Road trip season is upon us and we’re thinking more in terms of weekend destinations than day-to-day tasks. Palm Springs is a great one year-round, a desert metropolis just two hours from Los Angeles yet worlds away in terms of looks and feels. Here, you can rely on a lot of sun, rugged mountains, friendly faces, and respectable food scene that perhaps doesn’t get the credit it deserves.
The modest town tends to swell in the spring but still feels full of locals. That charm persists, through open-air markets, live music, communal cafes, and more. But there are tourist traps too, so it pays to know where to go.
Read on for the best places to dine in Palm Springs, an oasis in the Sonoran Desert.
Las Casuelas Terraza
There’s endless comfort in a good family Mexican restaurant. Las Casuelas Terraza has been at it since the 1950s and continues to be a beating heart of downtown Palm Springs culinary culture. On weekends, you’ll likely catch a live band out on the patio and crowds clanking Margarita-filled glasses. The menu is rock solid, with standouts like the guacamole, tortilla soup, tostadas, and pollo a la mesquite, or half-chicken grilled and served with calabasitas and Spanish rice. This is food engrained in history, as the family who started it all brought their recipes north of the border and first to minor families in Arizona before settling in Palm Springs.
Sherman’s Deli
This Jewish deli is home to outstanding sandwiches and baked goods and a sweeping patio beneath misters when conditions are hot. Go for the borscht, corned beef or pastrami. Sherman’s is a classic, with a staff that seems like it came with the place an a no frills menu that satisfies to the core. Be advised that lines tend to form so get their early. And if nothing else, just pop in to the bakery side of the eatery and grab some cake to go.
Maleza
Arguably the most exciting restaurant in the city, Maleza plates up outstanding upscale Mexican fare out of its cool space within the Drift Hotel. Begin with a cocktail from a strong list, including the likes of favorite Sith Lord, made with mezcal, strawberry Campari, strawberry amaro, and vermouth. Then, the ahi tuna tostada or ceviche. Work your way into the deeply comforting masa and queso biscuits (served with smoked butter) and smoked chicken croquetas. And don’t overlook veggie dishes like the wonderful purple cabbage or grilled maitake mushrooms. You can enjoy some of the menu poolside or the bar patio but this writer suggests going whole hog in the restaurant’s fetching interior, fit with beautiful booths, tilework, tons of natural light, and adobe-style fireplaces.
Las Palmas
Set in a charming little space on the north end of town, Las Palmas is an idyllic neighborhood brewery. There’s also natural wine if that’s your thing but the beer is the main event, with exceptional options ranging from lighter saisons to India Pale Ales. Upon my weekend evening visit, I was treated to some convivial karaoke, a high-energy yet intimate scene, and some of the best beers to come out of inland SoCal. While they don’t formally service food, you can bring your own or, at times, there are pop-up options.
Boozehounds
As the name suggests, Boozehounds is a pet-friendly bar. But you’d never know based on the chic layout, choc-full of earth tones, airy spaces, and plenty of palm fronds. Bring you pup but don’t forget an appetite as the brunch, happy hour, and dinner options are legit. Try a tuna wanton poke taco or chilled Sichuan shrimp. Mains include chicken adobo and shrimp and grits and the salads are worth your time. Don’t forget to grab a house Margarita or Jungle Bird cocktail. And yes, there’s a dog menu.
Bar Cecil
A French spot with a stellar cocktail program, Bar Cecil is a favorite among locals and visitors alike. Colorful is very much the theme, from the vibrant decor to the menu itself. There’s an abundance of exquisite drinks choices, from cocktails to wines, but the grub is the main event. Go for the caramelized onion tart or red Thai curry muscles. Then, the burger or the ratatouille, you can’t go wrong. And shoot, you’re on vacation, so splurge and get the Fifty Dollar Martini.
Workshop
Still buzzing with deserved attention, Workshop specializes in seasonal and stylish fare from a James Beard Award-winning chef. The space alone is worth visiting, a former movie house retrofitted with cool cement booths and a chic, contemporary bunker sort of feel. The menu too is alluring, featuring inventive seafood dishes and excellent pastas. Try the white sturgeon plate or go with the roasted conehead cabbage, treated to tahini, almond, and more. The house cocktails are clearly made by those who appreciate culinary culture and there’s a plethora of good beer and wine (predominately French) to choose from as well.
Drift Hotel
Easily one of my new favorite new hotels, Drift Hotel deserves some serious press. From the oversized saltwater pool to the minimally-decorated yet expansive suites, the place really embraces its surroundings. As mentioned, the restaurant is superb, but so too is the location, service, a sleek design of this ultra-modern hotel. The beds are among the most comfortable I’ve tried, the sprawling open-air kitchens are great for staying in and making a meal, and the balconies are set up with hammocks and tasteful furniture. And this is to say nothing of the attentive service and general artistic energy the grounds exude. Make this your Palm Springs headquarters and you’ll be on giant step closer to an all-time great vacation.
