Restaurants and Bars

Palm Springs began by appealing to the high-living Hollywood crowd, which made this town Los Angeles' desert retreat. For many years, the cuisine was predominately meat and potatoes or Italian, and while both of these cuisines still flourish, there is considerably more variety available today.

The Loop

Many of Palm Springs' best restaurants are found on 'The Loop', formed by North Palm Canyon Drive and Indian Canyon Drive. Everything from decades-old landmark dining essentials to opened-last-week hot spots can be found within easy walking distance. Many places urge reservations, but it's also tempting to simply wander between them until one strikes your fancy, fits your budget and has a table available without an extensive wait. The Loop also offers many casual eateries, diners, ice cream shops and coffeehouses, perfect for quick snacks or a reviving espresso.

The Kaiser Grille offers finely prepared dishes, some with an Italian flair. As with almost all restaurants, outside dining is available and provides a great perch for people watching.

Mexican food is a favorite, with a number of places thriving for years. One of the most fun spots is Las Casuelas Terraza, offering excellent food and live music most of the day. The festivities begin in the morning with table-strolling mariachis and carry on until late at night in the bar, which features a heated dance floor. Another Palm Springs institution is Del Rio's Taqueria, offering outdoor dining in a beautiful courtyard atmosphere at the corner of Tahquitz Canyon and Indian Trails. The pavilion bar is a quirky black-light marvel, specializing in agave-based tequila margaritas, very easy to drink and very hard to survive unscathed. Each table also sports a wine-bottle size container of the restaurant's proprietary hot sauce, made mainly of scalding-hot Habanero peppers. Like the margaritas, the hot stuff is easy to taste, but much harder to survive as the heat develops on the tongue.

An excellent choice for casual American dining is Hamburger Hamlet at the corner of Palm Canyon and Tahquitz Canyon Way. Prices are low and the quality is outstanding. The house Lobster Bisque can hold its own against much more illustrious competition. According to the host, the Hamlet meets all requirements for a three-star restaurant rating, yet it's still a place you can take your kids. Another cheerful family dining choice is Ruby's, a 1950s-style diner featuring hamburgers, sandwiches, Mom-style main dishes, ice cream drinks and desserts.

Meanwhile, the five-star Le Vallauris offers 'French-California' cuisine in a French country patio atmosphere or a lush, chateau interior dining room, all just moments away from the Palm Canyon district. The prestigious Zagat Guide named Le Vallauris the "Best Restaurant" in Coachella Valley.

Off The Loop

Searching for the spirit of famed Palm Springs resident Frank Sinatra? His old haunts include Riccio's and Melvyn's at the Ingleside Inn. If you hope to catch a glimpse of additional Hollywood stars, Melvyn's has also been named the 'Best Place to See Celebrities', offering an extensive photo collection of famous diners.

Cathedral City

Heading out of Palm Springs along Highway 111, Cathedral City offers The Wilde Goose, which features continental cuisine and wild game dishes including venison, quail and the occasional elk or wild boar.

Rancho Mirage

Restaurants are cluster along this stretch of highway coined "Restaurant Row" by the Rancho Mirage Chamber of Commerce. Favorite spots along the row include Kobe Japanese Steak House, housed in a dramatic building re-creating a Japanese-style inn, and Stuart Anderson's Black Angus.

Whether you choose to dine in downtown Palm Springs or at one of the surrounding desert cities, you are likely to find a delightful atmosphere and delicious cuisine. Enjoy your dining adventures in Palm Springs, where vigorous competition helps assure excellent quality and value throughout the city.