Eats 'n Drinks
- Archie
- Oct 7, 2022
- 9 min read
Updated: Aug 7
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.
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 TV dinner!
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.
It used to be owned by a Scottish guy, so what’s not to love? Upscale pub faire in a beautifully designed spot, though it is beginning to show some wear 'n tear. 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.
Owned by the same Scottish dude above, this is his more upscale joint. Huge restaurant inside and out with OTT bar area that Liberace might have approved of. More a date-night/special occasion place and closer to downtown than the Gastropub. We've been there twice for dinner: enjoyable meals and decent value. Not least for the people-watching: seems to be the place for bachelorette parties. Also does brunch at weekends. Not as good as other brunchie options nearby.
Our new go-to pizza spot, though we started going there before Brickworks (our previous favorite, RIP) closed. A more traditional pizza place but really good. We like The Charlie Sheen and The Aloha (yeah, sorry about that, if you're Italian). In our opinion the 10 inch is enough for dinner for 2, if you add a salad, which are all solid. The 18 inchers work for bigger parties but don't you always find they get soggy? Best option is to call ahead and pick up. It’s only a 5-minute drive.
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 (extended) moment right now (2022-25). 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 very dark ‘n sexy Hollywood kind of way. Outside is 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!!! Went there again in early summer 2025 and they have remodeled outside, with more cushion action, and inside lighting has been upgraded to more of a "gloaming" vibe instead of pitch black.
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 and muffins are our go-to. NOTE: Summer 2025 Update. Last time we went, service was not up to snuff, so we tried Ernest Coffee a wee bit closer on Palm Canyon. It was pretty, pretty good. 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 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!”
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.
This Eastern Meditterranean spot is in the newish Thompson Hotel downtown, which for years was a building site as well as a popular lawsuit venue between contractors and various owners. With legal troubles finally over, this is an excellent addition to the downtown dining scene. The flavors of The Levant are strong here my friends: we shared some fantastically toothsome kebabs and spreads. Sat outside, which gives a view of the mountains and the beautiful people still in the pool at dinnertime. The bar is kinda nuts: there was an intimidatingly trendy DJ the Friday we went. Some people who really shouldn't be dancing were getting it down (I believe that is the phrase). Cocktails are on point.
Bar Issi
Also opening in summer 2025 at The Thompson is Bar Issi. If you can get past the decor, which looks it was designed by your grandma after she'd returned to the clubbing scene after a 50 year hiatus and had discovered cocaine, the food is pretty, pretty good. It skews Italian or Italo-Californian, whatever that means. Went for dinner (they also do brunch) and we dabbled with apps + pasta. Pasta portions were large and could be shared if you're moving on to other mains. We didn't try the pizzas but everything we had was excellent quality. Service was a bit quirky, since it was newly opened (and they also had not deployed a full wine list yet). So, at time of writing this restaurant was still in beta phase. By time of reading, most likely it will be fully shipping.
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.
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!
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 our son not to order that. So far. Service is spectacularly good.
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. Have 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.
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 folks seem to go wild for the corn side dish (I don't particularly like corn but I thought I'd share). Wide selection of margs, to wash down the spice. A newish sister restaurant to Tac-quila has 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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