Updated April 8, 2026, 3:44 p.m. PT
If you are on the town for the Coachella or Stagecoach music festivals, welcome! You picked top-of-the-line occasions of yr to discover our residence.
The Coachella Valley’s 9 cities boast a large providing of eating places, and there are a number of which have popped up nearer to the competition venue — the Empire Polo Club in Indio — in the previous couple of years. If you are seeking to gasoline up earlier than heading to the fest, listed below are only a few of our favorites.
Consider this your full desert eating information for the weekend.
Indio Taphouse
Downtown Indio has blossomed since I moved right here 5 years in the past, and it is grow to be certainly one of my favourite locations to seize a drink (Rosemary HiFi), a bagel (The Dune Room) or Mexican meals (El Mexicali Café II). But should you’re in search of a spot with a lovely outside patio, a giant drink menu and nice pub meals, there’s nowhere higher than Indio Taphouse. I’ve been to this beer bar/grill a number of occasions and have at all times loved myself, however by no means has it come extra in clutch than when I went to a present in Indio lately and was so hungry after, I was slowly dropping my thoughts, and this place was an oasis of pub fare in a literal and figurative late-night eats desert. I extremely advocate the rooster sliders, that are greatest paired with one of many dozens of brews on the beverage menu (I personally paired mine with a Calidad Mexican-style lager and was a contented camper).
Details: 82-867 Miles Ave., Unit 1, Indio. 442-400-3480, indiotaphouse.com
— Niki Kottmann
Chula Artisan Eatery
Chula Artisan Eatery is a Mexican restaurant serving recent meals that features some vegan and gluten-free choices inside a cute inside. If you’ve got a vegan in your group however aren’t thrilled about consuming vegan meals your self, this is a good selection so each of you can go away comfortable and full. Its choices for many who eat animal merchandise embrace sticky bacon dates, carne asada fries, pozole and huevos rancheros. Vegan choices embrace its chula vegan pancakes and a vegan bowl that is stuffed with black beans, hummus, quinoa, candy potato and veggies. And don’t neglect to seize certainly one of Chula Artisan Eatery’s baked items in your approach out for a bit of deal with at residence.
Details: 47-150 Washington St., Suite B, La Quinta. 760-227-6616, chulaeatery.com
— Ani Gasparyan
TKB Bakery & Deli
A sandwich-lover’s heaven should look one thing like TKB Bakery & Deli. It’ll make you repent for each different sandwich you’ve taken a chunk out of. TKB’s received each cold and warm sandwiches, as effectively salads and sides like fries and onion rings. You’ve presumably seen its meals truck roaming round, however its bodily location is value you driving to it for a change. It’s a big constructing with a stylish inside and many seating that might accommodate any group measurement. It’s excellent for varied events, together with a fast chunk to eat earlier than heading to the competition grounds. TKB additionally has a bakery that serves candy treats and drinks. Really, it’s the whole lot you can pray for.
Details: 45-334 Golf Center Parkway, Indio. 760-775-8330, tkbbakery.com
— Ani Gasparyan
The Pink Cabana
This pink paradise is maybe probably the most Instagrammable of all of the eateries on this record, and meaning you will not be capable of go with out seeing no less than one bachelorette occasion on an impromptu photoshoot. But should you’re like me and also you get pleasure from consuming in stunning areas where the vibes are joyful, you may really feel proper at residence right here.
The Pink Cabana is nestled contained in the attractive, Moroccan-inspired Sands Hotel & Spa, and is positioned simply steps from the property’s luxurious pool. The restaurant was designed by Martyn Lawrence Bullard, who took inspiration from the long-lasting tennis and racquet golf equipment of Palm Springs within the ’50s and ’60s, so you may really feel such as you simply stepped off the courtroom with Marilyn Monroe and went to probably the most fashionable spot you can discover for a refreshing post-game cocktail. All the drinks on the Pink Cabana’s menu sound unbelievable, however I can personally advocate the Golden Hour, paired with actually any brunch merchandise.
Details: 44-985 Province Way, Indian Wells. 760-321-3771, sandshotelandspa.com/dining-bar/
— Niki Kottmann
The Café at Shields
Even vacationers might have heard of Shield’s Date Garden, the well-known place in Indio with the large armored soldier together with his protect and sword pointing you towards the reward store — where you can get a date shake on the diner bar, and browse for mementos of your journey to the desert. What you may not know is that there is an important café within the again with improbable breakfast and lunch choices (it closes at 2 p.m. every day). As you may guess, together with conventional fare, there are some enjoyable date-centric menu gadgets, too, like a date omelet, date pancakes or how about their signature date burger? That’s a burger topped with sauteed Deglet Noor dates, bacon and melted bleu cheese. It’s a household pleasant place as effectively with loads of kid-friendly choices and there’s even a strolling path and sculpture backyard within the again for patrons to work off that date shake that you just should strive.
Details: 80-225 Highway 111, Indio. 760-775-0902. cafe.shieldsdategarden.com
— Shad Powers
Little Bar
Little Bar is aptly named. It’s a low-key, small spot indoors but in addition has outside seating should you get claustrophobic. It’s comfortable hour particular is till 6 p.m. and contains craft cocktails, beer, seltzer, wine and spritzers. The bar’s drinks vary from the delicate, like espresso martinis and its tackle an quaint dubbed a “bold fashioned,” to the extra free-spirited, like jello photographs and white claw. It is an informal bar positive to please the consuming habits of even probably the most eclectic good friend group. Little Bar additionally serves meals, together with filling entrees like a cheeseburger and shareable bites like their filthy fries which are loaded with melted American cheese, grilled onions and particular sauce (fairly much like In-N-Out’s animal model fries).
Details: 73-560 Palm Desert Drive North, Palm Desert. 760-565-1965, little-bar.com
— Ani Gasparyan
Cork & Fork
For one thing a bit of completely different, this tapas spot in Indio works for any urge for food. Tapas, after all, means small plates, which makes Cork & Fork an important place to strive new issues and share them together with your squad. The tapas menu contains requirements like truffle mac and cheese, poke nachos, or beef sliders, but in addition some outside-the-bun choices like pickled Vietnamese cucumber, edamame dumplings or Thai shrimp muffins. Don’t fret, there are additionally full-plate choices for these anti-tapas diners on the market. And don’t neglect in regards to the “cork” a part of Cork & Fork. They characteristic a wide array of wines to pair together with your meal, whether or not small plate or giant.
Details: 49-890 Jefferson St., Suite 100, Indio. 760-777-7555, corkandforkwinebar.com
— Shad Powers
RD RNNR Libations Pints & Plates
RDRNNR is the kind of place that might be described as an upscale sports activities bar, and it is conveniently positioned proper in Old Town La Quinta. The menu is subtle, and the meals is thoughtfully ready. Meanwhile there are numerous TVs enjoying the massive sport, and also you wouldn’t be misplaced letting out a bit of scream or a fist pump when your crew scores. Plenty of libations to select from, too.
Details: 78-065 Main St., Suite 200, La Quinta. 442-400-3255, roadrunnerlq.com
— Shad Powers
Black Cat Pizza
Detroit is 2,265 miles away from Palm Desert — and it can typically really feel even additional than that. Luckily, this strip mall pizza joint that opened in late 2024 is serving to to bridge the gap. While it’s nonetheless a newcomer to the native eating scene, the proper stability between the crisp and chewiness of its Detroit-style pies — sure, that’s the sq. type — have already made them amongst our native go-tos (we love the diavolo de miele, which mixes pepperoni with sizzling honey). While you’ll wish to break up a ‘za or two together with your companions, there’s additionally salads, sandwiches, desserts and a surprisingly various number of appetizers for a pizza parlor. Seriously, where else are you going to search out fried calamari, Buffalo wings and Brussel sprouts with pancetta on the identical menu?
Details: 72-795 Highway 111, Suite G-2, Palm Desert. 442-282-8019, instagram.com/blackcatpizza_pd
— Paul Albani-Burgio
El Mexicali Café II
It might look a bit of unimpressive from the surface as a part of a small strip mall, however if you step inside El Mexicali Cafe II, you might be immediately transported to … CHILES GUERITOS RELLENOS de CAMARON. Sorry. Was making an attempt to get deeper into the outline of this restaurant with out mentioning its signature appetizer, however I couldn’t. You should get the chiles gueritos rellenos de camaron, that are yellow peppers full of shrimp. Unmatched. The remainder of the menu contains all the standard gadgets you’d anticipate from an genuine Mexican restaurant together with menudo. You can have your guacamole made tableside. Charming décor. When somebody needs genuine Mexican within the desert, this is a go-to advice.
Details: 43-430 Monroe St., Suite A, Indio. 760-342-2333, elmexicalicafe2.com
— Shad Powers
Places to seize brunch in Palm Springs earlier than the fest
Staying in Palm Springs and driving in (or being shuttled into) the competition every single day? You’ll have to gasoline up beforehand. Consider grabbing breakfast, lunch or, higher but, brunch, at certainly one of these traditional Palm Springs spots.
Farm Palm Springs
I like to think about this Palm Springs fixture as two eating places in a single. By day, FARM serves up crepes, omelets, benedicts and different French favorites inside its stylish, countrified digs. Come night time, FARM strikes to a multi-course prix-fixe menu (which is offered on a big chalkboard that is introduced to every desk). While the prix-fixe choices change each few weeks, you can usually rely on their being no less than one beef entree, a seafood one and a vegetarian possibility (though the OpenTable web page makes clear that vegans want look elsewhere). Make positive to save lots of room for dessert, a perennial spotlight right here.
Details: 6 La Plaza, Palm Springs. 760-322-2724, farmpalmsprings.com
— Paul Albani-Burgio
Sherman’s Deli & Bakery
Sherman Harris moved to Palm Springs in 1950 and opened this carbon copy of the traditional New York City deli in 1953. That’s greater than 70 years of dishing up nearly comically massive parts and packed-to-the-gills sandwiches. Breakfast, lunch or dinner they’ve all of the Big Apple deli classics: Bagel with lox and cream cheese, a stacked Reuben sandwich with a aspect of matzo ball soup, or possibly some corned beef on rye. The menu is huge, although, and by no means confined to the New York staples. And remember the bakery with breads and sweets galore. Sherman’s is so well-liked that the Sherman household needed to open a second location in Palm Desert with the identical premise, NYC deli decor and menu.
Details: 401 E. Tahquitz Canyon Way, Palm Springs. 760-325-1199 or the second location at 73-161 Country Club Drive, Palm Desert. 760-568-1350, shermansdeli.com
— Shad Powers
L’Atelier Café
The style of French delicacies is solely a brief drive away at Palm Springs’ L’Atelier Café. Start your day proper with a traditional quiche Lorraine with ham and Gruyere cheese, or quite a lot of crepes, together with lemon sugar, strawberry or Nutella. For lunch, sandwiches and paninis choices provide you with loads of choices to chew on, together with a goat cheese panini with tomatoes and honey. No journey to L’Atelier Café is full with out stocking up on an assortment of pastries. Macarons, croissants, beignets and extra can be found to fulfill your cravings.
Details: 129 La Plaza, Palm Springs. 760-778-7895
— Ema Sasic
