A Visit to The Viceroy.....

Friday night I met some friends for cocktails at the Viceroy Hotel in downtown Palm Springs. A magazine once said that the Viceroy is "...like stepping out on a classic Hollywood studio lot", and it couldn't be more true. As a local, I like going to The Viceroy for cocktails, Sunday brunch, or dinner. From the front gate entrance, to the courtyard fountain and koi pond, you have a sense of arrival before you even enter the hotel itself.

Below: The dramatic swooping black and white striped awnings frame the tall yellow doors and add a sense of mystery. Inside, the lobby transports you to another era of glamour...

Below: The Viceroy has several private pools and cabanas, which appeal to the Hollywood elite who come here to get away

Below: The pool area has perfectly placed vats of iced water with fresh lemons grown on the hotel grounds, as well as flavorings if you simply just can't take regular water.

Below: left: Me sipping a martini in the Citron bar. It's a retro-swank place with all sorts of fantastic photos of mega Hollywood stars who've visited in years past. Behind me is a photo of Marilyn Monroe...

Below: left is the Marilyn Monroe photo, and right is the stunning Grace Kelly, who used to vacation in Palm Springs in her early career.

Below: After cocktails, we settled into the restaurant for dinner. The tables were set with oil-lamp candles which glowed invitingly at the table. below right: one of my friends had Fois Gras, with maple scented ruby yam puree, apple frites, walnut brown butter as an appetizer (personally, I think Fois Gras is gross)

Below: Baby Greens with candy spiced pecans, goat cheese fromage blanc, raspberries, pomegranate molasses. right: Kalmata crusted Ahi Tuna sashimi with french lentil salad, haricot vert, shoestring potatoes

Below: Pan seared new Zealand King Salmon, with crab ragout, asparagus, pine nuts, sweet pea puree. right: Roasted Shallot and Chevre stuffed Chicken Breast, with white bean cassoulet, sauteed chanterelle mushrooms, peach demi.

Below: Although its just regular spinach, I just loved the deep green color of the side dish of wilted spinach we ordered.

Below: After dinner and a nice evening, I left the Viceroy feeling satisfied and content...

note: just for the record, this is not a paid post. I just like to write about places I eat!
-Rick Rockhill