Two Bunch Palms: This Adults-Only Hot Springs Resort Is One of California’s Dreamiest Wellness Escapes

A 65-room hideaway on the edge of the Coachella Valley pairs mineral-rich waters and palm-shaded soaking tubs with a holistic spa and esoteric wellness programming.

A palm-shaded mineral soaking pool at Two Bunch Palms

Credit: Adrian Gaut

BY KERI BRIDGWATER

Why it works

Hotel Snapshot

Twenty minutes from Palm Springs, Two Bunch Palms is a 65-room, adults-only wellness resort with rates starting at $295 per night. Centuries-old mineral springs, understated desert design, and a free-form approach to self-care encourage guests to settle in and stay awhile.

You can do a lot––or absolutely nothing––at Two Bunch Palms, and both feel equally correct. Founded in 1940, the 77-acre retreat is threaded with native palms and tamarisk trees, with Mount San Jacinto rising to the south and an almost immediate sense that there’s nowhere else you need to be. Long before Two Bunch became a resort, the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians regarded its springs as sacred. Naturally heated mineral waters still rise from a 600-year-old aquifer, feeding the central palm-fringed grotto pool and newer concrete and hinoki soaking tubs tucked around the grounds. The routine is simple: soak, chill, repeat. Design-driven desert style and a storied past sit alongside eco-initiatives, including a three-acre solar field. Even at its woo-woo-est, the wellness offerings feel entirely at home: try Reiki meditation and a floating sound bath—or claim a hammock and kick back with a good book.

Design & Character at Two Bunch Palms

With its edge-of-the-desert location—where roadrunners and wild egrets roam the grounds—Two Bunch feels wonderfully removed from the world beyond its gates. Original stone buildings mingle with adobe-style villas and modern spa bungalows, whose interiors channel relaxed California-desert modernism through wood, stone, handcrafted tile, and earthy tones. Lore here deepens the mystique: Al Capone supposedly used the property as a Prohibition-era hideout, complete with underground escape tunnels, and four suites still bear his name.

A secluded soaking tub among the palms at Two Bunch Palms

Credit: Phyllis Langley

Rooms at Two Bunch Palms

The room map is worth studying before you book. Desert Kings and Doubles sit down by the yoga dome and hammock grove, which means more peace but a longer walk to the springs. Grove rooms are handier, near reception and the olive grove; Spring and Grotto suites are closest to the pools and restaurant. The Capone Master Suite has its own ofuro mineral tub, while Villa Suites come with teak tubs and separate living areas.

A desert-modern suite at Two Bunch Palms

Credit: Dylan + Jenni Photography

Dining at Two Bunch Palms

Mornings begin over coffee and pastries at Twine Café, which also hosts seasonal wine dinners. At The Restaurant, Chef Jesse Avila’s dishes center on local and regional produce with Eastern Mediterranean influences. Turkish eggs make breakfast, while the roasted cauliflower in green coconut curry is worth saving for dinner. At lunch, scan the QR code from your lounger and order a mezze platter with a spicy hibiscus margarita or zero-proof Grapefruit Yuzu Smash.

Amenities at Two Bunch Palms

The mineral waters are the star attraction here. Low in sulfur and naturally rich in lithium, calcium, and magnesium, they’re prized for their calming, restorative benefits. Mornings disappear easily beside the oasis-like grotto; later, reserve a private concrete or teak tub for a quieter afternoon soak. The spa uses California clean-beauty brand Botnia Skincare across treatments, and weekly classes range from breathwork and floating sound baths to tile-making—and, on the more esoteric end, past-life regression.

Location: Desert Hot Springs, CA

Palm Springs is close enough for dinner, shopping, or a visit to the art museum. For a High Desert afternoon, venture north instead and browse Mojave Flea, Hoof & The Horn, and Acme 5 Lifestyle in Yucca Valley, and stop for a drink at Tiny Pony Tavern. Then continue to Pioneertown for Tex-Mex tacos at The Red Dog Saloon. Joshua Tree National Park is farther up the road. On a two-night getaway, though, staying put has its own appeal.

Fast Facts: Two Bunch Palms, Desert Hot Springs

Address: 67425 Two Bunch Palms Trail, Desert Hot Springs, CA 92240
Nearest Airport: Palm Springs International Airport (PSP)
Star Rating: 4-star
Starting Rate: From $295 a night
Room Count: 65 rooms and suites
Vibe: Laid-back desert-bohemian wellness retreat
Best For: Solo resets, couples’ escapes, and low-key girls’ trips
Amenities: Geothermal grotto and private soaking tubs, cold-water pool, spa, wellness programming, yoga dome, tennis court, meditation labyrinth, restaurant, café, in-room dining.
Nearby: Palm Springs, Yucca Valley, Pioneertown, and Joshua Tree National Park
Our Favorite Thing: Early mornings, when the grounds are still quiet. Slip into the grotto for a 7 a.m. soak, then wander the Roadrunner Trail, keeping an eye out for the wild egrets that have made Two Bunch part of their habitat.

Gallery

A closer look

Courtesy of Two Bunch Palms

Credit: Stephanie Pia

The desert landscape surrounding Two Bunch Palms