12 Best Bar Scenes in Greater Palm Springs

Each year, Palm Springs Life invites readers to vote for their favorite businesses, experiences, and attractions across Greater Palm Springs in our city-by-city Best of the Best competition. Below, you’ll find this year’s winners for Best Bar Scene.

Explore the full list of 2025 winners across all 29 categories at the link below.

The next round of voting opens in April 2026.

Palm Springs

The Tropicale

With exotic fruity cocktails, pink lights, and a palm motif, The Tropicale turns every visit into a vacation. 

Desert Hot Springs (Tied)

Casa Blanca Restaurant

An extensive drink menu ensures a festive round of imbibing. A margarita is a must, and there are plenty of options to choose from, including Tajín, mango, and tamarind. 

Delicias Mexican Cuisine

The restaurant’s small but inventive bar is worth a visit on its own, especially if you crave creative Mexican cocktails. Try the Santo Mojito. 

DHS Downtown Bar

This local bar livens up Pierson Boulevard with old-school arcade games, a pool table, and DJ and karaoke nights. 

Cathedral City

The Roost Lounge

A hub for entertainment, The Roost offers cabaret, disco, and drag shows, karaoke and open mic nights, and charity bingo, plus cocktail slushies. 

Rancho Mirage

Willie’s Modern Fare

Admire the modern artwork while sipping wine in the lounge, then order off the bar menu, the only way to get Willie’s buttermilk fried chicken. 

Palm Desert (Tied)

La Fe Wine Bar

Oenophiles will appreciate the thoughtful wine list at this cozy El Paseo hideaway. Share and sip over a charcuterie board and an order of empanadas or flatbread.

Tommy Bahama Restaurant & Bar

Take a break from shopping on El Paseo with an island-inspired drink, like a frozen mai tai or Coconut Cloud Martini. 

Indian Wells

The Nest

Locals line up nightly to enter this club and restaurant. Expect a hoppin’ dance floor, live entertainment, and stiff drinks. 

La Quinta

RD RNNR

This upstairs hangout in Old Town La Quinta keeps things interesting with clever menu categories like “Clawtails” and “Coyotinis.” 

Indio

Indio Taphouse

The downtown bar pairs an extensive beer list with craft cocktails and a Mexican-influenced gastropub menu. Don’t miss trivia night. 

Coachella

Áyily Bar

Prep for slot play at Augustine Casino with a visit to the central bar, where seats are comfy, and crowd-pleasers include margaritas and chavelas.