Our readers voted for their favorite attractions, restaurants, and experiences throughout Greater Palm Springs in the annual Palm Springs Life Best of the Best competition. The 2019 tallies are in, and we’re revealing the results city by city. View the full list at palmspringslife.com/best-of.
INDIO
THE BIG WINNER
Alfresco Dining, barbecue, breakfast, burger, caterer, continental, craft cocktail, sports bar, Sunday brunch, wedding venue
Jackalope Ranch
Locals rave about the design and expansive menu at this 21,000-square-foot restaurant and events venue. thejackaloperanch.com
PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF JACKALOPE RANCH
Jackalope Ranch
STAY
Vacation Rental
Coachella Luxury Rentals
This luxury rental agency offers digs for travelers of every stripe. coachellaluxuryrentals.com
Hotel / Resort Casino
Fantasy Springs Resort Casino
The 250-room resort hotel, surrounded by mountain views, provides prime access to nightly entertainment, golf, and gaming. fantasyspringsresort.com
TASTE
CHINESE
Golden Dragon Restaurant
This strip-mall spot is a hidden gem for the finest sizzling rice soup this side of the valley. goldendragoninindio.com
COFFEEHOUSE
Starbucks
Four locations provide your iced-venti-half-caf-quad-two-pump-vanilla-nonfat-macchiato fix. starbucks.com
ITALIAN (TIE)
Mario’s Italian Café
Mario’s is famous for its large-pour $5 glass of wine and traditional Italian fare. mariositaliancafes.com
ITALIAN (TIE) PIZZA
Ciro’s Ristorante
Ciro’s Italian joint has kept locals happy since 1966. The hand-tossed dough and rich sauces are made fresh daily from scratch. cirosofindio.com
JAPANESE
Dragon Sushi
Get your fill of raw fish with nigiri, saucy specialty rolls, or an all-you-can-eat option. dragonsushi.com
MEXICAN
El Mexicali Café
Chiles güeritos are a favorite here — small yellow peppers stuffed with shrimp, broiled, and plated with condiments. elmexicalicafe.com
ROMANTIC DINING SEAFOOD STEAKHOUSE
Chop House at Jackalope Ranch
Located on the property of Jackalope Ranch, this classic steakhouse serves only prime cuts. thejackaloperanch.com/chop-house
SHOPS + SERVICES
CONSIGNMENT / RESALE
Angel View
Proceeds from this nonprofit thrift shop support programs for locals with disabilities. angelview.org
GYM / HEALTH CLUB
Coachella Universal Training Center
On the gym’s weekly “bring a friend” day, members can invite a workout buddy to join the weight-room fun for free. ufitcenter.com
HAIR SALON
Jesus Yvette Salon
Yvette’s team specializes in balayage and Brazilian blowouts. fb.com/jesusyvettesalon
EXPLORE
FESTIVAL
Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival
The world’s sunniest music fest welcomes 250,000 visitors annually. coachella.com
LIVE MUSIC
Big Rock Pub
This classic rock–themed hangout hosts live music every night. thebigrockpub.com
LIVE THEATER
Desert Theatreworks
The local theater company stages plays at the Indio Performing Arts Center. dtworks.org
MUSEUM
Coachella Valley History Museum
See two of the area’s oldest buildings and the world’s only date museum at this campus.
cvhm.org
PUBLIC GOLF COURSE
Big Rock Golf Course at Indian Springs
Hit the links on a 6,800-yard course.
indianspringsgc.com
COACHELLA
THE BIG WINNER
Alfresco Dining, attraction, breakfast, burger, casino, coffeehouse, craft cocktail, Mexican, romantic dining, seafood, sports bar
Augustine Casino
Known for loose slots, this casino also has a winning eatery, Café 54, hailed for its Black & Blue burger.
augustinecasino.com
PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF AUGUSTINE CASINO
Augustine Casino
TASTE
ASIAN
Ha Ha Chinese
Flavors are anything but funny at Ha Ha, where you can choose from more than 150 dishes.
hahachinese.com
ITALIAN
Mario’s Italian Café
Mario’s Coachella location serves $1 pizza slices twice a week. mariositaliancafes.com
SHOPS + SERVICES
DISPENSARY
The Lighthouse
Lighthouse sells top-shelf cannabis and hosts events. lighthousedispensary.com
GYM / HEALTH CLUB
Planet Fitness
Break a sweat with a personal training session and check out the spa amenities.
planetfitness.com
HAIR SALON
Old Fashion Barber Shop
Your one-stop shop for shaves and fades. fb.com/the-old-fashion-barber-shop
EXPLORE
FESTIVAL
Mariachi Festival
Augustine Casino’s fest features the best in mariachi. augustinecasino.com
LIVE MUSIC
Spotlight 29 Casino
The casino has hosted Grammy-winning vocalists across genres and some of the top names in comedy. spotlight29.com
