Palm Springs Food Guide
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Palm Springs dining is shaped by its resort identity and visitor demographics: a high proportion of the restaurants serve brunch, operate outdoor patio spaces, and price at the high end of the California casual range. The independent restaurant scene is concentrated along North Palm Canyon Drive in Uptown and the perpendicular blocks.
Brunch
Cheeky’s (622 N Palm Canyon Dr; open Friday-Tuesday 8am-2pm) is the most-discussed breakfast spot in Palm Springs. The menu changes weekly based on what’s available locally; the bacon flight — four preparations of bacon including candied, smoked, and a rotating special — is the signature item. Weekend waits of 30-60 minutes are normal; arrive before 8am or after 10:30am to reduce the wait. Mains approximately $14-$22 as of 2026.
The Sandwich Spot (279 S Indian Canyon Dr) and the Koffi coffee shops (multiple locations) cover the grab-and-go morning market for visitors heading to the Tramway or Indian Canyons early.
Dinner
Workshop Kitchen + Bar (800 N Palm Canyon Dr) occupies a converted 1924 pumping plant — high ceilings, industrial bones, and an inventive contemporary menu that changes seasonally. The cocktail program is one of the most serious in the valley. Mains approximately $22-$42. Reservations recommended for weekend evenings.
Birba (622 N Palm Canyon Dr, adjacent to Cheeky’s) is the wood-fired pizza and Italian small plates operation by the same team — but dinner-focused. The garden patio under olive trees is one of the finest outdoor dining spaces in Palm Springs. Pizza approximately $18-$28, antipasti approximately $8-$18.
Mr. Lyons (233 E Palm Canyon Dr) is a 1958 supper club restored to its original form — the banquette seating, leather booths, and beef-forward menu place it firmly in mid-century American steakhouse territory. The atmosphere is a specific experience more than a purely culinary one. Mains approximately $28-$52.
Copley’s on Palm Canyon (621 N Palm Canyon Dr) is in the former Cary Grant estate guest house — a dinner-only restaurant in a garden setting. Mediterranean-California menu; the setting is more remarkable than the food, but the combination works. Mains approximately $26-$46.
Casual and Deli
Sherman’s Deli and Bakery (401 E Tahquitz Canyon Way) has been in operation since 1963. The pastrami and corned beef sandwiches are the anchors; the full deli menu covers matzo ball soup, latkes, and the standard Jewish deli canon. Breakfast also served. Mains approximately $10-$20.
El Mirasol (266 S Palm Canyon Dr) — a family-run Mexican restaurant operating in a garden courtyard; one of the more reliable non-tourist-priced Mexican options in the downtown area. Mains approximately $12-$22.
Bars and Cocktails
Bootlegger Tiki (1101 N Palm Canyon Dr) is the primary tiki bar — an extensive rum-based cocktail menu in an elaborately decorated space. Cocktails approximately $14-$18.
The Rowan Hotel Rooftop (100 W Tahquitz Canyon Way) — the rooftop bar with views of the mountains and valley; popular for late afternoon drinks. Cocktails approximately $16-$22.
Practical Notes
October-May is peak season; restaurant reservations are advisable for Friday-Saturday dinner at the popular spots. Summer (June-September) sees restaurants running at reduced capacity as the visitor population thins; some close entirely in August. The Uptown Design District concentration makes a dinner walk between options easy — Workshop, Birba, and Cheeky’s are within a block of each other.
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