The Palm Springs Vintage Market is a monthly event held on the 1st Sunday of the month from October through May. Set up at the Camelot Theater, the open-air market is an especially good source for authentic mid-century modern designs for the home.
Most items have been carefully curated and are sold by reputable dealers, so if you’re looking for bargain-basement flea market prices, this is not the place. The market is open from 8 am to 2 pm and there’s a $5 entry fee for all visitors.
Location: 2300 E Baristo Rd, Palm Springs, CA 92262, USA
Uptown Design District along North Palm Canyon Drive is where you’ll find local boutique shops and items for the home with the mid-century modern flair Palm Springs is known for. There are some unique clothing stores here too, including The Frippery and Iconic Atomic, which both specialise in vintage fashions. You could also hunt for wellness and spa products at such shops as H20 Closet with a sensory-awakening selection of lotions, fragrances, soaps and scrubs to buy.
Uptown Design District has also become a hot spot for dining and sophisticated nightlife, so if you come to shop here it’s worth lingering on to explore its after-dark action.
Location: N Palm Canyon Drive, Palm Springs, CA, USA
You could spend hours wandering around the Antique Galleries of Palm Springs with more than 40 vendors to visit in nearly 12,000 sq ft of air-conditioned space. Among the thousands of items on sale here are vintage clothing, glassware, jewellery, military and maritime collectables, furniture, and fine art. Antique Galleries is just a few minutes’ drive south from downtown Palm Springs and there’s plenty of free parking at the store. If you’re in search of more retro goods, check out the Sunny Dunes Antique Mall, just a 2-minute walk away.
Location: 505 E Industrial Place, Palm Springs, CA 92264, USA
Open: Daily from 10 am to 5 pm
Phone: +1 760 322-8740
Desert Hills Premium Outlets is a collection of shops about an hour’s drive from downtown Palm Springs. Among the dozens of outlets, you’ll find luxury goods from the likes of Tom Ford, Valentino Gucci, and Dolce & Gabbana at deeply discounted prices. As far as shopping centres go, this one is more attractive than many with its wide walkways lined with palm trees connecting all the stores. Shoppers could go relax and dine at the food court and cafés if in need of a break from their bargain hunting. Found along the Interstate 10 highway, the outlet mall makes a good place to stop if you’re taking a drive to San Diego or Los Angeles.
Location: 48400 Seminole Drive, Cabazon, CA 92230, USA
Open: Monday–Thursday from 11 am to 7 pm,
Friday–Sunday from 11 am to 8 pm
Phone: +1 951 849-6641
Palm Canyon Drive in downtown Palm Springs offers shoppers a great variety of shops and dining spots to explore along its palm-fringed length. You’ll find a mix of designer clothing stores, resort wear, antiques, and gift shops selling curios. Destination PSP is a gift and clothing shop selling local brands and retro collectables with the mid-century aesthetic that Palm Springs is famous for. Check out some of the art galleries along the drive like the Instagram-favourite SHAG art gallery and Jackson Gallery, featuring the contemporary paintings by local artist Al Jackson. Stop by the Revivals thrift shop to find bargain-priced fashions and vintage items to spruce up your home.
El Paseo is a strip of upscale shops that’s as much of a place to see and be seen as it is a place for shopping. Since El Paseo was built in the Coachella Valley more than 60 years ago, it’s attracted numerous celebrities and discerning shoppers who can enjoy the warm desert air while exploring the scenic palm-lined avenue’s luxury retailers and fine-dining spots. Among the 200-plus shops here, you’ll find well-known brand names like Ralph Lauren and Escada alongside boutiques selling local clothing designs, swimwear, jewellery, art and colourful yoga and fitness wear. El Paseo is about 20 km from downtown Palm Springs, and there’s plenty of parking available behind the shops.
Location: Palm Desert, CA 92260, USA
