Where to Eat, Sip and Be Seen at the Desert’s Hottest New Spots
There is a certain thrill in chasing a new reservation. You know the feeling. A fresh menu drops, a space opens its doors and suddenly your group chat is alive again. Greater Palm Springs is having that moment right now. The desert dining scene feels bold, playful and ready for its close-up. Think of this as your curated hit list for the best new restaurants in Greater Palm Springs. Arrive hungry, order boldly and maybe make a second reservation while you’re still at the table.
Palm Springs
1. In Full Bloom
Color shows up before the first bite here. Bougainvillea Fresh Cuisine leans into vibrant, health-forward dishes that still feel indulgent. Chef Alex Hernandez built the menu around fresh ingredients and Latin flavors refined with French and Italian technique, layered with bold herbs and citrus. The fried calamari, filet mignon with mole negro and burrata and beets salad arrive looking like they belong on your camera roll. The intimate dining room matches that energy with soft pink tones and an open kitchen where you can watch every plate come together.
Bougainvillea Fresh Cuisine
555 S Sunrise Way, Ste 108
Palm Springs, CA 92264
442.307.9017
T–Sa, 11 a.m.–2:30 p.m. & 5–9 p.m.; Su, 5–9 p.m.
2. Pour Decisions
Wine bar meets café, and it’s sure to make your afternoon plans feel elevated. Vinophile Café brings a European-inspired energy to the desert. Founded by certified sommelier Jennifer Carter, the concept blends curated wines with light bites and a relaxed social setting. You’ll find housemade hummus and cheese plates designed for sharing, paired with thoughtful pours. Swing by for Sunset Hour, 3 to 5:30 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and 4 to 5:30 p.m. Sunday, when sommelier-selected wines, housemade sangria, beer and bites like black truffle popcorn are $6 each. It feels like a place you visit once and then claim as your regular spot.
Vinophile Café
540 S Indian Canyon Dr
Palm Springs, CA 92264
760.422.6520
T–Sa, 3–9 p.m.; Su, 2–8 p.m.
3. Golden Hour, Every Hour
Plan your evening around the sky at SoCal Sunset. From the family behind Felipe’s Palm Springs, El Patio and El Tacolgado, this Palm Springs spot pairs glowing desert skies with a breezy, coastal California vibe that feels relaxed and social. The menu blends the owners’ Latin American heritage with modern American cooking, so ceviche trios and aguachile share the table with butterfly rainbow trout and pan-seared sand dabs. Cosmic Kiss cocktails, finished with raspberry purée and a swirl of dry ice, are crafted for lingering.
SoCal Sunset
369 N Palm Canyon Dr
Palm Springs, CA 92262
442.273.8127
M–Sa, 11 a.m.–3 p.m. & 5–9 p.m.; Su, 11 a.m.–3 p.m.
4. Sardinia by Way of Sunrise Way
Cousins Maurizio Tunis and Patrick Abbate brought their family’s Sardinian cooking to Palm Springs this fall, taking over the longtime Mario’s space on Sunrise Way. At Those Italian Cousins, traditional Italian dishes share the menu with island specialties, and the Roman-style pinse are the move. Save room for seadas, a Sardinian dessert of fried raviolo filled with cheese and orange zest and finished with honey. During Pride Week in November, look for a limited-time rainbow ricotta ravioli with butter, sage and Parmigiano Reggiano.
Those Italian Cousins
425 S Sunrise Way, Ste F1
Palm Springs, CA 92262
442.268.9102
M, T & Th, 11:30 a.m.–2 p.m. & 5–8:30 p.m.; F–Sa, 11:30 a.m.–2 p.m. & 5–9 p.m.; Su, 5–8:30 p.m.
Palm Desert
5. Dip It Like It’s Hot
If your current craving involves something rich, slow-cooked and deeply satisfying, stop by Birrieria Sinaloa. The popular food truck put down roots in Palm Desert earlier this year, bringing its family recipes and the flavors of Sinaloa to a brick-and-mortar home. The signature birria simmers for hours, building a rich consommé made for dunking. Order the quesabirria, the crowd favorite, or branch out with the ramen birria, a twist you won’t find on most taco menus. Handmade tortillas seal the deal.
Birrieria Sinaloa
73120 Dinah Shore Dr
Palm Desert, CA 92211
442.995.2311
Daily, 8 a.m.–10 p.m.
6. New York Minute, Desert Morning
New York energy meets desert mornings at H&H Bagels. Known for its iconic bagels, this brand brings serious credibility to the Palm Desert breakfast scene, and local operator Brian Murphy runs the shop alongside his daughter and son-in-law. The bagels arrive chewy, perfectly baked and ready for classic pairings, from cinnamon raisin slathered with flavored cream cheese to the Southwest turkey on an asiago bagel. Expect a line on busy mornings, the surest sign the desert was ready for a real New York bagel.
H&H Bagels
73131 Country Club Dr, Ste C10
Palm Desert, CA 92260
760.346.6111
Daily, 6 a.m.–4 p.m.
7. Prime Time
The family behind Olga’s Tacos in Cathedral City went upscale this year with Bohemios Prime by Olga on Monterey Avenue. The menu starts with elevated Mexican comfort food and handmade tortillas, then branches into sushi rolls, prime steaks, seafood, pasta and burgers. It’s open from breakfast until late, with weekend brunch, and Friday nights bring a live DJ to go with the craft cocktails and micheladas.
Bohemios Prime by Olga
34460 Monterey Ave, Ste 101
Palm Desert, CA 92211
442.268.5491
Su–Th, 8 a.m.–10 p.m.; F–Sa, 8 a.m.–midnight
Cathedral City
8. Smash Hit
Sometimes you just want a great burger, and Mark’s Burgers delivers exactly that. Owner Mark Santana spent 25 years in the restaurant business, including a run as manager of Tony’s Burgers on Date Palm Drive, before opening this family-run spot of his own. The signature Smash Burger comes stacked with caramelized onions and MB’s Special Sauce on a brioche bun, while MB’s Sweet Habanero Wings and Baja fish tacos round out the lineup. Grab a cold beer and a seat on the patio, where mountain views and a steady stream of regulars set the scene.
Mark’s Burgers
68-718 E Palm Canyon Dr, Ste 201
Cathedral City, CA 92234
442.268.5505
Daily, 11 a.m.–9 p.m.
Rancho Mirage
9. Mid-Century Gem
Named for Palm Springs pioneer Pearl McManus, Desert Pearl brings mid-century style to the Omni Rancho Las Palmas Resort & Spa. The restaurant took over the former bluEmber space earlier this year, pairing sleek lines and sun-warmed tones with garden and desert views. Start the day with breakfast, then return for an all-day menu that runs from steak frites to vegetable couscous, with craft cocktails to match.
Desert Pearl
41000 Bob Hope Dr
Rancho Mirage, CA 92270
760.834.2110
Daily, 7 a.m.–10 p.m.
10. Morning, Noon and Night
After years of sitting empty, the former Carnival restaurant space on Highway 111 has new life as California Bistro. The Rancho Mirage newcomer covers every meal, starting with thick-cut French toast finished with berry compote. At lunch, the mango shrimp salad comes tossed with avocado and a ginger citrus dressing, while dinner leans classic with pan-seared scallops over saffron risotto and a pistachio herb-crusted rack of lamb. Steak and fries with white truffle parmesan fries holds down both the lunch and dinner menus, and the daily happy hour runs from 3 to 6 p.m.
California Bistro
69820 Highway 111
Rancho Mirage, CA 92270
760.656.7300
Su–Th, 8 a.m.–8 p.m.; F–Sa, 8 a.m.–8:30 p.m.
11. Greek Island Getaway
A taste of the Greek isles landed at The River this spring when Mykonos opened its doors. The menu covers the classics, from gyros to souvlaki, plus a few surprises like the shrimp and cheese claypot hot meze, baked with tomatoes, green peppers, garlic and butter. At lunch, the $17.99 special pairs a pita sandwich with avgolemono soup or a Greek salad and a soft drink. Bigger appetites can go for the grilled branzino.
Mykonos
71800 Highway 111, Ste A122
Rancho Mirage, CA 92270
442.282.5105
Daily, 11 a.m.–9 p.m.
Indian Wells
12. Pub Grub, Grown Up
Seven Olive takes its name from the first harvest of the Renaissance Esmeralda Resort & Spa’s own olive grove, which yielded seven gallons of oil. Opened this spring, the 128-seat gastropub gives pub classics a chef’s touch, with brick-oven pizzas, Wagyu burgers and a birria grilled cheese alongside heartier plates like braised lamb shank and Skuna Bay salmon. The cocktails lean local, too, working in Medjool dates, desert herbs and fresh citrus. After dinner, the neighboring Topgolf Swing Suites keep the night going.
Seven Olive
44400 Indian Wells Ln
Indian Wells, CA 92210
760.601.1522
T–Th, 4–10 p.m.; F–Sa, 4–11 p.m.
La Quinta
13. Masa Made by Hand
For a few years, Casa de Silvia’s tamales were a fixture of downtown Indio and its annual tamale festival. Now the family recipes have a new home in La Quinta, in the former Cork and Fork space on Caleo Bay. The masa is made by hand and the salsas are mixed fresh each morning, so start with the cheese tamales, then branch into chilaquiles divorciados, half rojo and half verde, or the pan dulce French toast topped with strawberries, bananas and whipped cream. Order at the counter, and don’t skip the horchata iced coffee.
Casa de Silvia
47875 Caleo Bay, Ste A106
La Quinta, CA 92253
760.899.3765
Th–Tu, 8 a.m.–2 p.m.
From Sardinian pinse to handmade tamales, the desert’s newest tables prove Greater Palm Springs is just getting started. Book the reservation, grab a seat at the counter or line up for that first bagel of the morning. Then come back hungry, because the next wave is already on its way.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What are some of the best new restaurants in Greater Palm Springs?
A: Standouts include Those Italian Cousins, serving Sardinian cooking in Palm Springs; Bohemios Prime by Olga, an upscale Mexican spot in Palm Desert; Mykonos, a Greek restaurant at The River in Rancho Mirage; Seven Olive, a gastropub in Indian Wells; and Casa de Silvia, a handmade Mexican brunch spot in La Quinta.
Q: Which new Greater Palm Springs restaurants are inside resorts?
A: Desert Pearl serves breakfast and an all-day menu at the Omni Rancho Las Palmas Resort & Spa in Rancho Mirage. Seven Olive is a gastropub at the Renaissance Esmeralda Resort & Spa in Indian Wells, with Topgolf Swing Suites next door.
Q: Where can I find a new breakfast or brunch spot in Greater Palm Springs?
A: Casa de Silvia in La Quinta serves handmade tamales, chilaquiles and pan dulce French toast. H&H Bagels in Palm Desert opens daily at 6 a.m. with New York-style bagels. Bohemios Prime by Olga in Palm Desert offers weekend brunch.
Q: What new Mexican restaurants have opened in Greater Palm Springs?
A: Birrieria Sinaloa moved from food truck to a brick-and-mortar restaurant in Palm Desert, serving birria, quesabirria and consommé. Bohemios Prime by Olga pairs elevated Mexican comfort food with sushi and prime steaks, and Casa de Silvia in La Quinta specializes in tamales made with handmade masa.
Q: Which new Greater Palm Springs restaurants have happy hour?
A: Vinophile Café in Palm Springs offers Sunset Hour from 3 to 5:30 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and 4 to 5:30 p.m. Sunday, with wines, sangria, beer and bites at $6 each. California Bistro in Rancho Mirage hosts happy hour daily from 3 to 6 p.m.
