24 Best Places to Eat in Palm Springs
There’s no shortage of amazing restaurants and places to eat in Palm Springs. Whether you’re going for brunch, lunch, happy hour, or dinner, this round-up provides the best places to eat in Palm Springs.
Coffee
Photo Credits: Top Left - Ernest Coffee, Top Right - Koffi, Bottom Left - 4 Paws Coffee Co., Bottom Right - Starbucks Reserve (via Visit Palm Springs)
1. Ernest Coffee
Ernest Coffee is the only independent coffee shop serving Stumptown in Palm Springs, a popular Portland coffee brand. You can enjoy your coffee in their open air space or on their mountain-facing patio. This historical spot also serves freshly baked pastries, muffins, almond croissants, and more.
2. Koffi
Koffi is a community coffee shop with several locations in Palm Springs. The company sources and roasts more than 80,000 pounds of premium certified organic green coffee annually. With 20 different coffee varieties, mostly organic, from Central/South America, Indonesia, and Africa, there’s something for everyone - whether it's light or super dark coffee. Not only does Koffi serve up specialty coffee, but they also serve freshly baked muffins, scones, cinnamon rolls, and grilled breakfast sandwiches.
3. 4 Paws Coffee Co.
Try a Salted Caramel Latte and Almond Croissant at 4 Paws Coffee Co. located in the up-and-coming Uptown Design District in Palm Springs. Not only do they serve coffee favorites, but they also have a full breakfast and lunch menu including pastries, sandwiches, salads, and more. Like many places in Palm Springs, 4 Paws Coffee Co. loves their furry friends. Every purchase helps contribute to the animal community.
4. Starbucks Reserve
Yes, it’s true that Starbucks is not a novelty with its global brand locations. But Starbucks Reserve is a special treat when you find one because these cafes feature a selection the rarest, most extraordinary coffee. They also feature new and different food and snacks than the regular Starbucks stores.
Brunch / Breakfast
Photo Credits: Top Left - Townie Bagels (via Visit Palm Springs), Top Right - Wilma & Frieda (via Palm Springs Life), Bottom Left - Cheeky’s (via Visit Palm Springs), Bottom Right - Norma’s (via Parker Palm Springs)
5. Townie Bagels | Bakery | Café
Bagel enthusiasts will be pleased with Townie Bagels | Bakery | Cafe. Try a classic boiled bagel there with your coffee or espresso drink. Townie uses old-school bagel making methods, using no-additive flours. Dough is mixed and shaped the night before, then boiled in malted water until golden brown in the morning. Townie is open from 6:30 am to noon every day, except Tuesdays.
6. Wilma & Frieda
Wilma & Frieda is known for serving comfort food with a twist. Named after the owners’ grandmothers, Wilma & Frieda, this restaurant features childhood favorites like Kim’s Banana Caramel French Toast and Bernie’s Chile Verde with Pork and Brie Omelet. Carrying on their grandmothers’ legacies, this brother-and-sister-run joint is well worth the visit.
7. Cheeky's
You’ll want to try a 5-piece bacon flight at Cheeky’s ($$), a beloved Palm Springs brunch spot. The farm-to-table menu is forever changing, with unique spins on classics, like French Toast with red currants and mascarpone. The bacon flights change weekly too, including such innovative creations as Beeler Apple Cinnamon, Korean BBQ, Ranch, Jalapeno, Black Garlic, Thyme Honey, and Nodine's Applewood. Also, their famous Cinnamon Rolls are homemade and sell out nearly every day. There tends to be a long wait for this restaurant because reservations are not accepted, so try to get there early. (They open at 8 a.m.)
8. Norma’s
A Palm Springs favorite for brunch, Norma’s offers a luxe dining experience – don’t forget to make a reservation. This chic spot can be found within the Parker Palm Springs hotel with a bright, colorful open-air terrace. Begin with a shot of the fruit smoothie of the day and end your meal with lightly glazed orange slices. In between, try delights like Very Berry Brioche French Toast, Normalita’s Huevos Rancheros, Flat-As-A-Pancake Crabcake, and Potato Pancakes. Portions are large so you may want to share!
Lunch
Photo Credits: Top Left - Las Casuelas Terraza (via LA Magazine), Top Right - Trio Restaurant, Bottom Left - Rooster & The Pig (via Conde Nast Traveler), Bottom Right - Bill’s Pizza (via Zomato)
9. Las Casuelas Terraza
Want a peaceful patio moment in the midst of the bustling Downtown Palm Springs? Go for Las Casuelas Terraza, a family-owned Mexican restaurant serving 4 generations of Delgado family recipes. Although the food is great, the patio is the true attraction. Terraza offers three different patios within their property, each with a unique ambiance – a quiet, romantic patio with a fountain and flowers, a lively patio with a circular outdoor bar, and the intimate sidewalk patio. Between the misters and the margaritas, you’ll stay refreshed and cool as you take some time to relax outdoors.
10. Trio Restaurant
The lively Trio Restaurant is a great pick for lunch, located in a historic mid-century bank building. Trio specializes in modern American food with a twist of Italian influences. Guests rave about menu favorites, including Heirloom Tomato Bruschetta, Coca Cola Braised Short Ribs, and Whole Branzino. Trio boasts that they have the “happiest” happy hour from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily, with $4 well drinks and wine, beer, and bar bites starting at $5.
11. Rooster and The Pig
Rooster and The Pig is a favorite for Vietnamese food in Palm Springs. Made with the freshest ingredients, the menu offers both traditional and innovative entrees, including pork belly fried rice and Banh Mi Burgers. Check their website before visiting as hours are limited, dine-in is currently closed (due to COVID restrictions), and the menu changes frequently.
12. Bill's Pizza
Want a quality slice at an affordable price? Go to Bill’s Pizza located in the Downtown Plaza. You can opt to make your own pizza at this casual spot or choose creative creations like the Elton John, Nicolas Cage, and Charlie Sheen. Picky about your crust? You won’t be disappointed with the dough at Bill’s Pizza – it’s vegan sourdough bread made from scratch in-house. (Gluten-free options available.)
Happy Hour
Photo Credits: Top Left - 1501 Uptown Gastropub (via Palm Springs Life), Top Right - Boozhounds, Bottom Left - Eight4Nine (via Visit Palm Springs), Bottom Right - Bar Cecil
13. 1501 Uptown Gastropub
One of Palm Springs’ newest restaurants is 1501 Uptown Gastropub, which proudly opened in 2020 during the pandemic. The owners of Eight4Nine and 533 Viet Fusion did not disappoint with their latest restaurant concept. The Gastropub occupies a building with large windows and an open-air patio, designed by famous architect Chris Pardo. Although this is a great lunch spot, it’s equally as enjoyable in the evening. I had quite possibly the most delicious salad of my life there - the grilled strawberry and burrata salad. It was so simple ingredient-wise, yet so perfectly flavorful between the balsamic/evoo drizzle and sea salt/cracked pepper sprinkling. Chef’s kiss perfection!
14. Boozehounds
Get ready for trendy, fun cocktail hour at Palm Springs’ newest hotspot, Boozehounds, a pet-friendly restaurant, bar, and open-air lounge that opened late April 2021.
Boozehounds features an all-day Southern California menu with locally sourced, seasonal ingredients paired with a selection of craft cocktails. The Red Rocket cocktail is a popular choice – a blend of Tito’s vodka, red-berry mint shrub, violet, peychaud’s bitters, and egg white, this drink is not overly sweet and a just a touch tart.
Make sure to bring your camera for this spot, as interior design is super trendy and Insta-worthy - full of earth-toned furniture and plants galore!
Oh yes, bring your dog too – your pup will appreciate the separate food menu designed just for them, with menu items like chicken jerky, beef bowls, and weenie-tinis!
15. Eight4Nine
A contemporary restaurant and lounge, Eight4Nine offers a chic setting to dine in. The white and hot pink color scheme creates a modern but fun vibe as you enjoy delectable comfort food dishes like Five Spice Duck Confit and Willa Jean’s Fried Chicken. The large outdoor patio, lit up with string lights, is the perfect place to enjoy a cocktail, while admiring the mountain views.
16. Bar Cecil
Bar Cecil is a fresh, fun bar and restaurant named after Sir Cecil Beaton, a renaissance man who was a rebellious, charming, aristocratic photographer and costume designer (e.g. My Fair Lady). He left behind a legacy of elegant photographs of Hollywood stars and high society, and his works have been featured by Condé Nast, Vanity Fair, and Vogue.
Notable entrees at Bar Cecil include steak + frites, roasted chicken, pan seared halibut, classic pasta, and smoked bone-in pork chop. Their “Why Not?” menu features caviar service, the Beaton Martini, oysters on the half shell, and a dry aged tomahawk steak. One table per night can enjoy the Beaton Experience, a six-course wine-paired prix-fixe dinner in honor of Cecil Beaton.
Dinner
Photo Credits: Top Left - FARM (via Greater Palm Springs), Top Right - Birba (via Visit Palm Springs), Bottom Left - El Mirasol (via Visit Palm Springs), Bottom Right - Miro’s
17. FARM
FARM was my personal favorite place of my entire time in Palm Springs. In fact, I liked it so much that I went there for both a brunch and a dinner during my week! FARM specializes in traditional French dishes. The ambiance is as delightful as the menu. Set in what looks like the backyard of a French countryside manor, FARM delivers a peaceful, romantic atmosphere to enjoy your meal, whether it’s brunch, lunch, or dinner.
For brunch, I opted for a delicious Eggs Benedict and Watermelon Lemonade – so refreshing. The menu also featured sweet and savory crepes and Brioche French Toast, as one would expect from a traditional French restaurant. Their produce, eggs, and artisanal meats are all locally sourced. Reservations are required for dinner, and the menu is prix fixe, which includes an amuse bouche, an appetizer, a palate cleanser, an entrée, and a dessert. Enjoy live music from standout talents, like Leslie Page, as you savor each of the 5 dinner courses.
18. Birba
Serving up delicious pizza and Italian dishes, Birba is a dinner-only spot that shares the same space at Cheeky’s. Enjoy global eats and craft cocktails while sitting under patio lights, misters, and lantern-filled trees. An evening darling for Palm Springs locals, Birba attracts a lively crowd that appreciates handcrafted cocktails and innovative pizza creations.
19. El Mirasol at Los Arboles
El Mirasol is an authentic family-owned and run restaurant located at the Los Arboles Hotel, a charming and historic boutique hotel. Enjoy homemade, generations-old recipes on their expansive patio surrounded by flower gardens. Watch tortillas get created before trying specialties like double-cooked pork and polle en pipián (chicken with a pre-Columbian sauce made of ground roasted pumpkin seeds and dry chilies).
20. Miro’s Restaurant
A modern, family-owned eatery, Miro’s serves homestyle cuisine with Mediterranean and Central Europe influences. This restaurant offers excellent service, a beautiful ambiance with patio seating, and great tasting food. Don’t leave without trying a European soup or pastry!
Dessert
Photo Credits: Top Left - Choco-Churros, Top Right - Over the Rainbow Desserts (via Visit Palm Springs), Bottom Left - Monster Shakes, Bottom Right - Lappert’s Ice Cream
21. Choco-Churros
This female-owned shop shows real expertise in the production of fresh churros. Although technically located in Cathedral City, Choco-Churros is the only churro and ice cream shop in the desert. Taste creative, insta-worthy desserts like the Rainbow Mega Bite (churros covered in fruity pebbles) or the Cookie Lover Mega Bite (churros covered with chocolate sauce and oreo crumbs).
22. Over the Rainbow Desserts
Craving premium cupcakes? Go to Over the Rainbow Desserts, a vibrant bakeshop serving wild (but delicious) flavor profiles for their cupcakes and cakes. Try their signature flavor Chocolate Covered Potato Chip or one of their other original creations like White Chocolate Blueberry Blue Cheese or Chocolate Covered Jalapeno. With a master menu of over 60 flavor profiles, you’re sure to find a new favorite.
23. Monster Shakes
Monster Shakes specializes in “delicious messes” and offers a variety of desserts including shakes, ice cream, frozen yogurt, gelato, banana splits, ice cream cookie sandwiches, smoothies, shaved ice, floats, and acai/pitaya bowls. Although the menu is expansive, the monster shakes are the real crowd-pleasers with flavors like Chocolate Peanut Butter Crunch, Poppin’ Salted Caramel, Give Me S’More, and Cotton Candy Explosion. Each of the 12 choices of monster shakes comes in a giant mason jar and is decked out with sweet delights.
24. Lappert's Ice Cream
Voted “Best Ice Cream in the Desert” by the locals, Lappert’s Ice Cream draws in both tourists and residents looking for cool, sweet relief on a hot summer day. Lappert’s offers 260 unique flavors, such as Kauai Pie, Hawaiian Sea Salt Caramel, Caramel Coconut Macadamia Nut, and Kona Coffee. There are 48 flavors to choose from on any given day.
Here, you can also try a date shake, which is a popular choice in the Coachella desert, considering that the location provides a warm, dry climate, ideal for date palms.
~ What do you think of this round-up? Have you been to any of these places to eat in Palm Springs? What else should be added to this list? Tell me in the comments below! ~
author bio
Known as The Jet Set Blonde, Brittany Ryan inspires others to add more adventure to their childfree travel experiences. Brittany has visited 23 countries (and counting!) Connect with her to get access to detailed childfree travel itineraries, travel guides for weekend getaways, and updates on adult-only hotels, resorts, cruises, and other travel amenities.
