Sink Your Teeth Into Tacos, Sushi, Tapas and More Between Sets
It’s that time of year again—music festival season is on the horizon! Since 1999, LA’s population tends to dwindle during the Coachella and Stagecoach weekends, beckoning music fanatics out of the city smog and into the Palm Springs sunshine. Of course, dancing to the beat of a late-night set until 1 a.m. requires some serious refueling! Granola bars and energy drinks just aren’t going to cut it for the music fest that goes far past sundown. Fortunately, the Coachella Valley has no shortage of great culinary inspiration. From farm-to-table fare and classic comfort food to taco shops and sushi bars, these are the highlights of Palm Springs’ foodie scene you won’t be able to get enough of during your trip to the Coachella Valley this spring. Where to Eat Coachella Festival
Heirloom Craft Kitchen
Meet Heirloom Craft Kitchen—your one-stop-shop for farm-fresh fare while staying in the desert. It’s the only vegan- and vegetarian-friendly outpost within walking distance of the festival grounds, but that’s not the only plus of this Indio establishment. Their scratch-made dishes are crafted with seasonal, locally sourced ingredients, reinventing comfort-food favorites you can feel good about eating—think chicken and waffles, soulful salads and their Original Heirloom Burger. And of course, who could resist one of their Old-Fashioned Lemon Bar Squares as an indulgent treat? When festival season comes around, Heirloom Craft Kitchen likes to get fancy with its fare. Limited-edition beer and wine, cleanse shots, CBD drinks and Coachella-themed cupcakes add a little extra flair to the spring extravaganza. And it’s not just the presentation of the food that meets the standards of perfection. Their dining space is curated to soothe the soul with aesthetic neutrals and a charming farmhouse vibe. Festival season also means you’re always on the go, and their fast-casual table service is perfect for a quick luncheon with friends or a pre-show dinner.
Location: Indio
Where to Eat Coachella Festival
Cork & Fork
There’s nothing worse than watching your friend’s food being carried to your table and thinking, “I should have ordered that!” Indio’s Cork & Fork has curated a nifty solution to this problem with a creative tapas-style menu that encourages guests to sample a little bit of everything. This innovative wine bar cooks with flavors from around the world, integrating multiple cuisines into the menu, from Mexican and Italian to Vietnamese and Japanese. Oh, and did we mention the ingredients are all locally sourced from organic farms?
Location: Indio
Baby’s Marché
Umm, can we talk about the aesthetics of this organic oasis? Lush greenery and adorable farmer’s market-inspired merch adorn the interior of Baby’s Marché. This trendy eatery isn’t just a cafe and artisan market; it’s also where festival-goers can stock up on good-for-you grab-and-go snacks or customize a charcuterie board to enjoy on the side of the stage. With a European-inspired menu and artisan kitchen goods, such as specialty herbs and bamboo matcha whisks, it’s the cafe you’ll find yourself at time and time again this festival season. Where to Eat Coachella Festival
Location: Indian Wells
The Pink Cabana
If The Pink Cabana’s tropical wallpaper and posh, racquet club vibes don’t scream “festival season,” we don’t know what does. Their trendy dishes will have your phone eating first, allowing their Cabana Benedict, D’anjou Pear Tartine and Brioche French toast (with roasted apples) to shine through on the ‘Gram. Each dish features a fusion of Moroccan and Mediterranean influence, hand-crafted by their culinary artists. This coastal-chic cafe draws inspiration from the 1950s and ‘60s tennis and racquet clubs, adding a modern flair to an iconic era.
Location: Indian Wells
4/26
Thai Hot
Before you head to Main Stage, you’ll want to pencil in lunch at Thai Hot. The chefs in this kitchen bring a bit of the sizzle and spice from Thailand to the Coachella Valley while integrating elevated cooking methods into their dishes. The crispy spring rolls, classic pad Thai and a collection of curries offer a tantalizing taste of its founding region. They also cater to those who aren’t a fan of the extra chile pepper. Pair a delicious dish with one of their Thai iced teas or fresh coconut juices, and you’ll be in foodie heaven!
Location: Indio
Nobu Indian Wells
Nobu needs no introduction—it’s certainly made a name for itself as a distinguished sushi house catering to the elite and affluent. The secret to dining at Nobu is moving from cold to hot on a culinary journey of their eight highlight dishes. Known for its Peruvian and Japanese fusion cuisine, signature dishes include Nobu-style Beef Toban Yaki and Black Cod in Miso, both of which radiate culinary perfection. However, the Blueberry Yuzu Tennis Ball dessert dish might just be the grandest showstopper. Where to Eat Coachella Festival
Location: Indian Wells
5/1
Sumo Dog
Everyone’s familiar with the classic take on a hot dog, but Sumo Dog adds a creative flair to this American staple. The bundles of savory goodness in this crafty kitchen more closely resemble their slogan of “happiness in a warm bun.” With an emphasis on Japanese Izakaya, the finished product perfectly captures the flavors of modern American and traditional Japanese. Guests can choose between Sumo Dog’s classic creations, like the New York and Chicago dogs, or their signature styles. These elevated hot dogs have every topping imaginable, from togarashi and cheese sauce to pickle spears and tempura crunchies.
Location: Indio
Beautiful Day
It’s always a beautiful day when brunch at this farm-to-table sanctuary is involved. Beautiful Day is on point when it comes to aesthetics and edible masterpieces, setting a new standard for what organic, soulful dining should look like in the desert. This vibrant outpost prides itself on using fresh, quality ingredients, down to their locally sourced farm-fresh eggs. The Flowers and Chutney is a fan favorite, but their Huckleberry Hotcakes and Breakfast Hash might just have you convincing yourself that you have room for seconds.
Location: La Quinta
Taco Shop 760
If you’re wondering where the smell of sizzled-to-perfection asada and queso is coming from, that would be Taco Shop 760. This small but mighty taco shop is the definition of a local gem that prides itself on serving authentic, crave-worthy Mexican food without the frills—from tasty street tacos to birria. What’s birria, you might ask? Just a mouthwatering combo of meat stew in an addicting adobo marinade. Originating from Jalisco, Mexico, it’s quickly becoming an American favorite. Taste and see for yourself!
Location: Indio and beyond
El Patio
All hail the reigning champion of Mexican food in the Coachella Valley! Festival season just wouldn’t be the same without an order of El Patio’s barbacoa tacos or their famous churro cart that’s presented self-serve style with fried ice cream, sprinkles, chocolate sauce…you name it! Of course, a flight of margs never disappoints, and El Patio is always concocting new, inventive creations, such as their signature Tamarindo and El Patio Margaritas. Open for brunch, lunch and dinner, you can feast on breakfast burritos by morning and fajitas by night.
Location: La Quinta
