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Since this posh bistro sprung to colorful wallpapered life just beyond downtown in the spring of 2021, it has been the toughest ticket in town to score—and Michelin agrees that it's worth the hype. Hoping to be the culinary manifestation of British photographer, artist, and Renaissance man, Cecil Beaton, the meaty menu is rich, flavorful, and full of financial and caloric splurges (caviar-topped deviled eggs, Wagyu tomahawk steaks), as well as fundamentally familiar dishes (roast chicken, steak frites, Bibb-lettuce salad, lemon tarts), but chef Gabe Woo adds unexpected touches like seasonal chutney atop a smoked pork chop. There's also a wild visual feast to be consumed (even in the bathrooms!). The look is splashy yet chic, centered on a marble and wooden bar, an enviable art collection that includes Calder and Warhol, and a showpiece custom light fixture. Start the reservation hunt early, and, if unsuccessful, show up before the restaurant opens,and pray for a cancellation or that one of the bar's grommeted, electric-blue, stool-chair hybrids, reserved for walk-ins, is available.
1555 S. Palm Canyon Dr., Palm Springs, California, 92264, USA
Known For
- Charming patio where you might spy celebrities
- Perfect vegetable accompaniments
- Complex and elegant cocktails, including a $50 martini
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon., Reservations essentials, Cash only; only serves parties of 6 or less
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The flavored bacon flight, hangover-halting Bloody Marys, and the rest of the self-described "quirky comfort cuisine" have attracted legions to this casual breakfast and lunch joint for more than a decade, which results in epic waits on weekends (no reservations accepted for groups smaller than 10). Once seated, the well-oiled service machine is fast and furious—just pray the homemade cinnamon roll-croissant hybrids haven't sold out yet. For lunch, in addition to the morning all-star dishes, you can nosh on globally and seasonally influenced soups, sandwiches, and salads.
622 N. Palm Canyon Dr., Palm Springs, California, 92262, USA
Known For
- Pastries baked daily, juices pressed in-house
- Eggs collected from Cheeky's own chickens which eat a special diet
- Spacious outdoor patio
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No dinner
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At her colorful flagship eatery and market, vegan chef Tanya Petrovna—who founded the first national plant-based chain, Native Foods, in the early '90s—pumps out filling, well-seasoned, and meat-free sandwiches and burgers, as well as salads, fries, and popular deli items. Dedicated to living cruelty-free, she prides herself on making all the "meat" (e.g., cultured tempeh, seitan, and tofu facon) in-house and also uses personal recipes to create the agua fresca, chai, and desserts—including what is easily the tastiest, least-grainy, vegan, soft-serve ice cream to have ever been swirled.
72695 Hwy. 111, Palm Desert, California, 92260, USA
Known For
- Communal tables and friendly devoted patrons
- Hearty vegan comfort food
- The zingy Chupacabra
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A chef and a sommelier turned losing their jobs during the COVID shutdown into a pandemic silver lining by starting this French-style frozen-custard company out of an adorable chrome trailer. Not only do they collaborate with local coffee, toffee, honey, and date purveyors, but they also offer unique flavors like lemon-blackberry streusel, kaffir-lime piña colada, and peppermint cookies-n-cream—all served by the pint and half-pint out.
73545 El Paseo, Palm Desert, California, 92260, USA
Known For
- No artificial colors or emulsifiers
- High-quality ingredients
- Gluten-free options
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Though the late founder Donald Callender made his name as a purveyor of pie with the Marie Callender's chain, he also built a solid smoked-meats-and-suds rep with this barbecue–microbrewery. Carnivores show up in droves for fall-off-the-bone racks of ribs, pulled pork sandwiches, brisket-topped salads, and chops that are marinated overnight—all of which pair well with the IPAs, ales, and lagers brewed on site. He also smartly carried over cornbread, tamales, and pie recipes from Callender's.
71800 Hwy. 111, Rancho Mirage, California, 92270, USA
Known For
- Coachella Valley's oldest and most-acclaimed microbrewery
- Pinup girl art and bronze pigs
- Ribs smoked over hickory and pecan wood
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Recommended Fodor’s Video
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This is, and has been since 1981, exactly what most people look for in a casual, go-any-day-of-the-week, Mexican-American restaurant—big portions, reasonable prices, a variety of margaritas, and a massive menu with all the basics (tacos, fajitas, burritos, enchiladas) and some fancier dishes like chile rellenos (stuffed roasted peppers) or carne asada (marinated grilled steak). What's more, the waiters are friendly, and the atmosphere is festive yet still relaxed enough for kids and fur babies (the latter are welcome on the patio).
74969 Hwy. 111, Indian Wells, California, 92210, USA
Known For
- Strong margaritas and The Tower of Tequila
- Fried desserts including the original Peachorito
- Four kinds of fajitas (the house specialty)
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No matter what time or day it is, this swanky restaurant in the Uptown Design District buzzes with pals toasting promotions and celebrating birthdays, couples on dates sharing beet carpaccio and oysters, singles mingling in the lounge, and tourists who were lured from the street by the jovial sounds and tantalizing smells wafting out of the polished white (with pops of Barbie pink) rooms and expansive patio. The look may be a little late-'90s, early-aughts Miami, but the menu is pure Pacific Coast with favorites like ahi tuna poke with house-made kimchi, steelhead niçoise salad, mesquite-smoked carne asada, and curried-cauliflower steak.
849 N. Palm Canyon Dr., Palm Springs, California, 92262, USA
Known For
- Colorful plates made from scratch
- Energetic scene
- Brandini toffee s'mores fondue will knock your socks off
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For more than a decade, Lulu has been feeding desert denizens and vacationers a little bit of everything—seriously, if you can't find something on the lengthy menu of soups, salads, pasta dishes, burgers, sandwiches, pizzas, seafood, other star proteins like pork ribs and filet mignon, and desserts (cotton candy!), you likely don't eat human food. Dine in the spacious, quirky multilevel dining room or outside on the terrace with prime Palm Canyon people-watching.
200 S. Palm Canyon Dr., Palm Springs, California, 92262, USA
Known For
- Separate vegetarian/vegan and gluten-free menus
- Three-course, prix-fixe weekend brunch ($28)
- Local art collection
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No breakfast weekdays
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The swank steak house and Sunday-brunch stalwart occupies a historic mid-century modern structure in the Palm Springs Tennis Club at the base of the San Jacintos. Between the club connection, ritzy ambience, and selection of old-fashioned fancy food (veal chops, duck, creamed spinach), Spencer's clientele skews toward power lunchers and socialites. If you do find yourself craving crisp-skin whitefish or liver and bacon with raspberry vodka essence, try for a table on the low-lit and dreamy deck.
701 W. Baristo Rd., Palm Springs, California, 92262, USA
Known For
- French–Pacific Rim influences
- Loyal waitstaffers who know the menu up and down
- High prices
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Reservations essential for Sunday brunch and dinner, Closed Tues. and Wed.
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Discerning diners, even those whose names don't appear on the registry of The Colony Palms Hotel, know to book a table here for contemporary takes on white tablecloth staples like beef Stroganoff (here, made with short ribs and fresh pappardelle), green beans almondine (jazzed up with a brown-butter-and-cider glaze), or shrimp "cocktail" (barely recognizable but lip-lickin' good). Now overseen by chef Michael Hung—who cut his teeth at Daniel, Aquavit, Jardiniere, and La Folie—the restaurant emphasizes California seasonality and sourcing from farms and aquaculture operations to pack punch into everything from the small—say, preserved lemon compote and ginger scallion relish—to the large, like chicken schnitzel or vegan meatloaf. Take breakfast or weekend brunch on the sunny patio with the gleaming pool in view, but, after dusk, never settle for anywhere but the elegant dining room, with its grandiose floor tiles, avian wallpaper, and doting maitre d'.
572 N. Indian Canyon Dr., Palm Springs, California, 92262, USA
Known For
- Wine Wednesdays with discounted bottles
- Attentive, knowledgeable service
- Chic dining room dinners, sunny poolside brunches
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This popular watering hole and fine-dining eatery is part mid-century supper club (some nights feature live jazz), part Miami kitsch (pops of pink neon, marlin wall art, and apps served in glass seashells), and all good time. Sip from the extensive martini and mojito list; bask in the gorgeous glow of a flambéed baked Alaska from one of the main dining room's tall leather booths; or nosh on protein-packed salads, pork chops, pizzas, or Sunday sushi amid tropical plants and water features in the outdoor area.
330 E. Amado Rd., Palm Springs, California, 92262, USA
Known For
- Globe-trotting menu
- Happy hour (all night on Wednesday)
- Celebrating special occasions
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Reservations essential
