Restaurants
You can find many lists of the “best” Palm Springs restaurants online. For something different, I asked the 5000+ members of the locals-only Palm Springs Eats group on Facebook what their favorite restaurants are, and here is the Top 25 in order of most popular. It’s a solid list and a nice mix of local and tourist favorites. I marked my personal favorites with a star.
Note: Due to COVID-19, not all restaurants are open at this time.
Spencer's 🔅
Beautiful setting at the base of the mountain. Fancy for dinner, and more casual and affordable for breakfast and lunch. $$$
Billy Reed's 🔅
A local favorite. Large restaurant with kitschy old-fashioned decor. Been around 40 years serving friendly comfort food. Great pies for dessert. $
Jake's 🔅
Small patio restaurant with great food. There’s also inside seating, but ask for the patio. Amazing desserts, especially the coconut cake. $$$
Sherman's Deli 🔅
A Palm Springs classic since the 50’s. Giant sandwiches and the usual deli fare. A great Oasis Salad with dates, and excellent desserts. $$
Elmer's
Open all day, but everyone goes for breakfast. The usual coffee shop fare, plus the very popular “Dutch Baby” german pancake. Long lines, but they move fast. $
Trio
Trendy and slightly touristy with good food and a fun bar. A little noisy with bridal parties on the weekends. Outside seating for when the weather is nice. $$
Thai Smile 🔅
Good Americanized Thai Food. Good prices and usually quick service. Great lunch specials. The Fish Shoo Shee and the Tom Yum Kai Soup are delicious. $
Copley's
Romantic setting and amazing food with a slight Pacific Rim/Hawaiian slant prepared by chef Andrew Copley. $$$
Zin American Bistro🔅
Great people watching from the patio in the heart of downtown. Food is excellent, and they feature an extensive wine list. Great choices from steaks to a unique fried chicken. Nice lunch pre-fixe menu as well. $$
Rooster and the Pig
Popular Vietnamese fusion restaurant. Great dishes prepared from the owner’s family recipes. Go early for dinner or be prepared to wait. $$
Bill's Pizza
Cheap and cheerful pizza place downtown. Lots of interesting varieties of pizza. Family friendly and affordable. $
Rio Azul 🔅
Delicious Mexican food based on the chef’s grandmother’s recipes. The Oaxaca Tamal is great as are any of the enchiladas. House margaritas are always 5 dollars. $$
Lulu California Bistro
It’s big, it’s lively, it’s touristy, but locals like it too. Decent food and an all-day $20 three course pre-fixe keep it popular. Good specials at the bar, too. $
Eight4Nine
Large trendy uptown restaurant with a large bar area. Popular, bright, and fun spot for dinner or drinks $$
Townie Bagels 🔅
A local favorite for breakfast. Best bagels in town, served with cream cheese or as a breakfast sandwich. They also make pastries and sandwiches. $
Manhattan in the Desert 🔅
Good deli restaurant with a huge menu. Huge sandwiches, and desserts as big as your head. $$
Le Vallauris
Fine French dining with a great patio. Old school service and more dressy than most restaurants in PS. $$$
Escena Lounge & Grill
Best view of the mountain for brunch. Sit on the patio. Service is spotty but food is good. And seriously, the view! $$
John Henry's 🔅
Lean in a little closer for this recommendation. This is a true local restaurant. Hidden away in a private courtyard with a tiny sign. Plentiful comfort food and very friendly service. $$
Tyler's Burgers
A Palm Springs institution in downtown. Delicious burgers, fries and cole slaw. Open only for lunch and gets crowded after noon. $
Ruben & Ozzy's 🔅
They call it an Oyster Bar, but it’s really a bar and grill with an emphasis on seafood and pasta. Great fish tacos. $
Birba 🔅
Trendy yet casual outdoor dining. Eclectic enough for foodies, with great pizzas. $$
Brickworks 🔅
Great wood-fired pizza and salads downtown. Upstairs for people watching, and you can reserve a balcony over Palm Canyon. $$
Umami Seoul 🔅
A mash-up of Japanese and Korean. Big selection of sushi rolls, great tempura, and a beautiful bibimbap. $
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