Each year, we invite readers to vote for their favorite attractions, restaurants, and experiences in Greater Palm Springs and reveal the results (in no particular order) in the Palm Springs Life Best of the Best list. The 2019 winners span more than 45 categories, from coffee shops to veterinarians. Did your picks make the list?
VACATION RENTAL
Oranj Palm Vacation Homes
Cathedral City, Palm Desert, Palm Springs, Rancho Mirage; palmspringsrentals.com
In business since 1972, this vacation rental and property management company markets and oversees more than 350 getaways in some of Greater Palm Springs’ most coveted neighborhoods. They have what you need, whether that’s a swank midcentury estate in the foothills or a Tuscan-style villa on the fairway.
Accommodations
BOUTIQUE HOTEL
Hotel Paseo
Palm Desert; hotelpaseo.com
The Chateau at Lake La Quinta
La Quinta; thechateau.com
The Lautner Compound
Desert Hot Springs; thelautner.com
Avalon Hotel and Bungalows
Palm Springs; avalon-hotel.com
Parker Palm Springs
Palm Springs; parkerpalmsprings.com
Hotel Paseo, Palm Desert
Sands Hotel, Indian Wells
Sands Hotel & Spa
Indian Wells;
sandshotelandspa.com
Moroccan influence pairs with a midcentury Racquet Club vibe at this picturesque Martyn Lawrence Bullard–designed retreat. Typical of Bullard’s work, the vignettes at this property are bold, colorful, and opulent. He doesn’t shy away from prints.
HOTEL / RESORT
Two Bunch Palms
Desert Hot Springs; twobunchpalms.com
Agua Caliente Resort Casino Spa Rancho Mirage
Rancho Mirage; hotwatercasino.com
Omni Rancho Las Palmas Resort & Spa
Rancho Mirage; omnihotels.com
La Quinta Resort & Club
La Quinta; laquintaresort.com
Fantasy Springs Resort Casino
Indio; fantasyspringsresort.com
VACATION RENTAL
The Lautner Compound
Desert Hot Springs; thelautner.com
Coachella Luxury Rentals
Indian Wells, Indio, La Quinta; coachellaluxuryrentals.com
Two Bunch Palms, Desert Hot Springs
Food + Drink
ALFRESCO DINING
Jackalope Ranch
Indio; thejackaloperanch.com
JC’s Café on El Paseo
Palm Desert; jcsonelpaseo.com
Spencer’s Restaurant
Palm Springs;
spencersrestaurant.com
Acqua California Bistro
Rancho Mirage; acquaranchomirage.com
AJ’s on the Green
Cathedral City; ajsonthegreen.com
Vicky’s of Santa Fe
Indian Wells; vickysofsantafe.com
Stuft Pizza Bar & Grill
La Quinta;
stuftpizzabarandgrill.com
Augustine Casino
Coachella; augustinecasino.com
BARBECUE
Bubba’s Bones and Brews
Cathedral City;
bubbasbonesandbrews.com
A cool American gastropub with chalkboard beer specials, Bubba’s excels in smoky barbecue. For a group of four, try Bubba’s Feast: 2 pounds of meat (your choice of pulled pork, brisket sausage, or chicken) served with three large sides, a dinner salad, and bread.
PHOTOGRAPH BY JAIME KOWAL
Bubba's Bones and Brews, Cathedral City
Smoke Tree BBQ
Palm Springs; smoketreebbq.com
Babe’s Bar-B-Que & Brewery
Rancho Mirage; babesbbqbrewery.com
Kaiser Grille
Palm Desert; kaisergrillepalmdesert.com
Dickey’s Barbecue Pit
La Quinta; dickeys.com
Jackalope Ranch
Indio; thejackaloperanch.com
IW Coffee, Indian Wells
BREAKFAST
IW Coffee
Indian Wells; 760-346-6757
Spencer’s Restaurant
Palm Springs; spencersrestaurant.com
Acqua California Bistro
Rancho Mirage; acquaranchomirage.com
The Cottage Too
Desert Hot Springs; thecottagetoo.com
Wilma & Frieda
Palm Desert; wilmafrieda.com
Louise’s Pantry
La Quinta; louisespantry.com
Jackalope Ranch
Indio; thejackaloperanch.com
Augustine Casino
Coachella; augustinecasino.com
Don & Sweet Sue’s Café
Cathedral City; donandsweetsues.com
Sunshine Café
Cathedral City; sunshinecafe.com
The Pink Cabana
Indian Wells; sandshotelandspa.com
BURGER
Tony’s Burgers
Cathedral City; tonysburgers.com
Jackalope Ranch
Indio; thejackaloperanch.com
Smokin’ Burgers
Palm Springs; smokinburgers.com
Acqua California Bistro
Rancho Mirage; acquaranchomirage.com
All Star Burgers
Desert Hot Springs; 760-329-9900
Grill-a-Burger
Palm Desert; grill-a-burger.com
Eureka!
Indian Wells; eurekarestaurantgroup.com
Bobby’s Detroit
Coney Island
La Quinta; bobbysdetroitconeyisland.com
Augustine Casino
Coachella; augustinecasino.com
Smokin' Burgers, Palm Springs
CATERER
New Leaf Catering
Cathedral City; newleaf-catering.com
Jackalope Ranch
Indio; thejackaloperanch.com
Spencer’s Restaurant
Palm Springs; spencersrestaurant.com
Acqua California Bistro
Rancho Mirage; acquaranchomirage.com
Kaiser Grille
Palm Desert; kaisergrillepalmdesert.com
Stuft Pizza Bar & Grill
La Quinta; stuftpizzabarandgrill.com
CHINESE
Kam Lun Chinese Restaurant
Desert Hot Springs; 760-251-1244
Wang’s Chinese Cuisine
Cathedral City; wangschineseca.com
Ha Ha Chinese
Coachella; hahachinese.com
Wang’s in the Desert
Palm Springs; wangsinthedesert.com
P.F. Changs
Rancho Mirage; pfchangs.com
City Wok
Palm Desert; citywok.com
Canton Bistro
La Quinta; eatcantonbistro.com
Golden Dragon Restaurant
Indio; goldendragoninindio.com
COFFEEHOUSE
IW Coffee
Indian Wells; 760-346-6757
Koffi
Palm Springs, Rancho Mirage; kofficoffee.com
Starbucks
Cathedral City, Desert Hot Springs, Indio;
starbucks.com
Old Town Coffee Company
La Quinta; oldtownlaquinta.com
Augustine Casino
Coachella; augustinecasino.com
CONTINENTAL
Vicky’s of Santa Fe
Indian Wells; vickysofsantafe.com
Spencer’s
Palm Springs; spencersrestaurant.com
Acqua California Bistro
Rancho Mirage; acquaranchomirage.com
Kaiser Grille
Palm Desert; kaisergrillepalmdesert.com
Lavender Bistro
La Quinta; lavenderbistro.com
Jackalope Ranch
Indio; thejackaloperanch.com
CRAFT COCKTAIL
Bontá Restaurant & Bar
Cathedral City; bontarestaurant.com
Lulu California Bistro
Palm Springs; lulupalmsprings.com
Acqua California Bistro
Rancho Mirage; acquaranchomirage.com
Kaiser Grille
Palm Desert; kaisergrillepalmdesert.com
Vicky’s of Santa Fe
Indian Wells; vickysofsantafe.com
Enzo’s Bistro and Bar
La Quinta; enzosbistroandbar.com
Jackalope Ranch
Indio; thejackaloperanch.com
Augustine Casino
Coachella; augustinecasino.com
FRENCH
Pomme Frite
Palm Springs; pomme-frite.com
Si Bon
Rancho Mirage; sibon-sogood.com
Café des Beaux-Arts
Palm Desert; cafedesbeauxarts.com
La Brasserie Bistro & Bar
La Quinta; labrasserielaquinta.com
INDIAN
India Oven
Cathedral City; india-oven.com
Monsoon
Palm Springs; monsoonindian
restaurant.com
ITALIAN
Piazza Trilussa Ristorante
Cathedral City; trilussarestaurant.com
Johnny Costa’s
Palm Springs; johnnycostaspalmsprings.com
The Slice
Rancho Mirage; theslicepizza.com
Capri Italian Restaurant
Desert Hot Springs; capriitalian.com
Café Italia
Indian Wells; cafeitaliareservations.com
Chapelli’s Italian Restaurant
La Quinta; chapellisrestaurant.com
Mario’s Italian Café
Coachella, Indio; mariositaliancafes.com
Ciro’s Restorante
Indio; cirosofindio.com
Ristorante Mamma Gina
Palm Desert; mammagina.com
Il Corso
Palm Desert; ilcorsocv.com
JAPANESE
Kobe Japanese Steakhouse
Rancho Mirage; koberanchomirage.com
The Venue Sushi Bar & Sake Lounge
Palm Desthevenuepalmdesert.com
Dragon Sushi
Indio; dragonsushi.com
Sandfish Sushi and Whiskey
Palm Springs; sandfishps.com
Okura Robata
La Quinta; okurasushi.com
Umami Seoul
Cathedral City; umamiseoul.com
Otori Sushi
Cathedral City; 760-699-5486
MEDITERRANEAN
Yianni’s Taverna & Wine Bar
Cathedral City; fb.com/yiannitaverna cathedralcity
Evzin Mediterranean Cuisine
Palm Desert, Palm Springs; evzincuisine.com
Catalan Mediterranean Cuisine
Rancho Mirage; catalanrestaurant.org
Santorini Gyro
Cathedral City; santorinigyro.us
MEXICAN
El Mexicali Café
Indio; elmexicalicafe.com
Don Diego’s of Indian Wells
Indian Wells; dondiegoiw.com
La Bonita’s Restaurant
Palm Springs; labonitas.com
Maracas
Rancho Mirage; maracas-restaurant.com
Casa Blanca Restaurant
Desert Hot Springs; casablancamenu.com
Fresh Agave Mexican Bar and Grill
Palm Desert; freshagavemexicanbarandgrill.com
Casa Mendoza
La Quinta; casamendozamexicangrillandbar.weebly.com
Augustine Casino
Coachella; augustinecasino.com
La Tablita
Cathedral City; latablita.menutoeat.com
Taqueria San Miguel
Cathedral City; taqueriasanmiguel.com
PIZZA
Ciro’s Restorante
Indio; cirosofindio.com
Rocky’s New York Pizza
Desert Hot Springs; rockyspizzadhs.com
SPC – Sirocco Pizza Company
Indian Wells; marriott.com
Bill’s Pizza
Palm Springs; billspizzapalmsprings.com
Acqua California Bistro
Rancho Mirage; acquaranchomirage.com
Upper Crust
Cathedral City; uppercrust-pizza.com
Stuft Pizza Bar & Grill
La Quinta, Palm Desert; stuftpizzabarandgrill.com
ROMANTIC DINING
Chop House at Jackalope Ranch
Indio; thejackaloperanch.com/chop-house
Spencer’s Restaurant
Palm Springs; spencersrestaurant.com
Acqua California Bistro
Rancho Mirage; acquaranchomirage.com
Ocean’s
Cathedral City; oceanspalmsprings.com
Capri Italian Restaurant
Desert Hot Springs; capriitalian.com
Kaiser Grille
Palm Desert; kaisergrillepalmdesert.com
Vicky’s of Santa Fe
Indian Wells; vickysofsantafe.com
Lavender Bistro
La Quinta; lavenderbistro.com
Augustine Casino
Coachella; augustinecasino.com
SEAFOOD
Ocean’s
Cathedral City; oceanspalmsprings.com
Spencer’s Restaurant
Palm Springs; spencersrestaurant.com
Pacifica Seafood Restaurant
Palm Desert; pacificaseafoodrestaurant.com
Vicky’s of Santa Fe
Indian Wells; vickysofsantafe.com
Fisherman’s Market and Grill
La Quinta; fishermans.com
Chop House at Jackalope Ranch
Indio; thejackaloperanch.com/chop-house
Augustine Casino
Coachella; augustinecasino.com
La Palapa
Cathedral City; 760-321-6420
STEAKHOUSE
Chop House at Jackalope Ranch
Indio; thejackaloperanch.com/chop-house
Kaiser Grille Palm Springs
Palm Springs; kaisergrille.com
Fleming’s Steakhouse
Rancho Mirage; flemingssteakhouse.com
Bonta Restaurant & Bar
Cathedral City; bontarestaurant.com
Capri Italian Restaurant
Desert Hot Springs; capriitalian.com
Kaiser Grille
Palm Desert; kaisergrillepalmdesert.com
Vicky’s of Santa Fe
Indian Wells; vickysofsantafe.com
LG’s Prime Steakhouse
La Quinta; lgsprimesteakhouse.com
SUNDAY BRUNCH
Vue Grille & Bar
Indian Wells;
indianwellsgolfresort.com
Sunshine Café
Cathedral City; sunshinecafe.com
Spencer’s Restaurant
Palm Springs;
spencersrestaurant.com
Acqua California Bistro
Rancho Mirage; acquaranchomirage.com
The Cottage Too
Desert Hot Springs; thecottagetoo.com
JC’s Café on El Paseo
Palm Desert; jcsonelpaseo.com
Broken Yolk Cafe
La Quinta;
thebrokenyolkcafe.com
Jackalope Ranch
Indio; thejackaloperanch.com
Acqua California Bistro, Rancho Mirage
THAI
Thai Palms
Desert Hot Springs; thaipalmdhs.com
Thai Smile Palm Springs
Palm Springs; thaismilepalmsprings.com
Talay Thai Restaurant
Rancho Mirage; talaythairanchomirage.com
Bangkok Noodles
Cathedral City; fb.com/bangkoknoodles
Thai Smile
Rancho Mirage, Palm Desert;
thaismilerm.com
My Thai
La Quinta; mythailq.com
VEGETARIAN / VEGAN
Lulu California Bistro
Palm Springs; lulupalmsprings.com
Acqua California Bistro
Rancho Mirage; acquaranchomirage.com
Luscious Lorraine’s
Palm Desert; lusciouslorraines.com
Wildest Greens
Palm Desert; wildestgreens.com
PHOTOGRAPH BY JAIME KOWAL
Justin Eat & Drink
Cathedral City; justinrestaurant.com
Chef and owner Justin Jenkins shows off his deft culinary abilities by pairing seasonal ingredients in unexpected ways and treating each plate as if it were a canvas. The menu rotates and indicates vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free fare.
VIETNAMESE
Pho Na 92
Desert Hot Springs; 760-288-7167
533 Viet Fusion
Palm Springs; 533vietfusion.com
Pho Vu
Palm Desert; phovurestaurant.com
Nightlife
GAY BAR
Playoffs Sports Lounge
Desert Hot Springs; playoffsdhs.com
Blackbook
Palm Springs; blackbookbar.com
The Roost Lounge
Cathedral City; roostps.com
KARAOKE
Studio 111
Cathedral City; studio-one-11.com
LIVE MUSIC
Spotlight 29 Casino
Coachella; spotlight29.com
Dillon’s Burgers & Beers
Desert Hot Springs; dillonsburgersbeers.com
The Purple Room
Palm Springs; purpleroompalmsprings.com
Bernie’s Lounge
Rancho Mirage; bernies.club
AJ’s on the Green
Cathedral City; ajsonthegreen.com
The Hood Bar and Pizzeria
Palm Desert; hoodbarandpizza.com
Vicky’s of Santa Fe
Indian Wells; vickysofsantafe.com
Sandbar
La Quinta; cunardsandbar.com
Big Rock Pub
Indio; thebigrockpub.com
The Purple Room, Palm Springs
SPORTS BAR
Playoffs Sports Lounge
Desert Hot Springs; playoffsdhs.com
Jackalope Ranch
Indio; thejackaloperanch.com
Smokin’ Burgers
Palm Springs; smokinburgers.com
Yard House
Rancho Mirage; yardhouse.com
Stuft Pizza Bar & Grill
La Quinta, Palm Desert; stuftpizzabarandgrill.com
Vue Grille & Bar
Indian Wells; indianwellsgolfresort.com
Augustine Casino
Coachella; augustinecasino.com
Henry’s Sports Bar & Grill
Cathedral City; cathedralcitysportsbar.com
Amp Sports Lounge
Cathedral City; fb.com/ampsportslounge
Shops + Services
ART GALLERY
Élan Vital Gallery
Cathedral City; elanvitalgalleries.com
Palm Springs Art Museum
Palm Springs; psmuseum.org
Coda Gallery
Palm Desert; codagallery.com
BIKE RENTAL
Bike Palm Springs
Palm Springs; bikepsrentals.com
Tri-A-Bike
Palm Desert; triabike.com
Pedego Electric Bikes
La Quinta; pedegoelectricbikes.com
Old Town Peddler
La Quinta; oldtownpeddler.com
CONSIGNMENT / RESALE / VINTAGE
Angel View
Desert Hot Springs, Indio, Palm Desert; angelview.org
Misty’s Consignments
Rancho Mirage; mistysconsignments.com
Encore Consign + Design
La Quinta; encorelq.com
Finder’s Thrift
La Quinta; findersthrift.com
Revivals
Cathedral City, Palm Desert, Palm Springs; revivalsstores.com
Lauded for its “mixed-century” modern finds, Revivals serves up a fab collection of lighting and lots of funky apparel and accessories to sift through. The local chain also produces its own Mode line of furnishings and home accessories.
PHOTOGRAPH BY NEIL HUSVAR
Revivals, Palm Springs
DISPENSARY
West Coast Cannabis Club
Cathedral City, Palm Desert; westcoastcannabis.club
P.S.A. Organica
Palm Springs;
psa-organica.business.site
The Lighthouse
Coachella; lighthousedispensary.com
Green Leaf Dispensary
Desert Hot Springs; greenleafdhs.com
Green Pearl Organics
West Coast Cannabis Club
Cathedral City, Palm Desert; westcoastcannabis.club
This recreational cannabis shop was the first to open multiple locations in the Coachella Valley. Products range from THC-heavy flowers and concentrates to CBD topicals with no psychoactive effects.
PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY WEST COAST CANNABIS CLUB
West Coast Cannabis Club, Cathedral City
FLORIST
David Rohr Floral Studio
Cathedral City; davidrohrstudio.com
Jensen’s
Palm Desert; jensensfoods.com
Palm Springs Florist
Palm Springs; palmspringsflorist.net
Rancho Mirage Florist
Rancho Mirage; ranchomirageflorist.com
GYM / HEALTH CLUB
Fit in 42 Palm Springs
Palm Springs; fitin42.com
In-Shape Fitness
Cathedral City; inshape.com
Desert Yoga Therapy
Rancho Mirage; desertyogatherapy.com
Hyatt Regency Indian Wells Resort & Spa
Indian Wells; hyatt.com
World Gym
Desert Hot Springs; worldgym.com
EoS Fitness
Palm Desert; eosfitness.com
Evolve Yoga
La Quinta; e-volveyoga.com
Coachella Universal Training Center
Indio; ufitcenter.com
Planet Fitness
Coachella; planetfitness.com
HAIR SALON
Old Fashion Barber Shop
Coachella; fb.com/the-old-fashion-barber-shop
Salon 119
Palm Springs; salon119.com
Agape Salon & Spa
Rancho Mirage; agapesalonspa.com
PS I Love Your Hair
Cathedral City; 760-778-7700
A Classic Act Hair & Nail Studio
Desert Hot Springs; 760-329-6134
Terra Lane Hair Design
Palm Desert; terralaneonelpaseo.com
Agim Salon
Indian Wells; agimsalon.com
Alankara Salon
La Quinta; alankarasalon.com
Jesus Yvette Salon
Indio; fb.com/jesusyvettesalon
SPA
The Well Spa at Miramonte Indian Wells Resort & Spa
Indian Wells; miramonteresort.com
JW Marriott Desert Springs Resort & Spa
Palm Desert; marriott.com
VETERINARIAN
Carter Animal Hospital
Cathedral City; carteranimalhospital.com
VCA Hospitals
La Quinta, Palm Springs; vcahospitals.com
WEDDING VENUE
Indian Wells Golf Resort
Indian Wells; indianwellsgolfresort.com
Spencer’s Restaurant
Palm Springs; spencersrestaurant.com
Omni Rancho Las Palmas Resort & Spa
Rancho Mirage; omnihotels.com
DoubleTree by Hilton Golf Resort
Cathedral City; doubletreepalmsprings.com
The Lautner Compound
Desert Hot Springs; thelautner.com
La Quinta Resort & Club
La Quinta; laquintaresort.com
Jackalope Ranch
Indio; thejackaloperanch.com
The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens
Palm Desert; livingdesert.org
Hotel Paseo
Palm Desert; hotelpaseo.com
Things to Do
ATTRACTION
Boomers!
Cathedral City; boomerspalmsprings.com
Palm Springs Aerial Tramway
Palm Springs; pstramway.com
Children’s Discovery Museum of the Desert
Rancho Mirage; cdmod.org
Mary Pickford Theatre
Cathedral City; dplaceentertainment.com
Cabot’s Pueblo Museum
Desert Hot Springs; cabotsmuseum.org
The Living Desert
Zoo and Gardens
Palm Desert; livingdesert.org
Indian Wells
Tennis Garden
Indian Wells; iwtg.net
La Quinta Arts Festival
La Quinta; lqaf.com
Augustine Casino
Coachella; augustinecasino.com
CASINO
Fantasy Springs Resort Casino
Indio; fantasyspringsresort.com
Agua Caliente Casino Palm Springs
Palm Springs; sparesortcasino.com
Agua Caliente
Resort Casino Spa Rancho Mirage
Rancho Mirage; hotwatercasino.com
Augustine Casino
Coachella; augustinecasino.com
EVENT
Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival
Indio; coachella.com
La Quinta Arts Festival
La Quinta; lqaf.com
Mariachi Festival
Coachella; augustinecasino.com
Modernism Week
Palm Springs; modernismweek.com
Cathedral City Hot Air Balloon Festival
Cathedral City; hotairballoonfest.com
Cannabis Independence Day
Desert Hot Springs; deserthotspringsinn.com
Fashion Week El Paseo
Palm Desert; fashionweekelpaseo.com
BNP Paribas Open
Indian Wells; bnpparibasopen.com
Indian Wells Arts Festival
Indian Wells; indianwellsartsfestival.com
Ramblin’ N Gamblin’ Rodeo
Rancho Mirage; bbbsdesert.org
Indian Canyons, Palm Springs
HIKING TRAIL
Indian Canyons
Palm Springs; indian-canyons.com
Bump and Grind Trail
Palm Desert; desertmountains.org
La Quinta City Cove Trails
La Quinta; playinlaquinta.com
LIVE THEATER
Coachella Valley Repertory
Cathedral City; cvrep.org
Palm Canyon Theatre
Palm Springs; palmcanyontheatre.org
McCallum Theatre
Palm Desert; mccallumtheatre.com
Desert Theatreworks
Indio; dtworks.org
MUSEUM
Coachella Valley History Museum
Indio; cvhm.org
Palm Springs Art Museum
Palm Springs; psmuseum.org
Children’s Discovery Museum of the Desert
Rancho Mirage; cdmod.org
Cabot’s Pueblo Museum
Desert Hot Springs; cabotsmuseum.org
Palm Springs Art Museum in Palm Desert
Palm Desert; psmuseum.org
La Quinta Museum
La Quinta; playinlaquinta.com/arts-culture/la-quinta-museum
PUBLIC GOLF COURSE
Cimarron Golf Resort
Cathedral City; cimarrongolf.com
Indian Wells Golf Resort
Indian Wells; indianwellsgolfresort.com
Indian Canyons Golf Resort
Palm Springs; indiancanyonsgolf.com
Omni Rancho Las Palmas Resort & Spa
Rancho Mirage; omnihotels.com
Mission Lakes Country Club
Desert Hot Springs; missionlakescountryclub.com
Desert Willow
Palm Desert; desertwillow.com
SilverRock
La Quinta; silverrock.org
Big Rock Golf Course at Indian Springs
Indio; indianspringsgc.com