Palm Springs Restaurants: Where We Actually Send Our Guests

The Palm Springs restaurants we send guests to first: Workshop Kitchen + Bar for the big dinner, Rooster and the Pig for Vietnamese-inspired plates, Tac/Quila for Mexican, Cheeky's for breakfast and Copley's on Palm Canyon for a romantic patio. Most of the best tables are downtown, on or near Palm Canyon Drive, minutes by car from The Muse. Plan meals around a Palm Springs weekend getaway, and if dinner is a date, start with our romantic restaurants in Palm Springs.

What are the best restaurants in Palm Springs?

This is our short list. It isn't every good restaurant in town, just the ones we recommend most often.

• Workshop Kitchen + Bar: the dress-up dinner downtown. Book well ahead on Resy, especially on weekends in season.

• Rooster and the Pig: Vietnamese-inspired cooking and one of the most talked-about tables in town. It was a USA Today network Restaurant of the Year pick in 2025. It's walk-in only, so go early.

• Tac/Quila: a lively Mexican restaurant with a Michelin Guide listing. Book ahead for weekends.

• Copley's on Palm Canyon: set in Cary Grant's former guesthouse, with a courtyard patio. Our default anniversary answer.

• Eight4Nine Restaurant & Lounge: on North Palm Canyon Drive in the Uptown Design District, with a minimalist dining room, a lounge with a backlit onyx bar and weekend brunch.

• Mr. Lyons Steakhouse: classic steakhouse energy, with Seymour's cocktail lounge hidden behind it.

Where to eat breakfast and brunch in Palm Springs

Start at the hotel. Grab-and-go breakfast from Aspen Mills is included at The Muse, and our Aspen Mills Bakery guide explains why we picked a bakery that mills its own flour.

When you want a real sit-down breakfast, Cheeky's on North Palm Canyon Drive is the local favorite, also with a Michelin Guide listing. It doesn't take reservations, so get there early. Eight4Nine opens at 10AM for brunch on Saturday and Sunday. For a healthy reset, Nature's Health Food & Café on Sunrise Way is an organic café, juice bar and market. More morning ideas are in our Palm Springs brunch guide, and midday picks are in our lunch guide.

Where to go for date night

• Copley's on Palm Canyon: patio, string lights and a story about Cary Grant.

• Mr. Lyons Steakhouse, then Seymour's: dinner, then a nightcap through the unmarked door.

• Tropicale: a downtown favorite for cocktails and dinner.

• Bar Cecil: a newer favorite that books up, so plan about two weeks ahead.

Prefer a glass of wine and a cheese plate? Our wine bar guide covers that kind of night.

Where to take a group to dinner

Big groups need a plan. Eight4Nine has private dining rooms for groups of 10 to 300, which makes it an easy call for a birthday or a rehearsal-style dinner. LuLu California Bistro downtown has a big menu that keeps a picky table happy. Rooster and the Pig is walk-in only, so a large group should go early on a weeknight.

Or skip the reservation entirely. Book a private hibachi dinner at The Muse, and dinner comes to you. On a full hotel buyout, the courtyard, the BBQ grill and the lobby's big table are all yours.

PLAN THE WEEKEND

How to get a table at Palm Springs restaurants

• Book early in season. October through May is busy, and weekend tables at the popular spots go first.

• Use the apps. Most restaurants here book through OpenTable or Resy. A few, like Rooster and the Pig and Cheeky's, are walk-in only.

• Go midweek. Tuesday through Thursday is the easiest time to land a table.

• Watch for Restaurant Week. Greater Palm Springs Restaurant Week usually runs from late May into June, with dining specials across the valley.

• Summer is easier. Afternoons often top 100 degrees, crowds thin out and reservations open up. Eat inside or late.

Most suites at The Muse have kitchens, and the four king suites have full kitchens, so not every meal has to be a reservation.

Palm Springs restaurants FAQ

What are the best restaurants in Palm Springs?

Our short list: Workshop Kitchen + Bar, Rooster and the Pig, Tac/Quila, Copley's on Palm Canyon, Eight4Nine and Cheeky's for breakfast.

Where is Eight4Nine in Palm Springs?

Eight4Nine Restaurant & Lounge is at 849 North Palm Canyon Drive in the Uptown Design District. It has a dining room, a lounge and private dining rooms for groups.

Do I need reservations for Palm Springs restaurants?

For weekend dinners from October through May, yes. Rooster and the Pig and Cheeky's are walk-in only, so arrive early.

When is Palm Springs Restaurant Week?

Greater Palm Springs Restaurant Week usually runs from late May into early June. Check the official dates each spring.

A small hotel with a very good pool. Eat out, come home, swim.