Where to Eat That Elegant Meal in Greater Palm Springs

Experience outstanding ambiance and world-class menus

Michelle Roe Restaurants

 

The Coachella Valley is brimming with award-winning chefs, top-notch wine cellars, and some of the most inventive cuisine in the country. The region’s long tradition of hospitality guarantees an outstanding experience at any of these fine dining establishments.

The elegant Bellatrix Restaurant & Wine Bar at the Classic Club sets itself apart from standard country club venues with its white linen tablecloths, well-trained staff, indoor and outdoor seating, and refined, wine-themed décor. Executive Chef Gerard Brunett’s exceptional menu is well-known for its Mediterranean-influenced, simple dishes that subtly showcase ingredients.

Celebrating more than 26 years of award-winning food, wine, and atmosphere, Castelli’s Ristorante is a premier Italian dining establishment. Delicious delicacies — such as the house specialty fettuccine Alfredo — and outstanding service are the hallmarks of this fashionable restaurant. The bar and lounge is open nightly with live musical entertainers to enchant patrons.

Family-owned Catalan epitomizes the feel, flavors, and feasts of the Mediterranean. Executive Chef Drew Davis cooks up award-winning Italian- and Spanish-inspired cuisine in this upscale eatery emphasizing the farm-to-table experience. A brilliant bounty of organic and sustainable seafood and local produce allows for refreshing seasonal menu selections.

Executive Chef John Roberts leads the culinary team at Circa 59 at the Riviera Palm Springs, setting the tone at the resort’s ultra-chic signature restaurant. Redefining classic recipes with modern style, Roberts’ inspired menu leverages the property’s abundant fruit and citrus trees and incorporates eco-friendly seafood, boutique farm meats, and locally grown produce. The artfully reinvented dishes marry well with the tony Hollywood Regency–style interiors and outstanding outdoor dining.

Copley’s on Palm Canyon — the guesthouse of the former Cary Grant estate — showcases contemporary dishes within a romantic, historic Hollywood setting. Here, diners can savor sumptuous meals indoors or on the candlelit garden patio. Executive Chef Andrew Copley presents high-end cuisine that emphasizes tropical and Euro flavors. 

Escape to Europa Restaurant at the Villa Royale Inn for a taste of an enchanting European-style hideaway. Vintage charm and elegance — the inn is the former home of figure skater Sonja Henie — make for an intimate and romantic experience, complete with service fit for royalty. World-class menu options and the use of sustainable and locally grown ingredients when available allow for every dish to be made to order.

 

Experience luxurious rustic charm at Figue Mediterranean Restaurant in La Quinta. (Photo courtesy of Figue Mediterranean Restaurant).

Setting a new standard for casual fine dining, Figue Mediterranean Restaurant’s modern culinary experience pleases the most discerning palates. This Mediterranean-inspired restaurant welcomes with its own eclectic style of midcentury design and farm-fresh fare. Featuring the finest, pure ingredients, organic products, and hormone- and antibiotic-free items, the sophisticated and seasonal menus change depending on market availability.

The Grove Artisan Kitchen at Miramonte Resort & Spa is a breath of fresh air, nestled among charming olive trees and citrus groves in the heart of Indian Wells. The property boasts Italian architecture and luxury accouterments that extend to the dining experience. With many ingredients harvested on site, Chef Robert Nyerick prepares uncomplicated plates for a fresh, seasonal, farm-to-table California culinary experience.

Dine al fresco or in the lushly appointed dining room at the quintessentially French-Mediterranean restaurant Le Vallauris. Start with wild boar pâté before moving on to other menu choices, which include roasted stuffed duck breast or a traditional ratatouille Provençale. Of course, a proper dessert is a must — the Grand Marnier soufflé is to die for.

Situated on the grounds of the historic La Quinta Resort & Club, the hacienda-style Morgan’s in the Desert is the place to enjoy the perfect blend of relaxed California lifestyle and innovative gastronomy. James Beard Award–winning chef Jimmy Schmidt celebrates regional farmers’ harvests by preparing such favorites as handcrafted flatbreads, artisan cheeses and charcuterie, seafood, and Prime Certified Angus Beef.

Tucked away at the base of the San Jacinto Mountains, Spencer’s Restaurant is a top destination for masterpiece meals, people-watching, and special occasion dining. The environment is stylishly elegant while invitingly comfortable, including the restaurant’s pet-friendly patio. Award-winning chef and cookbook author Eric Wadlund — who was selected to cook for President Obama and China’s President Xi during their visit to the Coachella Valley in 2013 — offers American cuisine infused with Pacific Rim influences.

Located at the prestigious Indian Wells Golf Resort, the recently renovated Vue Grille & Bar satisfies appetites for great variety. The sophisticated bar menu, showcasing craft wines and beers as well as artisan cocktails, enhances the elaborate brunch presentations and spectacular sushi menu. Classic selections such as prime rib highlight Chef Cale Falk’s focus on bold fundamental flavors that use ingredients from local suppliers. Visit this hot spot for a weekly schedule of jazz, acoustic music, and dancing to current and classic hits.

 

Sautéed maple leaf duck breast at Wally’s Desert Turtle. (Photo by Jon Edwards).

A desert tradition, the family-owned Wally’s Desert Turtle has embraced fine cuisine and impeccable customer service for more than 35 years. Along with Chef Richard Pelz, owners Michael and Nicole Botello invite guests to share their passion for local, sustainable, organic, earth- and ocean-friendly foods for a healthy gourmet meal in a beautiful setting. Try the famed imported Dover sole while enjoying the weekly entertainment and live music.

 

Make Your Reservations

Bellatrix Restaurant & Wine Bar  
75200 Classic Club Blvd., Palm Desert.
760-601-3690; www.classicclubgolf.com

Castelli’s Ristorante  
73098 Hwy. 111, Palm Desert.
760-773-3365; www.castellis.cc

Catalan  
70026 Hwy. 111, Rancho Mirage.
760-770-9508; www.catalanrestaurant.com

Circa 59
Riviera Palm Springs
1600 N. Indian Canyon Dr., Palm Springs.
760-778-6659; www.psriviera.com

Copley’s on Palm Canyon
621 N. Palm Canyon Dr., Palm Springs.
760-327-9555; www.copleyspalmsprings.com

Europa Restaurant  
Villa Royale Inn
1620 S. Indian Tr., Palm Springs.
760-327-2314; www.villaroyale.com
 
Figue Mediterranean Restaurant  
47474 Washington St., La Quinta.
760-698-9040; www.eatfigue.com

The Grove Artisan Kitchen
Miramonte Resort & Spa
45000 Indian Wells Ln., Indian Wells.
760-341-7200; www.miramonteresort.com

Le Vallauris  
385 W. Tahquitz Canyon Way, Palm Springs.
760-325-5059; www.levallauris.com

Morgan’s in the Desert
La Quinta Resort & Club
49499 Eisenhower Dr., La Quinta.
760-564-7600; www.morgansinthedesert.com

Spencer’s Restaurant
701 W. Baristo Rd., Palm Springs.
760-327-3446; www.spencersrestaurant.com

Vue Grille & Bar  
Indian Wells Golf Resort
44500 Indian Wells Ln., Indian Wells.
760-834-3800; www.vuegrilleandbar.com

Wally’s Desert Turtle
71775 Hwy. 111, Rancho Mirage
760-568-9321; www.wallysdesertturtle.com