Vacations

Palm Springs Primer: 2022 Edition

With restrictions easing, the desert is hotter than ever.

By Neal McLennan /

SHOP
Windmill City Super #1

If the oddball name didn’t give it away, this is the latest outpost in Palm Springs’ hipster renaissance. The ever-present logo of an ultra-chill palm tree adorns everything from shirts to shot glasses, and there’s a highly curated selection of local arts, crafts and dry goods to round out the roster. Your feelings about this store will mirror your thoughts on the ongoing LA-ification of the desert.

463 N Palm Canyon Dr., super-number-one.com

STAY
Fleur Noire Hotel

After the lodging boom of the past decade, you’d think Palm Springs had been fully built out. You’d be wrong—there are no less than five projects scheduled to open this season. We’re most intrigued by the transformation of the old Trade Winds resort into a temple of murals (by artist Louise Jones) and bespoke wallpaper art (by Ellie Cashman) all held together by a rethinking of the interiors by transplanted Seattle designer Chris Pardo.

1560 N Palm Canyon Dr., fleurnoirehotel.com


EAT
Bar Cecil  

The pandemic’s casualties vastly outnumbered its bright spots, but Bar Cecil somehow wedged itself firmly in the victory column. The modern brasserie opened with a splash mid-pandemic with chef Gabriel Woo (Sparrows Lodge) damning the torpedoes with caviar service and a $50 martini—and they’ve been packed ever since. When we wrote about this spot in December we mentioned it was the hardest table in town, bar none, but since then it’s only gotten more coveted. This is the hardest reservation to get in the past decade, maybe more.

1555 S Palm Canyon Dr., barcecil.com

DRINK
Tailor Shop

So new, the paint is barely dry on this new design district spot, which is aiming to be the most serious cocktail bar in town. There’s moody lighting, tableside bar cart service and small plates of Japanese food (the owners also own nearby hot spot Sandfish).

140 W Via Lola, tailorshopps.com