The newly named Avalon Hotel Palm Springs has sat in stunning contrast to its desert setting since the 1930’s, nestled between Downtown’s main drag and the foot of the rugged San Jacinto Mountains. Proper Hospitality discovered the property back in 2003 and worked together with Kelly Wearstler Interior Design to channel Palm Springs’ Golden Age through an exuberant new take on the Hollywood Regency style. Over a decade later and with a brand new name, this little desert gem of a retrofit continues to define the Downtown Palm Springs resort and spa experience. It offers 67 luxuriously appointed guestrooms, including 13 historic one- and two-bedroom villas, three pools, a new restaurant (Chi Chi, new restaurant and bar from Tara Lazar of Cheeky’s, Birba, Alcazar, Mr Lyons) and the Estrella Spa (think: moon rituals, build-your-own herbed oils, guided bike tours), all set amongst four acres of fragrant, beautifully manicured gardens.
Estrella
Estrella (“star” in English) was the original name of the hotel which is now the Avalon Palm Springs. For the last decade however, it’s what they’ve called their spa; it’s the centerpiece of the hotel’s health and wellness experience and a refuge for indulgence, play, learning, growth, and comfort. Whether you are looking for a massage, scrub, facial, all-of-the-above or something else entirely, you will find a selection of thoughtfully-assembled options on the menu. They have also recently added some alternative treatments that stem from the time-honored traditions of alchemy, holistic health, and global herbal medicine. Like most of the Avalon’s offering, these holistic healing treatments use only handmade herb-infused oils and butters combined with custom-blended essential oils provided by American Medicinal Arts.
CHI CHI
An ode to chef Tara Lazar’s childhood summers spent south of the border, Chi Chi at the Avalon Hotel recalls soulful Latin standards with a dash of cheeky California wellness in the playful pool-centric setting of Palm Springs. Each dish is a memory from her travels, brought back home and authentically reproduced with the freshest local ingredients and home-style scratch cooking. Their partner: Palm Springs powerhouse Tara Lazar—unofficial Queen of Brunch—creates memorable dining experiences at her unique concepts Cheeky’s, Birba, Alcazar, Mr. Lyons.
