17 Restaurants (and a Candy Shop) to Try on Your Palm Springs Vacation

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Smokin’ Burgers & Lounge

This bustling neighborhood joint keeps the crowds coming back with made-to-order burgers, generous portions, and a lively atmosphere that includes a spacious patio and friendly Cheers-like full bar that stays open late seven days a week. The 187 Burger, topped with grilled habaneros, jalapeños, and ghost pepper sauce, is said to be the desert’s hottest, while the Awesome Burger (pictured) with crispy onions and bacon may be among the most awesome. Also available are sandwiches, salads, wraps, tacos, fish and chips, and veggie and turkey burgers. The wild-caught Alaskan salmon is a local favorite.

1775 E. Palm Canyon Drive, Suite 220, Palm Springs
760-883-5999

Did you know?

Double the Happy

Smokin’ Burgers & Lounge hosts two happy hours every day, from 3 to 6 p.m. and again from 9 p.m. till midnight. With well-priced food on the menu, plus discounts on house wine, beer, and well drinks, how can you go wrong?

Bill’s Pizza

At Bill’s Pizza, it’s all about the thin yet chewy sourdough crust. In his quest to perfect the recipe, late owner Bill Tracy ate his way through Italy and across the United States. He opened his namesake pizzeria in Palm Springs in 2010 and Palm Desert in 2017. Both locations continue to champion his dough recipe, slinging brick-oven pies that compelled food critics Jane and Michael Stern to name Bill’s among the best pizzerias in the country.

119 S. Indian Canyon Drive, Palm Springs
760-325-5571

The Sandwich Spot

It’s not just a sandwich spot, it’s the spot for a sandwich in Palm Springs, as evidenced by the line that snakes out the door around lunchtime most days. Tennis buffs will appreciate items like the Djokovic (turkey, bacon, cheddar, and avocado) and French Open (marinated chicken, hot sauce, blue cheese dressing, and pepper jack). Top it off with a chocolate-chip cookie — they bake one of the desert’s best.

276 N. Palm Canyon Drive, Palm Springs
760-778-7900

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Sottovoce Coffee and Wine

At their new location in Palm Springs, the finest traditional Italian coffees and wines will have you saying, “Perfetto!” Start your day with a cappuccino and fresh-baked pastry. In the evening, indulge in a selection of wines from across Italy, whether you prefer a bold Montepulciano, a smooth Barbera, or a crisp vermentino or pecorino. Explore their curated selection of authentic Italian vintage wines, premium olive oils, and festive panettone from Milano. Visit Sottovoce for a true taste of Italy.

1345 N. Palm Canyon Drive, Palm Springs
760-464-0480

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Ponzu

Elegant and elevated, yet friendly, Ponzu Sushi is part of the pulse of downtown Palm Springs, serving up the finest premium sushi with their daily delivery of fish from around the world. Visitors and locals alike, whether in the restaurant, on the patio, or at the sushi bar, enjoy master chef Sky’s innovative, stylish sushi menu along with other Japanese-inspired dishes. Highlights include the signature Palm Springs Roll, indulgent Millionaire Roll, and delicate yellowtail carpaccio. Pair your meal with a crafted cocktail, such as the Old Timer Tokyo, or lineup of premium sakes. Ponzu Sushi welcomes you to one of the most special sushi dining experiences in the Coachella Valley.

100 W. Tahquitz Canyon Way, Suite 130, Palm Springs
760-699-7001

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Johnny Costa’s Ristorante

From the classic Italian music to the candlelit tables, the nostalgic atmosphere at Johnny Costa’s Ristorante transports you back to midcentury times. It’s no wonder Frank Sinatra was once a regular at this restaurant, which has been honored by Palm Springs Life readers as the city’s Best Italian Restaurant for 14 consecutive years. The Costa family has carried on the legacy of late chef/owner Johnny Costa, who was pals with Sinatra when he moved to Hollywood from New York in the 1960s and a decade later served as the singer’s personal chef at his desert home. Costa’s pedigree lives on in recipes like the must-try linguini with clams.

440 S. Palm Canyon Drive, Palm Springs 760-325-4556

Farm

Tucked in the historic La Plaza shopping center is a slice of Provençal paradise. The breakfast and lunch menus offer French-inspired staples like eggs Benedict and crêpes. For dinner, the space transforms into a romantic setting for a refined prix-fixe menu of elevated cuisine and interesting wine pairings. Farm holds autism certification through the International Board of Credentialing and Continuing Education Standards, ensuring an inclusive dining experience.

6 La Plaza, Palm Springs
760-322-2724

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Brandini Toffee

Brandini Toffee is a local, family-owned company that has gone global thanks to an Oprah endorsement, among other rave reviews. Almond toffee is the staple, but the company’s list of goodies has grown to include toffee popcorn, chocolate-dipped pretzels rolled in toffee crumbles, toffee milkshakes, and hand-dipped ice cream bars. For a factory tour, make the drive to the flagship store in Rancho Mirage.

132 S. Palm Canyon Drive, Palm Springs
760-200-1598

Rooster and the Pig

When Tai Spendley opened Rooster and the Pig in Palm Springs nearly a decade ago, he knew what he didn’t want to serve: pho. “Everyone knows pho, and a lot of people think of that when they think of Vietnamese food, but there’s so much more,” he says. “I wanted to create a restaurant so people could try Vietnamese homestyle cooking — variations of the dishes I grew up eating.”   

Crispy beef over egg noodles and a panko-crusted chicken-stuffed rice ball with coconut yellow curry have become signatures, while vegetable and seafood specials rotate with the seasons. Spendley plays with ingredients not usually found in Vietnamese cooking (think Brussels sprouts or butternut squash).

The result is a dining room with nightly lines out the door and a growing crowd of converts, including skeptics who tell him, “I don’t like Asian food, but I really loved this.”

356 S. Indian Canyon Drive, Palm Springs
760-832-6691

Bar Cecil

An homage to renaissance man Cecil Beaton, the chic bistro and bar presents a decadent menu with equal attention to ingredient quality, flavor pairings, and artful plating. Items like caviar, homemade pasta, and wagyu steak invite indulgence and play well with a tantalizing menu of mixologist-crafted drinks. Bar Cecil is often booked out well in advance, so make your reservations early to ensure you get a seat (though walk-ins are welcome at the bar). Be sure to check out one of the cheekiest restrooms in Palm Springs.

1555 S. Palm Canyon Drive, Palm Springs
442-332-3800

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Reforma

Reforma offers a vibrant, upscale atmosphere with dynamic lighting, top DJs, and a spacious dance floor. Enjoy crafted cocktails, weekly and special events, and an energetic crowd, perfect for unforgettable nights in the desert.

333 S. Palm Canyon Drive, Suite 2, Palm Springs 760-902-6630

Canopy Wine Lounge

Gorgeous indoors and out, this intimate concept bar from Noah Mamet (the former U.S. Ambassador to Argentina) pours a lengthy list of wines by the glass, along with plenty of grape varieties by the bottle. Oenophiles should opt for the Black Glass Program, a market-price blind tasting curated by the sommelier. Pair the vino with small bites like caviar and chips, olives and hummus, or pulled pork sliders. Save room for the burnt Basque cheesecake.

175 N. Palm Canyon Drive, Suite 150, Palm Springs 760-656-0054

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Juniper Table

At Juniper Table, the sunny all-day café at the Kimpton Rowan Palm Springs Hotel, a renovation has breathed new life into a beloved dining experience.

The reimagined space is sophisticated yet approachable, designed to be as fresh and vibrant as the Mediterranean-inspired dishes on the menu. A custom mosaic inlay tile welcomes you into the interiors of deep emerald tiles, luxe textures, and blossom-inspired whitewash scalloped tables, all framed by soft drapery. It’s a perfect space for gathering with friends or spending a quiet moment by yourself. Every detail has been chosen to create an environment where life unfolds at your pace.

The refreshed patio, with its “sassier” pink and red-fringed umbrellas, invites guests to soak up the Palm Springs sunshine and embrace the desert dining vibes.

Beyond the enhancements, Juniper Table continues to deliver on its commitment to exceptional fresh fare. The all-day menu features an array of rustic Mediterranean dishes crafted with local and organic ingredients. From light breakfast selections and hearty entrées to shareable snacks, salads, and sandwiches, there’s something to tempt every palate. Pair your meal with a premium coffee from the full barista menu, a refreshing fresh-pressed juice, or a craft soda, and unwind with a selection of draft beers, wine, and cocktails. Better yet, settle into the patio with a chilled glass of bubbly for the best Palm Springs people-watching.

100 W. Tahquitz Canyon Way, Palm Springs
760-904-5032

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Eight4Nine Restaurant & Lounge

Light, bright, and energized by its delightful food, drinks, and joyful diners, Eight4Nine Restaurant & Lounge remains, after 10 years, a favorite of locals and tourists alike in Palm Springs’ Uptown Design District. The celebrated creation of seasoned restaurateur Willie Rhine and celebrity photographer John Paschal spans 9,000 square feet and features a vibrant lounge with a backlit white onyx bar — a perfect spot for cocktails and small plates. The restaurant also boasts a spacious dining room and a romantic patio framed by the stunning San Jacinto Mountain backdrop. The stylish décor includes Louis XIV ghost chairs, whimsical chandeliers, and a 30-foot outdoor fire wall. The menu is just as enticing, featuring dishes like Gone Straw Farms fried chicken, healthy pasta e ragu bucatini, grilled Scottish steelhead trout (Rhine’s favorite), and the signature 849 caramel macchiato cake.

849 N. Palm Canyon Drive, Palm Springs
760-325-8490

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Del Rey

Tucked away in the lush grounds of the historic Villa Royale hotel is the intimate Del Rey bar and eatery. Refurbished with a leather-paneled fireplace and Gucci Tiger Leaf wallpaper, the secluded space features an eight-seat oak and marble bar, private booths, and contemporary artwork by Damien Hirst, Anish Kapoor, and David Bailey. The covered outdoor terrace with its own fireplace sets the scene for long nights under the desert sky.

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Blackbook

Community. Inclusion. Home. Words you don’t often associate with a bar. But that’s the feeling you get when you step into the welcoming world of Blackbook. They see you, celebrate you, and serve up some of the best elevated comfort food and cocktails in town.

“I like to say we’re an inclusion bar,” owner Dean Lavine says. “We work hard to create a space where people feel genuinely welcomed, not just greeted. At Blackbook you’re not a guest, you’re a friend.” 

That philosophy is evident in the warmth you feel from staff and the care they put into their food. “I’m obsessive about it,” Lavine admits. “These days, it feels like everyone is trying to give less for more. We’ve always been focused on giving you better.”

Perhaps passion is why Lavine’s bar was named the best restaurant in Palm Springs by locals. Their tiny kitchen, affectionately dubbed “The Little Kitchen,” serves up tasty, high-quality dishes that challenge what you expect from bar fare.

You might come for a bright, refreshing cocktail, or one of more than 600 options on the ever-expanding whiskey list, but you’ll stay for the genre-defining original Palm Springs–style nachos, epic-size burgers, crowd-pleasing Birdie Fingers, and, of course, the people.

There’s always something new to love at this small but mighty piece of home.

315 E. Arenas Road, Palm Springs
760-832-8497

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Lulu California Bistro

“There’s always a party at Lulu,” where adventure awaits and freshly made California-inspired dishes make their way to the beautiful, reimagined midcentury dining room, patio, and bar.

The active crowd includes people-watchers on the patio and in the climate-controlled atrium; patrons sipping cocktails at the bar; and guests in the main dining room. All-day happy hour, daily specials, and weekend brunch have made Lulu famous.

“We opened over a decade ago with a huge commitment to downtown Palm Springs and that helped to spark the town’s renaissance. It’s been so nice to see us grow together,” founder Jerry Keller says.

The menu boasts something for every palate, from mouthwatering hamburgers, filet mignon, and fresh fish delivered daily, to creative salads, savory pastas, and vegetarian and vegan selections. They even serve handspun pink cotton candy for dessert!

The act of bringing delicious food together with cheer doesn’t stop there. “We deeply believe in supporting charitable efforts and organizations,” Keller says. “Lulu’s restaurant and catering success is always shared with our local community to help people in need.”

200 S. Palm Canyon Drive, Palm Springs
760-327-5858

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Purple Room

Built in 1960 and located inside Club Trinidad in Palm Springs, Purple Room Supper Club remains one of the city’s original Rat Pack hangouts where Frank, Sammy, and Dean would cavort, drink, and dine. The vibe and spirit of this intimate club are alive and well, refreshed for the modern era. Owner Michael Holmes and his staff serve up craft cocktails, sophisticated cuisine, and live entertainment to a new generation of patrons.

Every weekend, Purple Room hosts acclaimed cabaret stars for ticketed dinner shows, including the weekly raucous parody of the hit 1963 musical TV series, The Judy Garland Show, in which Holmes portrays the beloved star and her celebrated guests. Every night is a celebration with live entertainment and dinner on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, which begin with jazz happy hour at 4 p.m., followed by Rat Pack–era music until 9:30.

Bourbon and whiskey fans will flip for Purple Room’s Bourbon Bar, showcasing the Coachella Valley’s largest selection of rare and small-batch bourbons and whiskeys. Try a flight or enjoy a tasting when you visit.

1900 E. Palm Canyon Drive, Palm Springs
760-322-4422