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 ~ many that 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 break 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.
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.
- 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.
- We’d Like Amazing International Cuisine: One of the most famous restaurants in Palm Springs is highly-rated Rooster & the Pig. Its strip center location isn’t sexy ~ 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 Frank Sinatra favorite), or Il Giardino.
- 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.
- 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, 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.
- We Want a Gorgeous Restaurant that’s Highly Instagrammable (with Good Food): Go to Azucar at La Serena Villas ~ one of the most photogenic restaurants in town. Serving “Modern Mexican,” 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.
Palm Springs Dining & Nightlife Guide
- Which Palm Springs Restaurant are We Most Likely to See Celebs at? Head to 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 their more casual Norma’s (a great brunch spot). Another place for 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.
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.
- 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 Fridays 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.
- We Want a Great Nightcap with Craft Cocktails: Head to Bootlegger Tiki Bar. The vibe here is speakeasy-meets-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.
- 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.
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, or find out what it’s like road-tripping to Candyland-like Salvation Mountain…
xoxo Noelia
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We’re locals and we love Azucar! Recognized it right away on your cover photo : ) I know you live in Oregon but are you planning to come back to Palm Springs this year? Cheers, Connie
Hi Connie, thx for your comment! Yes, I usually come back to Palm Springs in December & spend about a month down there with family. Azucar is on the (long) list of places to dine at! Cheers, Noelia
Any suggestions on hiking trails with waterfalls?
Hi Scott, thanks for your question! So the desert is pretty dry on the whole, but Tahquitz Canyon/Tahquitz Falls is a good spot to go for waterfalls in Palm Springs. I’d go on a weekday to avoid major weekend crowds. Hope that helps! xoxo