The 7 Best Restaurants in Palm Springs CA: My Favorite Foodie Spots in 2026

I spent quite a bit of time in Palm Springs trying as much food as I possibly could because I’d heard so many good things about the food scene here. So obviously, I figured I had to give it a proper try and eat my way through as much of the city as I could.

I tried all kinds of different places, from more upscale restaurants and proper date-night spots to simple sandwich shops where you can just grab something quick and easy. So I basically put everything into this guide that I thought was genuinely delicious and worth coming back to.

Whether you’re trying to figure out where to grab lunch, where to get a quick snack, or where to go for a nice dinner or date night, I’ve got you covered with my 7 favorite restaurants in Palm Springs, California.

What Are the Best Restaurants in Palm Springs? I’ve Got the Answers

Even though I was only in Palm Springs for a long weekend, I still tried really hard to eat as much good food as I possibly could. I’d heard that Palm Springs has a surprisingly good restaurant scene, so I was excited to see what was actually out there.

At the same time, I’ll be honest, I didn’t really have any expectations. We ARE in the middle of the desert, after all.

And just to be clear, this is definitely not some kind of Michelin Guide or anything like that. This is simply a list of the restaurants and food spots I actually tried and really enjoyed. I’d recommend all of them based on my own experience, but obviously, taste is subjective. You might absolutely love them, or you might completely disagree with me. That’s how food works!

A couple of places I want to mention right from the get-go are Rooster and the Pig, where they do Vietnamese fusion and where I had probably my favorite meal in Palm Springs, and The Heyday, which is basically just a super straightforward burger place, except they also do a burger and martini combo which I thought was very ‘Palm Springsy’.

1. Rooster and the Pig // My Favorite Restaurant in Palm Springs

Opening Hours: 5pm-9pm
Price: $$$
My Rating: ★★★★
Menu & Location

My favorite restaurant I visited in Palm Springs was Rooster and the Pig. I’ve now probably spent close to a year in Vietnam between traveling and living there, so obviously I love Vietnamese food, which is exactly why I had to try this place.

It’s not traditional Vietnamese food. It’s much more of a modern take with some fusion elements, but it was still absolutely delicious.

We tried the lemongrass pork noodles, the spring rolls and the caramelized chicken, and everything was really, really good. Their cocktails were also fantastic, so this is definitely a place where I’d come hungry and plan on having a couple of drinks too.

I’ve read that you ideally want to come around 5 PM (that’s when they open), because after that it can get pretty difficult to find a table. We were here in July, though, which is the low season in Palm Springs because, so we could just walk straight in.

If you’re visiting during peak season, roughly November through March, I’d probably give them a call beforehand just to see how busy it is.

2. El Mirasol Cocina Mexicana // Great for a Family Dinner!

Opening Hours: 9am-9pm
Price: $$
My Rating: ★★★★
Menu & Location

I do love myself some Mexican food, and especially while traveling around California, I made it a bit of a mission to try as much good Mexican food as I could.

El Mirasol Cocina Mexicana was such a great, fairly simple Mexican restaurant, and the food was  so yummy. I ordered the chile relleno, which is usually my go-to order at a Mexican restaurant, and we also tried the chicken with green salsa.

Everything came with tortillas, and of course, we also had a couple of margaritas because you can’t really have Mexican food without margaritas, right?

Everything was delicious, the staff were super friendly, and I think this would be a really nice place for a casual family dinner while you’re in Palm Springs.

3. The Heyday // The Best Burger in Palm Springs

Opening Hours: 12pm-9pm
Price: $$
My Rating: ★★★
Menu & Location

One night, we got back from a full day of exploring and hiking around Palm Springs, and we really couldn’t be bothered to go out-out for dinner. Since we were staying at The Skylark Palm Springs, we decided to just walk literally around the corner to The Heyday instead.

It was kind of a random find on Google Maps because we were just looking for somewhere close by, but I ended up really loving it. It’s a very unpretentious but still cool burger spot that also makes really good martinis, which is actually a pretty awesome combination.

We got the burger and martini combo, but I also had their double smash burger, which was fantastic. I would absolutely come back here just for that.

4. Boozehounds // We Came here on a Date Night!

Opening Hours: 8am-9pm
Price: $$$
My Rating: ★★★★
Menu & Location

For date night on a Saturday, we decided to go to Boozehounds, which was, once again, really close to our hotel.

For starters, I just loved Boozehounds. The restaurant has a really cool vibe that feels chic but still very Palm Springs at the same time, so it was just fun to be here even before the food came out.

We tried the tuna and the steak, and both were delicious. But for me, the real highlights were definitely the cocktails and the atmosphere.

I’d read some reviews beforehand saying that the food wasn’t anything amazing, but to be fair, I had a really good experience. I will say that it did feel a little expensive for what it was, but overall, I had a really good time here.

So if you’re looking for somewhere fun for a date night in Palm Springs, I’d definitely consider Boozehounds.

5. Brandini Toffee Palm Springs

Opening Hours: 9am-9pm
Price: $$$
My Rating: ★★★★
Menu & Location

Even though this isn’t technically a restaurant, I just had to put Brandini Toffee on this list because the toffee here is just so damn yummy.

We stopped by while we were exploring downtown because we were looking for a little dessert after lunch, and this seemed like the perfect place to satisfy that craving.

We ended up getting their toffee milkshake, and don’t even ask me how much it cost because it was $14!!! For a milkshake!

I guess they make their toffee in-house, so I’m sure that has something to do with the price, but still… $14 for a milkshake is pretty wild.

So, was it worth it? I honestly don’t know.

Was it crazy delicious? Absolutely.

6. The Sandwich Spot Palm Springs

Opening Hours: 10am-6pm
Price: $
My Rating: ★★★
Menu & Location

Whenever it comes to lunch, I’m a big sandwich person. I just love a good sandwich in general, but especially in Palm Springs, where it gets so damn hot, sometimes I really don’t feel like eating a hot meal.

I’d much rather grab a good sandwich, find somewhere to sit down, and call it lunch.

From my own experience, The Sandwich Spot is one of the best places in Palm Springs. It’s your typical casual sandwich shop, nothing fancy, but the sandwiches are really good.

I can’t remember the exact name of the sandwich I had because they all have these funny tennis-reference names, but mine was basically an Italian-style sandwich, and it was delicious.

7. Billy Reed’s Restaurant

Opening Hours: 8am-9pm
Price: $$$
Menu & Location

And lastly on this list is actually a place I didn’t try myself, but I still wanted to include it because it was recommended to us by the manager at The Skylark Palm Springs, where we stayed.

He gave us loads of really good tips for our time in Palm Springs, and Billy Reed’s Restaurant was one of the places he specifically told us we should check out.

This definitely isn’t some hidden gem. Apparently, it’s pretty iconic and has been a Palm Springs institution for years, with a very classic old-school American restaurant vibe.

The menu is pretty much exactly what you’d expect: steaks, burgers and other classic American dishes, and the interior has that old-fashioned look that makes it feel like you’ve stepped back in time a little bit.

Unfortunately, we just didn’t have enough time to make it here ourselves, which I’m honestly a little annoyed about because it looked really cool.

FAQs About the Best Palm Springs Restaurants

Where Can I Find the Best Food in Palm Springs?

I really loved the Vietnamese food at Rooster and the Pig, but I’m also a sucker for Mexican food, so I really enjoyed El Mirasol too. Honestly, both were some of my favorite food experiences in Palm Springs.

Is Palm Springs Worth Visiting?

Absolutely! Palm Springs is one of my favorite destinations I’ve visited in California this past year, mainly because it’s just so quirky and so different from so many other towns around California.

Where Should I Stay in Palm Springs?

There are a bunch of really cool and unique hotels to stay at in Palm Springs. We stayed at The Skylark Palm Springs, which I thought was fantastic. It had a nice pool, free bike rentals, and a really good location for exploring the area.

Where Can I Get the Best Coffee in Palm Springs?

For me, the best coffee was probably at Coffeeism Co. or Cartel Roasting Co. Both are definitely worth checking out. I also really liked Mentosa Coffee, which is located inside Mojave Flea Trading Post and is a really cool little spot to grab a coffee while exploring the market.

Where Can I Get a Good Burger in Palm Springs?

I can only say that the double smash burger with cheese and bacon at The Heyday was fantastic. I highly recommend getting that, and definitely get the onion rings while you’re there too!

Final Thoughts on Where to Eat in Palm Springs

Palm Springs definitely surprised me with some of the cool and delicious food spots around town. For the short amount of time I spent here, I feel like I managed to try quite a lot, and for the most part, I was really happy with everything I ate.

I also tried to give you guys a good mix of different food spots in this list because I feel like that’s actually much more helpful and authentic. Sometimes when I read those articles about “the best restaurants in Palm Springs” , it’s just a list of 10 upscale, fancy restaurants, and honestly, that’s just not my vibe.

So I hope this guide, with everything from milkshakes and burgers to sandwiches and proper date-night restaurants, gave you a more well-rounded list of places to eat in Palm Springs and some genuinely useful ideas for your next visit.

Check Out My Other Palm Springs Guides

The Best Restaurants in Palm Springs: My Favorite Food Spots

Coffee Shops in Palm Springs: My Top Cafes & Coffee Spots

Is Palm Springs Worth Visiting? My Honest Review

3 Days in Palm Springs: How I Spent 72 Hours here

Things to Do in Palm Springs: My Favorite Activities

Where to Stay in Palm Springs: The Best Hotels & Areas

How Many Days in Palm Springs Do You Need? My Honest Review

The Best Time to Visit Palm Springs: My Seasonal Guide

Where to See Cool Houses in Palm Springs: The Best Mid Century Modern Homes