Dining & Nightlife Guide for Palm Springs

When people come to Palm Springs, they’re typically looking for a few main things: sunshine, great weather, stylish accommodations ~ some of which showcase the mid-century modern style the area is known for, & of course: good food & drink.  In this “Dining & Nightlife Guide for Palm Springs,” I’ll be breaking things down into quick & easy categories: great sexy dinners, amazing happy hour spots, where to nightcap, where to go dancing, & so on. 

That way, you can easily refer back to this guide as you plan your stay.

The Parker Palm Springs has two of the trendiest restaurants in the desert: the more casual Norma’s, & upscale Mr. Parker’s.

In this guide, I’ll be focusing solely on dinner & nighttime spots, as I’ve already written about great brunch spots in Palm Springs ~ & the best coffee shops.

Dining & Nightlife Guide for Palm Springs

Click on the name of the restaurant or bar below, & it will take you to their website…

• We Want Great Mexican Food in Palm Springs: There are over 20 Mexican restaurants in Palm Springs alone; so lots of options. The most famous Mexican restaurant in town is Las Casuelas Terraza ~ it’s a party here every night. Great atmosphere, great people-watching on Palm Canyon, good food, & live music. But Tac/Quila is the new favorite, with “Modern Mexican.” Their food is better, cocktails are more specialty, & atmosphere is lively & vibrant (with better service too). For good street tacos & a casual atmosphere: head to Loco Charlie’s Mexican Grill.

Tac/Quila is the new favorite Mexican spot in Palm Springs, & more modern than traditional Las Casuelas.

• We Want a Great Happy Hour Spot with Good People-Watching: Head to Trio or Lulu’s, both on Palm Canyon Drive (one North, one South). Lulu’s has a bigger menu & is a bigger restaurant ~ they’ve got drinks on happy hour too, which Trio does not. But Trio has a great retro feel & lots of great food options. Both are sensational for people-watching.

Trio’s retro orange seating goes well with Palm Springs’ mid-century modern vibe.

• We’d Like Some Amazing International Cuisine: One of the most famous restaurants in Palm Springs is the highly-rated Rooster & the Pig. Its strip center location isn’t the sexiest ~ but their Vietnamese food is to-die-for. FARM is known for brunch, but their French fare is also a fantastic dinner option; their quaint outdoor patio exudes charm. For Italian, try Johnny Costas (a reputed Frank Sinatra favorite), or Il Giardino.

The Vietnamese cuisine at Rooster & the Pig is some of the most highly-lauded in town. Photo by The Infatuation.

• We’d Love Some Great Vegetarian Food: Chef Tanya’s Kitchen is the most popular vegetarian joint in town ~ check out her Tempeh Power Burgers & veggie-filled salads; this is take-out only. If you’re looking for more of a sit-down meal, try Native Foods vegan restaurant.

Photo by Chef Tanya’s Kitchen ~ the most popular vegetarian take-out in the desert.

• We Want a Sexy Dinner Spot that is “Quintessential” Palm Springs: My #1 choice is a place that’s oh-so-Palm Springs ~ The Tropicale. You can’t miss its big pink building surrounded by palm trees; they’ve got a nice outdoor patio, sexy retro-vibes inside, lots of small plates, pizza, salads, fish & steak entrees. An even more romantic option is Spencer’s, which has been around forever & has the prettiest patio in Palm Springs: plus a big menu featuring steak, lobster, & many seafood options.

Outdoor patio at The Tropicale. Photo by Greater Palm Springs.

• We Want a Gorgeous Restaurant that is Highly Instagrammable (with Good Food): Go to Azucar at La Serena Villas ~ one of the most photogenic restaurants around. Serving “Modern Mexican” food, try their Bacon-Wrapped Shrimp, Yellowfin Tartar, Swordfish Tacos, or King Salmon….then wash it down with a Blood Orange Margarita. And don’t miss their beautiful rooftop bar! Bar Cecil is another hip & well-designed spot with delicious food & cocktails.

Bar Cecil gives Azucar a run for its money in terms of being “Instagram-ready.”

Azucar is beautifully-decorated & highly photogenic…with great food too. Photo by Greater Palm Springs.

Palm Springs Dining & Nightlife Guide

• Which Palm Springs Restaurant are We Most Likely to See Celebs at? Head to the Parker Palm Springs, a celebrity hot-spot, & make a reservation at upscale Mr. Parker’s (my friends & I sat next to Chloe Moretz here), or try getting a table at more casual Norma’s (also a great brunch spot). Another place for potential star-sightings is at Gwyneth Paltrow’s Goop choice: The Barn Kitchen, which offers rustic American cuisine in a beautiful open-air environment ~ at upscale Sparrows Lodge.

The Barn Kitchen. Photo courtesy of Sparrows Lodge.

We’re Looking for Old-School, Rat-Pack Vibes: You’ve got two main choices here ~ Cary Grant’s former Palm Springs estate: the romantic Copley’s, which has a great outdoor patio, upscale American-style food, & an extensive wine list. Or there’s Melvyn’s at the Ingleside Inn, which was a favorite of Sinatra’s. You’ll find lots of Old Hollywood photos, as well as Oysters on the Half Shell, classic Wedge salads, & lots of steak options.

Old-school Melvyn’s, at the Ingleside Inn.

• We Want to Go DANCING After Dinner: Copa Nightclub is popular with Bachelorette parties as they’ve got a strip show on Saturday nights ~ while Friday’s are reserved for drag! They’ve got a big dance floor & DJ’s, & the vibe is “crowded classy fun.” You’ve also got Toucans Tiki Lounge, which is a popular gay bar & Palm Springs’ longest-running cabaret show: there are drag shows here every week, & bottle-service is offered in their colorful tiki-themed dance club.

Toucans Tiki Lounge is one of Palm Springs’ best dancing spots: & the longest-running cabaret show in town. Photo by Visit Palm Springs.

• We Want a Great Nightcap Spot with Craft Cocktails: Head to Bootlegger Tiki Bar. The vibe here is a cross between speakeasy & Hawaiian tiki bar….& lights are nice & dim. Truss & Twine offers specialty cocktails in an industrial-chic atmosphere; with small plates too. And for a little more kitschy-tiki vibes: try the Tonga Hut, which is open til midnight during the week & 2AM on weekends.

For a sexy vibe & some of the finest craft cocktails in town, head to Bootlegger Tiki on North Palm Canyon. Photo by Bootlegger Tiki.

• We Want a Great Late Night Spot: You’ve got the nightcap spots mentioned above, & old stand-by ~ The Village Pub. You’ll find bar food & happy hour prices on drinks until 9PM; this is a favorite with locals & tourists, casual atmosphere. For a little more ambiance, try the speakeasy Paul Bar in North Palm Springs, or the Steakhouse at Agua Caliente, open til 10PM daily.

The Paul Bar has a speakeasy atmosphere & is open late…Photo by Visit Palm Springs.

Palm Springs Dining & Nightlife Guide

This is by no means a comprehensive list of all the great dining in Palm Springs: but it’s a start!  For more reading, check out my favorite desert hikes here, or find out what it’s like road-tripping to Candyland-inspired Salvation Mountain…

xoxo Noelia

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