Restaurants

The Coachella Valley is rife with stellar eateries, from greasy spoons to foodie havens to trendy hotspots, dishing up comfort food to gourmet cuisine and everything in between. Click below for my favorites, broken down by meal and arranged by city along with a dollar rating.

Breakfast/Brunch
Lunch
Dinner
Fine DIning

Delis

There’s nothing I love more than a good sandwich. As such, I’ve taste-tested pretty much every deli in the Coachella Valley and compiled a list of the very best. As with my restaurant picks, I’ve arranged my selections by city, stretching from Palm Springs to La Quinta, and have also included a dollar rating for each.

Coffee

As a self-proclaimed coffee connoisseur, I adore whiling away lazy Saturdays at the many fabulous cafés that dot the Coachella Valley landscape. From Koffi to Ristretto to D’Coffee Bouteaque, I’ve pretty much partaken of them all—and you are the beneficiary of that excessive sampling!

Cocktails

In the desert and hoping to imbibe? I’ve got you covered, with all my go-to places for cocktails and happy hour detailed below. But be forewarned—I am not much of a “bar” girl, per se, preferring instead a quieter, more upscale spot to grab a glass of bubbly or two. This list reflects that. Cheers!

Hotels

There is no shortage of stellar lodgings in the desert. As a big staycation-er, I’ve amassed many favorites. Save for a few spots, this list is compiled of lodgings where I have actually checked in and, as always, is organized by city and includes a star rating for each. I’ve kept my picks to high-end and/or unique venues offering a specialized experience. For more standard bookings, I’d suggest the Renaissance Palm Springs, Hilton Palm Springs, Embassy Suites by Hilton Palm Desert, and Embassy Suites La Quinta Hotel & Spa—all spots I’ve stayed at and thoroughly enjoyed.

Shopping

The Coachella Valley is a sublime spot to engage in some retail therapy, with countless establishments geared toward giving your credit cards a workout! I’ve accumulated a list of more than 20 favorites, where you can pick up everything from clothing to gifts to cards to artwork and more.

Sweets

Sadly, I am diabetic and don’t partake much when it comes to sugary treats. But not to worry, as I employed some highly discerning taste-testers to sample sweets across the desert for this section, which is chock full of the valley’s best ice cream shops, candy stores, and dessert offerings.

Date Shakes

The Coachella Valley has become synonymous with date shakes—blended confections consisting of milk, ice cream, and dates, the area’s signature fruit. While the sweet drinks are available in copious locations across the desert, these are my picks for the best offerings to be found.

Attractions

You will never want for things to do in this fabulous desert oasis known as the Coachella Valley! From unique exhibits to gorgeous gardens to abandoned wonderlands, there is always something to see, do, and experience.

Architecture

Palm Springs is an architectural mecca—primarily for fans of the midcentury modernism style! From private residences to churches to public spaces, the region is home to some truly remarkable structures. The list below is just a tiny smattering of the valley’s most architecturally notable sites.

Movie Star Homes

Palm Springs became a playground for the stars in Hollywood’s golden era. Far enough away from the prying eyes of the news media, yet close enough to L.A. to adhere to the studios’ two-hour rule, the Coachella Valley proved the perfect spot for celebrities to get away from it all. Lucky for us stargazers, many of their former homes remain standing today.

Filming Locations

Thanks to its gorgeous desert vistas, spectacular architecture, and proximity to Los Angeles, the Coachella Valley has hosted its fair share of film shoots. A handful of the area’s most famous big and small screen locations are chronicled here.