Full disclosure, I know damn well that there’s a whole lot more to this town than I’ve had the opportunity to experience. I have no doubt that locals will read this and roll their eyes and I am well aware that I’m seriously missing out on a lot of hidden gems. That being said, I come down once a year for some peace and sunshine to reset and indulge myself. If the locals reading this have some suggestions, by all means, please let me know, I’d love to check em out next time I’m in come down.
For a relatively small town (less than 46k full-time residents) in the middle of the desert, this place is packed with top-quality restaurants and other fun attractions that will leave you wanting to come back. Yes, it has a few tourist traps but given the clientele, you can’t really hold it against em. For the most part, the food and service you’re going to find at most places is absolute grade A.
The downtown area is by far one of the most well-designed I’ve ever been to. It’s got a solid selection of food, shops, national brands and local artists. By far, one of the best things about it is that there’s a ton of free parking all over the place. For someone based in the Bay Area, this is a huge deal. The city obviously understood that if people don’t have to pay $20 for parking, they’re more likely to visit and spend money. While I can’t say that there isn’t crime, you don’t see any signs says “take your valuables or have your windows smashed” like you do up here which is a nice change.
One of the things I truly love about this area is the sense of balance it has with the environment. You have a nice small metropolitan area with every amenity you need while also having some of the most beautiful desert on earth all around you. You can have coffee at a cute French bistro and less than an hour later be miles away from other human beings in the silence of nature.
Something else that I have to point out is that if you’re a bigot or homophobic in any way, you’re going to hate it here. To put it bluntly, this place is fucking fabulous and I say that with the most heartfelt respect. Flags fly proudly all year and the local businesses make it clear that love is love and hate ain’t welcome. You don’t have a bunch of macho douche bags drinking and getting into fights and it’s just a nice mellow atmosphere all around.
Las Casuelas Terraza: 222 S Palm Canyon Dr, Palm Springs, CA 92262
When you’re on the South end of the main drag, you can’t miss this place. The live music is the first thing that will catch your attention but then you quickly find out that the food is the main attraction.
It’s classic Mexican comfort food at its finest without any pretentiousness that you find at a lot of the new places. They don’t need to refine or reinvent anything since staying true to their roots is one of the main reasons why they’ve been in business since 1958. Without a doubt, the Mole I had here is easily one of the best I’ve ever tasted. It was rich and complex and wasn’t the “spicy chocolate sauce” you get at so many other places. Come for the food, stay for the music, and don’t be afraid to dance, nobody is judging you.
Farm: 6 La Plaza, Palm Springs, CA 92262
I’m not a fan of brunch, I’m not a fan of eating before noon most days but this place stays packed for a reason. We got there at 10 AM on a Sunday and they were already on a 20-minute wait and by the time we got seated, the wait was up to an hour. There’s a good reason for it since the food, service and atmosphere were all amazing.
It was raining that morning and this only added to the quaint French atmosphere of the place. Despite the fact that the spot was slammed, service felt attentive but relaxed. The menu was standard but slightly kicked up a few notches and the food was familiar yet elevated. All in all, I have nothing bad to say about the place. My only warning is that you shouldn’t bother trying to park in front of it and instead go to one of the nearby lots.
The Real Italian Deli: 100 S Sunrise Way B, Palm Springs, CA 92262
No lie, the main reason I stopped here is because I wanted to grab a sandwich and some drinks prior to spending the day driving through Joshua Tree National Park and since they opened at 9 AM and weren’t a chain, I gave em a shot. The place felt like a classic Italian sandwich shop, warm and welcoming and is clearly a favorite with the locals. The menu was small but everything was made with top-shelf ingredients and they also have a nice selection of imported Italian goods as well. It was so good that I ended up going back a few days later and I was craving.
LGs Prime Steakhouse: 255 S Palm Canyon Dr, Palm Springs, CA 92262
I’d be lying if I said it was the best steak I’ve ever eaten but, it’s by far the best I’ve had in town. It’s got the classic vibe, excellent service and a great menu. I went for the full experience and got the 32 ounce Porterhouse, which was a solid, perfectly seasoned cut of meat, served on a sizzling hot plate. And yes, my skinny ass ate every bit of it.
I went twice, once on a quiet Monday and sat inside and it was phenomenal. The second time was on a Thursday during the night market and I made the mistake of sitting on the patio. I didn’t mind the crowd but I am not a fan of TVs while I’m eating at a nice place. I want to be able to focus on the food and the conversation with my friends and not be distracted by a baseball game. It’s not the end of the world and I’ll definitely be going back, I just know where to sit next time.
Tyler’s: 149 S Indian Canyon Dr #6603, Palm Springs, CA 92262
10/10, I love this spot. It’s a small burger joint that’s in a former Greyhound bus station and is only open Monday through Saturday, 11-4 and is a must-visit. The burgers are classic, no-nonsense, yet not dingy at all. Both times I’ve been in, the owner has been there, running food, answering the phone and talking to everyone who comes in.
Yes, the place has a wall full of awards but one bite of their food is all it takes for you to understand that they earned those accolades. The burgers are some of the best I’ve ever had and this spot is iconic for good reason. Literally, the only bad thing is that parking is a pain in ass but there’s plenty of free parking within two blocks. That’s it, that’s the only bad thing I can say about the place.
Lulus: 200 S Palm Canyon Dr, Palm Springs, CA 92262
If you’ve been following me for a while, you know that I hardly ever trash places but in this case, I feel obligated to warn you.
I wanted to like this place, I really wanted to like this place. The dining room is by far one of the most gorgeous I’ve ever seen and on the surface, it screams PAAAAALM SPRIIIIIINGS! But everything else falls flat.
Before my last trip, I looked at the menu and my first thought was that it read like a Sysco brochure. Then, I saw a Sysco truck parked outside on a Monday night. This meant I was not going to be eating there but I figured I’d at least stop in and have a mocktail and enjoy some people watching. After 10 minutes, I was ready to finish my drink, pay the bill and go somewhere else.
The Thursday night market: Along the main drag downtown
If you’re planning a trip to Palm Springs, I’m telling you right now, make sure you’re there on a Thursday night so you can go downtown and enjoy this. They shut down most of the main drag and it’s probably 10 blocks of food and craft vendors and most of the shops stay open late.
It starts at 6 and even when it’s busy, you can typically find free parking within a few blocks of everything. Again, the city knew what they were doing when they planned this.
Even if you’re not a social person, you’ll end up making new friends. People just tend to be nice and will start a random conversation in line for some fresh churros, and the next thing you know, you have two new restaurants you have to try and another hike you need to go on.
Shields Date Farm: 80-225 CA-111, Indio, CA 92201
Yeah yeah, it’s not actually in Palm Springs but it’s a short detour when you’re leaving Joshua Tree so it’s on the list.
Turns out that the valley was one of the biggest producers of Dates and ended up becoming famous for Date Milkshakes. This place was founded in 1924 so it’s definitely the OG of the Valley and as soon as you pull into the parking lot, you can tell that this was a major attraction years ago but has since lost a bit of luster.
One thing that did weird me out a bit was the garden in the back. I thought I was going to see a date farm and instead I got to see the story of Jesus portrayed with numerous concrete sculptures. When I’m expecting it, fine, when it’s thrown down my throat unexpectedly, I have an issue with it. At the same time, the sculptures were kinda old and worn which, like a car crash, made it hard to look away. All that aside, the Date Shake alone is worth the trip.
Pioneer Town:
Weird as fuck but worth the trip. It was built in 1946 when a guy by the name of Dick Curtis convinced a bunch of other rich people to invest $500 each and buy 32,000 acres just north of Palm Springs that would be a movie set and residence. This was back when Westerns were like Marvel Movies and over 200 films used the town in their production.
Due to a bunch of factors, things didn’t go as planned and now it’s more or less a cute, faux Old West town with some interesting shops and some beautiful views of the desert
Desert Christ Park: 56200 Sunnyslope Dr, Yucca Valley, CA 92284
I’m certainly not a Christian but, I love art and weird shit and don’t get bothered by other faiths. This place is both beautiful and surreal and one of the more interesting sites I’ve been to. The story starts back in 1951 when a Preacher bought 5 acres in Yucca Valley and then met an Artist who was trying to get his 10-foot-tall concrete Jesus displayed at the Grand Canyon. The Park didn’t want it, citing a separation of Church and state so the preacher let him put it on his land. Folks loved it (it was the 50’s) and the artist ended up getting commissioned to do a bunch more.
Yes, in a weird way it reminds me of an early White Zombie or Ministry video since the place is bizarre. That being said, if you do decide to visit, please be respectful.
Joshua Tree National Park:
This place legitimately lives up to the hype and unfortunately, it’s packed with people. To the best of my knowledge, there’s really no “off season” where you can avoid the crowds.
The bad news is that the popular sites get filled up fast but the good news is that there are a lot of pull offs that you can park at and get a feeling of seclusion.
The other thing you need to be aware of is that there aren’t any restaurants or even gas stations in the park so you need to come prepared. That being said, it’s not as remote or isolated as it seems and you’re really not more than an hour away from a town. Plus it’s crowded as fuck so if you do break down, you can get help easily.
The Aerial tram: 1 Tramway Rd, Palm Springs, CA 92262
First and foremost, if you have any issues with heights, roller coasters, that kind of thing, I highly recommend eating an edible as you turn from the main road. Trust me, you’ll be grateful you did.
It’s a famous attraction for good reason, it’s an engineering marvel. Photos do not do it justice, if they did, I wouldn’t have gone on the damn thing. You don’t actually get to see it until you’ve paid $15 for parking (something that, while not a deal breaker, is a bit of a surprise). Let me make this clear, this thing is a lot bigger than you expect and the ride is steep. It’s nothing at all like the Skyride at the Santa Cruz Boardwalk.
The trails aren’t really well marked due to the amount of rocks and fallen trees but the good news, you’re in a basin so it’s hard to get too lost without running into someone else, even if you deviate from the actual trail.
Tahquitz Canyon: 500 W Mesquite Ave, Palm Springs, CA 92264
This is a relatively short hike but well worth the $15 admission even if the waterfall at the end isn’t raging. The terrain is uneven and there’s a few spots that won’t be easy if you have mobility issues and they will check to make sure you have at least 32 ounces of water per person which you will absolutely need if you’re going in the warmer months. Be warned, the Big Horn sheep are all over the place and don’t seem to have any fear of humans so please, keep your distance or end up on your ass.
Indian Canyon: Palm Springs, CA 92264
Located about a half hour south of the main drag, this is hands down one of my favorite hikes anywhere. You drive though the empty desert for a while before crossing between a giant boulder and up a nice little switchback to the top of a hill. The view from the parking lot is breathtaking but, when you turn around and go walk to the other side, you’re greeted with a whole new world.
This is one of the largest grove of Palm trees in the world and it stretches for miles thanks to the hot springs providing water. The good news is that it’s relatively cool and shaded and the hike is easy. Even the hike down to the valley floor is smooth and well maintained. Plus, they have a nice gift shop and cold drinks for sale.
Off Road Rentals: 59511 CA-111, Palm Springs, CA 92262
I’m not gonna lie, this place is sketchy as hell. Remember how I said that you didn’t see any signs about having your car broken into out here? Yeah, for some reason this is an issue here despite being a few miles from other people or businesses. I’d been on the fence about going but decided that I needed to go get a bit wild for a few minutes.
The lower your expectations are, the happier you will be. These are not big ATVs by any means but, they’re still dangerous if you don’t know what you’re doing which you probably don’t. They make you sign a release form, give you a shower cap and a helmet and then some basic instructions on how to operate the thing. It’s not rocket science but, if you’re like me and have ridden a motorcycle for more than a few hundred miles, you will fuck up repeatedly and get frustrated. Why you ask? Real simple, the left lever ain’t the clutch, it’s the brake. This means that every time I went to shift gears, I was slamming on the brake out of reflex thinking I was working the clutch. It sounds stupid but it’s a hard habit to break after years on a bike.
The good news is, you’re on your own to go ride at your own pace and do more or less whatever you want to. It’s a decent-sized place with a mix of dirt and a few sand dunes so you’re not going to get bored just riding around an oval track. Once you start to get used to the machine, then you can have some fun with the thing and start throwing your weight around. As much as I love my brothers, I’m kinda glad they weren’t here since we would have provoked each other to the point of someone getting injured doing something stupid.
Is it safe? No. Is it sketchy as hell? Totally. Will I go back again? Without a doubt.
Drag and Fly tours: 267 E Tahquitz Canyon Way, Palm Springs, CA 92262
Alright, I have not actually been on one of these tours yet since I waited till the last minute to get tickets and they tend to sell out. That said, it’s top priority on the next trip since you see the bus all over downtown and it looks like an absolute riot.
It’s a history tour, led by a drag queen, on a party bus. If you have any doubt about how awesome this would be, go read their website and try not to laugh your ass off. Book your tickets early or else you’ll be like me and be bummed watching the bus go by without you.
In closing…
It’s not for everyone and I’m fine with that since I hate the crowds and love the small town vibe of the place. It’s got a ton of great restaurants, some fun shops and the people are freindly. Could I ever imagine living there? No, it would ruin the magic of the place. But when I need to slow down for a few days and get some sunshine, this is the perfect place to go.
Oh, and by the way, here’s a map with everything listed just to make it easier on you. If you dig this and want to see stuff that’s coming even sooner, show some love via Patreon or go check out my Merch shop.