Villa Royale

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Villa Royale has been hiding beneath the palms of South Palm Springs since 1947. One of the area’s early small hotels, the 38-room property became a desert hideaway for film-industry guests escaping Los Angeles for sunshine, mountain views, and a little privacy.

When Villa Royale reopened in 2018, co-owner and co-designer John Janulis described it as “a true Palm Springs time capsule.” The renovation preserved that character while bringing a fresh energy to the adults-only hotel. Old California architecture and vintage mid-century furnishings mingle with bold colors, patterned tile from Spain, Mexico, and Portugal, and more than 50 original...

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Villa Royale has been hiding beneath the palms of South Palm Springs since 1947. One of the area’s early small hotels, the 38-room property became a desert hideaway for film-industry guests escaping Los Angeles for sunshine, mountain views, and a little privacy.

When Villa Royale reopened in 2018, co-owner and co-designer John Janulis described it as “a true Palm Springs time capsule.” The renovation preserved that character while bringing a fresh energy to the adults-only hotel. Old California architecture and vintage mid-century furnishings mingle with bold colors, patterned tile from Spain, Mexico, and Portugal, and more than 50 original works of art commissioned specifically for the property. Several artists even lived at Villa Royale while creating their work, which ranges from oil paintings to the murals found throughout the grounds.

Three pools, each with views of the San Jacinto Mountains, anchor the property. Del Rey, the hotel’s intimate restaurant and bar, serves Spanish- and Mediterranean-inspired small plates alongside cocktails in a setting of cozy booths, an oak-and-marble bar, and a fire-lit outdoor patio.

Pet-friendly and decidedly individual, Villa Royale remains what it has been for generations: a stylish little retreat where Palm Springs history feels very much alive.