The Local Celebs | King of Cool: Steve McQueen’s High-Velocity Palm Springs
Steve McQueen
If you think the mid-century modern vibe of Palm Springs was all about polite golf claps and Sinatra sipping martinis in a tuxedo, you are missing half the horsepower.
Enter Steve McQueen.
In the 1960s and ’70s, the "King of Cool" used Palm Springs as a private launching pad for his collection of fast cars, off-road bikes, and unapologetic rebellion. While other Hollywood icons were busy making appearances at glamorous country club galas, McQueen was just as likely to be behind the wheel of his Jaguar XKSS or hiding away in his glass-and-steel fortress in the exclusive Southridge neighborhood.
He owned one of only sixteen Jaguar XKSS road cars ever built, raced motorcycles across the desert, chased dirt bikes up rocky mountain trails, and treated Highway 111 less as a commuter route than a starting line.
Palm Springs wasn't an escape from speed. It was where he could indulge it without anyone telling him to slow down. McQueen owned so many motorcycles that today's HOA boards would have required a committee meeting.
He brought a gritty, denim-clad, throttle-wide-open energy to the desert. And when he finally parked his motorcycle, his appetite for the local food scene was just as legendary as his driving.
As we cruise through the city's rich history on our gourmet walking tours, we love uncovering the hidden, rebellious tracks left behind by the desert’s favorite anti-hero. Strap in. We’re taking a high-speed tour through Steve McQueen’s Palm Springs.
The Ultimate Mid-Century Hideaway
To understand McQueen’s relationship with Palm Springs, you have to look at where he lived. His famous Southridge estate—designed by architect Hugh Kaptur—was a fine example of mid-century architectural privacy.
Kaptur designed the house with a sunken entrance that is almost invisible from the street. Visitors descend a staircase before ever reaching the front door.
Inside, however, the house unfolds into walls of glass, floating stairs, terrazzo floors and enormous views over the valley.
Perched high above Palm Springs, the rugged stone and glass structure allowed McQueen and his wife, Ali MacGraw, to escape the suffocating Hollywood magnifying glass.
He could tinker with engine blocks in the driveway, look out over the sun-drenched valley, and live entirely on his own terms.
Steve McQueen owned enough motorcycles that today's HOA boards would have required a committee meeting.
A High-Octane Appetite
Most people imagine Palm Springs as martinis, country clubs and poolside crooners.
Steve McQueen reveals another Palm Springs:
dirt bikes in the wash (the desert term for dry seasonal stream beds)
beer instead of champagne
minimalist architecture instead of grand estates
motorcycles climbing Southridge
disappearing into the desert instead of walking the red carpet
When the King of Cool did venture down the mountain for a bite to eat, he eschewed the stuffy, formal dining rooms of the old-school Hollywood elite.
McQueen preferred spots that matched his rugged, no-nonsense aesthetic. He frequented establishments where he could get a steak and a beer.
Then one evening he made an exception.
It was opening night at Melvyn's, the social event of the season. Everyone was in tuxedos and evening gowns.
A heavily bearded Steve McQueen, in blue jeans and a T-shirt pulled up on a motorcycle with Ali MacGraw riding behind him.
Mel Haber, the owner, looked at the biker, looked at the star-studded waiting list, and politely sighed,
"Can you come back another night?"
McQueen just smiled, revved his engine, and vanished into the desert night.
Mel didn't realize until later that he had turned away the biggest movie star in America.
Palm Springs was one of the few places where Steve McQueen could disappear while being one of the most recognizable men in America.
One imagines McQueen enjoyed the irony. Being mistaken for an ordinary biker was probably preferable to being recognized as Steve McQueen.
The Legacy of Cool
Palm Springs wasn't where Steve McQueen became the King of Cool. It was where he could finally stop performing the role.
McQueen showed the world that Palm Springs wasn’t just a sleepy retirement oasis for the studio bosses—it could be a dynamic, thrilling playground for the adventurous spirit. He proved that you could embrace the clean, beautiful lines of mid-century modern architecture while still maintaining a rugged, rebellious edge.
We think the city's best restaurants still understand both versions of Palm Springs. They're polished without being pretentious, ambitious without forgetting they're in the desert, and every great meal comes with a story.
That's exactly what we look for at Artisan Food Tours, where architecture, celebrity history, local culture and exceptional food all share the same table.
Ready to walk in the footsteps of one of Hollywood’s greatest rebels while tasting the absolute best flavors the desert has to offer?
Snag your tickets for an upcoming Artisan Food Tour and experience Palm Springs like a true insider.
Enjoyed this story? Explore more of our "Local Celebs" series to discover the Palm Springs stories behind the remarkable personalities who helped shape the desert's singular character. You'll also find collections devoted to architecture, history, food and the people who continue to make Palm Springs unlike anywhere else.
Dave Ball is a local tour guide and co-owner of Artisan Food Tours with his wife, Phyllis. He spends an inordinate amount of time thinking about Palm Springs history, neighborhood architecture and where to find a great meal. His current food obsession is local Deglet Noor dates with Fix & Fogg Crunchy Peanut Butter.
He can be seen around town in his collector-grade vintage 2013 silver Prius or leading a tour group in a 2019 Ford Transit Van. He'll occasionally floor it merging onto Highway 111 just to keep his adrenaline level up. Steve McQueen would probably not be impressed.