Alcazar is a cozy, historic desert inn from years back—Spanish tile roofs, rooms that open onto a pretty central garden and pool—that has been stylishly and charmingly restored to modern tastes. Rooms are white to the extreme—floors, walls, high-luxury sheets, furniture, heavy privacy louvres—that gives them a clean, secret feeling. For most rooms, which are not giant because of their age but are romantic, your only windows will face the pool courtyard. We found the staff to be considerate and attentive and the music by the pool to be gentle and well-selected depending on the time of day. In some ways, it's a thoughtful update of the classic Palm Springs motel experience, except the contemporary owners have also included food and drink in the mix. Streetside lounge Birba and casual restaurant Cheeky's are connected to the grounds, and the latter sends over coffee and light pasty to the check-in area in the morning—enough to get you started before you head out from the hotel to find a real breakfast. The mix makes it conceivable to plan your getaway stay without ever having to get back into your hot car. It's easy to walk to the heart of downtown in about 15 minutes, and the galleries of the Design District are right around the corner. It's a favorite of repeat guests escaping the city for a weekend love nest, so the higher rates on its spectrum always fall on Friday and Saturday nights, which is when it's also most likely to be filled.