Palm Springs - Guide for Gays, Lesbians and Queers

Most of the queer venues in Palm Springs sit downtown. The heart of the scene is the Arenas District around Arenas Road. Hunters, Chill Bar, Dick's on Arenas, Street Bar and Blackbook are all found along this short stretch. Just around the corner on Indian Canyon Drive is the video bar QUADZ, and on Tahquitz Canyon Way you will find RetroRoom Lounge and Oscar's.

Southeast of downtown lies Warm Sands, a residential neighborhood with many small resorts. Tool Shed, a leather bar with a long history, is located here on Sunny Dunes Road. Among the places to stay in the area is The Hacienda at Warm Sands, a small hotel in the heart of the neighborhood.

Palm Springs is known for its resorts for gay men. Downtown, Descanso Resort on Camino Monte Vista is a modern men-only property. Triangle Inn on San Lorenzo Road has just a handful of suites and offers poolside breakfasts and afternoon mixers. In neighboring Cathedral City, CCBC is a large men's resort with a clothing-optional pool area, a steam room and hot tubs.

An important community hub is the LGBTQ Community Center of the Desert. It grew out of a senior center for gay and lesbian people and offers counseling, support groups and events. The Trans Community Project also holds a support group there. Palm Springs Pride organizes the November Pride celebration and keeps a record of the region's LGBTQ history.

During the day, much of the social life happens around resort pools and on bar patios. If you are new in town, Arenas Road is the best place to start. Most addresses are within walking distance from there. Many bars also host drag shows, karaoke and themed nights during the week, and the Pride weekend in November brings extra events across town.