Miramonte Resort & Spa, Palm Springs, California - Hotel Review
 Under the Palm Springs Sun
By
Kim Fay
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Miramonte Resort & Spa in Palm Springs, California
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Frank
Sinatra, martinis, Eames lounge chairs and golf. Try disassociating
any of these things from Palm Springs. It’s nearly
impossible. But although these elements feel indigenous
to the area, they are actually city slickers that took
the liberty of making themselves at home in the desert.
Far from urban, the landscape around Palm Springs has
in fact been compared to that of Tuscany. And so, when
the very kitschy Asian-style Erawan Gardens closed in
the late 1990s for a multi-million dollar makeover, it
made sense to eschew the trendy nostalgia for retro and
create an atmosphere suited to the setting.
Framed
by red tile roofs, golden yellow buildings, date palms
and the Santa Rosa Mountains, the Miramonte Resort &
Spa was designed to resemble a small Tuscan village. Buildings
cluster around small lawns dappled with hammocks, a rose
garden, rustic benches and fountains, and the entire eleven-acre,
215-room boutique resort centers on a pretty swimming
pool area and The Well, a charming spa. There is a feeling
of intimacy; you’ll find no sprawl or inhuman scale
here. That said, the standard guestrooms are wonderfully
huge. Another aspect that stands out is the light: beautiful
and warm as it reflects off the buildings during the day
and the mountains at dusk. Because of the layout, some
of the ground level rooms can be dark; ask for one that
gets the sunrise, so you can savor the light over a cup
of morning coffee on your private patio.
While
inarguably lovely, this is not a destination for a polished
(i.e. pompous) luxury experience. The attitude is tranquil
and laid back, with service that feels organic rather
than policy oriented. Maids greet you with quiet hellos
as you walk to your room. The chief engineer can be overheard
discussing the best way to nurture the mantles of bougainvillea
that spread their vibrant color over the yellow walls.
As for the guests, they can be found lazing in hammocks,
strolling the pathways or wandering over from the spa
in their robes to grab a bite to eat or iced tea on the
terrace of Grove Artisan Kitchen, the resort’s small
dining venue.
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Luxurious accommodations |
Indian Wells Golf |
The Grove Artisan Kitchen serves fresh farm-to-table cuisine, featuring ingredients from local artisan growers. Chef Robert Nyerik uses fresh, quality ingredients picked from Miramonte’s own herb garden and citrus grove and blended in a culinary melody highlighted by signature balsamic vinegar, aged 18 years, and specially blended olive oil. Named after the citrus and date groves that once flourished years ago on the very land the resort rests upon, Grove Artisan Kitchen celebrates the rich history of the desert, honoring local artisan growers fortunate for the natural waters that made Indian Wells famous. For lighter fare, The Grove Lounge offers cocktails, appetizers, and entrée selections. Alternatively, dinners for up to ten guests can also be arranged in the cabanas at the Miramonte Pool.
As
you arrive at the resort, you may be put off by the surrounding
development. The Indian Wells Country Club sits on one side and a residential neighborhood
that usurped a once lush date farm sits on the other.
The Ted Robinson-designed Golf Resort at Indian Wells
is right across busy Highway 111, and the good news: guests enjoy
preferred tee times. But within the resort you can’t
see (or hear) any of this, not even when you’re
up on the terrace for a company cocktail party. Somehow,
no matter when you are, views take in only rooftops and
mountains. Sure, it may be an illusion, but who cares?
The feeling of seclusion is very real.
Although
small, Miramonte Resort & Spa offers everything a
business or leisure traveler needs, including more than 18,000
square-feet of conference space, a second, smaller, adults-only
pool and a friendly bar. But it is the unfussy charm,
along with details such as the whimsical ceiling frescoes
in the lobby, that give this property its appeal—an
appeal that continues to grow under the new management
of Destination Hotels & Resorts. Author Frances Mayes
may have had to go all the way to Tuscany to find her
happiness, but we know the truth: you don’t have
to go any further than Palm Springs.
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