Celebrating four decades downtown this year, the Delgado family’s Las Casuelas Terraza has long drawn foot traffic on Palm Canyon Drive, luring locals and visitors alike with authentic Mexican fare, more types of tequila than you can count (we stopped at 100), and a vibrant atmosphere that spills into the street in the form of friendly conversation, laughter, and live music. The aroma of sizzling fresh fajitas also whets the appetite at first whiff. Housed in a historic Palm Springs casita, complete with a palapa bar and three alfresco dining patios, the restaurant’s recipes originated in the 1920s when Florencio Delgado’s mother, Maria Farjardo, served delicious suppers she prepared in earthenware pots and pans to copper miners who came to her kitchen door in pre-Depression Arizona. Florencio, along with his wife, Mary, brought these 100-year-old recipes to Palm Springs when they opened the original Las Casuelas 60-some years ago. Modernizing their matriarch’s classics with Mexican-American and Mazatlán-inspired flavors, the savory tamales, enchiladas, and tacos — among several other dishes — have warmed the hearts and tummies of loyal patrons ever since. So, what does one do with 100 types of tequila, you might wonder? On the extensive menu, you’ll also find almost 20 varieties of margaritas, signature cocktails, and tequila flights with three offerings. Don’t miss out on the 27-ounce Dosarita: With a generous pour of tequila, it’s the perfect accompaniment to a night of dancing to everybody’s favorite classic-rock hits.   Photography by Kaminsky Productions

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 awardwinning 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

Melvyns Restaurant In the Ingleside Inn This glamorous eatery and bar embrace Palm Springs’ Hollywood history with an elegant atmosphere that nods to the golden age of film. Dine like a midcentury move star with epicurean standards such as filet mignon, escargot, and shrimp scampi, or settle in the Casablanca Lounge to enjoy the nightly live music and expertly poured cocktails that landed the locale on Esquire’s 2019 list of the Best Bars in America. Dress to impress, order a dirty martini, and keep an eye out for famous faces — Melvyn’s is a popular destination for the modern-day cinema elite.  

Morgan’s is older than La Quinta Resort & Club itself — if you go by its name, that is. The elegant fine-dining establishment was the property’s first, opening in the late 1920s when the resort was still La Quinta Hotel. That was around the time Bay Area businessman Walter H. Morgan bought the land from the Cahuilla Indians and created a desert retreat for his Hollywood friends. In those days, a rustic communal table sat amid luxury casitas, attracting the likes of Joan Crawford, Greta Garbo, and company. Morgan’s remains on the A-list for modernday celebrities, but the guest list extends far beyond the jet and Hollywood sets. Many are drawn to the restaurant’s historic charm coupled with cutting-edge cuisine and mixology. You’ll still find comforts from the past, like the fireplace, piano music, and cowboy mural that’s been here since 1926, while the epicurean experience has evolved to include seasonal ingredients, with special attention paid to local flavors. The menu is ever diversifying, but with offerings deeply rooted in California cuisine, you can always enjoy fresh market salads, savory small plates, prime steaks, and chargrilled seafood, plus an extensive list of wine varietals to perfectly complement every meal. Outside, a walkway trellised by hot-pink bougainvillea plumes spills into the homey yet upscale dining salon and lounge, with live entertainment many nights. The front patio is ideal for watching the sun give way to a smoldering sky, while the outdoor firepit is as cozy in the night as the Cinnamon-Smoked Old Fashioned — one of many signature cocktails at Morgan’s.   Photography courtesy La Quinta Resort & Club

Celebrating 20 years of bringing a taste of Europe to downtown Palm Springs, Pomme Frite provides an intimate, romantic ambiance for special nights out. The quaint setting evokes a continental café, with its street-side patio on bustling Palm Canyon Drive and the dulcet sounds of French music playing softly in the background. The greatest praise, owner-entrepreneur Jean-Claude Constant says, is when patrons tell him it feels like they’re in Paris or Brussels. “Because of the atmosphere, people feel they are transported to Europe for an evening,” he says. “That’s the best compliment I can get. And I get it frequently.” (Palm Springs Life readers voted Pomme Frite Best of the Best French Restaurant in 2013, 2014, 2018, and 2019.) Popular appetizers include the oven-baked French Onion Soup with “beaucoup” Gruyère cheese, imported escargots, and baked French brie. Steak lovers can choose from several cuts, complemented by brandy-green peppercorn sauce, bearnaise, bordelaise, or blue cheese cream. The signature Flemish-style carbonnade of beef simmers in Belgian beer and is served with pommes frites. Prefer the catch of the day? Opt for salmon, rainbow trout, filet of sole, grilled tiger shrimp and sea scallops, or the California bouillabaisse. Steamed Mediterranean black mussels — a house special — are prepared 12 different ways. Pomme Frite is open seven nights a week from 4:30 to 10:30 p.m. and 11 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. From January until May, it’s open for lunch from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays.  

Take a bite of our Poblano Relleno, stuffed with cheese, tomato, and garlic, topped with our homemade ranchera and poblano salsa and you’ll see why it’s far from humble. Chef Ernesto Gastelum is inspired by his family recipes that are handcrafted with the best ingredients and served fresh and flavorful in a vibrant space. Let the food speak for itself. Gastelum’s extraordinary dishes will have you returning time and time again for the best of Mexico in the Heart of Palm Springs.

Ristorante Mamma Gina proudly serves the Palm Springs area with our very own taste of Italy. Founded in 1986, Ristorante Mamma Gina brought over its Italian heritage from our family restaurant in Florence to serve the residents and visitors of the Coachella Valley. We pride ourselves upon authentic traditional Italian cuisine, exceptional service, and a relaxed yet elegant atmosphere sure to enhance your experience. Ristorante Mamma Gina is the perfect spot for your next date night or special family occasion. Known for the “Best All-Day Happy Hour” in our Enoteca Bar; a local favorite in a vibrant and friendly atmosphere offering an extensive bar menu. Voted yearly as the “Best of the Best Italian Restaurant” in Palm Desert. … “At the table, one never grows old,” an old Italian proverb.   TRY THIS: The Gnocchi Gorgonzola features soft pillows of goodness prepared with homemade Gorgonzola sauce.  

Celebrate the end of a long day with Ruth’s Chris’ Sizzle, Swizzle, Swirl happy hour. Enjoy the relaxed, casual elegance of the bar Sunday through Friday from 4 to 6 p.m. with $9 full-size appetizers, handcrafted cocktails made with premium spirits, and select wines and beers. Consider starting with a taste of Louisiana in the form of crab beignets or spicy shrimp. Or indulge in the popular steak sandwich — generous slices of tenderloin finished with housemade béarnaise and served on a fresh-baked roll with hand-cut seasoned fries. Whether it’s a classic Ruth’s Manhattan, the refreshing Gin Basil Smash, or the Pomegranate Martini finished with a sugared rim, you’re sure to find something on the happy hour menu with which to cheers. And, if you’re craving something more, the restaurant’s Seasonal Classics menu, starting at $46.95, features three mouthwatering courses, including a starter, entrée with side, and a dessert. Savor some of founder Ruth’s favorites alongside new and exciting dishes. Each course is chef-curated and inspired by the season’s brightest ingredients and flavors. Available in the dining room and the bar, the menu is the perfect way to start the night.