Where To Eat in Palm Springs
Palm Springs is one of those perfect weekend getaway destinations full of amazing restaurants, snazzy poolside bars, and stylish hotels!
I love going during the spring and fall when the temperatures are perfect for trips with friends, family, or a solo trip!
I’ve visited Palm Springs many times for both work and vacation - here are my top recommendations for places to eat in Palm Springs:
Rooster and the Pig
One of the best spots in town for Southeast Asian cuisine - the Rooster and the Pig never fails to disappoint. On top of that, the decor inside is friendly, just like the attentive wait staff.
Although the menu changes from time to time to allow for seasonal updates, we absolutely love the Fish Sauce Wings and the Lemongrass Pork Noodle Bowl. Both are absolutely bursting with flavor reminiscent of their Vietnamese origins.
Make sure to try out their specialty Saigon 75 cocktail - it’s delicious!
Sandfish
For a modern take on sushi, chef-owner Engin Onural blends Japanese techniques with global tastes for one of the best and most popular dining spots in Palm Springs.
We loved the Sandfish Roll with its interesting potato threads and spicy aioli sauce as well as the Spanish Octopus which was so tender and flavorful!
They have an extensive Japanese whiskey collection here so make sure to try the Hakkaido Old Fashioned which features Nikka from the Barrel.
Workshop Kitchen & Bar
One of the buzziest restaurants in Palm Springs - the beautiful all concrete space rivals some of the best interior designs in LA and has the food to match.
With an emphasis on fresh, seasonal food the menu is being constantly updated but some of our favorites were the Apples + Cheese, Dory Fleet Rock Cod, and Apple Tarte Tatin.
For drinks, we loved the Mountaineer and the Hemingway Especial.
Gabino's Creperie
When most people think of crepes, they think of the sweet version. Gabino’s Creperie only serves up the savory versions and boy are they good!
They are made thin and crispy with just the right amount of filling.
If you don’t know which one to get, try out the ever-popular Chicken Pesto or the BBQ Chicken Crepes - you won’t be disappointed!
Chef Tanya's Kitchen
For the vegetarians or those wanting a lighter meal, you’ll want to head over to Chef Tanya’s Kitchen for a delicious veggie inspired meal!
We loved how we felt after eating the Chuapacabra Chick’n sandwich which is filled with crispy seitan filets, avocado, cilantro, tomatoes, and pickled jalapeños.
Another showstopper was the Modern Hippie Veggie which is filled with crack cheese, avocado, jicama, carrot, cucumber, pickled cabbage, lettuce, and mayo on levain bread!
The Gordo Chili, just to add another to the mix, was a great soup to share as well!
The Pink Cabana
One of the most beautiful and Instagrammable restaurants in Palm Springs - the Pink Cabana combines Art Deco with a fun 1960’s retro vibe and pretty pastel colors.
More than that, the Mediterranean & Moroccan menu here is just as delicious!
We recommend stopping by for brunch to catch the whole place when the sunlight is streaming in.
Favorites include the Fritto Misto, Coachella Fruit Smoothie, Moroccan Sandwich, and a Moroccan Mint Iced Tea.
For an adult drink, we loved the Monkey Suit.
Townie Bagels
For some great NY style water-boiled bagels make sure to head to Townie Bagels! They make all the bagels, bread, muffins, and scones right there in the bakery.
We feasted on the Everything Bagel along with Lox and Cream Cheese - delicious! They also make really great Bagel Sandwiches and Cold Brew Coffee.
Bar Cecil
This stunning restaurant has an amazing interior with original pop art from Warhol and murals from local artists on the exterior.
The pandemic gave the chef Gabriel Woo and his team extra time to obsess over every detail on the menu, which you can see in the custom burger bun they partnered to make with Townie Bagels.
You’ll want to try out the Cecil Bread Rolls with date + sage butter, Roasted Gonestraw Farms Chicken, and Jack’s Pumpkin Pie.
The cocktail that kept the night going was the Calder Colada - we loved the Coconut, Ginger, and Pandan tasting notes in the drink!
Birba
Serving up some of the best wood-fired oven pizza and Italian food in Palm Springs, this fun spot is a great place to dine before going out or for a casual weeknight meal.
We love roasted cauliflower and they do not disappoint with the perfect char and nice touch of Parmesan and lemon.
The Tagliatelle Al Funghi was full of mushroom goodness while the Homemade Classic Pizza was a nice way to finish out the meal.
Also, you can’t go wrong with the Tiramisu here!
King's Highway
Formerly a Denny’s - this upscaled roadside diner at the Ace Hotel is focused on seasonal fare from California, Mexico, and the Southwest.
For Breakfast, you’ll want to try the beautifully decorated Avocado Toast or the Farm Egg Salad Sandwich.
For Lunch, go for the Grilled Cheese Sandwich which is filled with 5 different kinds of cheese, pickled apples, and date jam in between sourdough bread.
For Dinner, the Chicken Quarter is really delicious!
Don’t sleep on the Banoffee Pie or the Sticky Date Pudding either!
For a lovely drink go with either the Date Shake (which is kind of a meal itself) or the Ginger Snap.
The Heyday
Everyone needs a good burger every now and then. The Heyday delivers one of the best smash burgers in the business with beef from Harris Ranch. The patties are smashed down and caramelized, topped with oozing cheese, iceberg lettuce, and their own special sauce.
They even serve a plant-based ‘magic mushroom’ burger for the vegetarians in the group.
Peninsula Pastries
We were surprised to see a genuine French bakery in town and more surprised to see that it was actually very good! The owner sources all her raw materials from France, which explains why everything is all so delicious!
Try any of the croissants, pastries, or baked goods - they all are as good as some places I’ve had in Paris.
The Tropicale Palm Springs
This delightfully decorated restaurant emphasizes food from the Pacific and a tiki jungle-like interior.
The Pupu platter contains a collection of their best appetizers, so definitely go for that to begin the meal.
We loved the Miso Glazed Salmon as it was perfectly cooked and full of flavor.
They also have a talented bartender, so try a cocktail or two!
El Tranvia
You might not know it, but some of the best Mexican food is hiding out in Coachella at the hidden gem El Tranvia.
We loved the Queso de Birria Tacos which are filled with carne asada and served with a broth to dip in.
You also can’t go wrong with any of their tacos or burritos!
Elmer's
A classic diner that is one of the more popular local spots in Palm Springs - this is the place to go if you want a hearty meal that will stick to your ribs.
We went for breakfast and totally loved the Dutch Baby or the German Pancake! It was light and fluffy and tasted just right with a squeeze of lemon on top.
If you want something a bit more filling, definitely go for the Country Biscuit Breakfast. The white gravy with the biscuits is divine!
Kreem
Located conveniently next to Gabino’s Creperie, Kreem is a great place to get some delicious ice cream after you get a savory crepe next door.
Some interesting flavors include Lemon Meringue Pie, Rosemary, Ube, and Tumeric Ginger. More standard flavors include Cookies & Kreem, Vanilla, and Coffee.
Their flavors change regularly as they are a small batch ice shop, so they might have some new flavors when you go!