In a city with almost 150 small hotels of 50 rooms or fewer, you’ve got your pick of two-story hideaways with the pool in the middle. But if your style verges on pink sofas, black lacquer lamps, Kartell chairs and resin-coated portraits of Barbie, the 17-room Twist may be your happy place.

Introductions first: There is no front desk or restaurant, just a gorgeous little pool and whimsically designed rooms with pizzaz. It’s simple but it works. Guests check in with an office manager on the main floor and are texted the room key code, which also opens the pool gate.

Street cred: It’s all about location

This part of town is the Old Las Palmas neighborhood, one of the city’s first communities, established in the 1930s as a celebrity-centric, orange-grove hideaway. From up here, you can drive either downtown or up to Highway 10 in about five minutes. Ditto the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway and hiking on San Jacinto.

North Palm Canyon Drive in this part of town is referred to as the Design District, replete with multiple stores selling homewares, home furnishings, antiques, rugs and the like. Leave room in your suitcase for dishes and objets!

Who hangs here: Is this hotel for you?

This affordable hotel is perfect for the self-catering traveler, one who wants a bit of peace and quiet and is charmed by the mod motif. We saw mostly young couples, gay couples and a multi-gen trio of women. Also, you really must like orange and not be put off by Astroturf.

The straight goods: What’s in the room?

This is a place with personality. The studio, one- and two-bedroom suites come with little kitchenettes, and plenty of bold colors and wild patterns. Expect a mix of Ikea and Kartell, punctuated with lacquered tables, organic shapes and pop art. Everything in the rooms was hand-selected by local tastemakers H3K Home + Design.

Bathrooms are tiny and practical.

Bragging rights: What else has it got?

Cool rooms and a nice pool – not much more than you actually need. Let’s call it bare maximum. I found the ice machine in a room that also had coin-op laundry facilities, which I think is a solid amenity. There’s also a golf-putting green with clubs and balls in all the rooms.

Good eats: Cocktails and cuisine

Ernest Coffee at the front of the building starts slinging coffees and croissants at 6 a.m. They share the space with Bootlegger Tiki, a cocktail bar with a side patio – and a notable past. It’s located on the same site as a restaurant owned by Don the Beachcomber, the founding father of tiki culture.

Two don’t-miss restaurants nearby include the just-as-whimsically-designed Eight4Nine Restaurant & Lounge (have a martini first) and the elegant rooftop of Azúcar Restaurant and Bar, within the lavish La Serena Villas hotel.

A few of our favorite things: What stood out?

The pool is truly cool and it doesn’t really have a closing time, so you can enjoy a midnight swim if you’re quiet as mice. I also appreciated that the staff texted me to ask if it was OK to clean my room.

Parting shot: If we could change one thing

I realize Palm Springs is a quiet, safe place, but a lock after midnight on the outside gate might be an idea.

Standard rooms from USD$145. Breakfast not included.

Doug was a guest of the hotel during his stay. The hotel had no editorial input for this review.