Palm Springs Today: Old skool tiki bars and aging steakhouses have been replaced with an unexpected tiki-speakeasy and Vietnamese fusion tri-tip Pho. But, steak lovers, never fear, you can still find the classics all over town too.
It’s not just about dining either. Below we introduce some of the best tastebud experiences in our things to do in Palm Springs for foodies guide.
Undoubtedly, all the upcoming eating on your next trip will lead to a serious case of the “need-sleeps”. Before you arrive, book a little desert luxury for your stay: See Palm Springs houses for rental.
Ready? Eye’s feast first, bellies later…
Palm Canyon Roaming Food Tour
Sample the best of Palm Canyon drive on a 7 stop roaming food tour. Sample pizza from a USA top 100 pizzeria, locally made toffee and more. It’s a short walk between stops and a great way to try as many local specialties as possible in a single lunch visit. 11 am daily departure with Desert Tasty Tours.
Bill’s Pizza
Speaking of top 100 award winning pizza… I don’t want to ruin the surprise but it’s at Bill’s Pizza. I wouldn’t want you to miss out. In fact, you may want to go there more than once. So, now you know, if you miss the food tour, just make sure you don’t miss the pizza.
Villagefest – Weekly Street Market
Villagefest is a weekly event featuring independent & artesian goods, handicrafts, and food. The street fair fills about 3 blocks right on Palm Canyon Drive and typically features around 200 stalls. Stroll, eat, look, buy. Look out for live entertainment and local artists.
Jake’s – Contemporary American Cuisine
Dine outside at Jake’s courtyard patio. Enjoy American Bistro style cuisine, and make sure to try the herb crusted scallops, baby back ribs, and the local secret… The coconut cake.
Cheeky’s – Best Breakfast In Town
I hope you like bacon! Cheeky’s have an ever changing bacon menu with unusual flavors from jalapeño bacon, to Indio date glaze or Beeler apple cinnamon. Get yourself a “bacon flight” of the day’s selection. Plenty of other options too at this local favorite. Breakfast from 8 am – 2 pm Wed-Mon. They also have lunch options from 11.30.
Food & Drink Festivals
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Palm Springs Props & Hops Beer Festival
Don’t drink and fly! But, do enjoy some of California’s best craft beers while hanging in the hangar – surrounded by vintage planes. Aviation history meets cutting edge brewing – you can even book a seat to in a B-25. The Props & Hops Craft Beer Festival happens every November.
2. Palm Desert Food & Wine Festival (Palm Desert)
This annual event brings chefs and celebrities from all over the region. It’s the biggest event of it’s kind all year and it’s just a few miles from Palm Springs. Normally late March. More information.
3. Palm Springs Restaurant Week
Restaurateurs from all over the Greater Palm Springs area come out in force to provide exciting lunch and dinner menus at a discount. June Every Year. More information.
Shanghai Red’s Oyster Bar
Seafood, live music and happy hour prices from 8 pm every night… Just off the tourist strip, Shanghai Red’s maintains it’s cool dive bar status while serving up some legendary fish tacos.
Temecula Wine Tour – In A Hummer!
I would be remiss if I didn’t include a wine tour on this list. Although you’ll be visiting vineyards in Temecula, about an hours drive away, the pickup point for the wine tour is from your accommodation in Palm Springs – and it’s in a hummer. Wine trip + hummer. Totally worth heading out of town for a day for. Get More Info About This Tour & See Pricing.
Le Vallauris – Exquisite Sunday Brunch & More!
Anyone for champagne Sunday brunch? What better way to indulge the weekend away than with champagne in Le Vallauris’ beautiful patio garden, surrounded by Lupe ficus trees, eating exquisitely presented French-Mediterranean- Californian fusion cuisine.
Coachella Valley Brewing Company
Kettling up some exciting micro-brew beers using the local herbs, spices, citrus, and honey from the region. An ever changing selection of seasonal offerings. Take a tour of the brewery, or just chill in the semi-industrial wood-paneled taproom. More information.
533 Viet Fusion
A fully loaded Vietnamese crepe? Grilled tri-tip pho? What about a red curry and tiger shrimp ramen? There are no rules here, just inventive and exciting Vietnamese fusion food. More Information.
Visit a Date Farm
To grow date palms, you need hot & dry summers. And the greater Palm Springs area has plenty of those! Take the opportunity to eat the local dates right from the source and visit the producers with their onsite stores and cafes.
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Shields Date Farm – Since 1924
Visit the gift shop at Shields date farm to sample their 100% homegrown dates, and take a walk around the 17-acre property to see how the dates get from tree to table.
2. Oasis Date Gardens
Oasis Date Gardens is a short drive east of Palm Springs, expect a fully organic experience, and don’t miss their blended vanilla ice cream date shakes – which are a local favorite
Workshop Kitchen + Bar – Outstanding Design
Perfectly presented dishes in an industrial chic setting. Workshop Kitchen + Bar won a James Beard award for dècor, but don’t let that distract you from the food. It’s all about fresh farm-to-table. Don’t miss the pastrami-cheddar topped burger!
Kitchen Kitchen Cooking Class
Don’t just eat! Cook! A short drive from Palm Springs, in the neighboring town of Indian Wells. Kitchen Kitchen offers an ever changing schedule of cooking classes and occasional visits from guest chefs.
Learn anything from Mexican appetizers to perfect pasta sauce. Take a look at the calendar for the latest offerings.
Bootlegger Tiki – The Speakeasy Style Tiki Bar
Discover tiki re-imagined in this intimate speakeasy. Bootlegger Tiki takes its place in the same building that the original 1953 bar “Don The Beachcomber” occupied. Find that Palm Springs history with a modern twist – and Polynesian torches, of course. Don’t miss the daily happy hours.
Rio Azul
Truly authentic Mexican food from the secret family recipes of head chef Ernesto Gastelum. Try the award winning margaritas to accompany house specialties like the Abuelita’s Albondigas soup (Ernesto’s grandmother’s recipe). More information.
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Palm Springs is a great destination if you are looking for things to do near Los Angeles, but remember to book yourself somewhere awesome to stay before you arrive: Palm Springs houses for rental. OR there are some great RV parks in Palm Springs that you can consider parking your RV rental at as well to sleep off your food coma!
What’s your favorite foodie or dining experience in Palm Springs? Let us know in the comments.
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