The best kept secret about Palm Springs? It’s a haven for foodies! From a wide range of international cuisine to restauranteurs committed to the sustainable food movement, Palm Springs has something–something sophisticated–for every taste. Breakfast, lunch, or dinner, if you’re on the hunt for the hottest food in the desert, you’re sure to find it in Palm Springs. Here are Family Fun Canada’s top picks on where to find:
3 Square Meals in Palm Springs
Power Breakfast – Chi Chi at the Avalon Hotel & Bungalows (415 S Belardo Road)
You don’t need to be a guest to enjoy an unforgettable culinary experience at the Avalon Hotel! Chi Chi, the hotel’s restaurant headed by Chef Tara Lazar, artfully blends Latin-American soul with California chic to create unique, healthy, and universally pleasing dishes. Chi Chi is the perfect place to begin your day in the desert! Kick-start your morning with one of their signature wellness beverages like the ‘Glowing Shot’ packed full of the California goodness of oranges, ginger, cayenne, and carrot! Follow it up with an avocado toast that will blow your mind and your taste buds or choose a hearty and healthy Morning Bowl of kale, vegetables, and quinoa topped with a poached egg! Whatever your choice, Chi Chi promises the freshest local ingredients, prepared and plated to perfection–delicious, nutritious, and maybe just a little salacious!
Lazy Lunch – Rio Azul Mexican Bar & Grill (333 East Canyon Drive)
If you’re looking to have a long lazy lunch in the desert, there’s no place better than Rio Azul! Cozy up in this colourful gem or dine in the warmth of the sun on the patio, and enjoy the picante family recipes of Chef Ernesto. Start with cooling bowl of fresh-made guacamole and choose the perfect dish to heat up your taste buds. From the fan favourite Chiles Guerritos (stuffed peppers) to light and tasty salads to classic carne creations like burritos and enchiladas, Rio Azul has something for everyone. Top it all off with one of Ernesto’s dynamic Mexico-inspired margarita’s, and everyone’s a winner! Stop in at the “Best Mexican Restaurant” in Palm Springs (voted so by the readers of Palm Springs Life) for a fiesta of a feed your taste buds won’t soon forget!
Divine Dinner – Johannes Restaurant (196 S. Indian Canyon Drive)
Modern European-Asian cuisine that packs a flavourful punch! Johannes Restaurant, centrally located in downtown Palm Springs, is a haven for foodies looking for masterfully prepared global eats with a definitive Austrian flair! Chef Johannes Bacher, veteran chef of 18 years (who once cooked for Frank Sinatra!), pays a tasty homage to his roots with the restaurant’s fan-favourite ‘Wiener Schnitzel,’ hailed by Mimi Sheraton’s book “1000 Foods to Eat Before You Die.” But at Johannes, it ain’t your grandmother’s schnitzel! Dripping with sophisticated sauces like the lemon caper and impeccably presented alongside house-made sides, diners will leave Johannes Restaurant satisfied and eager to return time and again. Adventurous diners may have trouble choosing between the schnitzel and eclectic Asian dishes like the Malayan Meatballs or Kobe Beef. Whatever your choice, enjoy the hearty delights of Johannes with a colourful martini made from fresh ingredients or order smaller portions from the bar menu and save room for Apple Strudel!
Insider Tip: Indulge at Johannes Restaurant Thursday night before heading over to Village Fest, Palm Springs diverse shopping, art, and entertainment market, on Palm Canyon Drive.
Wishing sunshine, fun, and 3 sophisticated square meals a day during your stay in Palm Springs!
With thanks to Palm Springs Tourism! For more information about Palm Springs, visit www.visitpalmsprings.com