Los Angeles & Southern California - Andrea Schulte-Peevers [301]
Hacienda at Warm Sands (Map; 760-327-8111, 800-359-2007; www.thehacienda.com; 586 Warm Sands Dr; r incl breakfast & lunch $150-310; wi-fi) The Hacienda raises the bar for service and luxury in gay lodging. Choose from nine different pillow types in its 10 generously proportioned rooms. The genial innkeepers are never intrusive, always available. Flawless landscaping. Bring your own lover. Sexual temperature: 2.
Century (Map; 760-323-9966, 800-475-5188; www.centurypalmsprings.com; 598 Grenfall Rd; r incl breakfast $159-259; wi-fi) To stay gay and not give up the mid-century vibe, make a beeline. The small Century was designed by William Alexander in 1955 and was redesigned by architects with furnishings by Starck, Eames and Noguchi, plus plush bedding and cocktails. It’s all around a minimalist pool deck. Sexual temperature: 5.
Women’s Resorts
Queen of Hearts Resort (Map; 760-322-5793, 888-275-9903; www.queenofheartsps.com; 435 Avenida Olancha; r $105-160; ) This was Palm Springs’ first gay-only resort, which opened as the Desert Knight in 1960. Now it’s exclusively for women, with lovely rooms (most with kitchens) and robes, a sparkling pool and complimentary breakfast.
Casitas Laquita (Map; 760-416-9999; www.casitaslaquita.com; 450 E Palm Canyon Dr; r $135-145, ste from $185; wi-fi) All the rooms are individually decorated and have kitchens at this Spanish-style compound, which has a great pool and manicured grounds. If you can swing it, book the romantic cottage with its private backyard and barbecue.
EATING
Every restaurant in central Palm Springs has a significant gay clientele, but Look and Blame it on Midnight (Map; 760-323-1200; 777 E Tahquitz Canyon Way; most mains $13-22; dinner) market extensively to the gay community; the latter has grills, salads and eclectic mains, with live entertainment most nights in a Vegas-lounge setting. The crowd skews older and the piano bar can be quite lively at Rainbow (Map; 760-325-3868; cnr Arenas Rd & S Indian Canyon Dr; mains lunch $7-12, dinner $12-22; lunch & dinner). Weekend brunch.
NIGHTLIFE
Arenas Rd east of Indian Canyon Dr is gay-nightlife central. Park ‘n’ party. The following are a good start:
Hunter’s (Map; 760-323-0700; 302 E Arenas Rd) Mostly male clientele, lots of TV screens, a fun dance scene and two pool tables.
Streetbar (Map; 760-320-1266; 244 E Arenas Rd) Congenial mix of locals, visitors and occasional drag performers. Streetside patio for watching the crowd go by.
Toucans (Map; 760-416-7584; 2100 N Palm Canyon Dr) A couple miles from Arenas, this locals’ hangout has something for everyone: gay, lesbian, tropical froufrou, trivia network, smoking patio and dancefloor. Packed on weekends. Frequent drink specials.
See also Copykatz (opposite).
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SHOPPING
Browse the shops and galleries along Palm Canyon Dr downtown, but don’t expect to find much more than expensive shops and galleries geared towards tourists. Major retailers that once had stores in Palm Springs have all moved to malls Down Valley.
Trina Turk (Map; 760-416-2856; 891 N Palm Canyon Dr) Find shagadelic resort-chic drag at Palm Springs’ best – some say only – clothing boutique. If you love hip clothes, don’t miss this place.
Modern Way (Map; 760-320-5455; 745 N Palm Canyon Dr) The largest, oldest and most stylin’ consignment shop for collectors of modern furniture. Ask at the visitor center Click here for directions to others.
El Paseo (Map; www.elpaseo.com) For serious shopping at midrange and high-end retailers, head to El Paseo, the main shopping street in Palm Desert, dubbed the Rodeo Dr of the desert. To get there, head 14 miles southeast of Palm Springs via Hwy 111. El Paseo runs parallel to Hwy 111, one block south of the highway.
River at Rancho Mirage (Map; 760-341-2711; 71-800 Hwy 111 at Bob Hope Dr, Rancho Mirage) Among the shopping centers en route to El Paseo, the River has about 20 upscale stores, restaurants and a big movie complex.