lounge next to JLo….

• Hotels Where You’re Most Likely to Find YOUNG Influencers & Celebrities: Hot pool scenes like those found at the Ace Hotel, candy-colored Saguaro, & new-kid-on-the-block Arrive are where you’re most likely to find a younger crowd, & a “hipper” pool scene. But all bets are off in April, when Coachella & Stagecoach come to town: then, you’ll spot celebrities & reality stars at nearly EVERY pool in the desert ~ but really popular spots will be closer to the Coachella grounds, in cities like La Quinta & Indian Wells, at hotels like the MIramonte & the Renaissance Esmeralda.

Splash House, which takes place every August, is like a mini-Coachella that takes place at rotating pools in Palm Springs; various DJ’s spin tunes while youthful influencers frolic in the pool, trying to beat the blistering summer heat while looking cool doing it.

The Ace Hotel chain has long been known for its “hip” vibe, & its Palm Springs is where you may run into some young celebs ~ particularly during Coachella & Stagecoach.

For a list of the best hotel pools in Palm Springs, click here.

• Spa Hotels Where You’re Likely to Find Detox-Seeking Celebs: Desert Hot Springs may not have the overall cache of Palm Springs, but what it does have is a collection of hotels that specialize in wellness & detoxification. The most celeb-friendly is We Care Spa: this is a juice-fasting, colonic-offering, yoga & meditation retreat ~ no poolside margaritas here! Lisa Rinna, Molly Sims, & Liv Tyler all swear by this place, & I went here myself years ago; it cost about $1,200 for three days of juice fasting & colonics, in a low-key desert setting. I would definitely recommend it, & they’ve upgraded their accommodations since I’ve been, so it’s even prettier now, less rustic.
  

  These days, a 3-day stay at We Care Spa will set you back about $1,500 ~ but it’s an incredible opportunity to detox & press the re-set button. And who knows, Gwen Stefani may be next to you at the pool…

Other Desert Hot Springs Retreats: Two Bunch Palms is a popular wellness resort that has numerous pools & spas (my friends & I got “Water Massages” there several years ago, & it’s one of the most unusual, sleep-inducing massages I’ve had); Tuscan Springs Resort & Spa is another option with a cozy vibe, friendly owners, & numerous hot springs to relax in.

• Hotels Where You’re Most Likely to Find Privacy-Seeking Celebs: A truly privacy-seeking celebrity will likely rent a house when they’re in the desert, but there are a few exclusive Palm Springs hotels where you may get lucky: the very small, very exclusive Sparrows Lodge is a stand-out for Gwyneth Paltrow & her Goop audience, while the aforementioned Parker is the best all-around place to spot celebs in the desert.  Korakia Pensione is an option for discerning high-profile couples, with its romantic setting & unique Moroccan architecture.  And the newest arrival in the high-end space is L’Horizon Resort & Spa, which gives you a chance to soak in mid-century architecture & absolutely heavenly beds…but you’ll definitely pay for the privilege!

The Sparrows Lodge is a lesson in desert rustic chic, & is favored by Gwyneth Paltrow & her GOOP audience.

• Hotels with the Most “Movie Star” Vibes: The Movie Colony Hotel has “movie” in its name, & its more intimate setting is reminiscent of an older-era in Hollywood; the Avalon Hotel used to be the Viceroy ~ & Viceroy’s have long been popular with the “in” crowd. One of the most “old-school” hotels in Palm Springs is the Ingleside Inn, which is where you’ll find the most Rat Pack kind-of vibe, particularly in their restaurant Melvyn’s, which was a favorite of Sinatra’s. 

Melvyn’s Restaurant at the Ingleside Inn opened in 1975, & it still has some of that Rat Pack era-feeling today.

Read about some of the desert’s best happy hour spots ~ Rat Pack-inspired & beyond….

Since most celebs rent homes in the desert for ultra-privacy, your best chance of running into one may actually be at some of the city’s most fun restaurants & bars.  When I worked at Stuft Pizza Bar & Grill in La Quinta (my family’s restaurant), we hosted Clint Eastwood, Kurt Russell, his son Oliver Hudson, fitness guru Denise Austin, & more pro-golfers than I can count! 

The Barn Kitchen at the Sparrows Lodge in Palm Springs is just ONE of many potential places to spot celebs dining….

• In Palm Springs: The Tropicale’s colorful, lounge-y environment is a draw for both locals & celebs looking to soak in tropical desert vibes; the newer LULU California Bistro & old-standby Las Casuelas Terraza both sit right on Palm Canyon, making for primo people-watching ~ celeb or not; the aforementioned Melvyn’s at the Ingleside is where you’ll want to soak in old-Hollywood vibes; Rooster & the Pig serves up some of the finest Vietnamese-American food in town, which attracts a high-end clientele, as does The Barn Kitchen at the Sparrows Hotel.
• In Palm Desert/Rancho Mirage: Any potential celeb-sightings in Palm Desert will likely happen around high-end shopping district El Paseo; try popular steakhouse Mastro’s, or upper-level Tommy Bahama’s & Pacifica Seafood, both located in the Shops at El Paseo. For old-school vibes similar to Melvyn’s, try Wally’s Desert Turtle.
• In Indian Wells/La Quinta: One of my favorite, most Instagram-worthy spots in the desert is the Pink Cabana restaurant at the Sands Hotel….a very likely place for a celeb encounter. At the Sands too is the hippest nightlife joint in the desert: The Nest, where you’re likely to find minor celebrities & adults behaving badly all year-round (bring your dancing shoes here)!  In La Quinta, you’re most likely to run into pro golfers like Freddy Couples or Phil Mickelson ~ you may spot them at Ernie’s Restaurant at the PGA West Clubhouse (open to the public), or at one of the most popular happy hour spots in town: Stuft Pizza Bar & Grill, in Old Town La Quinta.
• In Indio: All the potential celebrity action in Indio is centered around one place ~ the Polo Fields. Even when Coachella’s not in town, try hitting up the Tack Room Tavern, a cowboy-saloon local’s favorite, or The Cantina, a great place to have Bloody Mary’s & take in a polo match on a Sunday morning.

That’s a wrap on celeb-spotting in Palm Springs!  For more articles about the desert, check out my favorite hikes here ~ or read about some of the best, most scenic golf courses in town.  If you’ve got any questions about staying in the desert, please feel free to ask me in the comments below…I try to respond to all comments within 24 hours!

xoxo Noelia 

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