Ace Hotel & Swim Club Palm Springs
Downtown Palm Springs, Palm Springs
Hotel in Palm Springs, United States
Book with PearlWhy go
Ace Hotel & Swim Club Palm Springs is easy to book and delivers a social, design-forward base on East Palm Canyon Drive. The pool is the main draw; loud, communal, best suited to first-timers who want atmosphere over quiet. If you need calm or concierge-level service, look elsewhere.
About Ace Hotel & Swim Club Palm Springs
Should You Book It?
Getting a room at Ace Hotel & Swim Club Palm Springs is easy; this is one of the more accessible bookings in the city, with availability most weekends outside of peak festival season. The harder question is whether the address on East Palm Canyon justifies the rate when Palm Springs has no shortage of well-designed boutique options at every price point. For a first-timer drawn to the Coachella Valley for its midcentury architecture, poolside culture, relaxed social energy, the Ace delivers all three in a single property. It is not the quietest stay in town, it is not trying to be.
What to Expect
The atmosphere here runs loud and communal, particularly around the pool, which is the social center of the property. If you are arriving for the first time expecting a calm retreat, recalibrate: the Swim Club draws a crowd, especially on weekends, the ambient energy skews young and social rather than serene. That is the trade-off. What you get in return is a property with genuine character; the kind of desert-modernist aesthetic that photographs well and feels lived-in rather than staged. The address at 701 E Palm Canyon Dr puts you on the south end of the strip, walkable to dining and bars but not in the thick of the downtown cluster around Palm Canyon Drive's northern stretch. A car or rideshare helps.
For first-timers, the pool area is the main event. Book a room with pool access factored in, arrive before noon on a weekend if you want a lounger, plan your evenings around the broader Palm Springs scene rather than expecting the hotel's on-site dining to be a destination in itself. The Ace positions itself as a hub rather than a hideaway, it works well when you treat it that way.
If the poolside social scene is not what you are after, properties like Sparrows Lodge or Del Rey at Villa Royale offer a quieter alternative without sacrificing design credentials. For a broader look at what Palm Springs has on offer, start with our full Palm Springs hotels guide.
Practical Details
Reservations: Book direct or via major platforms; availability is generally good except during Coachella weekends and festival season, when rooms go fast and rates spike significantly. Booking difficulty: Easy most of the year. Location: 701 E Palm Canyon Dr, south Palm Springs, useful for the strip but not central to downtown dining. Leading for: First-timers who want a social, design-forward base with a strong pool scene. Skip if: You want quiet, privacy, or a service-led luxury experience. For that, look at La Serena Villas or Avalon Hotel & Bungalows instead. Also worth exploring: our full Palm Springs restaurants guide, bars guide, and experiences guide to plan around your stay.
Inside Ace Hotel & Swim Club Palm Springs
restaurantKing's HighwayKing's Highway at 701 E Palm Canyon Dr occupies a stretch of Palm Springs that blends mid-century highway culture with the desert city's evolving bar scene. The room draws from the American roadside tradition, setting it apart from the poolside cocktail formats that dominate the strip. A reliable stop for drinks in a city where the indoor-outdoor divide shapes every venue decision.
barAmigo RoomAmigo Room sits at 701 E Palm Canyon Drive in Palm Springs, occupying a spot in a city where the cocktail bar conversation has grown considerably more serious in recent years. Part of a broader shift toward ingredient-led drinking in the desert, it draws a crowd that knows the difference between a well-sourced program and a tourist-facing pour. The room earns its place in Palm Springs' tighter, more considered bar tier.
Planning details
- Location
- 701 E Palm Canyon Dr, Palm Springs, CA 92264
- Website
- acehotelpalmsprings.com
- Phone
- +1 760 325 9900
The take
The Take
The Vibe
Ace Hotel & Swim Club Palm Springs reads as a mid-century motel reframed for a social, creative crowd. The architecture emphasizes low horizontal rooflines and a pool-forward plan so convincingly that the property often feels like a pool with rooms attached. Programming and a music-literate, socially driven clientele keep the deck humming; indoor and outdoor spaces are in constant negotiation. The result is unapologetically casual and energetic—less a formal resort and more a place built for daytime lounging, evening gatherings, and culturally minded travelers who prioritize atmosphere and communal moments over conventional spa-and-golf formality.
Best For
This Ace is best for guests who want a social, pool-centered Palm Springs stay. It suits weekend escapes, groups and friends who plan to spend long stretches on the pool deck, and anyone looking for daytime-to-evening programming rather than a quiet resort retreat. The property positions itself between quieter boutique options and large formal resorts, so it works well for casual hangouts, lively gatherings, and travelers who value a creative, music-aware scene. If your trip is about social energy and outdoor lounging in the desert climate, this hotel is aligned with that experience.
Venue details
Ambiance
Relaxed retro-industrial vibe with chill poolside atmosphere, DJ music into the night, community fire pits, and eclectic mid-century furnishings.
Tags
Vibe
Best For
Experience
Amenities
View
Accessibility
About the Stay
- Rooms
- 180
- Check-in
- 15:00
- Check-out
- 11:00
- Property Style
- Mid Century Modern Desert Oasis
- Design Style
- Bohemian Retro Industrial with Eclectic Vintage Elements
Planning details
Location
Recognition and awards
Also consider
Also Consider
- JW Marriott Desert Springs Resort & Spa; Notable alternative
- The Ritz-Carlton, Rancho Mirage; Notable alternative
- Dive Palm Springs; Notable alternative
- Holiday House Palm Springs; Notable alternative
- La Serena Villas, A Kirkwood Collection Hotel; Notable alternative
Hotel context
The Ace sits in a different lane from most of its Palm Springs competitors. It is not competing with the polish of The Ritz-Carlton, Rancho Mirage; that property offers a higher service tier and a more resort-complete experience, at a considerably higher rate. If service depth and amenity breadth matter most to you, the Ritz is the cleaner answer. The JW Marriott Desert Springs Resort & Spa sits in a similar bracket, with more structured facilities and a conventional luxury feel that suits families and business travelers better than the Ace's social-first format.
For guests who want boutique design with a quieter mood, Holiday House Palm Springs and Dive Palm Springs are the sharper alternatives. Both are smaller, more intimate, better suited to couples or solo travelers who want design credentials without a party-adjacent pool scene. La Serena Villas works if you want a more curated, low-key environment at a comparable or lower price point.
The Ace wins on atmosphere and accessibility. It is one of the easiest bookings in Palm Springs outside of festival weeks, it delivers a consistent aesthetic that rewards guests who want to be in the middle of the action. If that is your profile, book it without hesitation. If you want seclusion, higher service ratios, or a property where the pool is not also a social venue, one of the alternatives above will serve you better.
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Unlock the full Ace Hotel & Swim Club Palm Springs guide in Pearl, including awards, comparisons, FAQs, planning details, and nearby places.
Compare Ace Hotel & Swim Club Palm Springs
| Venue | Booking Difficulty | Awards |
|---|---|---|
| Ace Hotel & Swim Club Palm Springs | Easy | 2025 Architectural Digest Great Design Hotel Award Winners2025 Michelin Selected Hotels |
| JW Marriott Desert Springs Resort & Spa | Unknown | 2026 Forbes Recommended2025 Forbes Recommended |
| The Ritz-Carlton, Rancho Mirage | Unknown | 2026 Forbes Recommended2026 Virtuoso Luxury Hotel CollectionStar Wine Lists 20262026 La Liste Top Hotels2025 Forbes Recommended |
| Dive Palm Springs | Unknown | 2025 Michelin 1 Key2024 Michelin 1 Key |
| Holiday House Palm Springs | Unknown | 2026 Mr & Mrs Smith Luxury Hotels2025 Michelin 1 Key2024 Michelin 1 Key |
| La Serena Villas, A Kirkwood Collection Hotel | Unknown | 2026 La Liste Top Hotels2025 Michelin 1 Key2024 Michelin 1 Key |
What to weigh when choosing between Ace Hotel & Swim Club Palm Springs and alternatives.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Ace Hotel & Swim Club Palm Springs good for business travel?
No. The property at 701 E Palm Canyon Dr is built around a loud, communal pool atmosphere that actively works against focused work or client-facing stays. If you need quiet and reliable workspace, the JW Marriott Desert Springs or Ritz-Carlton Rancho Mirage are significantly better fits. Ace suits a creative offsite or team retreat where the social energy is the point, not a distraction from it.
Which room category is best at Ace Hotel & Swim Club Palm Springs?
Prioritise rooms with direct pool access or a private outdoor space if your budget allows; the pool is the defining feature of the property, rooms that connect to it justify the premium. Standard interior rooms are serviceable but miss the point of being here. If pool proximity isn't available, consider whether a quieter property like La Serena Villas might better suit your trip.
How does Ace Hotel & Swim Club Palm Springs compare to nearby hotels?
Ace is the loudest and most social option in this set. Holiday House Palm Springs offers a similar boutique energy with a more laid-back crowd. La Serena Villas delivers more seclusion and service for a comparable or higher price. Dive Palm Springs skews younger and more affordable. The Ritz-Carlton Rancho Mirage and JW Marriott Desert Springs both outclass Ace on service and amenities but lack the pool-party atmosphere Ace is specifically built for.
Is Ace Hotel & Swim Club Palm Springs family-friendly?
It depends on ages and expectations. The pool scene runs loud and social, which is fine for older kids or teenagers but less suited to families with young children who need quiet routines. For families, La Serena Villas or the JW Marriott Desert Springs offer more predictable environments. Ace works for families who are happy to lean into the communal, festival-adjacent vibe.
How is the dining at Ace Hotel & Swim Club Palm Springs?
On-site dining at Ace Palm Springs functions as part of the pool experience rather than a destination meal. It is suited to casual poolside eating and drinking rather than a considered dinner. For serious dining in Palm Springs, you will need to look beyond the property. The food and beverage offering is consistent with the hotel's overall format: social, accessible, not a reason to book on its own.
How is the pool and spa at Ace Hotel & Swim Club Palm Springs?
The pool is the reason most people book here; it is the social center of the property and the defining feature of the stay. It runs busy, particularly on weekends and during festival season, so if you want a quiet swim rather than a scene, this is not the right pool for you. Spa facilities are secondary to the pool experience at this property; guests prioritising spa access should look at the Ritz-Carlton Rancho Mirage instead.
When is the best time to book Ace Hotel & Swim Club Palm Springs?
Book early if your dates overlap with Coachella weekends or other festival periods; rooms sell out fast and prices rise sharply during those windows. Outside festival season, availability is generally good and last-minute bookings are often possible. The shoulder season between October and early April offers the most manageable pool temperatures and fewer crowds, which suits guests who want the social atmosphere without peak-season pressure.
