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A Long Weekend Guide to Uptown Design District Palm Springs
Before diving into this post, check out my complete guide on Palm Springs first.
>>> How to Spend the Perfect Weekend in Palm Springs <<<
After you’ve read up on on things like how to get to Palm Springs and when to visit, come back to this long weekend guide for the perfect vacay in Uptown Design District Palm Springs!
Where to Stay in Uptown Design District Palm Springs
It’s safe, conveniently located, affordable, and dog-friendly. The hotel came under new management in 2019 - and the new owners, Paul Kurdian and Sam McDermott, have big plans for the space. Every room has been extensively renovated; no two rooms are decorated the same, but they all still offer a vintage charm. I loved the pop of colors at this clean and comfortable hotel.
Paul and Sam, who live on property, are super connected with their local community. Not only do they host weddings and proposals, but they also accommodate full buy-outs of their 18 rooms. In the near future, the Inn will also begin hosting community events like pet adoptions and wine nights that feature local artists’ work.
Need a recommendation on where to go or what to do? Paul and Sam have your back. “We love helping our guests create special memories,” explains Sam. During my stay, Paul and Sam were extremely accommodating and happy to give me suggestions on the best things to do and see in the area.
Visit Palm Springs Preferred Small Hotels to review additional options of where to stay in Uptown Design District Palm Springs, such as:
- The Cole Hotel - 1959 hotel that captures its modernism roots and midcentury pedigree
- The Palm Springs Hotel - a clean and simple, but elegant 15-room hotel
- The Westcott Palm Springs - a timeless art deco style retreat with a relaxed ambiance
A Long Weekend Guide to Uptown Design District Palm Springs
Here’s a travel guide on how to spend the perfect weekend in Uptown Design District Palm Springs for 3 nights total. Make sure that you check the hours of operation on places first because operating hours tend to change in the summer due to the heat!
Arrival Day
The owners of Eight4Nine and 533 Viet Fusion did not disappoint with their latest restaurant concept.
The Gastropub occupies a building with large windows and an open-air patio, designed by famous architect Chris Pardo. Although this is a great lunch spot, it’s equally as enjoyable in the evening. I had quite possibly the most delicious salad of my life there - the grilled strawberry and burrata salad. It was so simple ingredient-wise, yet so perfectly flavorful between the balsamic/evoo drizzle and sea salt/cracked pepper sprinkling. Chef’s kiss perfection!
Full Day 1
Image courtesy of 4 Paws Coffee Co.
Uptown has some great shopping options with lots of great thrift shops selling authentic mid-century modern furniture and vintage clothing.
Gypsyland - vintage furniture and clothing thrift shop
Melody Note Vintage - vintage clothing store with notable customer service
Re[x] Mid-Century Modern Furniture - showroom where vintage mid-century meets modern furniture
Palm Springs Art + Design Gallery - art and design gallery specializing in 20-21st century design
The Shops at Thirteen Forty Five - a collective of luxurious shops in an iconic E. Stewart Williams-designed building
Image courtesy of Trio Restaurant
Trio specializes in modern American food with a twist of Italian influences. Guests rave about menu favorites, including Heirloom Tomato Bruschetta, Coca Cola Braised Short Ribs, and Whole Branzino. Trio boasts that they have the “happiest” happy hour from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily, with $4 well drinks and wine, beer, and bar bites starting at $5.
Boozehounds features an all-day Southern California menu with locally sourced, seasonal ingredients paired with a selection of craft cocktails. I tried the Red Rocket, and it was really unique tasting - not overly sweet and a touch tart. It wasn’t like anything I had ever tasted before and came in a beautiful coupe glass - one of my favorites!
Make sure to bring your camera for this spot, as interior design is super trendy and insta-worthy - full of earth-toned furniture and plants galore!
Full Day 2
Just inform the Inn’s staff, and they’ll set up cruiser bikes and a map for you in the breezeway so that you can tour the neighboring homes owned by Hollywood legends and built by world-class architects.
There are some beautiful houses in the area worth checking out including:
Little Tuscany - starting in 1934 when architect Alvah Hicks built 7 Tuscan-style homes; the neighborhood now boasts notable midcentury homes such as the Kaufmann House, the May House, the Edris House, the Palevsky House, and the Kramer House
Old Las Palmas - approximately 290 detached homes that reflect nearly every period of Palm Springs (old Spanish, Western, midcentury, contemporary, and postmodern); notable residents include Judy Harland, Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz, Leonardo DiCaprio, Kirk Douglas, and more
My favorite sighting was Elvis’ Honeymoon Hideaway (aka. House of Tomorrow), an iconic mid-century modern home made by renowned architect William Krisel. Elvis and Priscilla Presley honeymooned here after their wedding and lived in the house from 1966 to 1967. There used to be tours in this spacious 5,000-square foot home that consisted of four circular living spaces stacked on three levels, but the home is currently up for sale and therefore not open to the public.
This tram ride offers over 2 ½ miles of picturesque views of the Chino Canyon. There’s not a “bad seat” on the tram ride because the car rotates slowly to allow you to see the landscape from every angle. After the 10-minute ride up the mountain, you’ll arrive at Mt. San Jacinto State Park with an elevation of 8,516 feet.
At the top, you can either hike over 50 miles of trail or just take in the scenery from one of the observation decks or from the Lookout Lounge (which would be my personal preference)! The Lookout Lounge is a full cocktail bar in Mountain Station where you can watch the sun set and take in the views before heading back down the mountain. The last tram up on the weekends is at 7:00 p.m. and the last tram down is at 9:00 p.m.
From the second you enter Venezia, you’ll feel as if you’ve been welcomed into an Italian family’s home. And in reality, you really are - Venice-born owner, Massimo Orru, runs this family-owned business. When I arrived at Venezia, I was warmly greeted by Massimo. As the night went on, I realized that his entire family helps run the business, including wife, Annie, and daughter, Luna.
On Sunday nights, talented vocalist, Marc Antonelli, performs. You won’t want to miss his performance. Marc, a former performer in Vegas, beautifully sings a range of songs throughout the evening, including Frank Sinatra and Andrea Bocelli classics. You may even catch Massimo and Annie dancing together while on break.
A delicious dinner at Venezia with live music is the perfect way to end your uptown Palm Springs visit before departing the next day.
Departure Day
The farm-to-table menu is forever changing, with unique spins on classics, like French Toast with red currants and mascarpone. The bacon flights change weekly too, including such innovative creations as Beeler Apple Cinnamon, Korean BBQ, Ranch, Jalapeno, Black Garlic, Thyme Honey, and Nodine's Applewood. Also, their famous Cinnamon Rolls are homemade and sell out nearly every day. There tends to be a line at this beloved spot because reservations are not accepted, so try to get there early. (They open at 8 a.m.)
~ What do you think of this Uptown Design District Palm Springs long weekend itinerary? Anything you’d add? Share with me in the comments below! ~
author bio
Known as The Jet Set Blonde, Brittany Ryan inspires others to add more adventure to their childfree travel experiences. Brittany has visited 23 countries (and counting!) Connect with her to get access to detailed childfree travel itineraries, travel guides for weekend getaways, and updates on adult-only hotels, resorts, cruises, and other travel amenities.
