7 Must-Try Italian Restaurants Across 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 Italian Cuisine.

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

Johnny Costa’s Ristorante

The restaurant’s late founder, Johnny Costa, served as Frank Sinatra’s personal chef. The menu at his beloved restaurant, now overseen by his sons, still includes the crooner’s favorite Steak Sinatra. The angelhair pomodori with grilled chicken is another crowd pleaser. 

Cathedral City

Trilussa

Be part of the famiglia with classic Italian dishes like lasagna Bolognese, chicken piccata, and tiramisu. Vegans will appreciate pasta with zoodles (zucchini noodles) or pizza with a cauliflower crust. 

Rancho Mirage

Enzo’s Bistro & Bar

Father-son family recipes from Italy add a homemade touch to pizzas, pastas, seafood, and dry-aged meats. The selection of Californian and Italian wines is vast.

Palm Desert

Castelli’s Ristorante

The brothers Castelli have been serving Old World Tuscan cuisine for more than 30 years. Local favorites include pork chops with caramelized apples, fettuccine Alfredo, and osso bucco. The Celebrity Room is filled with photos of past guests like Kurt Russell and Frank Sinatra. 

Indian Wells

The Nest

The Mediterranean menu at this late-night desert institution (founded in 1965) includes Italian favorites like sole piccata, plus vegan and gluten-free items. Live music boosts the vivacious bar scene and often results in a lengthy line to get in. 

La Quinta

Kiki’s

Everything at Kiki’s is Instagram-ready, from the white plates with dark green accents to the seasonal cuisine, including homemade focaccia, panzanella (with Coachella dates), sugar snap pea pizza, and short ribs with polenta. 

Indio

Italica

Seek out the silver door. At this sophisticated, speakeasy-style restaurant with dark walls and intriguing lighting, many dishes are made for sharing. Start with a smoked cocktail, then maintain the spark with penne alla vodka flambéed tableside.