Tommy Bahama unveils its first luxury resort in Palm Springs

Bucket hats are back and coastal grandpa-chic has captured the 2023 design zeitgeist.

The lifestyle retailer and boomer’s beloved brand of choice, Tommy Bahama, has officially entered the chat with last month’s opening of the Tommy Bahama Miramonte Resort & Spa in Indian Wells, outside Palm Springs, Calif.

The first resort concept for the Seattle-based retailer (and purveyor of fan favorite Tommy’s World Famous Coconut Shrimp) has been years in the making and is breathing fresh tropical island vibes into the area.

“We’ve always believed in the art of living well and embracing the island lifestyle,” said Doug Wood, CEO of Tommy Bahama. “We’re crafting an entirely new concept of leisure, fusing our brand’s essence with the unparalleled beauty of this desert oasis and creating a destination where every moment feels like a timeless escape.”

Eschewing Palm Springs’ famous midcentury modern, Tommy Bahama Miramonte goes for coastal style in the renovations and, of course, the gift shop. Michelle Dondero

After a $20 million renovation and redesign, the new and improved Tommy Bahama co-branded hotel offers a design aesthetic that toes the line between tropical kitsch and coastal cool.

In the light-filled lobby, a gift shop sporting Tommy Bahama pickleball paddles and golf club covers sets the tone.

Through the property’s enchanting olive grove, complete with fire pits and bocce court, you’ll find the 215 redesigned rooms and spacious suites (starting at $450 per night), which are a welcome addition to a neighborhood dominated by often tired midcentury modern aesthetics.

Tommy Bahama decor and furniture kits adorn the rooms. Dan Solomon

With tasteful Tommy touches, from the lush green palms and pops of grapefruit pink wallpaper, to the most comfortable desert-dream-like bed you’ve ever experienced, the real pièce de résistance is the five signature villas (starting at $1,200), including a Pineapple Suite, Tiger Suite and Paradise Suite in custom Tommy decor.

Measuring 1,078 square feet, the Grand Marlin (starting at $1,600 per night), is the splashiest and features custom pieces from the exclusive Tommy Bahama Palm Desert collection as well as a primary bedroom with a king-sized bed, spa-like bathroom, eight-seat dining table, wet bar, living room with a powder room and floor-to-ceiling windows that offer views of the San Jacinto and Santa Rosa mountains.

While there’s no coconut-crusted shrimp on the menu at the hotel’s signature restaurant, Grapefruit Basil, dining al fresco in the gorgeous olive grove as you’re being serenaded by the sound of acoustic guitar is a definite highlight here.

Dine outside in the resort’s signature restaurant, Grapefruit Basil, or grab tacos by the pool. Michelle Dondero

Serving up California-coastal cuisine, the restaurant’s fig and prosciutto flatbread, spicy seafood cioppino and scallop sliders are not to be missed.

Zen out at the SoCal resort from $450 a night. Michelle Dondero

At the heart of the winding 11-acre property, the newly renovated 12,000-square-foot Spa Rosa offers an array of classic and signature massages, including their 100-minute Island State of Mind.

A full-body treatment, the spa garden is a world all its own, with a private pool and in-ground hot tub with privacy walls that’s a one-way ticket to pleasure town.