Palm Springs has a new jewel in its crown, and it's worth every minute of the drive from Pioneertown. Beaton's at Bar Cecil, which recently opened its doors in the heart of downtown Palm Springs, is the kind of place that makes you completely forget where you are. We love the desert more than most, but this type of mental vacation is always welcome.

We visited on a Saturday night and found ourselves transported to a Left Bank salon, complete with the sophisticated buzz of conversation, the clink of crystal and an atmosphere that somehow manages to feel both impossibly chic and genuinely welcoming. Inspired by the classic cocktail lounges of Paris, Beaton's blends bold international design with vintage glamour in a way that feels both authentic and unexpected. The moment you enter, you understand the reference points: rich red velvet booths invite lingering conversations, a gold silk sofa anchors one corner like sculptural art, and leopard-print carpet adds just the right amount of playful audacity, while handcrafted woodwork speaks to a commitment to detail that would make any Parisian maître d' nod in approval.

What truly sets Beaton's apart is its extraordinary art collection. Curated black-and-white celebrity photography by Terry O'Neill, Arthur Elgort, and Larry Schiller adorns the walls, creating intimate moments with some of the 20th century's most iconic faces. These photographs share space with contemporary works by Damien Hirst, Barbara Kruger, and Robert Longo—a collision of eras and aesthetics that feels perfectly harmonious. The effect is intoxicating: you're simultaneously in a glamorous mid-century cocktail lounge and a cutting-edge gallery, all while tucked away in the ever-evolving Palm Springs.

The cocktail program lives up to its setting. It is thoughtful without being precious, offering both familiar classics executed with precision and creative house concoctions that showcase seasonal ingredients and global influences. The savory salon snacks complement the drinking experience perfectly, carefully considered accompaniments rather than an afterthought. Beaton's positions itself as ideal for aperitivo hour, pre-dinner cocktails, after-dinner drinks, and late-night light dining, and the space naturally lends itself to different moods throughout the evening. Early arrivals can claim spots on the lush patio as the desert sun descends, while later the interior comes alive with energy as vintage glamour takes on an almost cinematic quality under dim lighting.

Our Saturday night visit confirmed what we suspected: this place gets busy, and for good reason. The crowd was a compelling mix of stylish locals, visitors who'd clearly done their research, and a few lucky walk-ins who stumbled upon something special. Everyone seemed to recognize they'd found something rare. The Pioneertown Gazette loves seeing successful small businesses expand and is always excited for local entrepreneurs bringing fresh flare to the low and high desert alike, and Beaton's exemplifies exactly the kind of thoughtful, distinctive hospitality that makes our region special.

Reservations are recommended, especially for weekend evenings, though walk-ins are welcome. Given the Saturday night crowd we witnessed, booing in advance is smart if you've got your heart set on a specific time or that perfect velvet booth. But part of the charm of a place like Beaton's is the possibility of spontaneity—of ducking in for one drink before dinner and finding yourself still there hours later, deep in conversation, surrounded by art and leopard print and people who understand that sometimes the best nights aren't planned at all. From Pioneertown, it's a little under an hour down the hill, and Beaton's at Bar Cecil is absolutely worth the journey. Palm Springs just got a lot more interesting.