Festival season is finally here. From Coachella to Stagecoach and every party in between, there will be no better place to go and be seen than Palm Springs. Those who want an upscale, full-service hotel in a great location will definitely be booking a room at the new Thompson Palm Springs. Located on the iconic Palm Canyon Road, it opened in October 2024 and is one of the newest hotels in town. Featuring 168 rooms, the aesthetic combines old-world Palm Springs elements with fresh modern style and comfort. It’s a little bit of the best of everything.
Uniquely designed, there is an exclusive, 21-and-over side to the hotel called Upper Stories, which opened in April 2025, along with a general side open to all types of travelers. So, it truly offers something for everyone.
Here’s a look inside Palm Springs’ most fabulous new hotel.
The Exterior
The exterior of the hotel was designed by SMS Architecture. Daniel Schmidt-Sohr, Marketing Manager at Thompson Palm Springs, tells me it was built to emulate a gateway into Palm Springs’ Design District through playful geometry blended with a mid-century-style framework.
“The hotel sits atop a collection of ground-level retail and is then sectioned into clusters of buildings, each housing a number of guest rooms with private balconies and/or enclosed patios allowing for ample natural lighting and outward views of the Palm Springs skyline. Through its unique guest room towers, the open-air pathways are adorned in lush flora with a teasing glimpse of the surrounding mountains and cityscapes—creating a true urban oasis.”
While the building is entirely new, its style blends in with downtown Palm Springs. It’s a welcome addition in a location where the standards for design (especially for new buildings) are notoriously high.
The Interior
The inside of the space was designed by B2 Design Co. featuring a mix of desert influences, light woods, and neutral furniture, it feels stylish and warm.
“B2 Design Co. crafted a layered, playful design story that combines vintage furniture, modern pieces, and handcrafted furnishings from around the world,” Allison Brooks, CEO and Founder at B2, tells me on behalf of the project team.
“The result is an eclectic mix that’s inspired by mid-century modern design–a style synonymous with Palm Springs–but interpreted in a fresh, non-literal approach. Thompson Palm Springs is a distinctly modern urban resort, and every aspect of the design vividly brings to life this bespoke destination.”
The guest rooms are sleek and masculine. Featuring leather and burlwood accents, these designs have a fresh feeling yet don’t entirely stray from Palm Springs’ authenticity. Surrounded by the natural beauty and mountains of the city, it feels stylish and luxe.
The Lobby
You never get a second chance to make a first impression, which is why so much attention was paid to the design of the lobby.
“A beautiful, curved sculptural concierge desk, subtly placed off the main thoroughfare, invites guests to relax in nearby seating, including a classic ribbon chair positioned under a grand, custom-curated art piece that spans an entire wall,” notes Brooks.
The lobby space flows into other amenities, including the adjacent Hall Napa Valley Tasting Room & Wine Lounge, the ballroom and event areas, and the fitness center.
“The tasting room is the first for the winery outside of Napa, where guests can explore the rich vintages in a residential-style space that features a storytelling wall highlighting the Hall family’s heritage,” says Brooks.
The Art
One of the most notable features throughout the property is the art. Palm Springs is known for its art scene, so curating art for the Thompson is unlike choosing paintings and sculptures for the average hotel.
According to Brooks, the art curator, Virginia Shore of Shore Art Advisory, selected and commissioned pieces for the hotel that complement the layered design, color palette, textures, and mood of each space.
“In the design, B2 intentionally sourced guestroom furnishings by California-based Westcoast Hospitality and eclectic vintage furnishings and accessories throughout the hotel from local suppliers to add local flavor and capture the region’s rich culture in the overall experience.”
There are also rainbow-colored bands of shimmering glass tiles on the façade of the hotel, titled The Land Is Speaking … Are You Listening? (2022), which was created by the renowned artist Jeffrey Gibson.
Another notable piece is the wall-mounted sculpture by Gerald Clarke called Continuum Basket: Creation (2023). It was built using recycled aluminum cans that he crushed and arranged into graphic motifs based on traditional Cahuilla basket designs.
Read the full article here
