Caviar Flights, Poolside Bites and Brazilian Buffets are Driving a Culinary Renaissance in the Desert
Palm Springs may be known for its timeless midcentury charm, but the city’s dining scene is anything but dated. In this vibrant enclave, a culinary renaissance is underway, with nine new restaurants making waves in the desert. From cozy wine clubs with caviar flights to swanky restaurants filled with live jazz, Greater Palm Springs’ dining scene is as diverse as it is enticing. Poolside cocktail bars are the hot new watering holes, and we may have even found the best French toast in the valley. Trust us, these new restaurants in Palm Springs and beyond are as good as they get.
Lost Property at The Skylark
New to the Palm Springs scene, Lost Property at The Skylark is a coastal-inspired restaurant and bar that swung open its doors this summer. Spearheaded by renowned Chef Brandon Kida and curator Rhino Williams, this little oasis combines midcentury touches with beachy accents—think rattan chairs, marble tables, floor-to-ceiling windows and a blue bar with arched mirrors.
In terms of food and beverage offerings, the restaurant features an all-day menu with swoon-worthy dishes and cocktails that’ll have your phone eating (and drinking) first. Try one of their fresh salads, baked egg dishes or decadent toasts, like the one with heirloom tomato, burrata, basil pesto, egg, arugula and parmesan cheese. They also offer oysters and an artisanal tin fish plate should you be craving seafood. However, their Lost Property Breakfast Smash with fennel sausage, a perfectly yolky egg, cheddar cheese and a Martin’s potato bun is easily one of the best things on the menu.
If you stop by in the morning, pair your meal with a craft espresso drink from the coffee bar. Or, you can swing by at sunset for a boozy cocktail, which is best enjoyed by the outdoor fire pit. The bartenders here make a killer Lincoln Anecdote with Laird’s Apple Brandy, bourbon, Angostura bitters, fresh lemon, maple syrup and a house spice blend. But if you’re craving something more smokey, the Blood & Smoke with Zomoz Mezcal, fresh blood orange, lemon and honey is as refreshing as it sounds.
Location: Palm Springs
Alice B.
From the kitchens of Mary Sue Milliken and Susan Feniger comes Alice B. From the dynamic duo of award-winning celebrity chefs James Beard and Julia Child, this new restaurant in Palm Springs opened in December of last year. The menu draws inspiration from the Mediterranean, and the restaurant itself is attributed to the 20th-century romance between Alice B. Toklas and Gertrude Stein. Painted portraits of the couple hang in the dining room, which were created by local LGBTQ+ artist, Jo Hay. Live jazz sets the mood for weekend dinners, but brunch may just be Susan’s favorite. She describes her go-to cocktail, The Carajillo, as “Part wake-up call, part soirée in a glass!”
Location: Palm Springs
Canopy Wine Lounge
In our book, there are never enough wine bars. Canopy Wine Lounge perfectly captures the midcentury modern vibe Palm Springs is known for. Banquette-style cocktail seating, speckled tile floors and velvet booths make it feel like you’re sipping chardonnay with Kitty from “That ‘70s Show.” Wines range from classic Napa cabs to South African whites. If you’re feeling frisky, try their Black Glass Wine Program. A sommelier will select a blind wine to put your taste buds to the test! For food, we love anything with caviar, but the three-tiered charcuterie tower is always a crowd-pleaser.
Location: Palm Springs
Grapefruit Basil at Tommy Bahama Miramonte Resort & Spa
As the name implies, Grapefruit Basil is where fresh, vibrant flavors shine. Dishes are reminiscent of island life and feature produce grown on-site at Tommy Bahama Miramonte Resort & Spa. It’s a beautiful marriage of desert flavors and island fare, and their cocktails put a tropical twist on beloved classics. We love this Indian Wells restaurant for brunch, which is served seven days a week (thank goodness!). Floral wallpaper and an indoor-outdoor design set the mood for leisurely meals, and we love the Brioche Bananas Foster French Toast and Ruby Red Grapefruit “Brulee”.” In the evening, order the restaurant’s eponymous cocktail, featuring Grey Goose, fresh basil and ruby red grapefruit.
Location: Indian Wells
Amala at The Palm Springs Surf Club
Nothing works up an appetite quite like a surf sesh. After a day in the waves at The Palm Springs Surf Club, head to Amala. It’s only fitting that a desert surf club restaurant serves coastal cuisine, and the fish and chips might just be the best in town. Dine at this resort-style lounge with views of the wave pool and the mountains; it’s basically like dinner and a show! Amala is open for lunch, dinner, drinks and Sunday Brunch. Follow along on their Instagram for special events, like live bands and DJs who put the club in surf club, trivia nights and wine-paired dinners.
Location: Palm Springs
Mīnerva’s at Life House Palm Springs
Romantic, cozy and effortlessly aesthetic, Mīnerva’s’ plant-forward plates pay homage to the free-spirited, star-studded history of the desert. The restaurant itself was inspired by Minerva Hamilton Hoyt, a desert activist who strived to protect the beauty of the Coachella Valley. Servers even educate diners about their role in the ecosystem while they nosh on dishes like the lemon berry waffle and farmers’ market specials. In terms of decor, the floors are checkered, the wallpaper is floral and the neighboring pool deck looks like one where Elvis would spend his days while filming in the desert. Unwind and get down to earth at Mīnerva’s, which sits by the succulent-filled convertible in the driveway.
Location: Palm Springs
Churrasco Brazilian Steakhouse
This fall, it’s not desert cowgirl, coastal cowgirl or even cowgirl cowgirl. It’s Brazilian cowgirl! Traditional Gaucho (Brazilian cowboys) cuisine consists of charcoal-grilled meats, which are exactly what you’ll find on the menu of Churrasco Brazilian Steakhouse. Fifteen meats to be exact! Taste your way through the flavors of Southern Brazil with an all-you-can-eat menu of prime rib and tender pork chops. Waiters will slice towering skewers of sizzling steaks tableside for a show-stopping and mouthwatering meal. On top of the selection of meats, guests can help themselves to a hot and cold market bar with over 50 sides to choose from. Come hungry!
Location: Palm Springs
Lola Rose (Opening Fall 2024)
Set to open this fall, Lola Rose will take diners on a culinary adventure through the flavors of the Middle East. Global cuisines are reinvented with a unique twist. Plus, the cocktails shed a whole new light on the craft of mixology. This hot new restaurant and bar in Palm Springs will soon open its doors inside the Thomson Palm Springs. Tucked within its midcentury interior are cozy corners to catch up with friends and communal dining spaces for lively groups. Don’t overlook the vegetarian and gluten-free options—Lola Rose truly has something for everyone.
Location: Palm Springs
LIVS Palm Springs
If the Palm Springs Art Museum is missing one thing, it’s delicious food. However, Chef Gabriel Woo quickly changed that with the opening of his elevated fast-food dining concept. LIVS, named after Woo’s daughter, opened this year inside the art gallery. His menu puts a twist on American classics—we’re talking elevated McDonald’s burgers with juicy 4-ounce patties, crab cake sandos and New England lobster rolls. Like the menu, the interior manages to be playful yet elevated. It features yellow floral wallpaper and colorful portraits hanging above black booths. Come for the art, but stay for the cuisine.
Location: Palm Springs
