Guidebook for Palm Springs
Drinks & Nightlife
This place looks like nothing on the outside. It’s tucked into a forlorn-looking shopping plaza out on the corner of East Vista Chino and Gene Autry Trail. Once you step inside, though, it’s like entering a different world. Excellent cocktails and food. It’s pretty small so you may have to wait for a seat, but worth it!
55 locals recommend
Paul Bar/Food
3700 E Vista ChinoThis place looks like nothing on the outside. It’s tucked into a forlorn-looking shopping plaza out on the corner of East Vista Chino and Gene Autry Trail. Once you step inside, though, it’s like entering a different world. Excellent cocktails and food. It’s pretty small so you may have to wait for a seat, but worth it!
This is the most adorable bar in PS. It’s tiny though, so get there on the early side. Recent outdoor seating expansion helps some. Very good drinks. In the Uptown district. The “front of the house” is a coffee shop by day (Earnest).
119 locals recommend
Bootlegger Tiki
1101 N Palm Canyon DrThis is the most adorable bar in PS. It’s tiny though, so get there on the early side. Recent outdoor seating expansion helps some. Very good drinks. In the Uptown district. The “front of the house” is a coffee shop by day (Earnest).
Cocktails are so so but the drag show on Sunday is really fun. Plus it’s walkable from 360 Cabrillo!
90 locals recommend
Toucans Tiki Lounge
2100 N Palm Canyon DrCocktails are so so but the drag show on Sunday is really fun. Plus it’s walkable from 360 Cabrillo!
Another Tiki Bar, but larger and also very fun. It’s on the second floor and looks out over Palm Canyon. Fun to go for the Thursday night market.
58 locals recommend
The Tonga Hut Restaurant and Tiki Bar
254 N Palm Canyon DrAnother Tiki Bar, but larger and also very fun. It’s on the second floor and looks out over Palm Canyon. Fun to go for the Thursday night market.
Great cocktails and a really good bar menu. Kitchen is shared with Workshop next door!
52 locals recommend
Truss & Twine
800 N Palm Canyon DrGreat cocktails and a really good bar menu. Kitchen is shared with Workshop next door!
Excellent local brews and wine, but the back patio is the real star of the show—you can’t beat the mountain views after the sun passes over San Jacinto. We love this place (also outdoor seating in front for people watching).
19 locals recommend
Las Palmas Brewing
461 N Palm Canyon DrExcellent local brews and wine, but the back patio is the real star of the show—you can’t beat the mountain views after the sun passes over San Jacinto. We love this place (also outdoor seating in front for people watching).
Food Scene
This is one of our favorites. Menu changes pretty frequently and it focuses on seasonal fare. Service is among the best we’ve experienced in Palm Springs.
118 locals recommend
Jake's
664 N Palm Canyon DrThis is one of our favorites. Menu changes pretty frequently and it focuses on seasonal fare. Service is among the best we’ve experienced in Palm Springs.
This place is a little bit of local’s secret. It’s out by airport on S. El Cielo and is the best Mexican in town. The enchiladas de camaron and the arrachera with shrimp are to die for but you can’t go wrong here. I love the tortas.
21 locals recommend
Felipe's Fine Mexican Restaurant
El Cielo RoadThis place is a little bit of local’s secret. It’s out by airport on S. El Cielo and is the best Mexican in town. The enchiladas de camaron and the arrachera with shrimp are to die for but you can’t go wrong here. I love the tortas.
The best ice cream in Palm Springs, hands down. Also features coconut milk based ice creams for your vegan pals. The turmeric ginger is amazing, but anything chocolate here is a must.
27 locals recommend
Kreem
170 E Palm Canyon DrThe best ice cream in Palm Springs, hands down. Also features coconut milk based ice creams for your vegan pals. The turmeric ginger is amazing, but anything chocolate here is a must.
Good brunch, right downtown and a fun space. Be sure to check out the art gallery in the back.
55 locals recommend
Grand Central Palm Springs
160 La PlazaGood brunch, right downtown and a fun space. Be sure to check out the art gallery in the back.
repare to wait, but many consider this the best brunch in Palm Springs. If you’re starving and you are already in uptown, check out Trio up the street.
259 locals recommend
Cheeky's
622 N Palm Canyon Drrepare to wait, but many consider this the best brunch in Palm Springs. If you’re starving and you are already in uptown, check out Trio up the street.
You CAN get a good bagel in Palm Springs. Honest! Towie has really delicious bagels and other baked goods, breakfast sandwiches and of course, coffee. Bonus: close to some good vintage shops on Sunny Dunes Road.
72 locals recommend
Townie Bagels | Bakery | Cafe
650 E Sunny Dunes RdYou CAN get a good bagel in Palm Springs. Honest! Towie has really delicious bagels and other baked goods, breakfast sandwiches and of course, coffee. Bonus: close to some good vintage shops on Sunny Dunes Road.
Always a crowd a Bills with good reason. We are East Coast pizza snobs and we won’t lie and say Bill’s is up there with a good New York or New Haven pie. But, it’s tasty California pizza and fun environment. Good people watching if you snag an outdoor table.
129 locals recommend
Bill's Pizza
119 S Indian Canyon DrAlways a crowd a Bills with good reason. We are East Coast pizza snobs and we won’t lie and say Bill’s is up there with a good New York or New Haven pie. But, it’s tasty California pizza and fun environment. Good people watching if you snag an outdoor table.
Really simple but always good roast chicken and excellent salads. Also, good Rose choices ;-)
33 locals recommend
Chicken Ranch
515 N Palm Canyon DrReally simple but always good roast chicken and excellent salads. Also, good Rose choices ;-)
This place focuses on organic cuisine. Lots of vegetarian/vegan options too. Strange decor and the service can be pokey, but the food is always good.
64 locals recommend
Palm Greens Cafe
611 S Palm Canyon DrThis place focuses on organic cuisine. Lots of vegetarian/vegan options too. Strange decor and the service can be pokey, but the food is always good.
This place is huge and fun. People watching is terrific from this perch on Palm Canyon, and if you are heading out to the gay bars on Arenas, they are a short walk away. That said, stick with the simpler fare for best results. The menu is very long, with all of the pitfalls that entails.
353 locals recommend
Lulu California Bistro
200 S Palm Canyon DrThis place is huge and fun. People watching is terrific from this perch on Palm Canyon, and if you are heading out to the gay bars on Arenas, they are a short walk away. That said, stick with the simpler fare for best results. The menu is very long, with all of the pitfalls that entails.
We love Vietnamese food and lived in San Francisco for almost 20 years, where the bar was set pretty high. Rooster and the Pig has a really interesting menu and some delicious options (steamed banana leaf cod). Service can be uneven
189 locals recommend
Rooster And The Pig
356 South Indian Canyon DriveWe love Vietnamese food and lived in San Francisco for almost 20 years, where the bar was set pretty high. Rooster and the Pig has a really interesting menu and some delicious options (steamed banana leaf cod). Service can be uneven
Zin American Bistro
198 S Palm Canyon DrConsistently good menu and great wine list.
Gorgeous place tucked just south of downtown (but still walkable). Food is amazing, service is great. Beautiful outdoor dining space. Priced to match, but worth it :-)
82 locals recommend
Le Vallauris Restaurant
385 W Tahquitz Canyon WayGorgeous place tucked just south of downtown (but still walkable). Food is amazing, service is great. Beautiful outdoor dining space. Priced to match, but worth it :-)
Now with 3 locations in Palm Springs. Good coffee drinks, and the location in uptown has a lovely outdoor yard/patio that is worth a visit in itself.
Go to the North Palm canyon location and get there earlyish to score an outdoor seat in the beautiful courtyard in the back. Excellent people watching and you are almost guaranteed to overhear a ridiculous conversation :-)
151 locals recommend
Koffi
515 N Palm Canyon DrNow with 3 locations in Palm Springs. Good coffee drinks, and the location in uptown has a lovely outdoor yard/patio that is worth a visit in itself.
Go to the North Palm canyon location and get there earlyish to score an outdoor seat in the beautiful courtyard in the back. Excellent people watching and you are almost guaranteed to overhear a ridiculous conversation :-)
Try the date shake with walnuts. A local delicacy! But we won’t judge you for ordering something else--it’s all delicious. Plus every shake comes topped with mini donut!
33 locals recommend
Great Shakes
160 S Palm Canyon DrTry the date shake with walnuts. A local delicacy! But we won’t judge you for ordering something else--it’s all delicious. Plus every shake comes topped with mini donut!
Parks & Nature
I can't say enough about Joshua Tree. It's a magical place. Bring water, and stop by the visitor center for a map and local information.
1713 locals recommend
Joshua Tree National Park
I can't say enough about Joshua Tree. It's a magical place. Bring water, and stop by the visitor center for a map and local information.