The premier romantic resort in Phoenix — a 1929 Spanish Colonial estate among citrus groves at the base of Camelback Mountain, with walled gardens, stone walkways, antique water fountains, and the intimate character of a property that was built as a private home and has never lost that feeling.
Why We Chose It
Royal Palms was built in 1929 as the private winter estate of New York industrialist Delos Cooke and his wife Florence, who planted hundreds of palm trees across the grounds (inspiring the name) and designed it as a Spanish Colonial hacienda with the materials and craftsmanship of a serious private commission. Converted to a hotel in the 1940s and now a member of Hyatt's Unbound Collection, the property has preserved its essential character: walled gardens, stone walkways, antique fountains, and the sense of being in a Spanish villa rather than a resort compound. The 119 rooms range from classic rooms to six ultra-spacious villas with stone floors, crackling fireplaces, and private patios. T. Cook's, the resort restaurant, serves Mediterranean cuisine with a view of Camelback Mountain that frames the dining experience with the finest natural backdrop of any restaurant in the Camelback Corridor. Historic Hotels of America member and National Trust for Historic Preservation recognition. The top romantic hotel in Phoenix for those who prioritize character over resort amenity density.
What Stands Out
- Most romantic resort in Phoenix — 1929 Spanish Colonial estate with the intimacy of a private home
- Walled gardens, stone walkways, antique fountains — character preserved across 95 years of hotel operation
- T. Cook's restaurant: Mediterranean cuisine with the finest Camelback Mountain view of any hotel restaurant
- Six ultra-spacious villas with stone floors, fireplaces, and private patios
- Historic Hotels of America · National Trust for Historic Preservation recognition