One of the desert’s most happening brunch spots, Lulu offers an extensive menu, stellar food, and a bustling ambiance. The Wild Mushroom Soup is a personal favorite (even in the dead of summer!), but you can’t go wrong with anything on the menu. From sandwiches to pasta to burgers to fresh fish, there’s something for everyone at Lulu.
$$
Even though this intimate restaurant is primarily referred to as a “hidden gem,” lines to get in stretch well past the front door most nights. One cocktail in, and you’ll know why. Paul Bar/Food is one of the city’s best spots – the kind that locals beg people like me not to mention on websites like this for fear of those nightly lines growing even longer. But the joint is certainly worth the wait, thanks to its meals, libations, atmosphere and service, which are some of the best you’ll find in the entire Valley.
$$$
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.
$$$
A Palm Springs landmark, Las Casuelas was originally established by Florencio Fajardo in 1958. Known for its stellar fare and vibrant ambiance, the eatery has been a local favorite ever since. (Even Elvis was a fan!) Still owned by the Fajardo family today, there are now multiple Las Casuelas restaurants dotting the desert, but the South Palm Canyon Drive outpost is the most beloved – and the most inviting! Comprised of multiple patios befitting of its name (“terraza” is Spanish for “terrace”), it is typically packed most hours of the day, but the long wait times are well worth it.
$$
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.
