Eats 'n Drinks

Some of our favorite Palm Springs haunts are below, in no particular order. Which we think adds to the charm. One suggestion: download The Infatuation restaurant review app (or go to their website). It has a couple of good guides to Palm Springs eateries, as part of their LA section.

Boozehounds

This is exactly a mile away, so definitely walkable when it’s not summer. As the name suggests it’s a pup-friendly bar and restaurant, with a nicely done outside seating area and atrium, zoned for canines. The restaurant does dinner and weekend brunch. We usually go for cocktails ‘n apps during their happy hour. Excellent value cocktails and beer during this time and the apps are the best thing on the menu in our opinion. Truffle fries! And they do puppy bowls for Archie & Co. His go-to is the medium meatloaf bowl.

Sandfish

Superb sushi spot, if a tad expensive. Outside in the summer can be a bit of nightmare as you are seated in converted shipping containers that look cool but retain the sun’s heat deep into dinner time! Try to get a table inside during the summer months.

1501 Uptown Gastropub

It’s owned by a Scottish guy, so what’s not to love? Upscale pub faire in a beautifully designed spot. Fish ‘n chips just about passed Elaine’s taste test and the deconstructed Shepherd’s Pie is very good as well. Don’t order The Gregor burger. It’s just ridiculously big. All the sandwiches could be shared between two, in fact. So maybe do go for The Gregor, if you're feeling "The Meats". Fantastic cocktails and beer selection.

EIGHT4NINE Restaurant and Lounge

Owned by the same Scottish dude as above, this is his more upscale joint. Huge restaurant inside and out with very cool bar area. More a date-night/special occasion place and closer to downtown than the Gastropub. We've only been there once (at the time of press) but hugely enjoyable meal and decent value. Not least for the people-watching: seems to be the place to be for bachelorette parties. Also does brunch at weekends but not tried that yet.

Brickworks

This downtown eatery was our go-to for take out pizza. We’ve never actually sat in to eat. They’ve started delivery again, following the pandemic, but we just drive there to pick up. The one time they did deliver….it was stone cold. The online ordering website is a bit weird but eventually you’ll work out how to use it and you can schedule pick-up times. Thin crust pizzas are what to order here. Our favorite is the prosciutto and fig.

Bill’s Pizza

Our new go-to pizza spot. A more traditional pizza place but really good. We like The Charlie Sheen and The Aloha. In our opinion the 10 inch is enough for dinner for 2, if you add a salad. We’ve not tried the 18 inchers. Best option is to call ahead and pick up. It’s only a 5-minute drive.

Del Rey at The Villa Royale Hotel

Beautiful boutique hotel in the Deepwell (aka Deep-pocket) Estates neighborhood. The restaurant, Del Rey, serves tapas, all of which are excellent. Patatas Bravas! For dessert, The Torta Basque is a very good take on Spanish cheesecake, which as a foodstuff seems to be having its moment right now (2022/23). We like to sit out in the back patio, which is pup-friendly and a lovely space. The bar is very well designed, in a dark ‘n sexy Hollywood kind of way. Outside was do-able in the summer since they have a solid mister/fan game....except on one occasion where a woman with big hair made them stop the misters. Talk about tyranny of the minority!!!

Koffi (Various Locations – our regular one: Koffi North, 515 N. Palm Canyon Drive)

There’s a lot of coffee stores to choose from in Palm Springs but we’ve kind of become Koffi loyalists. The closest one to us is on the way to downtown and around the back there is a shaded courtyard that gives stunning views of the mountains. It’s beautiful early in the morning when the sun is bouncing off them. Note: it can get busy, but the staff are generally on top of things. Breakfast sandwiches are made to order and our go-to. If you're in need of a morning pastry, drive to Peninsula Pastries (611 South Palm Canyon Drive). This is the best patisserie in the area. Get there early though, as stuff can sell out by 9.30am and it's not open in the summer........so we're probably dealing with some hardcore Parisians here, who know their stuff.

When You Have to Go Tiki

Russell and his friend Sean are tiki fiends, so here’s our quick guide to the Palm Springs Tiki bar scene. Closest by is Bootlegger Tiki (1101 N. Palm Canyon; 760-318-4154). Although we’ve never actually done this, it’s likely within staggering distance of McCarn Road. This is a small spot inside but has a cool outside area, good Tiki vibe and very strong drinks. The Demerara Dry Float comes with a side of rocket fuel (according to Sean). He should know, he’s former air force pilot. Bootlegger does have some quirks though, mainly that you need to reserve a table in advance via their website. And put down a credit card in the process. Maybe it’s changed now we’re over the worst of the pandemic. The Tonga Hut downtown (254 N Palm Canyon Drive; 760-322-4449) is a good option if you can’t get into Bootlegger. It's upstairs, so sit outside and get a view of the strip. The Reef at The Caliente Tropics Hotel (411 E Palm Canyon Road; 760-656-3839) is a great Tiki experience. Small indoor bar and tables are usually set up outside, around the hotel pool. We haven’t eaten there yet (why eat when there’s rum to be had?) but the menu looks solid enough. It is on the other side of town, so Uber there if you go. Pele says, “Don’t Tiki and drive peeps!”

Bar Cecil

The place to be. Difficult to get in and it has a $50 martini (sadly not ordered yet, as of press time). Generally, you must book 30 days in advance. But it might be worth seeing if they have a cancelation and if you get there right at 5pm you might have a chance to sit at the bar. All the hassle is worth it. French bistro inspired food and amazing cocktails. It’s a real experience and you’ll love it.

Jakes

Brunch and dinner spot and our preference was the brunch experience. Nice seating area out the back. Hits, when we went, were the lobster roll and the savory waffle sandwich. The restroom is a memorial to their late West Highland Terrier (presumably called Jake). RIP.

Cheeky’s

Pretty close to Jakes this is one of the best brunches in Palm Springs. It has a bacon flight! A bit of a gimmick but fun none the less. You can’t book, so get there early to grab a spot. The lines get long at the weekends. Get up early, walk your pup and be there for opening!

Workshop Kitchen + Bar

Brilliant restaurant that, inside, looks like it was flown intact from Manhattan or Los Angeles and plopped in the middle of Palm Springs. It’s upscale, without a doubt, so save it for a special occasion. Food is a wee bit heartier than your usual Californian cuisine and it’s big on “The Meats”. Pork chop and the steak are outstanding. You might want to go with someone who’d share the “Large Format” ribeye. We’ve somehow persuaded Connor not to order that. So far. Service is spectacularly good.

On The Mark

Outstanding deli and sandwich shop downtown, just around the corner from Sir Tommy Bahamas. They have the best beer selection in town and do a cool mix ‘n match 6-pack for $28. Lots of exotic seafood in cans, as well as high-quality cheese and salami selections. Russell has become somewhat addicted to the canned octopus. If you’re having a party, they do excellent charcuterie boards to order. Take home some of the Chili Crunch spread/dip and have with cheese. Delicious but you’ll be brushing your teeth for days because of the garlic-forward flavor.

Tac-quila

The best Mexican food in town by a country mile. On the higher end, when you need that South-of-the-border fix, but worth the dime drop. Street tacos are our general go-to and Elaine loves the corn side dish. Wide selection of margs, to wash down the spice. A new sister restaurant to Tac-quila just opened downtown, close to the Marilyn statue. It's called Clandestino and essentially has the same menu. Both are really nice spaces and have good bars for cocktails, if you're not into a sit-down meal.

Farm

Owned by the same folks as Tac-quila this downtown restaurant is one of our favorite spots in Palm Springs. It’s classic French food and has a prix fixe menu. The menu changes every couple of weeks based on what’s in season. You generally get the choice of between 3 or 4 apps, entrees and desserts. It’s excellent value given the quality of the food. We’ve always eaten outside and there’s usually live music at the weekends. This can be a bit odd: one time there was a woman with a beat-box doing jazz versions of 1980s new wave songs. If you ever want to hear Personal Jesus by Depeche Mode, in the style of Nina Simone, this could be your place.

The Colony Club

Very nice restaurant at the Colony Palms Hotel, on the way to downtown. The hotel and restaurant is an ode to the glamor of early Hollywood - it has a kind of Art Deco vibe, at least in the restaurant. The restaurant itself backs onto the pool area and we've never had a bad meal there. Brunch is good for the classics. Dinner is pretty expensive and is themed around "comfort food" (though not much comfort for your wallet). Recommended for a chilly winter night in the desert.

Paul Bar/Food

Location, location, location. That's what they say. Well it's bollox, since this gem is in a sketchy strip mall at the intersection of Vista Chino/Gene Autrey, five mins drive from The Modern Pup. The mall consists of a closed "dispensary", a combo liquor store/taqueria (that I have to try, it smells great) and Paul Bar/Food. Inside the unassuming frontage is a bar transported, literally, from NYC and some booths. You can't book so, it's first come first served. They are pretty quick at moving people in and out, so if you come at peak times expect 30-45 min wait if you're a party of four or more. You can sit at the bar if you're a couple. Food is classic comfort and very reasonably priced. Great cocktails as well. Winners on our visit were hanger steak, the burger and meatloaf (which was a special). The fries are incredible and seem to be done in beef tallow. Paul, the owner, is on hand to give you up-to-the-minute commentary on your seating schedule and he has a dry sense of humor perfect for the desert.

Tailor Shop

Newish cocktail place, just next to Bootlegger Tiki. It's an elegantly designed room, that's more "NY Speakeasy" than your normal Palm Springs high end bar. I guess it has a rat pack kind of vibe.....so it does work in these environs! There seems to be rotation of exuberantly tattooed bartender/mixologists, so they are serious about their drinkies (what is it with mixologists and tats? It seems to be a sort of unwritten law). Anyhoo, they do all the classics well and some bespoke stuff that is more desert-specific. It's a good spot if you are eating at Workshop or other mid-town spaces, so think about it as a pre-dinner-game/post-dinner spot. Reservations are recommended. If anyone can complete a Bootlegger/Tailor Shop bar crawl....please share your experiences. https://www.tailorshopps.com.