AC3 is the brainchild of Palm Springs restaurateurs Tony Marchese, owner of Trio Restaurant, and Chef Andrew Copley and Juliana Copley, the couple behind Copley’s on Palm Canyon. It’s one of the most talked-about additions to the dining scene, earning honors such as Best New Restaurant from The Desert Sun, the 2019 Diners’ Choice Award from OpenTable, and the 2019 Certificate of Excellence from TripAdvisor. “AC3 has its own style and energy,” Marchese says. “We wanted it to be modern and comfortable,” he adds about the airy space that features a large island bar, openwork space dividers, bright colors, and patio tables for alfresco dining. Chef Andrew Copley brings to the table his skills as menu creator. AC3 offers breakfast, weekend brunch, lunch, happy hours, and dinner with “New American” cuisine highlighting California twists and local produce. Chef’s Hash, Braised Short Rib, Poached Eggs, Potatoes, Sweet Peppers, Cotija, and Avocado makes for a great morning, while Lobster Cobb salad is a favorite for lunch. For dinner, try the Mediterranean Salmon — it melts in your mouth. One should not overlook the “+ Bar” in AC3’s full name. A mixologist concocts such mind-soothing drinks as Blood Orange Margatini with Espolòn tequila reposado, Patrón Citrónge, and blood orange Pellegrino. Craft-beer lovers will find an IPA from San Diego, Belgian-style brews, and more, plus a curated wine list. AC3 is where Palm Desert eats, drinks, and meets. Photography by Jaime Kowal.

Take a ride down Palm Canyon Drive morning, noon, or night and you’ll spot an energetic crowd spilling out of Lulu California Bistro’s bilevel dining room, dramatic circular bar, and colorful outdoor patio. It’s been that way since legendary valley restaurateurs Jerry Keller and his late wife Barbara first opened the vibrant eatery in 2011. “There’s always a party at Lulu,” Jerry says. In 2017, the Kellers brought their party back to Rancho Mirage, where they had operated the popular Acqua Pazza restaurant for years. “Our customers asked us to come back,” he shares, “and we have.” Both venues feature large special-event spaces, including Acqua’s stunning River Room — a private dining room that can accommodate up to 150 people for a seated dinner, with sliding glass doors boasting mountain views and overlooking The River’s dramatic water feature. Lulu and Acqua offer guests expansive breakfast, lunch, and dinner menus of award-winning California cuisine, including steak, seafood, pizzas, paninis, and American Kobe burgers, along with decadent housemade desserts. The restaurants are also home to booming happy hours, available all hours in the bar, and three- and four-course prix fixe menus. The fun vibe, fabulous food, cool cocktails, and Instagrammable atmosphere have also made Lulu popular with bachelorette parties who’ve dubbed the spot #bachelorettecentral. Lulu and Acqua can take the party to you, thanks to Lulu Catering & Events, which has catered some of the biggest affairs in the valley, including annual galas for the Palm Springs Air Museum and the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians’ Dinner in the Canyons. Photography by Jaime Kowal

Known for authentic Oaxacan cuisine and its colorful motif, the Adobe Grill appeals to an array of tastes with three different dining experiences. A dining area by the kitchen (complete with a cozy fireplace) offers a lively ambiance where you can watch chefs craft everything from fresh tortillas to tantalizing shared plates. A front patio serves up the ultimate al fresco experience, inviting you to relax with a libation while the sun paints the sky as it dips behind the mountain. From the top of the plaza, margaritas flow and the sound of music spills into the air from Adobe’s bar extension, where guests gather to have a good time and listen to live entertainment. Mexico’s Oaxaca region is known for seafood, so you’ll find more of that here than at your traditional Sonoranstyle restaurant. The pork tamales are so tasty they’ve won awards and can be served alongside the equally delicious chicken enchilada and chile relleno. A thoughtful curation of 100-plus types of tequila can be made into a dozen signature margaritas or bespoke cocktails. The locals’ favorite is The Cadillac, created with freshly squeezed juice and served in a grand glass. Savory brunches make Adobe a winner for a weekend out with friends, whether you’re just rolling out of your villa or winding down after a day at the pool.   Photography courtesy La Quinta Resort & Club

Ready for sexy, fun, over-the-top entertainment and award-winning cuisine? The very best of San Francisco has come to the Coachella Valley. Open in fall 2019 in the long-shuttered Hacienda location on South Palm Canyon Drive, AsiaSF Palm Springs is the premier hospitality, restaurant, cabaret, dinner theater, nightclub, event, and pool space in Greater Palm Springs. AsiaSF in San Francisco has been wowing audiences from around the world for 21 years and was voted one of the 100 Hottest Restaurants in the U.S. by OpenTable. AsiaSF Palm Springs features several indoor spaces with a full bar and dinner, plus an extensive outdoor event space known as “The Sonoran.” Its dinner and brunch performances showcase the talents of the world-famous Ladies of AsiaSF: transgender women who entertain, serve, and delight guests with their graciousness and top-rated live cabaret performances, which include singing, dancing, and lipsynching. In addition to its lively entertainment, AsiaSF Palm Springs offers the perfect night out to celebrate birthdays, anniversaries, bachelorette parties, local events, and more, while its cuttingedge and innovative Cal-Asian cuisine, created by awardwinning executive chef Jen Solomon, brings a completely new food concept to the desert. One of the missions of AsiaSF Palm Springs is to create a trans positive environment that educates and raises awareness about living your truth and being your authentic self, while at the same time providing guests with a “time of your life” experience. Book your reservation now at asiasf.com or call 760-249-2766.  

Since taking the reins at Babe’s Bar-B-Que & Brewhouse in 2018, Lucky Callender has accomplished a lot, from refreshing the space to updating the menu and expanding the beer business. “It’s really been organic growth” says Callender, whose late father Don Callender, the restaurateur behind the iconic Marie Callender’s chain, opened Babe’s in 2002. “We’re growing as a brewery. People are loving the new label artwork, and we have more beers in the pipeline, but the food is still deeply part of it. We’re just as recognized for our food as our beer.” Callender points out that many of the classic dishes the restaurant is famous for remain, such as its pulled pork sandwich, 20-hour brisket, and wood-smoked St. Louis and baby back ribs. “Our rubs, our tamales, our pies. They’re all old family recipes that haven’t changed one bit. They’re a family legacy.” Many of the innovative menu additions have become fast favorites, including tacos stuffed with smoked brisket or crispy pork belly, small plates of Southernfried okra, lobster mac and cheese, and five different styles of chicken wings. Callender has also brought on a new brewer who’s helping the brewery produce more of its awardwinning beers like the Blackfin Lager and Honey Blonde Ale, now available at retailers around the Coachella Valley with new varieties on the horizon. Something else on the horizon: an underwraps project that will give Babe’s a presence outside of Rancho Mirage. Callender says it’s being created, in part, with input from the customers he chats with daily. “What’s really awesome about the restaurant business is it’s like you’re having a large house party every night where you get to talk to all your guests,” he shares. “I’ve been doing a lot of listening and it’s so cool to hear all the feedback and what people love about Babe’s.”  

With its sun-kissed Mediterranean ambiance, sumptuous cuisine, and breathtaking view of the Classic Club golf course and Little San Bernardino Mountains in the distance, Bellatrix has achieved acclaim as a dining and specialevents destination. Executive chef Gerard Brunett and his team focus the menu on dishes that showcase local ingredients and vibrant flavors. Hailing from Michigan, Brunett began his career in mom-and-pop eateries and later cut his teeth working at top hotels, including Hyatt Hotels & Resorts in Los Angeles and Pebble Beach Resorts. Recognized as one of the best resort chefs, he also has prepared plates at the prestigious James Beard House in Manhattan. His modern culinary perspective brings the bounty of Coachella Valley farmlands — think sweet corn, multicolored peppers, lettuces, carrots, citrus, melons, and artichokes — to diners’ tables for lunch, happy hour, and dinner. A sommelier-curated cellar of 500-plus wine bottles includes premium labels from around the world along with plenty of awardwinning and boutique West Coast vintners. Wines are displayed in a lighted glass vault that adjoins the dining room and lounge. Meanwhile, bartenders pour a variety of craft cocktails, including a housemixed sangria, and maintain a selection of local, domestic, and international microbrews. Post-golf, head to the bar for a plate of spring rolls, a half-pound Bellatrix Cheddar Cheese Burger and fries, or a French Dip with Braised Short Rib Roast piled high on a toasted baguette with Natural Au Jus and fries. Come dinnertime, crave-worthy options include a blackened Chilean Sea Bass with tri-colored quinoa, puréed avocado, and a blueberry macedoine. (Decadent vegetarian and gluten-free options are available as well.)   Photography by Jaime Kowal

If your holiday prerogative calls for a leisurely afternoon among friends over a bottle of French wine, a pot of steamed mussels, and a basket of fresh-baked bread to sop up all the sauce, you need not travel to the City of Lights to find it. Harkening back to the bustling bistros of Paris past, Café des Beaux-Arts cultivates an experience that is decidedly transportive. The indoor-outdoor restaurant sits at the heart of Palm Desert’s buzzy shopping boulevard, El Paseo, offering prime alfresco seating and peoplewatching. Inside, wood paneling, antiqued mirrors, and crimson booths are illuminated by the soft glow of glass pendant lamps. Owners Didier and Christina Bloch have infused the space with touches of retro French décor and playful artwork — the paintings are Christina’s handiwork, while the quirky sculptural objets d’art are all crafted by Didier. New partner Emmanuel Bulteau adds his expertise as a lifelong restaurateur. Paris-born “Manu” moved to the desert from Florence, Italy, two decades ago, charming and welcoming patrons on El Paseo’s restaurant scene before joining Café des Beaux-Arts. You’ll find locals gathered around the circular central bar, unwinding after a round of golf or a workday. Daily happy hour includes drink specials and a vast small-bites menu, with live jazz Wednesdays nights during season. The menu focuses on French fare, breakfast until dessert — from stuffed crepes and duckling à l’orange to artisan cheese plates and profiteroles. One bite and your taste buds will be singing, “Oh là là!”   Photography by Jaime Kowal

When St. Louis–born brothers Michael and John Castelli moved to the desert three decades ago, they took a chance on a modest eatery on Highway 111 where they planned to share their favorite Old World Italian family recipes with guests. Over the years, they’ve done much more than that. Castelli’s Ristorante has become an institution, a now 200-seat gathering spot catering to both longtime locals and visitors. “Guests feel like part of the family when they come here,” says Michael Castelli, adding that evening entertainer Patrick Tuzzolino serenades from the piano with jazz standards or original compositions nightly. “People say it reminds you of a place in New York or Chicago. It just has that old-school feel.” And then there’s the food. Some dishes — like the famous fettuccine Alfredo and osso bucco — have remained on the menu since the early days, but newer additions have become just as popular. They include the classic cioppino seafood stew, the 22-ounce charbroiled bone-in rib-eye with Gorgonzola, and the sherry-glazed, caramelized apple pork chops that began as a special. Castelli’s can also customize your meal to perfezione, even accommodating gluten-free and vegan requests. It’s one of the reasons Zagat rated Castelli’s among America’s top 1,000 Italian restaurants, and Palm Springs Life readers voted it Best of the Best in Palm Desert. While the restaurant has gotten its share of celebrity customers over the years, everyone who comes through the door has become part of the Castelli’s story. “This restaurant really has changed lives in terms of memories, proposals, and anniversaries,” Castelli shares. “My brother and I really get a kick out of it.”   Photography by Kaminsky Productions