Dine inside estates, department stores, supper clubs, and architectural landmarks
Palm Springs is a city where architecture is part of everyday life. Modernist homes line quiet streets, historic inns still welcome guests, and midcentury commercial buildings continue to shape downtown. In many cities, great architecture is something you simply admire from the sidewalk. In Palm Springs, you can often sit down inside it for lunch, dinner, or cocktails.
From glamorous celebrity hideaways to restored department stores and revived roadside classics, these Palm Springs restaurants offer more than a memorable meal—they place diners inside the city’s layered history. If you love design, preservation, and places with a story to tell, this is one of the most rewarding ways to experience Palm Springs.
Reforma
Dining Inside a Midcentury Department Store Landmark
One of downtown Palm Springs’ most recognizable modern buildings now houses one of its most stylish restaurants. Reforma occupies the former J.W. Robinson’s department store, built in 1958 and designed by noted architects William Pereira and Charles Luckman.
The sleek lines, bold geometry, and prominent downtown presence reflect the optimism of late-1950s Palm Springs, when national retailers saw the city as a rising luxury destination. Today, the building has been reimagined as a contemporary restaurant and lounge, blending new energy with preserved midcentury character.
The menu:
Leans into elevated Mexican cuisine with a strong point of view—think short rib birria, grilled octopus, and enchiladas layered with complex sauces rather than the expected red-and-green. The tequila and mezcal program is equally ambitious, making this as much a cocktail destination as a place for dinner reservations.
Melvyn’s at Ingleside Estate
Old Hollywood Glamour Lives On
Few places capture classic Palm Springs better than Melvyn’s, located at the historic Ingleside Estate. The property dates back to 1924, when it was built by Humphrey Birge. In 1940, Ruth Hardy, the first councilwoman and responsible for the palm trees on Palm Canyon Drive, purchased the property and decided to transform it into a luxury hotel. It became one of the city’s most exclusive hideaways during the Hollywood era. Guests included Ava Gardner, Rita Hayworth, Gary Cooper, Salvador Dali, Howard Hughes, Lucille Ball, and many more.
Over the decades, Ingleside welcomed celebrities, industry figures, and social elites seeking privacy in the desert. Melvyn’s later became one of Palm Springs’ legendary supper clubs, associated with names like Frank Sinatra and the Rat Pack era.
The menu:
Stays true to that legacy—classic continental cuisine executed with confidence. Tableside Caesar salad, prime rib, Dover sole, and perfectly timed martinis set the tone. The Casablanca lounge often blends into live piano or jazz, making it as much an experience as a meal. Make a Reservation
Ingleside Inn under construction, 1924, Courtesy Palm Springs Historical Society
Copley’s on Palm Canyon
A Celebrity Estate Reimagined
Copley’s, named after chef-owner Andrew Copley, occupies the 1940's former guesthouse on the historic estate once associated with Cary Grant, one of Hollywood’s most enduring leading men.
Rather than demolish the past, the estate evolved into one of the city’s most romantic dining destinations. Outdoor garden seating, mountain views, and elegant surroundings make it one of Palm Springs’ most atmospheric restaurant settings.
The Menu:
Chef-driven and seasonal, the menu leans refined but approachable—duck breast, rack of lamb, seafood with bright citrus notes, and beautifully plated vegetarian options. It’s the kind of place where the setting draws you in, but the food is why you come back. Make a Reservation
Workshop Kitchen + Bar
A James Beard-Winning Reinvention
Workshop Kitchen + Bar occupies part of the historic El Paseo building, one of downtown Palm Springs’ earliest upscale commercial developments, dating between 1926 and 1927. Designed in a Spanish Colonial style, El Paseo helped establish Palm Springs as a refined village destination long before the postwar boom. It housed the El Paseo Pharmacy, Market, and Beauty Salon.
The restaurant’s dramatic adaptive reuse transformed the historic shell into an industrial-modern interior that later earned a James Beard Award for design. The contrast between old-world exterior architecture and contemporary interior minimalism makes it one of the city’s most compelling design experiences.
The Menu:
The menu is hyper-seasonal and ingredient-driven—wood-fired vegetables, handmade pastas, dry-aged meats, and carefully composed plates that shift with what’s available. It’s one of the most design-forward dining experiences in Palm Springs, both on the plate and in the room. Make a Reservation
Mr. Lyons Steakhouse
A Palm Springs Classic Reborn
Originally opened in 1945 as Lyons English Grille and led by David Lyons, Mr. Lyons has roots in Palm Springs’ prewar resort years. In an era before the city’s full Hollywood explosion, it was already becoming a sophisticated winter destination for affluent travelers.
The restaurant has since been reimagined as Mr. Lyons, preserving the classic steakhouse spirit while updating it for modern Palm Springs. Rich interiors, moody lighting, and a sense of old-school indulgence make it one of the city’s most stylish dinner reservations.
The Menu:
The menu is steakhouse at its core—prime cuts, oysters, classic sides—but with thoughtful updates like house-made sauces, seasonal starters, and a strong cocktail program. It’s polished, but not stuffy. Make a Reservation
👉 Best Steakhouses in Palm Springs
King’s Highway
Roadside Americana at the Ace Hotel
King’s Highway, which was originally a Denny's, is located inside the former 1966 Westward Ho Hotel, a classic midcentury roadside lodging property that reflects the rise of automobile tourism in Palm Springs. When built, the Denny's was considered the finest in the chain. As Southern California car culture expanded, Palm Springs became an easy desert getaway for Los Angeles travelers, and it was a time when motels and motor lodges flourished.
Today, the property lives on as the Ace Hotel & Swim Club, with King’s Highway celebrating retro Americana through a playful modern lens.
The menu:
The menu is comfort-food driven with elevated diner classics: breakfast plates, burgers, salads, sandwiches, shakes, and late-night favorites. Make a Reservation
Bootlegger Tiki
A Link to Palm Springs’ Tiki Era
Palm Springs embraced escapist fantasy culture in the midcentury years, and few trends captured that spirit like tiki. Bootlegger Tiki occupies the former home of Don the Beachcomber, a name closely associated with the rise of tiki culture in America. Miss Sunny Sunds opened it in 1953, originally married to Don, and hosted many celebrities. Barron Hilton, son of hotel magnate Conrad Hilton, purchased it in 1961.
During the 1950s and 1960s, tropical cocktails, Polynesian décor, and theatrical interiors became part of leisure culture across California. Palm Springs, with its resort atmosphere, was a natural fit.
The Menu:
The stars here are the drinks—rum-forward tiki classics, inventive tropical creations, and shareable punches—alongside small plates perfect for snacking between rounds.
👉 Best Tiki Lounges in Palm Springs
Le Vallauris
French Elegance in a Historic Residence
Located in the George Roberson House, built in 1927, he was the oldest son of Nellie Coffman, owner of the famed Desert Inn. He built and lived in this residence for 50 years. Because of the close proximity of the house to the hotel, the Robersons hosted parties for many celebrities, including Patti Page, Roy Rogers, Lucille Ball, Peggy Lee, Nat King Cole, and Mae West, among others.
Rather than grand scale, Le Vallauris represents another side of Palm Springs history: elegant residential architecture that has been adapted over time into boutique hospitality spaces. The result feels transportive—part European villa, part desert hideaway.
The menu:
The menu reflects classic French technique with continental flair: duck, filet, lobster, soufflés, rich sauces, and a formal old-world dining style that feels increasingly rare. Make a Reservation
👉 Best French Restaurants in Palm Springs
Trio
Uptown Energy in a Midcentury Corridor
The Turonnet Building (art gallery) was designed in 1953 by renowned architects John Porter Clark and Albert Frey. Albert was a founding father of the "Desert Modern" movement. It would later become the Coachella Valley Savings & Loan.
Trio helped energize the now-thriving Uptown Design District, an area lined with midcentury commercial buildings that once marked the northern edge of the downtown core. Its location reflects Palm Springs’ ongoing preservation story: older commercial corridors given new life through independent restaurants, boutiques, and design shops.
The menu:
The menu is approachable and expansive—comfort foods, steaks, seafood, pasta, brunch favorites, salads, and cocktails—with something for nearly every mood. Daily happy hour. Make a reservation
Tyler’s Burgers
Casual Dining in the Historic Village Core
Tyler’s Burgers sits near the historic La Plaza of downtown Palm Springs, where early commercial development shaped the walkable village atmosphere visitors still enjoy today. It was built by Julia Carnell in 1936, a philanthropist connected with the National Cash Register Company. It included 38 shops, 21 apartments, the Plaza Theatre, a 150-underground garage (the largest in Riverside County at the time), and a gas station.
The repurposed Mobile gas station represents another essential part of city history: locally loved casual spots that keep downtown active, social, and approachable. Sometimes the best way to experience a place is simply grabbing a burger where locals do.
The Menu:
This locally loved casual spot is all about straightforward satisfaction: juicy burgers, chicken sandwiches, fries, shakes, and laid-back patio energy.
Did you know? The Palm Springs Visitor Center is also a repurposed gas station.
Colony Club
Midcentury Cool Reimagined
The Colony Club channels Palm Springs’ longstanding love affair with stylish social spaces. While newer in concept, it draws inspiration from the city’s tradition of cocktail lounges, supper clubs, and polished desert nightlife.
The menu:
The menu blends California cuisine with classic influences—seafood, steaks, and seasonal dishes—offered in a setting that still echoes its glamorous past. Make a Reservation
Colonial House, 1930s, courtesy Palm Springs Historical Society
So-Cal Sunset
Dining with a Resort-Era View
This structure was built in 1934 by the California Water & Telephone Company as a business office and switching center. It was purchased by General Telephone in 1967 and served as a switching center until 1984.
The Menu:
The So-Cal Sunset menu reflects that same easygoing sophistication. Expect California-inspired dishes built around fresh, seasonal ingredients—grilled seafood, vibrant salads, shareable small plates, and approachable entrées that pair perfectly with a sunset cocktail. Make a Reservation
Why Palm Springs Does This Better Than Anywhere Else
Many cities have historic buildings. Palm Springs has historic buildings that people still actively use, enjoy, and reinvent. That living relationship with architecture is what makes the city special. Here, preservation is not frozen in time. It is social, flavorful, and fun.
The menus focus on easygoing resort dining: salads, seafood, steaks, cocktails, and sunset-friendly fare best enjoyed with outdoor patios and mountain views.
Plan Your Own Architecture Dining Tour
Pair meals with neighborhood exploration:
- Downtown: Reforma, Tyler’s, So-Cal Sunset, Colony Club
- Uptown Design District: Trio, Workshop Kitchen + Bar
- Historic Estates Area: Melvyn’s, Copley’s, La Vallauris
- Resort & Lifestyle Vibes: King’s Highway
- South Palm Springs: Mr. Lyons
- Cocktails & Character: Bootlegger Tiki
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