Mid-century Palm Springs real estate has a habit of concealing remarkable pedigrees behind modest stucco facades, and the compound that became the Avalon Hotel & Bungalows is no exception. The original structures date to 1938, built in a Spanish Colonial Revival register with terracotta roof tiles and whitewashed walls that have aged gracefully through successive ownerships and renovations. Kelly Wearstler's redesign — her work here preceded her ascent to near-ubiquitous status in American luxury hospitality — established the graphic monochrome vocabulary that still defines the property: white canvas cabanas edged in black Greek-key trim, striped charcoal carpeting, plaster medallions mounted above lacquered black headboards, and chain-hung lanterns that mix industrial and classical references without quite committing to either. The pool terrace, manicured into tightly clipped hedgerows and axial stone paths, carries the disciplined geometry of a formal garden transplanted into the desert, bougainvillea providing the only chromatic rupture. Inside the 83-room property, the rooms divide between the graphic drama of the main building — brass candelabra chandeliers, mid-century abstract paintings in ochre and black — and the all-white bungalow suites, where linen curtains, plaster medallions, and white tile floors create something closer to a bleached Mediterranean calm. The restaurant maintains the same tonal contrast: cream banquettes, ebonised tables, globe pendants suspended on rope, and a salon wall of decorative mirrors and plates arranged in deliberate asymmetry.

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Tucked into the heart of downtown Palm Springs, Avalon Hotel & Bungalows offers a more secluded take on the desert escape. Set across four lushly landscaped acres, the historic property features 60 Spanish-style guest rooms & suites, and 12 private villas that blend residential comfort with the easy glamour of old Hollywood. Guests can spend the day moving between three distinctive pools, quiet garden pathways, and shaded cabanas before settling in around the fire pits as the sun drops behind the San Jacinto Mountains. Steps from the city's design shops, galleries, and restaurants, Avalon balances the energy of Palm Springs with a sense of calm that feels entirely its own.