Where to Eat in Palm Springs

With its sparkling pools, midcentury architecture, and breathtaking mountaintops, Palm Springs is a place where you can’t help but deeply inhale the crisp desert air and instantly feel relaxed.

The desert town has been a favored vacation escape since the 1920s when it was frequented by Tinseltown stars seeking a break from Hollywood. But these days, the whole Coachella Valley has wider-ranging appeal with a full slate of year-long programming from top-tier music festivals to golf and tennis tournaments, Pride events, and pulsing pool parties. Visitors can choose from a kaleidoscope of hotels and enjoy excellent vintage shopping, serene spas, and an emerging restaurant scene that confirms dining here is anything but a desert.

From Mediterranean kebabs and dips in a new luxury hotel to celebrity chefs hosting multi-course dinner series to authentic birria in a no-frills taco joint, the Coachella Valley is becoming a culinary destination in its own right. Here are the places that will have you packing your sunnies and swimsuit for an indulgent vacation in paradise.

Azúcar and Sugar High Rooftop

Ensconced within the confines of the boho-glam La Serena Villas hotel, dining at Azúcar feels like you’ve jetted off to Tulum with its white-washed walls, tile accents, photogenic rooftop, and dining room fronting the hotel’s glittering pool. Chef Seth Miller is a Coachella Valley native and his menu merges Mexican influences with a California approach. Think spicy watermelon Margs where the fruit tastes scraped right from the rind with jalapeño-infused tequila that’s been fermented in-house for a month. The fiercely fresh seasonal salads are also a staple, and the mole-drenched chicken comes from a hundred-year-old family recipe.

Boozehounds Palm Springs

Perched at the northern end of Palm Springs, Boozehounds buzzes all day starting with brunch on the large patio, followed by one of the best happy hours in town. At night, the scene turns smoldering with dimmed lighting, creative craft cocktails, and small plates. Whenever you arrive, feel free to BYOD: Bring Your Own Dog. Being pup-friendly is woven into every aspect of the restaurant from pooch-themed decor to a dedicated dog food section of the menu. For humans, the menu has strong Asian influences with highlights like karaage chicken tenders over a waffle, 48-hour miso-marinated fish and chips, umami-rich garlic noodles, and avocado toast loaded with poke cubes, yuzu, gochugang Vegenaise, and eel sauce.

DSRT Club

The town of La Quinta, south of Palm Springs, is locally known as the “gem of the desert,” and with a cove filled with hiking trails and an atmospheric Old Town, it’s easy to see why. Old Town, in particular, has many charming restaurants, including DSRT Club, an upscale choice that draws inspiration from a social club that was popular in the desert’s retro heyday. Today, the restaurant aims to conjure up a similar swanky elegance with plates like crispy skin branzino or a refined take on poutine that places bites of filet over fries soaked in a demi-glaze and topped with blue cheese.  

Farm

No visit to Palm Springs is complete without a long leisurely brunch somewhere fantastic, ideally at the Provencal-style Farm. The lush garden courtyard is set back from the tourist throngs, which creates a transportive effect as if you’ve slipped away to the South of France — and so do the dishes. While Farm also serves dinner, brunch is what has visitors and locals alike eagerly queuing in the heat. Airy light crepes go sweet or savory, stuffed with smoked salmon and créme fraiche on one end and decadent Nutella on the other. Other francophile favorites include the requisite Croque Madame and Croque Monsieur, or chicken smothered in creamy mushrooms. Or, keep it classic with omelettes, hearty sandwiches, and salads. 

Lola Rose Grand Mezze

There has been perhaps no hotel opening in town more anticipated than the Thompson Palm Springs. Delayed for years, the property finally opened in late 2024 and its restaurant, Lola Rose Grand Mezze, is just as much a draw as its art-laden interiors, rooftop pool, and contemporary rooms. The slick space shines with a plush lounge and dining room reminiscent of something you’d find in Miami’s South Beach. The menu is Levantine-inspired with a selection of mezze plates like creamy tomato labneh, best paired with luscious pita baked in a tandoor oven. Accompany dips with fried falafel balls, succulent kebabs, and salads studded with pomegranate and creamy feta.

Maleza Palm Springs

Mexican food isn’t uncommon in these parts, and usually the most pared-down spots are best for scouting out truly traditional fare. But Maleza, found inside the hip Drift Hotel, serves an elevated take that’s refreshingly unique. Led by executive chef Ysaac Ramirez, lunch is a celebration of Mexico’s taco stand culture with inventive creations like a tortilla hugging braised beef that manages to be velvety soft while boasting perfectly charred, crisp ends. Dinner, meanwhile, is a mix of small and large plates from shrimp ceviche swimming in a delectable spicy coconut milk to a whole branzino dressed with salsa verde.

Mr. Lyons Steakhouse

Channel old-school Palm Springs Rat Pack vibes at Mr. Lyons, a classic steakhouse with a sultry feel. As expected, tender cuts of beef are the star of the show here — Prime filet or New York Strip — but so are surprising standouts like Cornish hen with mushroom stuffing, lobster ravioli, a selection of hand rolls, and an iconic wedge salad. A well-crafted martini or Old Fashioned is a fitting accompaniment, or better yet, slide past a nondescript curtain after your meal to enter Seymour’s, the restaurant’s speakeasy-style cocktail bar located between the entrance and the lounge area.

Rooster and the Pig

With no reservations, expect to see lines of hungry diners forming well before the doors open at 5 p.m. sharp. And there’s good reason to be so patient. The Vietnamese food served at Rooster and the Pig is unlike anything else you’ll find in the valley, rivaling the flavorful Southeast Asian dishes you’d expect in places like Los Angeles or New York. The dining area is industrial and modern with diners sitting elbow to elbow in booths or at a scattering of tables inside and out on a patio. Start with rolls, either of the crispy spring variety or fresh summer ones, and follow with generously sized mains like sweet and savory caramelized chicken or shaking beef, which is a juicy cut served with rice, pickled red onion, and a cucumber tomato salad.

Sottovoce Cafe

El Paseo is considered the Rodeo Drive of the desert for designer shopping. To find the highest concentration of luxury brands in one place, head to the outdoor mall, The Gardens on El Paseo, to peruse everything from Louis Vuitton to Tiffany & Co. Pair a power shopping session with a stop into Sottovoce, an Italian cafe and wine bar centrally located in the shopping plaza next door to Saks Fifth Avenue and a pretty green grassy area. Choose from cappuccinos and nibbles of gourmet pastries or sips of wine and spritzes with Mediterranean-inspired salads and panini.

Taco Shop 760 Restaurant

Indio is a bit of a drive from Palm Springs, typically 30 to 40 minutes, but birria fans won’t find it better than at this no-frills spot. Taco Shop 760 has two locations in Indio (and one further in Coachella) but this one tucked inside in a strip mall has a dine-in option while the other is takeout only. Other proteins are offered but the birria is unmissable, exquisitely flavored and fall-apart tender. Order it stuffed inside Kesatacos where the meat comes grilled inside a corn tortilla with melted, crispy-at-the-edge cheese, or in oversized burritos, tortas, and quesadillas. You can even top fries, pizza, or ramen with the specialty meat.

Tía Carmen 

Further south of Palm Springs is Indian Wells, a posh enclave renowned for world-class tennis and manicured golf courses. While there, drop into Tía Carmen from celebrity chef Angelo Sosa. The former Top Chef contestant is a protege of Jean-Georges Vongerichten and has collaborated with Alain Ducasse and Masaharu Morimoto. His restaurant in the desert pays homage to his aunt (tía) Carmen and is a celebration of Southwest flavors. If you’re lucky, your visit will coincide with one of his special multi-course dinner series where Sosa teams up with other celebrated chefs for unique, one-night only tasting menus.

Workshop Kitchen & Bar

Chefs Michael Beckman and Joe Mourani met while they were studying at the Paul Bocuse Institute in Lyon, France, and in 2012, they merged their talents to open Workshop Kitchen & Bar in Palm Springs’ Uptown Design District. Inside is stark and modernist with concrete walls, benches, and tables, including a long communal one, and there’s a lovely courtyard for outdoor dining. A variety of flavors converge here with options like ricotta gnocchi in an oyster mushroom ragu, as well as crispy pork belly fried rice, lamb kefta, and wood-fired pizzas.