Where To Eat In Palm Springs For Coachella
Help ease that headache with these great spots to refuel
If you attended Coachella eight years ago, you'd know that the only late-night post-festival dining option was Denny's. Strip mall-studded, midcentury-minded Indio—and the pockets surrounding the Coachella Valley—have long been defined by franchise operations, mediocre family restaurants and time-warped white-tablecloth numbers within the area's retro-chic hotels.
But thanks to the outrageous success of Goldenvoice's blockbuster of a bohemian golden-child music festival, over the last decade or so, the desert has begun to attract a stream of inspired culinary minds. Now, it's easier than ever to counteract overindulgence in good taste, from under-the-radar old-school haunts to establishments propelled by big-name chefs. Below, some of your best bets for squashing that morning-after hangover.
① Drinks
You're hungover, so you probably want coffee. And a green juice. Though you can always roll through the Starbucks or Dunkin' Donuts drive-thru, Stumptown seller Ernest Coffee is a top choice to nab a quality brew. For juice, hit Palm Greens Café, the plant-based outfit rife with acai and pitaya bowls, in addition to shakes and juices flavored with mint, ginger and spinach. Hankering for something a bit more substantial? Locals can't get enough of the vanilla milkshakes at Shields Date Garden, a retail shop and café that knows its way around blended dates and dairy.
② The Newbie
Reservoir is the indoor-outdoor dining attraction set within Palm Springs' hippest new midcentury-inspired hotel, Arrive. Beyond the slate of Mexi-Cali-flavored plates, there's the whimsical Cap'n Crunch French toast and a pretty epic stack of tres leches pancakes. But if you really just want tacos, there's that, too.
③ The OG Classic
Prior to Palm Springs' profusion of decent dining options, Cheeky's was one of the first, almost now a decade old. This is the area's OG breakfast nook, also plating Mexi-Cali flavors of the region like squash blossom enchiladas and a smoked salmon and avocado tartine. Need a hair of the dog? Reach for a charred pineapple mimosa.
④ For a Scene
If you're looking for Leo (DiCaprio, that is), chances are you'll find him at the Parker. With its colorful, Jonathan Adler interiors, the hotel has become Palm Springs' most beloved property among the fashion set. And its casual restaurant, Norma's, is where to land a proper Bloody Mary and stack of banana-macadamia flapjacks.
⑤ The Big-Name Chef
To go big or go home, hit up El Jefe within the Saguaro hotel. Load up on cheffy Mexican plates, from loaded chicken tinga tacos to a full-on burger with poblano jam. To wash it down: why, a margarita, of course.
⑥ Fancy Pants
Luckily, Coachella falls on a weekend, which means Workshop Kitchen + Bar, a minimalist spot from Michael Beckman, will be open for brunch. Quash that hangover with satisfying seasonal plates like a lobster breakfast burrito or duck eggs huevos rancheros and a craft cocktail, a pisco punch or, if you're really hurting, a pour of whiskey and mescal from the restaurant's extensive selection.