Axel's take on Uptown & Movie Colony: #3 of 5 in Palm Springs, 6.5/10
Choose design shops and good dinners over the shortest downtown walks. Uptown & Movie Colony combines strong hotels and design-led character with middling value, but fewer doorstep options and address-dependent convenience hold it back.
Along North Palm Canyon Drive between Alejo Road and Vista Chino, Uptown means vintage furniture, galleries, brunch and cocktail patios. Just east, Movie Colony changes to landscaped residential streets, Hollywood-era houses and Ruth Hardy Park. Stay near Palm Canyon for browsing and dinners; choose the residential streets for a slower family or pool-focused stay.
Treat the address as important as the neighborhood name: a place near Alejo works differently from one farther north or east. Downtown is walkable from the southern end, less effortless elsewhere. Choose this for design and dining rather than the shortest possible walk home from Arenas.
- Best for: food lovers, shopping, museums and culture, families
- Skip it if: You want the shortest walk to Arenas nightlife; You expect equal walkability from every residential street
- Getting around: SunLine 1WV and 4 serve the Palm Canyon/Indian Canyon corridor; walk between Uptown shops, with longer walks from Movie Colony; PSP has taxi/rideshare access or hourly Route 4 plus a local walk.
- After dark: Dinner and cocktail patios give Palm Canyon an evening scene; expect a quieter residential atmosphere east in Movie Colony.
- Rates: Typical Axel rate $261 a night · usually 10% under the public rate
Where to stay in Palm Springs: every neighborhood ranked
Where to look in Uptown & Movie Colony
- Palm Canyon around Via Lola. Design shops, brunch and cocktail patios suit browsers who prefer Uptown dining to the shortest nightlife walk. Hotels here: The Twist Palm Springs, WorldMark Palm Springs.
- Indian Canyon near Alejo. The southern end balances Uptown restaurants with downtown access; useful when you want both without staying on Palm Canyon. Hotels here: The Colony Palms Hotel and Bungalows - Adults Only, Triada Palm Springs, Autograph Collection by Marriott, 7 Springs Inn & Suites.
- Palm Canyon near Vista Chino. Favor the northern stretch for nearby dining and design browsing, accepting a longer journey to downtown's core. Hotels here: ARRIVE Palm Springs - Adults Only, The Skylark a Palm Springs Hotel, Riviera Resort Palm Springs.
How to choose
- Choose ARRIVE Palm Springs - Adults Only if you want sociable, adults-only pool days, modern rooms and welcoming service.
- Choose The Skylark a Palm Springs Hotel if you want cheaper retro character, standout staff and included breakfast.
- Choose The Twist Palm Springs if you need a kitchen and generous living space for a longer, independent stay.
What paying more buys
The Skylark offers retro character, warm service and breakfast for less than most here. ARRIVE costs considerably more for modern, generous rooms and a sociable adults-only pool setting; Colony Palms adds a treatment spa and distinctive room finishes. Those upgrades are less useful if you mainly want a comfortable base for browsing, or need The Twist's self-catering space. Typical rates with Axel here run from $127 a night at Infusion Beach Club to $1,123 at Riviera Resort Palm Springs (last 30 days).
The best hotels in Uptown & Movie Colony, ranked by Axel's take
Each hotel scored for what it is by Axel's own review; the rate is one stay Axel priced this week, beside the public rate for the same dates.
- ARRIVE Palm Springs - Adults Only 8.8/10, pool-centered, adults-only 4-star boutique in the Uptown Design District. A strong adults-only pick for pool days, thoughtful design and genuinely welcoming service. Why it's here: modern, generous rooms and welcoming service around a sociable adults-only pool. Accept: outside pool guests, paid parking and a longer downtown journey. $272 a night with Axel; no public rate was seen for these dates. Sign up free to book this rate
- The Skylark a Palm Springs Hotel 8.6/10, mid-century, motel-style boutique hotel in Uptown Palm Springs. Retro character, standout staff and a pool worth planning downtime around. Why it's here: cheaper retro character with standout staff, a heated pool and included breakfast. Accept: bathroom updates vary; downtown is a longer walk. $256 a night with Axel against $297 a night on Expedia for the same dates and party: $41 a night less (14%). Sign up free to book this rate
- The Twist Palm Springs 8.6/10, colorful, mid-range apartment-style hotel in the Uptown Design District. A strong self-catering pick with generous rooms, helpful staff and some noise-sensitive room choices. Why it's here: generous kitchen-equipped studios and suites for longer, independent Uptown stays. Accept: some bar-facing rooms are noisy; direct cancellation terms are strict. $170 a night with Axel; no public rate was seen for these dates. Sign up free to book this rate
- The Colony Palms Hotel and Bungalows - Adults Only 8.5/10, historic, adults-only luxury boutique hotel near downtown Palm Springs. A strong couples’ pick for poolside relaxation, with occasional service lapses. Why it's here: distinctive adults-only rooms, poolside dining and a treatment spa near downtown. Accept: occasionally slow service, dim rooms and charged valet parking. $459 a night with Axel; no public rate was seen for these dates. Sign up free to book this rate
- Triada Palm Springs, Autograph Collection by Marriott 8.4/10, historic, Spanish-style 4-star boutique hotel near downtown. Choose Triada for character, welcoming staff and downtown access, rather than flawless resort polish. Why it's here: Spanish-style character, welcoming staff and kitchen-equipped casitas within walking distance of downtown. Accept: stairs, paid valet parking and some pool-area wear. $305 a night with Axel; no public rate was seen for these dates. Sign up free to book this rate
- WorldMark Palm Springs 8.3/10, compact 3-star timeshare condo resort in the Uptown Design District. A strong self-catering base with friendly staff, though rooms show their age. Why it's here: cheaper kitchen-equipped accommodation for families and longer Uptown stays. Accept: dated furnishings, variable layouts, noise and paid Wi-Fi. $138 a night with Axel; no public rate was seen for these dates. Sign up free to book this rate
- 7 Springs Inn & Suites 7.8/10, budget, motel-style inn with retro décor and kitchen suites. Good-value Palm Springs character, with inviting outdoor spaces but uneven room upkeep. Why it's here: budget kitchen suites and inviting outdoor spaces for self-catering Uptown breaks. Accept: uneven upkeep, limited reception and parking, and no elevator. $105 a night with Axel; no public rate was seen for these dates. Sign up free to book this rate
- Riviera Resort Palm Springs 7.0/10, sprawling historic 4-star resort, currently closed for renovation. Worth revisiting after renovation, but not a stay you can book right now. Why it's here: a historic resort to reconsider after renovation, rather than book for an immediate stay. Accept: closed through December 2026; reopening and post-renovation quality remain untested. $558 a night with Axel; no public rate was seen for these dates. Sign up free to book this rate
- Infusion Beach Club 6.9/10, budget motel with a pool north of downtown Palm Springs. A workable budget base with friendly staff, but uneven rooms and upkeep. Why it's here: one of the cheaper car-friendly bases, with a pool and welcoming front-desk staff. Accept: thin walls, noisy air conditioners and uneven housekeeping. $152 a night with Axel against $164 a night on Expedia for the same dates and party: $12 a night less (7%). Sign up free to book this rate
