5 incredible mid-century modern hotels

Sleek and dynamic, always with a twist of unexpected geometry: Mid-century modern hotels are a great respite from cookie-cutter contemporary design. These American hotels let you step back in time to the 1950s and 60s with smart vintage looks that never skimp on retro-modern luxury.

Le Parker Meridien

1. The Parker, Palm Springs

If Palm Springs is the mecca of mid-century design, the Parker Palm Springs is the epicenter of it all. Interior designer Jonathan Adler overhauled the property—which had been Merv Griffin’s Givency Hotel & Spa–in 2004 to provide an iconic 1950-60s vibe in a way that’s been described as lux bohemian. Rooms have cubist canopy beds and seagrass wallpaper on the ceilings, and you’ll find Chesterfield sofas with Moroccan-inspired pillows in the common area. Chilled towels are available to cool you beside the pool, and the enormous spa, called the Palm Springs Yacht Club, welcomes guests with complimentary shots of cucumber-infused vodka.

Hotel Valley Ho

2. Hotel Valley Ho, Scottsdale

The first motor lodge in Scottsdale, the Valley Ho was designed by Edward L. Varney, a student of Frank Lloyd Wright, in 1956 and quickly became a hideaway for celebs such as Zsa Zsa Gabor and Bing Crosby. Its dramatic, high-ceiling lobby and air conditioning in every room were considered novelties at the time, and trendsetters loved the arrowhead motif concrete panels that lined the property (and still do today!). The mid-century design and furnishings were considered outdated and removed by the Ramada chain when it purchased the hotel in the early 1970s, but in 2002, a new buyer invested $80 million to restore the property with a mix of jet-age and contemporary design elements. A highlight is the martini glass-and-olive shaped pool surrounded by retro chaise lounges. The hotel offers Magical History Tours that highlight Valley Ho’s design elements and celebrity visitors over the years.

Plus: Check out America’s best old school tiki bars, while you still can.

Nobu Restaurant in Eden Roc Resort

3. Eden Roc, Miami

Famed architect Morris Lepidus designed the Eden Roc in his signature Miami Modern (“MiMo”) style in the early 1950s. This is considered his most lavish work, and the property quickly became a hotspot of the time among Hollywood elite. Today, a restored and expanded incarnation of the hotel still maintains a minimalist aesthetic in rooms with low-slung lounge chairs and floor-to-ceiling windows that have sweeping views of the city and ocean. Modern decadence is evident, too, in the form of infinity edge pools and an Elle Spa with a rooftop deck and VIP cabanas. Upscale Japanese restaurant chain Nobu recently announced plans to build a restaurant onsite as well as a luxury “hotel within the hotel,” similar to the one it operates in Caesar’s Palace, Las Vegas.

The Pearl Hotel

4. The Pearl, San Diego

The oyster-shaped, saltwater pool is the center of the action at this Point Loma hotel, thanks to weekly “dive-in” movie screenings. Originally called the Sportsmen’s Lodge when it was built in 1961, the hotel was rehabbed and reopened as the Pearl in 2007 witha feel intended to evoke a mix of 1960s Palm Springs and 1970s Los Angeles. The 23 rooms are appointed with platform beds, retro-inspired furniture and some—dubbed “bachelor pads”—have mirrored ceilings.

Bar at Jupiter Hotel

5. Jupiter Hotel, Portland, OR

A two-story motor lodge built in the 1960s, the Jupiter reopened as a mid-century boutique hotel in 2004. The 81 rooms have a mix of vintage touches (platform beds, shag pillows)and modern amenities (iPod docking stations, free WiFi). Onsite are the Doug Fir Restaurant and Lounge, one of Portland’s most popular music venues, as well as a hair salon, tattoo parlor and art gallery.