Palm Springs Restaurants

Owner Liz Ostoich modeled Farm after the places she visited in her travels through southern France. This explains the Provençal aesthetic in the garden dining area (green shutters, wicker chairs, rustic wood dining tables), the French-press coffee, the house-made jams, and the truly impressive variety of paper-thin sweet and savory crepes. When we're there, we participate in an (almost) all-Brie diet, made possible by the pear, Brie, arugula, walnut, and date jam baguette, followed by the hazelnut, fig, and brown-sugar-baked Brie.

Weekend brunch here means outstanding eggs cooked every way imaginable—poached, sunny-side up, Benedict, scrambled—coupled with seriously indulgent dishes like blackberry custard French toast, biscuits and gravy, burgers, and melts (ham and Gruyère; asparagus, tomato, and Havarti). Come hungry—portions are on the generous side—then go ahead and cancel plans for the rest of the day.

A Palm Springs classic, Las Casuelas has been serving live music and killer margaritas (the blood orange with Casamigos is our favorite) since the ’70s. And it’s the perfect spot to hit before a night on the town, thanks to the central location. Foodwise, we love the crunchy taquitos, tortilla soup, and the achiote chicken lettuce wraps (for health-conscious LA weekenders). Whatever you do, don’t leave without trying the house-made guacamole.

This casual vegan restaurant serves dishes that are hearty enough even for the hard-core meat-and-potatoes crowd. There's an avocado BLT (with smoky tofu "bacon"); a Cubano sandwich filled with slow-roasted citrus and garlic seitan, mayo, mustard, cabbage, tomato, pickle, and onion; and a decadent fruit cobbler. If you’re just stopping in for a caffeine hit, go for the iced chai.

Mr. Lyons checks all the boxes of a proper steakhouse supper. The retro shrimp cocktail is impeccable, the filet mignon is fork-tender, and the beef Wellington Rossini is a true showstopper. In a steakhouse, it’s the sides we get most excited about, and Mr. Lyons is no exception. A dish of lobster mac ’n’ cheese, crispy smashed potatoes, or onion rings is a meal all on its own. Start dinner sipping on a martini as you eye up the space’s elegant marble flooring, plush velvet seating, and of course, your fellow diners.

Pork belly fried rice with spicy okra is a standout at this dinner-only Vietnamese-American spot. Arrive early to avoid a line out the door, though if you have to wait, know that it’s worth it. We’d come just for the cocktails, especially the Floating Orchid, made with vodka, pear nectar, elderflower, lemon, and cava.

The Pantry kitchen is the work of chef Gabriel Woo, who also runs another excellent Palm Springs hotel restaurant, the Barn Kitchen at Sparrows Lodge. And the menu is similarly made up of homey, comforting options. Popular themed nights include Fried Chicken Fridays (the flaky biscuit sides are heavenly), while lunch centers around lobster rolls, chicken salads, and burgers.

If you can snag a reservation, you’re in for a real treat at this small, cozy hotel’s restaurant (seating is limited, and hotel guests get first priority; walk-ins aren’t accepted). The family-style suppers are served at long, wooden communal tables and include starters like date and orange salad before the entrée (along the lines of marinated rib eye with garlic smashed potatoes or roasted chicken with wild rice). The garden setting feels totally private, like a dinner party at a friend’s gorgeous desert compound.

Though there are 25 locations of this Portland-born diner throughout the Northwest, this is the only California outpost and it’s the furthest thing from a run-of-the-mill franchise. Yes, there’s a massive laminated menu but that's half the fun. Lunch and dinner bring in a good amount of guests, but it’s the all-day breakfast that’s the true standout. German pancakes, oversize skillet omelets, and smokehouse bacon are particularly adored by both kids and those nursing wicked hangovers.

Located within the historic Ingleside Inn, Melvyn’s was the go-to spot for Frank Sinatra, Elizabeth Taylor, and other Hollywood royalty back in the 50’s—luckily, the space has held up over the years. This is the sort of throwback establishment that insists waiters wear linen jackets and hosts live music and dancing nightly at the adjoining piano lounge. The menu is heavy on the classics (Oysters Rockefeller, pork loin medallions, filet mignon) and is not for everyone, but having a drink—the wine list is plentiful and the cocktails are potent—is worth it just for the ambiance.