These 13 Restaurants Are Must-Visits This Summer

When the summer heat turns up in Greater Palm Springs, so does the flavor. And the 2025 Summer Eats Pass is your golden ticket to the destination’s most delicious scene! From chic downtown patios to swanky resort grills, the region’s restaurants are serving local flavor and tempting offers all summer long. Just download the free Visit Greater Palm Springs app, create an account and show your digital pass at participating locations to redeem offers and earn foodie badges. Every time you use the pass to check in to a restaurant, you’ll be entered into a weekly drawing for a $50 gift card to a Greater Palm Springs restaurant.

Consider the Summer Eats Pass your excuse to try somewhere new or finally hit that place you’ve been drooling over on Instagram! So pack your appetite (and stretchy pants) and dine and sip your way through these 13 restaurants in Greater Palm Springs.

 

GiGi’s Palm Springs

Deal: Check-in to be entered in a weekly prize drawing

Looking for a restaurant that’s equal parts social club and sultry supper spot, with golden hour lighting that turns any weeknight into an occasion? Say hello to GiGi’s Restaurant + Bar. It’s Mediterranean-inspired, mood-lit and styled like something out of a Slim Aarons photo shoot. You’ll find fresh coastal flavors and elevated California charm. Think: devil shrimp risotto, steak frites, and chilled wines that practically beg to be sipped poolside. The space hums with energy from brunch ‘til late, but it’s the dinner scene that steals the show. If you love people-watching with your crudo, GiGi’s is your main character moment.

Location: Palm Springs

 

Kaiser Grille

Deal: Exclusive Summer Eats Pass menu offerings

Old-school glam meets modern steakhouse vibes at Kaiser Grille, one of downtown Palm Springs’ longest-standing institutions. With white tablecloth energy and an elegant glass structure, this spot knows how to serve a scene. The menu includes classic cuts, fresh seafood, and sides that go way beyond “just a salad.” Whether you go for the fettuccine carbonara or filet mignon kebab, every plate is beautifully composed and generously portioned. Come for the steak, stay for the swanky desert-night ambiance that feels like Frank Sinatra could walk in at any moment.

Location: Downtown Palm Springs

 

Larkspur Grill

Deal: $59+ per person three-course dinner

Palm Desert’s Larkspur Grill proves that hotel dining can be a true delight. Located at Hotel Paseo near the boutiques and galleries of El Paseo, this restaurant highlights contemporary California cuisine with a menu that pairs beautifully with wine and mountain sunsets. Guests rave about standout dishes like the pan seared red snapper and the braised pork shank. The setting is sleek and modern with desert-inspired touches and a spacious terrace that’s perfect for breezy summer evenings. Whether you’re coming from a day of shopping or simply in the mood for something special, Larkspur Grill turns dinner into an experience.

Location: Palm Desert

 

DSRT CLUB

Deal: Check in to be entered in a weekly prize drawing

This is not your dad’s country club. DSRT CLUB in La Quinta is cool, creative, and a little rebellious in the best way. The menu is global, but with a local soul—expect truffle fries, seared scallops, and fun cocktails like the bee-sting. There’s also live music and a loungey interior that somehow balances desert luxe with a side of rock ‘n’ roll.

Insider tip: Add an ice cold draft, bottled or canned beer to your meal for under $10.

Location: La Quinta

 

Mole

Deal: $25+ per person two-course meal offered Monday-Friday, 4-6 pm

Mole isn’t just a dish—it’s a statement, and this modern Mexican eatery in Palm Desert makes that crystal clear. Deeply rooted in traditional flavors, Mole puts its namesake sauce front and center, crafting layered, rich, and deeply satisfying meals. With warm lighting and hand-painted murals, the space feels like a modern hacienda with serious flavor ambition. The Summer Eats Pass lets guests explore one starter: chips and guac, Andalusian gazpacho, or fire-roasted corn. For the entree, you’ll have their signature enchiladas with a choice of protein (mole chicken, shrimp, salmon, beef, or succotash). It’s a must-visit for anyone craving culture with their cuisine.

Location: Palm Desert

 

Shorebird

Deal: $39+ per person 4-course prix fixe menu offered Monday-Friday, 4-6 pm

This breezy restaurant feels like vacation even if you’re just popping in for lunch. Known for seafood-forward fare and wood-fired finishes, Shorebird offers the kind of elevated but approachable menu that makes you want to try “just one more thing.” With the Summer Eats Pass, you’ll get a lemon caesar salad, San Marzano tomato soup, signature taco platter, and the choice of vanilla bean ice cream or raspberry sorbet. Bonus: the space is airy and effortlessly stylish, with light oak accents and open windows that bring in the sun. Come for the food, linger for the vibe.

Location: Palm Desert

Spencer’s

Deal: Check in to be entered in a weekly prize drawing

Tucked against the San Jacinto Mountains, Spencer’s is where Palm Springs’ old Hollywood legacy still hums under the surface. The setting feels intimate yet expansive, thanks to a stunning outdoor patio shaded by tall palms and twinkling lights. Known for upscale American cuisine with a French accent, Spencer’s brings white linen energy without the pretension. You can enjoy dishes like pan roasted Norwegian salmon, crisp skin whitefish or their iconic lobster potstickers. It’s elegant, yes—but also cozy in that desert-luxe way. Perfect for date nights, anniversaries, or long, lazy brunches that spill into cocktails.

Location: Palm Springs

 

The Terrace at Desert Willow

Deal: Check in to be entered in a weekly prize drawing

For those chasing lunch with a view, The Terrace at Desert Willow has your name written in golf-green cursive. It overlooks manicured fairways and mountain backdrops, delivering the kind of ambiance that pairs perfectly with an iced cocktail and crisp summer salad. Their menu highlights fresh California flavors—think grilled proteins, seasonal produce, and housemade dressings that make you wonder why you ever settled for store-bought. While you don’t need to be a golfer to dine here, the resort feel adds an “on vacation” sparkle to every bite.

Pro tip: book an early dinner and stay for the golden hour glow.

Location: Palm Desert

 

Waldo’s Ristorante

Deals: 50% off wine bottles, all-night happy hour, and a $49+ per person summer menu

Waldo’s feels like the Italian dinner party you always wish you were invited to. Family-owned and wildly charming, this Greater Palm Springs gem is where locals go for heaping plates of pasta, cozy booths and a big pour of wine. The Summer Eats Pass gives diners access to a three-course dinner. Choose from a soup or salad starter and Italian classics like lasagna, lobster ravioli or chicken parmigiana for the entree. You’ll end with something sweet in the form of tiramisu, cannoli or NY cheesecake. Yum! The atmosphere is as warm as the dishes, with soft lighting, vintage photos, and staff that greet you like an old friend.

Location: Palm Desert

 

Willie’s Modern Fare

Deal: Summer three-course dinner $50 per person

Willie’s is refined but relaxed, sophisticated yet soulful. This Rancho Mirage hotspot merges French technique with California boldness, offering a menu that’s both timeless and inventive. With the summer menu, expect refined dishes like salmon sashimi, General Tso’s cauliflower, beef stroganoff and pork schnitzel. The tasty dessert selection includes chocolate trifle, crème brûlée three ways (cardamom peach, lemon verbena or vanilla) and butter cake. The space is sharp and sexy, with sleek lines, moody lighting, and a soundtrack that’s anything but background noise.

Location: Rancho Mirage

 

Chez Pierre

Deal: Check in to be entered in a weekly prize drawing

At Chez Pierre, you’ll experience a love letter to classic French cuisine, written in butter and finished with a flourish. This family-run bistro transports diners straight to Provence. Its menu includes escargots, baked onion tarts, and frog legs done the old-fashioned way—read: perfectly. Satisfy your sweet tooth with an order of beignets, a classic crème brûlée or apple tarte topped with vanilla ice cream. Everything about the space feels delightfully old-world, from the soft candlelight to the white-tablecloth service. Chez Pierre is that rare place where everything tastes like it was made with passion—and it probably was.

Location: Palm Desert

 

Tac/Quila

Deal: Check in to be entered in a weekly prize drawing

This downtown Palm Springs stunner is bold, vibrant, and unapologetically chic. It’s exactly what you want from a modern Mexican restaurant with old-world soul. Inside, find a lush hacienda vibe with hand-carved chairs, vintage tilework and a tequila list longer than your vacation. The Summer Eats Pass gets you in on a crave-worthy menu full of colorful, fresh and fiery favorites. We’re talking housemade salsas, mole-drenched enchiladas and street corn worth dreaming about. Pair it with their totally photo-ready watermelon margarita or the caffeine-fueled Mexican coffee martini.

Location: Downtown Palm Springs

 

Heirloom Craft Kitchen

Deal: Check in to be entered in a weekly prize drawing

Heirloom Craft Kitchen brings farm-to-table flair to Indio with a menu that reads like a love letter to local ingredients. Seasonal vegetables, scratch sauces and small-batch everything take center stage here. The space is casual but clever—like the owner’s private kitchen if the owner happened to be a total flavor genius. Diners can enjoy plates like the lobster roll sandwich, heirloom tomato caprese, or sheet pan nachos, depending on the season. Add a jumbo mimosa or red sangria, and suddenly, this quick stop feels like a curated experience.

Location: Indio