My Guide to Palm Springs – Cocktails

Palm Springs has long been a playground of the show business elite, largely because back in the days of Old Hollywood, the studios required their stars to always be within a two-hour drive from Los Angeles.  The desert – picturesque, secluded and a scant 100 miles from Lalaland – therefore became the obvious go-to spot for celebrities to get away.  Private and void of paparazzi, the area also became a venue for the rich and famous to cut loose, far away from the watchful eye of the press.  So, of course, the city has never been short on places to imbibe.  Read on for a list of my favorites.

1. Adobe Grill (49499 Eisenhower Drive, La Quinta) – It is not so much about the quality of cocktails at this joint, but the picturesque surroundings and stellar views.  Situated on the second floor of the La Quinta Resort & Club’s main plaza,  Adobe Grill boasts a killer elevated patio overlooking a huge meandering fountain, the vibrant red roofs of the neighboring adobe buildings, grassy expanses, and the Santa Rosa Mountains.  Strung with twinkle lights and dotted with small tables and outdoor couches, you won’t find a prettier place in all of the desert to enjoy an aperitif or two al fresco, especially during Palm Springs’ more temperate months.

2. The Nest (75188 CA-111, Indian Wells) – This spot is a trip in all the best ways!  The Grim Cheaper and I started coming here about twenty years ago when it was the place in the desert for retirees to cut a rug.  Dressed to the nines and sporting pretty amazing moves, 55+ locals (with a heck of a lot more stamina than me!) ruled the establishment’s dance floor till the wee hours of the morning.  As such, The Nest offered the best people-watching in the area!  As word has gotten out about the place, the clientele has grown to include much younger out-of-towners who not only want to observe the reverie but participate in it as well.  Though much different than it was back in the day thanks to the new semi-club-like atmosphere, The Nest remains a guaranteed good time!  And it’s still the premier people-watching spot in Palm Springs!  Bonus – the food here is excellent, so if you do hit this place up, I suggest grabbing dinner in the main dining room before moving over to the bar area for cocktails and dancing.  You pretty much won’t ever find The Nest not at capacity, so reservations are recommended.

3. Tropicale Restaurant & Coral Seas Lounge (330 East Amado Road, Palm Springs) – Though this place opened in 2008, it feels authentically old-timey.  Decked out in bright pinks and greens with a decidedly tropical feel, Tropicale is easily the prettiest of all the lounges on this list.  With an indoor/outdoor bar, an expansive 2,000-square-foot patio, high-backed banquettes, and a truly retro look, this is the spot to come if you are seeking a true Palm Springs experience.  Bonus – it’s also great for dinner!

4. High Bar (100 West Tahquitz Canyon Way, Palm Springs) – Palm Springs’ only rooftop bar!  As such, the views can’t be beat.  Situated around the Kimpton Rowan Hotel’s sparkling pool, lined with glass walls, adorned with huge golden barrel cacti and dotted with vibrant fuchsia and orange chaises, you’ll be hard-pressed to decide what’s prettier – the mountain vistas or High Bar itself.  Even during one of the desert’s uh-ma-zing pink sunsets, it’s pretty much a toss-up.  Romantic, gorgeous and intimate, you won’t regret grabbing a cocktail here.

5. Copley’s Restaurant (621 North Palm Canyon Drive, Palm Springs; seasonal) – Craving some Hollywood history with your drink, you say?  Well, then run, don’t walk, to Copley’s Restaurant!  During the 1940s and ‘50s, the picturesque eatery was owned by none other than Cary Grant, who utilized it as an off-site guest house for famous friends visiting him in the desert.  Tinseltown connection notwithstanding, Copley’s (named for head chef/owner Andrew Manion Copley) is one of the desert’s most fabulous spots!  Featuring a huge central courtyard (with a fire pit and plenty of casual seating for those wanting to imbibe), a shaded patio, an intimate bar, and a myriad of tucked-away corners, Copley’s is romantic, picturesque and oh-so unique.  And while I’ve never dined there, I’ve heard it serves up a mean meal!

6. Melvyn’s Restaurant & Lounge (200 West Ramon Road, Palm Springs) – This place is similar in vein to The Nest as far as being a hot spot for desert denizens to show off their ballroom skills, but Melvyn’s is much classier and more low-key.  Nevertheless, the people-watching is top-notch, as is the musical accompaniment.  There’s nothing more fun than being a fly on the wall, drink in hand, listening to the live tinkling of the ivories and observing local retirees living their best life.  Melvyn’s also boasts quite the Hollywood history.  Opened by Mel Haber in 1975, it was a favorite watering hole of such luminaries as Liza Minelli, Joey Bishop, Elizabeth Taylor, and the Rat Pack.  Frank Sinatra loved the place so much he held the rehearsal dinner for his wedding to Barbara there and was even known to occasionally offer his voice as accompaniment to the piano that still sits on the premises today.  If Melvyn’s walls could only talk!

7. La Quinta Cliffhouse (18250 CA-111, La Quinta) – One of the most popular happy hours in the desert – so much so that if you want to partake, you pretty much have to get to the bar right at 4 p.m. when it opens (if not earlier!).  Built right up against the edge of a mountain, La Quinta Cliffhouse provides stellar views, killer drinks, and a fantastic atmosphere no matter what time you go, though.  With a massive two-story waterfall, two large patios, and copious windows showcasing the surrounding vistas, you can’t go wrong with cocktails (or a meal – I’m partial to the grilled shrimp) at this place.

8. Ristorante Mamma Gina (73705 El Paseo, Palm Desert) – Another favorite, hard-to-get-into happy hour spot, the offerings at Mamma Gina are extensive (you can check out the HH menu here)!  Though jammed from about 5 to 10 p.m. every single night during the season, happy hour is offered all day so you can pop in at any time and enjoy a $15 filet (grilled to perfection and served with a homemade mushroom sauce) and a $6 martini (poured just the way Don Draper would have wanted).  Established in 1986 by Piero Pierattoni (who also gave us Piero PizzaVino, which I wrote about in My Guide to Palm Springs – Restaurants), the food served is authentically Italian and incredibly delicious – so good, all of the selections are worth it even at non-happy-hour prices.

9. Jackalope Ranch (80400 CA-111, Indio) – Easily the largest lounge on this list, Jackalope Ranch boasts a 21,000-square-foot main restaurant and 6.5 acres of land!  As its website notes, “There is quite a bit to relish here – on and off the menu.”  I’ve never actually eaten on the premises (though I’ve heard the fare is solid), but I have grabbed a cocktail and can say the ambiance is lush, divine, and sprawling.  Wandering the manicured grounds, champagne in hand, makes for quite the unique cocktail experience.  Whether you sit at the main bar, on the lawn under the shade of one of the eatery’s many trees, or next to the onsite pond, I can pretty much guarantee the surroundings will be extraordinary.

10. Vue Grille & Bar (44500 Indian Wells Lane, Indian Wells) – The name really says it all – it’s about the view at this place, though the drinks and food offerings are stellar, too.  Overlooking the gorgeous Indian Wells Golf Resort, Vue Grille & Bar is, simply put, stunning!  Locals also love the brunch here (complete with a make-your-own Aperol Spritz station!) and the Shots in the Night golf experience, but for me, there’s nothing better than cozying up at one of the patio tables with a crisp glass of bubbly and watching the sunset.

11. Lulu California Bistro (200 South Palm Canyon Drive, Palm Springs) – All-day happy hour with a bustling, colorful front patio and the best mushroom soup in town – what more could you possibly need?  Most locals agree.  As such, Lulu California Bistro is always packed.  A true Palm Springs staple, the service is friendly, the ambiance cheerful and both the food and drinks solid.  Sister restaurant Acqua California Bistro at The River in Rancho Mirage (which was also started by Piero Pierattoni and shares the same menu as Lulu) is just as good and boasts fabulous views of the shopping center’s large pond.

12. Stuft Pizza Bar & Grill (78015 Main Street #100, La Quinta) – Yet another beloved, hard-to-get-into happy hour, but, trust me, it’s worth the wait.  With an extensive selection (there are over 40 food offerings!) and $4 glasses of wine, you cannot go wrong with a visit to Stuft!  I always opt for the crab cakes and a glass of champagne (natch!) and walk away full and perfectly buzzed.  The pizzas here are also incredible (and yes, they are available on the happy hour menu).  Stuft boasts a sister restaurant located in the Westfield Palm Desert mall, as well, but I prefer the La Quinta outpost with its fabulous side patio and mountain views.

Be sure to check back Friday for my last post in this series, My Guide to Palm Springs – See/Do/Shop.  And don’t forget to read my previous guides about the desert’s best hotels, restaurants, coffee houses and places to see/things to do. As always, for more stalking fun, you can follow me on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Los Angeles magazine and Discover Los Angeles.