Ace Hotel & Swim Club Palm Springs
A retro desert getaway featuring California King beds, in-room vinyl turntables, and a lively pool area.
The verdict
Pick a traveller type to re-weight the scores and re-rank the rooms around what you actually care about.
Ace Hotel & Swim Club Palm Springs is a retro mid-century hotel featuring on-site dining at King's Highway and an active pool courtyard. Guests love the comfortable king beds, vintage vinyl record players, and attentive staff. However, reviewers regularly complain about steep prices on food, cocktails, and minibar items, as well as persistent noise and poor soundproofing. 1618104
Every line below traces back to something a traveler actually wrote — open a line to read the original sentence and follow it to the source.
What travelers noticed
- Reviewers consistently praise the gigantic, comfortable California King beds alongside retro room features like vinyl turntables and resort robes. 25
- King's Highway diner earns regular appreciation for dishes like ricotta pancakes and steak with garlic parmesan fries. 19109
- The service is widely commended, with helpful front desk staff offering guidance on local activities like hiking Joshua Tree. 3
- Guests consistently enjoy outdoor property amenities, including the loaner bicycles, outdoor fireplaces, and the stargazing deck. 4189
The catch
Who it's for
- — Dog owners looking for a pet-friendly stay
- — Fans of retro design and in-room vinyl turntables
- — Social travelers who enjoy late pool hours and outdoor fireplaces
Skip it if
- — Light sleepers sensitive to loud pool crowds and thin room soundproofing
- — Budget travelers sensitive to steep prices for dining, drinks, and minibars
- — Guests wanting large bathrooms with immediate hot water
Seen on camera
19 moments · 2 videos · Ace Hotel & Swim Club Palm Springs
Each moment is pulled at the second a cited reviewer said the words. Play it here, or open the original video at that timestamp.
“Rooms are quiet, dark, with really comfortable beds, head-turning uninterrupted views of the West Hills framed by a few…”
youtube.com1:25“Relaxed, helpful staff reinforced the ultra-cool vibe.”
youtube.com1:32“great food room and staff and Vibe all around A+”
youtube.com0:23“Ace Hotel and Swim Club stay was comfortable and staff was super welcoming amenities and location are prime”
youtube.com0:39“rooms were clean and nicely decorated with many unique details”
youtube.com2:09“The room had a very comfy bed, small fridge, but no microwave or coffee maker.”
youtube.com1:14“nice enough room with huge bed some old Motel features like outdoor stairs rattly old Central AC that didn't get too col…”
youtube.com1:06“It has a pretty good location. It's pretty close to Morton Botanical Garden, 500 m Agua Caliente Indian Canyons 1.2 km,…”
youtube.com0:37“The restaurant is a mid-century jewel with very solid food. All age groups would love it.”
youtube.com1:35“the only issue was that housekeeping forgot to put bath towels in my room but they were very prompt when I asked for som…”
youtube.com0:46“they also allowed me a super early check in so it makes up for the tiny issue as well I'd come back again”
youtube.com0:52“this place has style Whimsy great staff cool bar and its famous Pool Club”
youtube.com1:14“I found the front desk super helpful with info about hiking Joshua tree and places to eat”
youtube.com1:19“funky fun can be a bit loud but the vibe is great and staff is awesome love it here and very dog friendly”
youtube.com1:23“the staff were incredibly helpful the room was fabulous as was the rest of the complex would stay there again”
youtube.com1:33“it is a really nice hotel with cool amenities and really well located a bit pricey overall hip and trendy”
youtube.com1:48“we loved that this was away from all the hustle and bustle but yet just a very short drive when we wanted to venture int…”
youtube.com2:03“a Simply Sweet family-friendly Place everyone behaved well the staff was tremendous certainly we'll go back in the futur…”
youtube.com2:19“What stood out was the food. We ate breakfast and lunch every day and loved everything we had.”
youtube.com2:01Frames are citations: each one links to its second in the source video, attributed to the creator who filmed it. Nothing here is supplied by the hotel. Creators who want a moment removed can ask and we take it down.
How to book
No loyalty currency of its own — this one is a cash or card-portal booking.
Score breakdown
How the 78/100 is built, category by category — each one with the strongest thing travelers actually said, and the source it came from.
Bathroom
81Food
92Location
83Noise
87- “Rooms are quiet, dark, with really comfortable beds, head-turning uninterrupted views of the West Hills framed by a few palms.” 21:25
- “The style is retro, with 70s details such as record players and vinyl in the rooms. It can be really loud here, and the property draws a young crowd (with dogs in tow), so older couples who want to relax, and perhaps families, may not want to stay here.” 16
Room
79- “The room was very comfortable, and I loved the large French doors that opened up to the patio.” 14
- “I turned into the room and stopped in my tracks. Wow, the room was beautiful. Instead of the tables I was expecting, lining the walls were amoeba-shaped coffee tables in front of contemporary-designed sofas and chairs.” 19
Service
79Bed & Sleep
78- “The bed is a California King, comfy and minimalistic.” 10
Value
72- “Just keep in mind, Ace Hotel & Swim Club Palm Springs charges a resort fee, which covers amenities like parking, gym access and complimentary bike rentals. Although recent travelers loved the hotel's bohemian-style digs and laid-back atmosphere, many felt the property was in need of renovation.” 5
- “Kings Highway diner serves Belgian waffles and breakfast burritos for breakfast. Steak and frites dinner was quality. Prices considered steep.” 18
Where it is, how to reach it
Details checked 2026-09-13
Where it sits
Ace Hotel & Swim Club Palm Springs and the 28 other hotels we cover in Palm Springs. Hover a marker for the hotel; click to open it.
Stay value
How this property reads against the hotels we cover alongside it. Measured on review evidence, not on a nightly rate.
Falls short of what $$ usually buys
Scores 8 points below the mid-range median of 86, across 791 hotels in the same bracket. In Palm Springs it sits 6 points below the local median of 84.
- This hotel
- 78
- Bracket median
- 86
- Index median
- 86
Based on 791 comparable hotels.
Which room to ask for
What reviewers say about where to sleep inside this building — by room number where one is named, and otherwise by floor, wing, aspect and position. Every line opens onto the quotes behind it.
Nothing is yet praised often enough to recommend.
- 1 mention
Where travelers agree — and don’t
The topics reviewers split on most. A wide bar means your experience depends on which room you get — or whose opinion you trust.
View the 53 things travelers said behind this verdict▾
Quotes run exactly as travelers wrote them — spelling and all. We trim for length, never for tidiness.
- “The minibar is very well equipped but expensive-if you can, bring goodies from home.” 4
- “Just keep in mind, Ace Hotel & Swim Club Palm Springs charges a resort fee, which covers amenities like parking, gym access and complimentary bike rentals. Although recent travelers loved the hotel's bohemian-style digs and laid-back atmosphere, many felt the property was in need of renovation.” 5
- “Kings Highway diner serves Belgian waffles and breakfast burritos for breakfast. Steak and frites dinner was quality. Prices considered steep.” 18
- “Late-night pools anchor this desert escape, where outdoor fireplaces warm the courtyard and loaner bikes wait for neighborhood rides. Made for weekend travelers, and not for those bothered by high dining prices.” 18
- “The breakfast at King's Highway diner is decent (comes at a price though, as everything in Palm Springs) and I personally really enjoyed sitting on the cute little patio in the early morning light and catching some first sunshine on my face while having a cuppa flat white and some chilled detox juice.” 8
- “While the cocktails are a bit on the high-end price scale, the opposite is true for the food.” 19
- “it is a really nice hotel with cool amenities and really well located a bit pricey overall hip and trendy” On camera31:48
- “Rooms are quiet, dark, with really comfortable beds, head-turning uninterrupted views of the West Hills framed by a few palms.” On camera21:25
- “The style is retro, with 70s details such as record players and vinyl in the rooms. It can be really loud here, and the property draws a young crowd (with dogs in tow), so older couples who want to relax, and perhaps families, may not want to stay here.” 16
- “Relaxed, helpful staff reinforced the ultra-cool vibe.” On camera21:32
- “a Simply Sweet family-friendly Place everyone behaved well the staff was tremendous certainly we'll go back in the future” On camera32:19
- “Staff and service is very casual. Not everybody's thing probably. I liked it.” 7
- “Ace Hotel and Swim Club stay was comfortable and staff was super welcoming amenities and location are prime” On camera30:39
- “great food room and staff and Vibe all around A+” On camera30:23
- “this place has style Whimsy great staff cool bar and its famous Pool Club” On camera31:14
- “the staff were incredibly helpful the room was fabulous as was the rest of the complex would stay there again” On camera31:33
- “In the far corner was an enclosed bar area, with barstools and a friendly bartender watching over the entire space.” 19
- “funky fun can be a bit loud but the vibe is great and staff is awesome love it here and very dog friendly” On camera31:23
- “Some guests complain that rooms can be dirty and worn” 16
- “the only issue was that housekeeping forgot to put bath towels in my room but they were very prompt when I asked for some” On camera30:46
- “they also allowed me a super early check in so it makes up for the tiny issue as well I'd come back again” On camera30:52
- “'Laid-back' also applies to the hotel's employees, who are utterly charming, helpful and impervious to urgency.” 15
- “I found the front desk super helpful with info about hiking Joshua tree and places to eat” On camera31:19
- “The room had a very comfy bed, small fridge, but no microwave or coffee maker.” On camera21:14
- “However, I have to say I was not too impressed with the room itself, as it was a bit tiny and unfortunately not soundproof.” 8
- “The rooms come in cute, eclectic, and detail-orientated designs, equipped with all you need for your party and the hangover cure: mini bar, cocktail shaker, chilled detox juice.” 8
- “nice enough room with huge bed some old Motel features like outdoor stairs rattly old Central AC that didn't get too cold” On camera31:06
- “"With the hotel's vintage feel and hippie-chic decor, it would be no surprise to find the Grateful Dead playing in the bar."” 12
- “Big bed, nice room, and a little more of everything.” 21
- “The room was very comfortable, and I loved the large French doors that opened up to the patio.” 14
- “I turned into the room and stopped in my tracks. Wow, the room was beautiful. Instead of the tables I was expecting, lining the walls were amoeba-shaped coffee tables in front of contemporary-designed sofas and chairs.” 19
- “great food room and staff and Vibe all around A+” On camera30:23
- “I am absolutely obsessed with the decor of this hotel! Your pictures are stunning! I've never been to Palm Springs but I would love to stay at a cool place like this!” 10
- “Unique, cool rooms with retro minimalist decor” 16
- “attention to detail, and prime location have impressed me during my latest stay.” 8
- “It has a pretty good location. It's pretty close to Morton Botanical Garden, 500 m Agua Caliente Indian Canyons 1.2 km, Tahquitz Canyon 1.4 km, and also close to attractions like Baristo Park 2 km, Ruddy's General Store and Museum 2.3 km, Agua Caliente Cultural and Museum 2.3 km.” On camera20:37
- “A long-awaited hotel in the middle of Palm Springs, walking distance to most of the city's highlights and home to a hot new restaurant and lounge” 13
- “it is a really nice hotel with cool amenities and really well located a bit pricey overall hip and trendy” On camera31:48
- “Please check our partner sites when booking to verify that details are still correct. Just minutes from downtown Palm Springs, Ace Hotel and Swim Club is both an escape and a good launching point for Palm Springs' growing downtown area.” 16
- “The night we arrived, we had an amazing dinner at The Amigo Room. It was recently renovated, and I absolutely loved the vintage, maximalist design of the interiors.” 14
- “The restaurant is a mid-century jewel with very solid food. All age groups would love it.” On camera21:35
- “It has the iconic Palm Springs mountain backdrop. Also, both their bars and restaurants inside and by the pool have great food and drinks.” 7
- “King's Highway, the on-site restaurant occupies that used to be a Denny's, serves up everything from fresh-pressed juice to updated versions of classic diner food. The modern diner is so good people come to eat even if they're staying at a different hotel in the area.” 4
- “It has the iconic Palm Springs mountain backdrop. Also, both their bars and restaurants inside and by the pool have great food and drinks. The rooms are cute too.” 7
- “great food room and staff and Vibe all around A+” On camera30:23
- “went to the Ace for a day of relaxation. used the gym and got one of the best massages i've had in my life. love the restaurant too” 7
- “Kings Highway diner serves Belgian waffles and breakfast burritos for breakfast. Steak and frites dinner was quality. Prices considered steep.” 18
- “We ended up ordering pool-side bites so we could enjoy the morning outside by the pool, so we didn't get the chance to dine in King's Highway, but the food is from the same kitchen and it was very good.” 14
- “And you must eat at Kings Highway Diner for breakfast, lunch and/or dinner. It's a changing menu with mainstay favourite. I had the ricotta pancakes for breakfast, so freakin delicious!” 10
- “What stood out was the food. We ate breakfast and lunch every day and loved everything we had.” On camera22:01
- “The bed is a California King, comfy and minimalistic.” 10
What we still don't know
What we can’t tell you yet, said plainly. These close as we read more coverage of this hotel.
- No reviewer has named an individual room number here yet.
- Nothing reliable said about room types.
- Nothing reliable said about floor level.
- Nothing reliable said about building or wing.
- Nothing reliable said about which side it faces.
- Nothing reliable said about view.
- Noise rests on 2 sources — too thin to rely on.
- 16 sources carry no publication date, so we cannot tell how current they are.
Ask about Ace Hotel & Swim Club Palm Springs
Answered only from the coverage cited on this page. If nobody has written about your question, it will say so rather than guess.
How much we read
Deep coverage · 58/100We read 27 sources for this property, and pulled 86 traveler insights worth knowing. Last checked 2026-09-13.
Watch this hotel
We keep reading Ace Hotel & Swim Club Palm Springs. Tell us when you're staying and we'll follow it until then — you'll hear from us only when the verdict is rewritten, the score moves, or new reviews land. No daily mail, and the watch closes itself after your stay.
Sources
Everything quoted on this page, grouped by traveler insights, outlets, and video & podcast. Counts beside each group show everything we’ve read of that kind; no one kind can carry the score on its own.
6 of 6 summary lines above are traced to specific quotes. The rest summarise the read as a whole rather than any single document.
View all 27 cited sources▾
Everything quoted on this page.
- 20Is the Ace hotel ok for families? : r/palmspringsreddit.comForum thread2026-01-29RecentRead originalreddit.com
- 19Palm Springs Amigo Room Review at the Ace Hotel & Swim ...palmspringsinsiderguide.comReview site2025-09-02Recent7 quotes used
“The green beans were al dente and perfecto. Our other entrée was Steak and Fries. The 10-oz sirloin steak was served with addictive garlic parmesan fries. The steak arrived medium well, the way I ordered it - tender and…”
Read originalpalmspringsinsiderguide.com - 14Staying At The Ace Hotel & Swim Club In Palm Springstheurbandarling.comReview site2025-04-25Recent3 quotes used
“The night we arrived, we had an amazing dinner at The Amigo Room. It was recently renovated, and I absolutely loved the vintage, maximalist design of the interiors.”
Read originaltheurbandarling.com - 26Ace/Arrive vs The Sands vs Holiday House : r/palmspringsreddit.comForum thread2025-04-10RecentRead originalreddit.com
- 6
- 16Ace Hotel & Swim Club Review - Palm Springsoyster.comReview site2024-08-07Ageing4 quotes used
“The style is retro, with 70s details such as record players and vinyl in the rooms. It can be really loud here, and the property draws a young crowd (with dogs in tow), so older couples who want to relax, and perhaps fam…”
Read originaloyster.com
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