Here’s Where to Dine Al Fresco in Palm Springs
Palm Springs is the perfect place to visit if you’re already craving summer weather. The region’s year-round sunshine, balmy nights and bustling outdoor dining scene make it the ideal destination for an impromptu escape. With that said, we’ve rounded up 14 of our favorite open-air restaurants on Palm Canyon Drive to dine at this season. Bon appétit! Best Restaurants Palm Springs
TRIO
American food and Italian heritage come together brilliantly at TRIO. The high-energy ambiance of this local eatery makes it a perfect place for a night out or a casual afternoon date. Menu highlights include drinks like TRIO’s red sangria and their seasonal fruit margaritas and dishes like the prosciutto pizza, wild mushroom fettuccine and red wine-braised short rib. The restaurant also serves up a stellar weekend brunch (from 9 a.m.-2 p.m) with favorites like their smoked salmon toast, chorizo chilaquiles and Early Bird Burger. Take in views of the desert sky on the brightly colored patio or sit inside and admire the modern decor. Don’t forget to check out the mural on the side of the restaurant after your meal!
Sandfish Sushi & Whiskey
Sushi and a sunset? Yes, please! Not only is Sandfish’s patio a prime spot to admire the sun setting behind the mountains, it’s the perfect place for a one-of-a-kind sushi experience. Among this eatery’s creative take on traditional sushi, an impressive collection of whiskey from all around the world and it’s Scandinavian-style interior, you’re bound to have a delicious meal from start to finish.
Local Insight: Try the spicy tuna tostadas and thank us later.
Best Restaurants Palm Springs
1501 Uptown Gastropub
This new gastropub recently took over the airy space designed by famed architect Chris Pardo. Whether you’re sitting on the patio, in a spacious booth or at the gold bartop, 1501 Uptown Gastropub is sure to impress. With an eclectic menu, an out-of-this-world cocktail list and awe-inspiring architecture, this new gastropub already has a major buzz around it.
Workshop Kitchen + Bar
Once a 90-year-old movie theater, this Uptown Design District eatery sources most of their ingredients within an hour of Palm Springs, certainly earning their farm-to-table good name. The industrial-chic interior of Workshop Kitchen + Bar, combined with the laid-back patio that’s surrounded by mountains, provides the perfect Palm Springs al fresco experience. Cheers to season at this James Beard award-winning restaurant with a classic cocktail like the California Dreamin’—made with vodka, lemon juice, grand poppy liqueur and orange oils.
Best Restaurants Palm Springs
Birba
Birba brings Italian delicacies to the desert, and we’re all for it. The entire space feels more like a swanky backyard than an upscale Italian joint, and that’s exactly what makes it so charming. With a wide selection of classic Italian dishes, desserts, wine and hand-crafted cocktails, this outdoor restaurant is the perfect season date-night destination. What’s more romantic than dining beneath trees draped with twinkling lights, admiring the desert stars and sharing a tiramisu?
Tac/Quila
Palm Springs’ Tac/Quila does two things really well: tacos and tequila! The menu focuses on Jalisco-style bites and boasts an assortment of seafood-centric dishes that are sure to please any palate. And unlike other Mexican restaurants, this eatery boasts a contemporary, whimsical vibe with its olive-green chairs, red banquette booths and living wall full of lush greenery and exotic flowers. Nothing says season in Palm Springs like sipping margaritas under the misters.
Local Insight: Don’t leave without trying the churro ice cream sandwich!
Best Restaurants Palm Springs
Bar Cecil
Named after Cecil Beaton (a Renaissance-style artist, rebel and aristocrat), Bar Cecil boasts a modern French menu and an incredible cocktail variety, including drinks like the Cactus Slim, Calder Colada and Fifty-Dollar Martini. Among the menu highlights are the caramelized onion tart, steak and frites and Diego’s ratatouille. Spend an evening on the quaint patio or in the artsy interior of this glam 75-seat restaurant amid bold wallpaper and original artwork, including Andy Warhol’s 1979 “After the Party.”
Mr. Lyons
Nobody puts a modern spin on a classic steakhouse like Mr. Lyons does. If steaks cooked to absolute perfection, fancy cocktails and candlelight are your jam, this is the place for you. Known for its beef Wellington and top-notch service, Mr. Lyons is the perfect place to indulge in classy yet cozy cuisine in the desert.
Local Insight: Visit the vintage speakeasy bar, Semour’s, located behind the restaurant.
Best Restaurants Palm Springs
Lulu California Bistro
Head to the famed Lulu California Bistro and experience an ambiance that embraces the desert’s dynamic downtown scene! For years, Lulu has been a top eatery in Palm Springs—and with good reason. Its expansive menu is stacked with scrumptious California classics with a creative twist. White walls paired with pastel accents give Lulu a fanciful yet elegant vibe that is sure to impress.
Norma’s at Parker Palm Springs
Located in the famous Parker Palm Springs, Norma’s, the hotel’s colorful open-air terrace restaurant, is a stylish spot surrounded by palms. Honoring Palm Springs’ midcentury-modern vibe, Norma’s decor is bright, fun and oh-so-Instagrammable. Enjoy an American-style breakfast, lunch or dinner on the shaded patio, and don’t leave without indulging in the Very Berry Brioche French Toast!
Chi Chi at Avalon Hotel
If you prefer farmers market-style eats, this chic eatery at the Avalon Hotel is the place to brunch in Palm Springs. Chi Chi’s balanced California menu is filled with fresh yet indulgent options like the lox bagel, lemon poppy seed French toast and cold-pressed juices. Not to mention, views of the sparkling pool and surrounding mountains might just be as “Palm Springs” as it gets. Treat yourself to a vibrant meal, desert vibes and a refined atmosphere at this quaint Palm Canyon eatery!
Best Restaurants Palm Springs
Eight4Nine Restaurant & Lounge
Eight4Nine is a whimsical haven, a foodie’s dream and the king/queen of ambiance. You’ll be hard-pressed to find design and decor like this anywhere in the desert. Not only that, the menu is out of this world with delightful dishes like corn and crab chowder and Mac and Cheese Lorraine. Enjoy your meal in the restaurant’s white-walled interior under the sparkling chandeliers or snag a seat on the patio for a dreamy evening under the stars.
El Patron
Celebrate the start of season with tacos, tequila and a desert view at El Patron! This boutique, Baja-inspired eatery is all about fresh ingredients and is committed to serving local produce, wild-caught seafood and hormone-free meats. Sip on a fresh pineapple tamarindo margarita, munch on some nachos and do some people-watching at this must-visit Mexican spot!
Best Restaurants Palm Springs
Jake’s
Comfort food and craft cocktails come to life at Jake’s in Palm Springs! This restaurant’s bright and glossy interior and serene courtyard make it a stellar place for a hearty brunch. The menu features an array of American dishes, such as a crab-cake Benedict, savory waffle sandwich, lobster roll and more. Not only that, their imaginative cocktail list is guaranteed to be cheers-worthy—try the horseradish bloody mary if you like some kick!
Best Restaurants Palm Springs
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