This new café also secured a spot in my breakfast section above, as its morning (and lunch!) eats are stellar. But the coffee offerings are just as divine. In fact, this is my preferred Palm Desert pit stop for lattes and other espresso specialties. Serving up frothy delicacies in an utterly adorable environment accented in blush tones, you can’t go wrong with a coffee from Wonder!
My favorite matcha pop-up — created by my friends Nahum and Kayla — finally has a permanent home in the desert! If you’re even the slightest fan of the frothy green goodness, walk, don’t run, to this new spot. The shop crafts what I promise will be the best matcha you’ve ever tasted, utilizing organic ceremonial-grade tea and house-made syrups. The drinks are phenomenal — and highly addictive. Don’t say I didn’t warn you!
A true hidden gem, this whimsical cafe and tea house is like nowhere else in the desert! Populated with mismatched chairs and eclectic furnishings, with meals served on varied vintage china, everything comes together seamlessly at D’Coffee Bouteaque. The incredible baked goods and homemade breakfasts and lunches are just the cherry on top! Boasting an extensive menu, the specialty coffee offerings alone take up a full two pages, with craftings such as the Lavender Field Cold Brew, Oreo Lovers Latte and D’Mexican Hot Chocolate all sure to set your morning off right.
This retro-inspired coffee shop is a genuine vibe, complete with marquee signage, fabulously funky furnishings, rock walls, bright colors and vintage art. Newly opened by the endlessly adorable Tara Uziel (a Cathedral City native), the place was designed to be “a daytime disco for your mouth and soul,” and it certainly is! The fun ambiance, thoroughly friendly service and stellar coffee concoctions cannot be beat!
Calling all feline aficionados! Frisky Business is THE spot for coffee/cat lovers! A $22 fee ($20 for seniors/military veterans, $17 for kids ages 7-15) grants patrons a 16-ounce java drink and 45 minutes in the Cat Lounge, where a bevy of furry friends – all available for adoption from the Palm Springs Animal Shelter – is just waiting to be loved on. And no – one need not be looking to adopt to visit. Anyone seeking some feline companionship is welcome! Don’t have time to spend with the cats? That’s OK, too! You can always pop in to buy one of the shop’s delicious Lamill Coffee espresso drinks to go, as well as a baked good, which are homemade in-house by Mr. Frisky himself. I recently spent my birthday at the café and it was an altogether heartwarming and memorable experience.
This establishment serves up some of the best java in the desert. From iced lattes to americanos, you can’t go wrong with any order here. The ambiance is pretty stellar, too. Situated on the ground floor of The Five Hundred building, a landmark property originally built in 1968 to house Alan Ladd Hardware, the contemporary surroundings are so very Palm Springs! (Be sure to check out the fabulous fountain in the main lobby!) Ristretto (Italian for “narrow,” the name refers to a short espresso pull) also offers baked goods, salads and sandwiches.
Java at this spot is roasted in-house, so it’s no surprise that Koffi repeatedly lands on “Palm Springs Life’s” “Best of the Best” list. Its most notable feature, though, besides the coffee, is its rear garden. The lush oasis, dotted with small tables and boasting striking mountain views, serves as the center of The Corridor shopping complex and is one of the prettiest spots in the entire valley. Tranquil and serene, even when bustling with people, there’s no more idyllic venue to sip some joe and savor the city’s ever-present sun. Though Koffi has multiple sister locations (all worth visiting), The Corridor outpost is, quite obviously, the best.rtel hand-roasts its own beans, equating to some seriously tasty brews!
This spot is the only independent coffee house in the area serving Stumptown java, but there’s so much more to be had! With cheeky décor, a banana-leaf-mural-adorned patio, and plenty of comfy spots to lounge, Ernest Coffee is a must-visit! Situated in the former Don the Beachcomber space, the café is named in honor of the landmark tiki restaurant’s founder, Ernest Gantt, and even retains some of the Beachcomber’s original detailing, like the bright orange tiki torches displayed above the entrance.
Nestled on the grounds of the trendy Arrive hotel, this joint serves up supreme espresso drinks in an environment that the official website describes as “Tony Bennett featuring Lady Gaga having brunch.” A beloved chain with more than 10 locations throughout Arizona, the Palm Springs café is the company’s only California outpost and has therefore become a hot commodity. Taking java very seriously (“Life’s too short for shitty coffee,” their mottostates), Cartel hand-roasts its own beans, equating to some seriously tasty brews!
Opened in 2021, this place initially made its way onto my radar thanks to its perfectly pink aesthetic and very quickly became a preferred Palm Springs pit stop due to its stellar coffee and baked goods. (The croissants are especially tasty!) The sprawling sun-dappled patio and neighboring shops inside the Flannery Exchange are the cherry on top of this stellar addition to the Valley’s coffee scene.