Each year, Palm Springs Life asks readers to vote for their favorite restaurants, shops, attractions, and experiences throughout Greater Palm Springs in our annual “Best of the Best” competition. This year’s competition featured 24 categories, and the voting period was April 1–30, 2022.
To ensure the greatest variety of responses, our “Best of the Best” categories are somewhat broad. Inspired by the competition, our editors and contributors developed a supplementary “best of” list that digs a little deeper, with more specific categories like “Best Place to Swim Laps in Mineral Water” and “Best Use of Honey on a Pizza.” To view our editors’ picks, click here.
Look out for next year’s competition — and vote for your favorites — in April 2023.
Without further ado, congratulations to the 2022 “Best of the Best” winners!
PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY SUNNYLANDS CENTER AND GARDENS
Sunnylands Center and Gardens in Rancho Mirage.
Best Attraction
- Palm Springs: Palm Springs Aerial Tramway
- Cathedral City: Museum of Ancient Wonders
- Rancho Mirage: Sunnylands Center & Gardens
- Palm Desert: The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens
- Indian Wells: Indian Wells Tennis Garden
- Indio: Coachella Valley History Museum
- La Quinta: Old Town La Quinta
- Coachella: Augustine Casino
- Desert Hot Springs: Cabot’s Pueblo Museum
Best Outdoor Dining
- Palm Springs: Spencer’s Restaurant
- Cathedral City: Trilussa Ristorante
- Rancho Mirage: Las Casuelas Nuevas
- Palm Desert: Stuft Pizza Bar & Grill
- Indian Wells: The Pink Cabana at Sands Hotel & Spa
- Indio: Tack Room Tavern
- La Quinta: Stuft Pizza Bar & Grill
- Desert Hot Springs: Delicias Mexican Cuisine
Best California Fusion
- Palm Springs: Lulu California Bistro
- Palm Desert: Sweet Basil
- Indian Wells: The Pink Cabana at Sands Hotel & Spa
- La Quinta: RD RNNR
- Coachella: Café 54 at Augustine Casino
Best Resort
- Palm Springs: Parker Palm Springs
- Cathedral City: CCBC Resort Hotel
- Rancho Mirage: The Ritz-Carlton Rancho Mirage
- Palm Desert: JW Marriott Desert Springs Resort & Spa
- Indian Wells: Miramonte Indian Wells Resort & Spa
- Indio: Fantasy Springs Resort Casino
- La Quinta: La Quinta Resort & Club
- Desert Hot Springs: Two Bunch Palms
Best Italian
- Palm Springs: Johnny Costa’s
- Cathedral City: Trilussa Ristorante
- Rancho Mirage: Norma’s Italian Kitchen
- Palm Desert: Castelli’s Ristorante
- La Quinta: Enzo’s Bistro and Bar
Best Fine Dining
- Palm Springs: Spencer’s Restaurant
- Cathedral City: Salt Flats
- Rancho Mirage: Wally’s Desert Turtle
- Palm Desert: Jillian’s
- Indian Wells: Vicky’s of Santa Fe
- Indio: Bistro at Fantasy Springs Resort Casino
- La Quinta: Lavender Bistro
A Modernism Week tour stop: The historic Miles C. Bates “Wave” House in Palm Desert.
Best Tour
- Palm Springs: Modernism Week
- Rancho Mirage: Sunnylands Center & Gardens
- Palm Desert: Desert Adventures Red Jeep Tours
- Indian Wells: Modernism Week
- Indio: Desert Adventures Red Jeep Tours
- Coachella: Temalpakh Farm
- Desert Hot Springs: Cabot’s Pueblo Museum
Best Hotel
- Palm Springs: Kimpton Rowan Palm Springs
- Rancho Mirage: The Ritz-Carlton Rancho Mirage
- Palm Desert: Hotel Paseo
- Indian Wells: Sands Hotel & Spa
- Indio: Hampton Inn
- La Quinta: La Quinta Resort & Club
- Desert Hot Springs: Desert Hot Springs Inn
Best Public Golf Course
- Palm Springs: Indian Canyons Golf Resort
- Cathedral City: Cimarrón Golf Resort
- Rancho Mirage: The Westin Rancho Mirage Golf Resort & Spa
- Palm Desert: Desert Willow Golf Resort
- Indian Wells: Indian Wells Golf Resort
- La Quinta: SilverRock Resort
Best Steakhouse
- Palm Springs: Mr. Lyons Steakhouse
- Rancho Mirage: The Steakhouse at Agua Caliente Resort Casino Spa Rancho Mirage
- Palm Desert: Mastro’s Steakhouse
- Indio: Tack Room Tavern
- La Quinta: LG’s Prime Steakhouse
- Coachella: Café 54 at Augustine Casino
Best Vintage Fashion
- Palm Springs: Iconic Atomic
- Cathedral City: Revivals
- Rancho Mirage: Dazzles
- Palm Desert: The Fine Art of Design
- La Quinta: Angel View
Best Decor / Furniture
- Palm Springs: H3K Home+Design
- Cathedral City: Revivals
- Rancho Mirage: Rancho Relaxo
- Palm Desert: Dragonette Ltd.
- Indio: Mathis Brothers Furniture
- La Quinta: Encore Consign & Design
PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY RANCHO RELAXO
Rancho Relaxo in Rancho Mirage.
Best Gifts / Souvenirs
- Palm Springs: Destination PSP
- Rancho Mirage: Rancho Relaxo
- Palm Desert: Between the Sheets
- Indio: Shields Date Garden
- La Quinta: Lulu’s La Quinta // La Quinta Olive Oil Company (TIE)
Best Shareable Plates
- Palm Springs: The Tropicale
- Cathedral City: Bubba’s Bones & Brews
- Rancho Mirage: P.F. Chang's and Yard House
- Palm Desert: Stuft Pizza Bar & Grill
- Indian Wells: Cava at Renaissance Esmeralda Resort & Spa
- La Quinta: RD RNNR
- Coachella: Café 54 at Augustine Casino
Best Happy Hour
- Palm Springs: The Tropicale
- Cathedral City: The Roost Lounge
- Rancho Mirage: Water’s Café at Agua Caliente Resort Casino Spa Rancho Mirage
- Palm Desert: Stuft Pizza Bar & Grill
- La Quinta: Stuft Pizza Bar & Grill
- Coachella: Coachella Bar
- Desert Hot Springs: Las Palmas Mexican Cuisine
Best Modern Fashion
- Palm Springs: Trina Turk
- Rancho Mirage: Rancho Relaxo
- Palm Desert: Saks Fifth Avenue // Trina Turk (TIE)
- La Quinta: Elizabeth & Prince // Alexandrite Active & Golf Wear (TIE)
Best Farm-to-Table
- Palm Springs: Farm
- Cathedral City: Daniel’s Table
- Palm Desert: Wildest // Wilma & Frieda (TIE)
- Indian Wells: Citrus & Palm at Miramonte Indian Wells Resort & Spa
- Indio: Heirloom Craft Kitchen
- La Quinta: RD RNNR
- Coachella: Temalpakh Farm
Best Vegetarian / Vegan
- Palm Springs: Chef Tanya’s Kitchen
- Palm Desert: Chef Tanya’s Kitchen
- Indian Wells: Citrus & Palm at Miramonte Indian Wells Resort & Spa
- Indio: Heirloom Craft Kitchen
- La Quinta: RD RNNR // Café California (TIE)
- Desert Hot Springs: Azure Palm Café at Azure Palm Hot Springs Resort & Day Spa Oasis
Las Casuelas Terraza in Palm Springs.
Best Mexican
- Palm Springs: Las Casuelas Terraza
- Cathedral City: La Tabilita
- Rancho Mirage: Las Casuelas Nuevas
- Palm Desert: Fresh Agave
- Indian Wells: Don Diego’s of Indian Wells
- Indio: El Mexicali Café
- La Quinta: Café Mendoza
- Coachella: Café 54 at Augustine Casino
Best Bar
- Palm Springs: Blackbook Palm Springs
- Cathedral City: The Roost Lounge
- Rancho Mirage: Yard House
- Palm Desert: Stuft Pizza Bar & Grill
- Indian Wells: The Nest
- Indio: Tack Room Tavern
- La Quinta: RD RNNR
- Coachella: Ayily Bar at Augustine Casino
Best Brunch
- Palm Springs: Spencer’s Restaurant
- Cathedral City: Don & Sweet Sue’s
- Rancho Mirage: Si Bon
- Palm Desert: Wilma & Frieda
- Indio: Shields Date Garden
- La Quinta: Louise’s Pantry // Café California (TIE)
- Coachella: Café 54 at Augustine Casino
Best Pizza
- Palm Springs: Bill’s Pizza
- Cathedral City: Upper Crust Pizza
- Rancho Mirage: Pieology
- Palm Desert: Stuft Pizza Bar & Grill
- La Quinta: Stuft Pizza Bar & Grill
- Coachella: Café 54 at Augustine Casino
- Desert Hot Springs: Pizza Hut
Best Coffeehouse
- Palm Springs: Koffi
- Cathedral City: Starbucks
- Rancho Mirage: Koffi
- Palm Desert: Starbucks
- Indian Wells: IW Coffee
- La Quinta: Main Street Coffee
- Indio: Sixth Street Coffee
Best Burger
- Palm Springs: Tyler’s Burgers
- Cathedral City: Tony’s Burgers
- Rancho Mirage: In-N-Out Burger
- Palm Desert: Grill-A-Burger
- Indian Wells: Eureka!
- Indio: In-N-Out Burger
- La Quinta: RD RNNR
- Coachella: The Burger Spot