Hotel Snapshot
A two-acreage estate in Old Palm Springs that harks back over 100 years, Ingleside Estate, combines historic celebrity glamour and serene seclusion, where adults can idly kick-back beneath the California desert mountains and cool-off poolside sans children.
Design & Character
Stroll through the manicured lawn and hedges of the hotel’s quiet grounds and enjoy the hyper purple bougainvilleas beneath towering palm trees. The only sound to listen for is the babbling fountain in the central courtyard. The Spanish Colonial Revival architectural details are mainstays with white plaster facades and a small arcade that frames the lobby and select guest rooms. Exposed beams and wrought-iron gates remain original to George Washington Smith’s, the Santa Barbara architect responsible for the thoughtful 20th century style.
The old Hollywood glamor shines on with crooning tunes and smooth brass sounds, like Dave Brubeck who sets the mood while lounging under an umbrella. Salvador Dali, Marlin Brando, and Elizabeth Taylor were among the illustrious guests who counted themselves as regulars and even signed the guest register.
The Rooms
Across the 30-key hotel, there’s a handful of accommodation options that include villa-style suites, premium patios, deluxe, and general estate rooms. I checked-in to a Premium Patio and I immediately clocked the Spanish interior design details, the dark wood poster beds, equally dark-stained terra cotta floor tiling, and the contrasting crisp white linens.
The private patio offered up more secluded space and was idyllic for mornings and evenings around the hot afternoons. While only some rooms come with a patio, all rooms boast a recent overhaul of the bathrooms showcasing black Waterworks fittings and gleaming mint green subway tiling in the shower.
A memorable housekeeping option that I haven’t seen at any other hotels: if you opt-out of room and linen refresh services, you’re thanked with a $10-a-day credit to be used toward a beverage of your choice, which makes ordering on a cocktail or cold pressed juice all the more enjoyable.
Food & Drink
Melvyn’s is the main go-to, named after the third Inglesie Estate proprietor, Melvyn, “Mel” Haber, who ushered in the supper-club ambiance and Rat Pack frequenters during the mid-disco era days. The restaurant which recently celebrated its 50th anniversary and flies to the moon on the bold claim of hosting Sinatra’s wedding rehearsal dinner.
The American fare hasn’t changed much, and its fine-dining atmosphere with white tablecloths, chandeliers, and high-end cocktails still evoke the ‘70s heyday. Dress up and reserve a table to be served a shrimp cocktail, caviar service, and classic entrées from land to sea like coq au vin, beef wellington, or branzino for two. And for the cherry on the top? There’s a cherries jubilee served à la mode for dessert. If that all sounds too heavy, the all-day menu serves breakfast burritos, resort standards like chips and guacamole, and a BLT delivered while lounging from morning to late afternoon.
If more variety is needed, head directly next door to Chi Chi where Sunday through Thursday Happy Hour encourages a discounted order of the Spicy Cactus mixed with pisco, agave, and serrano peppers and a crab tostada.
The Amenities
There’s no shortage of conveniences included, mainly thanks to the hotel’s sister property next door, Avalon Palm Springs. This makes for easy jaunts to experience three additional pools, a spa, and a 24/7 fitness center–all part of an Ingleside stay.
At Ingleside, you can count on daily morning coffee, tea, and mini croissants in the lobby and cruiser bikes to tour the desert’s downtown and residential homes. In-room comforts like robes and boxed water are provided, and Aesop bath products are on hand.
Location & Neighborhood Recs
The hotel’s location could not be more proximate to downtown’s bustling main strip of Palm Canyon Drive. It’s also situated just far enough away should guests wish to enjoy a quiet type of stay. Located in one of the oldest neighborhoods of the city, Historic Tennis Club (yes, this is the actual neighborhood name in homage to the original Tennis Club Resort from the ‘30s), the hotel sits at the foothills of the San Jacinto Mountains whose towering elevation looms in the background.
Palm Springs is easy enough to drive around, so every nearby attraction, shop or restaurant feels fairly close. Just off Palm Canyon Road and a four minute drive away sits a new Scandinavian-minimalist coffee joint, COFFEEISM Co., serving up a handful of matcha drink combos and pastries, including a legitimate Cardamon bun. And with coffee or tea in hand, walk two doors down to Backstory, a brand-new homegoods store, to pick up a mahjong set or a desert-inspired scented candle.
Just 15 minutes from the hotel is the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway, the world’s largest rotating tram car, that takes you up over 8,500 feet in elevation over the Chino Canyon Cliffs to a California state park. I recommend going just before and during sunset for the cascading color views, and don’t be surprised when the tram drivers hit play on their throw-back playlists. Kool & the Gang accompanied us on our 10-minute ascent.
Fast Facts
Location: Palm Springs, California
Vibe: Spanish Revival estate charm with historical nods and a mountainous backdrop
Rating: Four-star
Room Count: 30
Pricing: Rates start around $381 per night, depending on the season
Our Favorite Thing About The Hotel: The up close and wide-lens view of the San Jacinto Mountains while lounging poolside.
Dining: Melvyn’s serves breakfast and dinner on-site, Chi Chi is a backup option at the next door sister property, and bites can be ordered throughout the day to the pool.
Nearby Attractions: Palm Springs Art Museum, Cabot’s Pueblo Museum, Palm Springs Aerial Tramway, Coachella Valley Preserve, and Walk of Stars along Palm Canyon Drive
Airport: Palm Springs Airport (PSP) is 10 minute drive away
Palm Springs, California, Palm Springs, California, United States
