Under the soft glow of chandeliers, tucked behind manicured hedges at 200 W Ramon Road in downtown Palm Springs, the sound of clinking martini glasses still mingles with the notes of a live piano. For half a century, Melvyn’s Restaurant & Lounge has been where the desert’s timeless glamour meets impeccable dining. This year marks 50 years since Mel Haber opened Melvyn’s and revived the historic Ingleside Inn, now the Ingleside Estate, giving Palm Springs a restaurant steeped in Hollywood charm and old-world elegance that still feels alive today.
How It All Began: Mel Haber and the Ingleside Revival
When Mel Haber arrived in Palm Springs in 1975, he discovered a neglected estate on the edge of downtown—the Ingleside Inn, a Spanish Colonial Revival retreat dating back to 1922. Originally built as a private estate for the Birge family of the Pierce-Arrow Motor Car Company, it had once been an exclusive hideaway for the elite under Ruth Hardy’s ownership. After Hardy’s death, the property sat in disrepair.
Haber was a Brooklyn-born entrepreneur who manufactured hula dolls and other dashboard statues, as well as tiger tails to hang from the automobile's gas tank. With an eye for opportunity, he bought the inn for $300,000 and began restoring it to its former grandeur. Alongside it, he envisioned a restaurant that would capture the sophistication and spirit of a bygone era.
When Melvyn’s opened in 1975, the reservations flooded in as everyone who was anyone wanted to see what this slick New Yorker had done with this historic property. It immediately became the place to see and be seen in Palm Springs. With tuxedoed servers, tableside presentations, and the swirl of champagne and conversation, the restaurant transported guests to a world where dinner was theatre.
The Man Behind the Legend
Mel Haber was more than a restaurateur; he was a showman. Known for his charm, wit, and meticulous hospitality, he greeted guests personally, made sure every martini was perfectly chilled, and turned his restaurant into an experience that felt both luxurious and welcoming.
It started a bit rough when he chased Steve McQueen and Ali McGraw away on opening night because they arrived on a motorcycle, improperly dressed, and he didn't recognize them.
Debbie Reynolds, a regular, took over the entire restaurant for her 50th birthday. And while I didn't take over the restaurant, I also celebrated my 50th birthday at Melvyn's.
Over the years, Haber became as much of a Palm Springs icon as the celebrities who dined with him. He wrote books about his adventures, supported local causes, and helped solidify Palm Springs’ image as a playground for the famous and fabulous. When he passed away in 2016, the city lost one of its great characters, but his presence is still felt in every detail at Melvyn’s.
Sinatra’s Table and Other Legendary Guests
It didn’t take long for word of Melvyn’s to reach Hollywood. The restaurant’s old-school glamour and discreet atmosphere drew stars looking for an escape from Los Angeles.
Frank Sinatra became one of its most loyal patrons, making Table 13 his own. He famously held his rehearsal dinner there in 1976 before marrying Barbara Marx. Haber loved telling the story of how Sinatra asked what kind of caviar they served—“black or gray?”—and Mel took a lucky guess with “black.” He was right, and the friendship was sealed.
Sinatra wasn’t the only star to leave his mark. The guest list over the decades reads like a who’s who of entertainment history: Elizabeth Taylor, Liza Minnelli, Lucille Ball, Debbie Reynolds, John Travolta, Goldie Hawn, Kurt Russell, and David Hasselhoff, among many others. Salvador Dali, Spencer Tracy, and Dinah Shore were regular guests. There were nights when Rolls-Royces lined the driveway and laughter echoed through the garden patio.
Inside, the décor shimmered with mirrors, dark wood, and candlelight, a glamorous stage for Palm Springs’ elite nightly performance. The menu’s tableside classics—Steak Diane, Cherries Jubilee, Bananas Foster—became signature rituals, as tuxedoed waiters lit flambés that dazzled guests and reminded them why they came here: for a taste of showmanship.
Fifty Years of Dining and Desert History
Reaching 50 years is no small feat in the restaurant world. Amid changing dining trends and decades of evolution in Palm Springs, Melvyn’s has remained constant, an anchor of tradition and hospitality.
Part of its magic lies in its setting. The Ingleside Estate still exudes the charm of its 1920s architecture, with lush courtyards, arched corridors, and intimate dining rooms that feel untouched by time. Even as Palm Springs has evolved into a hub of modern design and festival culture, Melvyn’s stands as a reminder of the city’s golden age. In this place, you can still imagine Sinatra’s laugh echoing across the lounge.
The 50th Anniversary Celebration, taking place this fall, honors not only five decades of fine dining but also the enduring spirit of Mel Haber himself. Guests can still order the same tableside classics, sip signature cocktails, and enjoy live music, just as generations before them have.
Melvyn’s Today: Where the Past and Present Meet
While the tuxedos and piano bar evoke another era, Melvyn’s has never been a museum piece. Under the stewardship of the Ingleside Estate, the restaurant continues to thrive, blending classic sophistication with contemporary Palm Springs flair.
The kitchen, now led by an innovative culinary team, balances tradition and freshness, updating beloved dishes while honoring the recipes that built Melvyn’s legend. And yet, what truly makes Melvyn’s timeless is its atmosphere: the way the lights dim just so, the soft murmur of conversation, the way guests dress up a little extra because it feels right. It’s the rare place where nostalgia feels alive, not frozen, but still breathing, still elegant, still fun.
Why the Legend Endures
Melvyn’s endures because it represents more than just a restaurant. It’s a piece of Palm Springs history —a living connection to the city’s glamorous past —and a celebration of hospitality that never goes out of style.
To dine at Melvyn’s today is to share a moment with everyone who came before: the stars, the dreamers, and the visitors who came seeking that special Palm Springs magic. The same doors that opened for Frank Sinatra still open for guests today, welcoming you with warmth, charm, and a little wink of mischief, just as Mel would have wanted.
As Palm Springs continues to reinvent itself, Melvyn’s remains its elegant heartbeat, a reminder that while fashions change and skylines shift, the art of hospitality endures. Fifty years on, Mel Haber’s vision still shines as brightly as ever.
Melvyn’s Restaurant & Lounge
Located at the Ingleside Estate
200 W Ramon Road
Frank Sinatra Twin Palms Estate