Author: lindsay

  • Paul Bar/Food

    Paul Bar/Food

    Even though this intimate restaurant is primarily referred to as a “hidden gem,” lines to get in stretch well past the front door most nights. One cocktail in, and you’ll know why. Paul Bar/Food is one of the city’s best spots – the kind that locals beg people like me not to mention on websites like this for fear of those nightly lines growing even longer. But the joint is certainly worth the wait, thanks to its meals, libations, atmosphere and service, which are some of the best you’ll find in the entire Valley.

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  • Rancho Mirage Library & Observatory

    Rancho Mirage Library & Observatory

    Completed in 2018, this state-of-the-art facility was built for the public in every sense, with locals and tourists alike welcomed regularly for in-depth tours (offered each Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday at 3 p.m.) and Observatory Public Exploration Nights (O.P.E.N.), during which visitors catch glimpses of our night skies via a research-grade PlaneWave Instruments CDK700 telescope. There’s even a lending program available to library card holders, enabling stargazers to bring an Orion StarBlast 4.5″ Astro Reflector tabletop telescope home for a week to explore the solar system on their own!

  • Billy Reed’s

    Billy Reed’s

    Initially established in 1975, Billy Reed’s is a Palm Springs icon! Serving up hearty staples in an inspired retro atmosphere, it is not hard to see why the place is so beloved. Boasting ample-sized booths, rich red accents, Tiffany-style lamps and carved woodwork at every turn, the place feels like Disneyland in the desert and is worth a trip the ambiance alone, though the food is stellar, too! The Cobb salad is honestly one of the best I’ve ever had! The eatery is also well known for its Boston Cream Pie and other sweets, with all desserts homemade daily in-house – “just as your grandmother wished she could make them,” per the menu.

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  • Las Casuelas Terraza

    Las Casuelas Terraza

    A Palm Springs landmark, Las Casuelas was originally established by Florencio Fajardo in 1958. Known for its stellar fare and vibrant ambiance, the eatery has been a local favorite ever since. (Even Elvis was a fan!) Still owned by the Fajardo family today, there are now multiple Las Casuelas restaurants dotting the desert, but the South Palm Canyon Drive outpost is the most beloved – and the most inviting! Comprised of multiple patios befitting of its name (“terraza” is Spanish for “terrace”), it is typically packed most hours of the day, but the long wait times are well worth it.

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  • Everbloom Coffee

    Everbloom Coffee

    This chicly minimalist coffee shop features some of the tastiest java and friendliest baristas you’ll find in the desert! Widely known for its specialty house-made syrups (as per the myriad glowing Yelp reviews), which include butterscotch, Madagascar vanilla, mocha and honey lavender, sadly, I am diabetic and, as such, haven’t been able to partake. But I’m happy to report that the standard lattes are nothing short of heavenly and certainly warrant a visit. (The sister location, just up the road at 81730 CA-111, is smaller, but serves up the same fabulous fare.)

  • The Vintage Coffee House

    The Vintage Coffee House

    A strip mall with a grocery store as its anchor tenant may seem an unlikely place to find some of the best java in the Coachella Valley, but that is most definitely the case with The Vintage Coffee House. Known for being one of the only sites in the area with bulletproof coffee on the menu, all of the offerings are, in fact, fabulous. The café is adorable to boot, and the service is stellar! Even Sylvester Stallone and Justin Bieber are fans! Vintage is also situated in extremely close proximity to the Coachella concert grounds, so if you are in town for any of the festivals, this is the spot to grab your daily joe!

  • Cali Rosina Tea & Chocolate

    Cali Rosina Tea & Chocolate

    If it’s tea you’re seeking, Cali Rosina should be your first stop! The adorable tea shop boasts a massive and well-curated selection of fresh loose-leaf blends (over 200, in fact!), served both iced and hot, and the finest selection of chocolate I’ve seen in the desert! I’m not much of a tea person, but even I can’t resist Cali Rosina’s refreshing offerings. Opened by siblings Jodie and Josh Smith just a few days before the world shut down in March 2020, it speaks to the café’s excellence that it managed to survive and thrive, quickly becoming a local favorite. The place also features one of the cutest patios around.

  • Main Street Coffee

    Main Street Coffee

    While the lattes and baked goods at this spot are solid, at Main Street Coffee, it is all about the location! Tucked inside the city of La Quinta’s charming Old Town shopping center, the café boasts a covered wraparound patio with gorgeous desert vistas and fabulous people-watching opportunities, especially on Sundays during the center’s bustling weekly farmer’s markets.

  • Yes Please

    Yes Please

    Stop by this Old Town La Quinta coffee and dessert shop early, as the baked goods sell out by 10 daily. One bite of a delectable huckleberry scone topped with citrus glaze, melt-in-your-mouth buttermilk biscuit or buttery croissant, and you’ll know why! Homemade on the premises each morning by owner Gina Mallano, every item at Yes Please is crafted with the finest ingredients and plenty of heart! The coffee drinks are superb, as well, with the chai and horchata also made in-house, and the patio views are nothing short of stunning!

  • The Marketplace

    The Marketplace

    Hotel coffee shops aren’t typically known for serving up stellar brews, but The Marketplace at the La Quinta Resort is the exception to that rule. The java is on par with high-end roasters and the breakfast sandwiches are truly a marvel! And you can’t beat the setting, with the gorgeous shaded patio pristinely situated overlooking the stunning hotel grounds. It’s a great place to spend a lazy morning or a sunny afternoon!