Palm Springs' social engine — the former Westward Ho Motel transformed by Ace into the city's most reliably energy-filled hotel, with the King's Highway restaurant (the former Denny's, now the most fun breakfast table in the city), regular pool parties, day passes for non-guests, a record player in every room, and the most thoroughly good social scene in the Coachella Valley.
Why We Chose It
The Ace Hotel Palm Springs opened in what was originally the Westward Ho Motel, converting the building into the specific Ace Hotel aesthetic — record players in rooms, vintage magazines, macrame and craft beer and a social energy that attracts the creative-class visitors who want to be seen and to see others in the desert. The pool, which is the property's social centerpiece, offers day passes to non-guests ($50+), hosting regular pool parties and occasional concerts that make it the loudest option in Palm Springs (intentionally and self-selectedly so). King's Highway, the ground-floor restaurant in what was literally a Denny's, serves a menu of elevated diner classics — the ricotta pancakes and the avocado toast have been cited in multiple 'best hotel breakfasts' lists, which is a remarkable achievement for the former home of a Grand Slam breakfast. The Amigo Room bar is the late-night gathering spot. For visitors who prioritize social energy, meeting fellow travelers, and a hotel that functions as a destination and a scene, the Ace is the right choice at a price point significantly below the Parker and L'Horizon.
What Stands Out
- King's Highway restaurant: former Denny's → the most fun hotel breakfast in Palm Springs, ricotta pancakes cited nationally
- Pool scene with day passes: the most accessible social pool in Palm Springs, with regular parties and occasional concerts
- Record player in every room: the Ace aesthetic executed specifically for the Palm Springs market
- Amigo Room bar: the most busy late-night hotel bar in the city
- Social energy at mid-range pricing: the answer for visitors who prioritize scene over serenity