The short answer: for a date shake, go to Shield's Date Garden in Indio. For gelato, walk Palm Canyon Drive in Palm Springs to Gelato Granucci. For plant-based scoops and a late night, try Kreem, and for a big menu with a date shake on it, Lappert's. In Palm Desert, La Dolce Piccola on El Paseo covers gelato. In Indio, Handel's has a drive-thru that runs until 10pm.

It is 104 degrees at 4pm in October, the kids are fading, and somebody in the back seat has said "scoop" four times in a row. In the Coachella Valley, ice cream doubles as heat management, which is why the valley has so much of it.

Quick facts

  • Date shake: Shield's Date Garden in Indio is the classic. Lappert's in Palm Springs also lists date shakes.
  • Gelato: Gelato Granucci (Palm Springs) and La Dolce Piccola (Palm Desert).
  • Late night: Handel's in Indio, Kreem and Lappert's in Palm Springs, all open until 9 or 10pm.
  • Plant-based: Kreem in Palm Springs, plus vegan gelato at Granucci.
  • Always: check current hours, since small shops shift their schedules by season.

Date Shake in Indio and the Valley's Signature Drink

If you only get one frozen treat on a Coachella Valley trip, make it a date shake. The valley grows most of the country's Medjool dates, and the drink has been called the unofficial drink of the Coachella Valley, according to the date shake entry on Wikipedia, which cites Saveur and Condé Nast Traveler.

Shield's Date Garden in Indio California, where the classic Coachella Valley date shake is sold

Shield's Date Garden on Highway 111 in Indio, a date shake stop for roughly a century.

Shield's Date Garden opened in Indio in 1924. By Wikipedia's account, it introduced a date crystal method in 1936: dried date particles sweetened with date sugar, mixed with water into a paste, then blended with ice cream and milk. Check the Shield's website for current store and cafe hours, because the cafe has posted seasonal closures.

Indio is also where most visitors to Coachella and Stagecoach end up, and date shakes are a popular tradition around the festival. Terra Luz and The Cozy Cactus are walking distance to Empire Polo Club and a short drive from the date farms. Our guide to date farms near Indio covers the farm stops, tastings and what else to buy besides a shake.

Where the date shake came from

The origin story depends on who is telling it. Wikipedia credits a Russell Nicoll (spellings vary) with the shake, and says he built a roadside shack near Thermal, California, which later became a stand named Valerie Jean. It gives 1919 in one news source and 1928 in a Los Angeles Times account, so treat the exact year as unsettled. The same page says he was reportedly inspired by stories of nomads who lived on dates and goat's milk.

Black and white photograph of date palm rows in the Coachella Valley, California

Date palms in the Coachella Valley. Photo: Dorothea Lange, Farm Security Administration / Wikimedia Commons, public domain.

Date shake styles and what to order

Shakes differ by shop. Some blend date crystals into a smooth paste, others use chopped dates for a lumpier shake. A medium is plenty, since the sugar load is serious. The honest advice is to order one to share on the first try and go bigger on the second.

If you are driving to or from Los Angeles, Hadley Fruit Orchards sits at 47993 Morongo Trail in Cabazon. According to its website, it began in 1931 and keeps hours of 8am to 7pm on weekdays and 9am to 7pm on weekends.

Ice Cream in Indio Beyond the Date Shake

Handel's Homemade Ice Cream is at 42211 Jackson Street and, per its website, runs 11:30am to 10pm daily with walk-up windows and a drive-thru. The flavor list is long: Horchata, Taro, Salty Caramel Truffle, Key Lime Pie, plus a vegan Coffee Truffle made with oat milk and mango and strawberry sorbets.

For something different, Indio has several paleterias that sell paletas, fruit cups and Mexican-style ice cream, mostly along Jackson Street and Highway 111. Search a map for current hours, because these shops vary more than the chains do. For more of the local scene, our Indio local gems guide covers where to eat between the date farms.

Best Ice Cream in Palm Springs: Gelato, Plant-Based and Classic

Palm Canyon Drive is where the density is, and you can walk most of it in sandals.

Gelato display case with rows of flavors including pistachio, salted caramel, plum and dark chocolate

A gelato display case (photographed in New Zealand) shows the range to expect on Palm Canyon Drive. Photo: Daderot / Wikimedia Commons, CC0.

Gelato Granucci is at 301 N Palm Canyon Drive, Suite 104, run by Simonetta and Tom. According to the shop, the gelato is made fresh daily from scratch with no mixes, and the family business started with Simonetta's grandfather selling gelato in the Netherlands in the 1920s. The menu includes dairy and vegan gelato, gelato cannoli and gelato pops. The shop has posted a summer schedule that closes Monday through Wednesday, so check before you go.

Kreem at 170 E Palm Canyon Drive makes its ice cream by hand and posts daily menus on Instagram at @ilovekreem. It also pours coffee and has vegan options. Per its website, hours run 8am to 9pm Tuesday through Thursday, 8am to 10pm Friday and Saturday, and 11am to 9pm Monday.

Lappert's at 130 N Palm Canyon Drive is the big all-rounder, with scoops, sundaes, smoothies and date shakes. Its website lists 11am to 9pm Sunday through Wednesday and 11am to 10pm Thursday through Saturday.

Great Shakes at 160 S Palm Canyon Drive is a shake-focused shop. Check its menu and hours before you head over, since it is built around shakes rather than scoops.

If you are staying at The Sundune, downtown is a short drive, and a cone on Palm Canyon Drive after dinner is an easy way to end the night. For the morning side of the sweet tooth, see our Palm Springs pastry guide.

Planning a dessert crawl? The Sundune puts you in Palm Springs, close to Palm Canyon Drive. See The Sundune. If you would rather stay in Indio, Terra Luz and The Cozy Cactus are walking distance to Empire Polo Club and a short drive from the date farms.

Ice Cream in Palm Desert and El Paseo

Palm Desert leans polished, and its frozen treats follow.

El Paseo shopping street in Palm Desert California with palm trees and storefronts

El Paseo in Palm Desert, where gelato and frozen custard are a short walk from the shops.

La Dolce Piccola Gelateria is at 73255 El Paseo, Suite 20, a family-run gelato shop. Hours differ between its listings, so check its website or Instagram before you plan a late stroll.

Perfect Pint sells frozen custard from a vintage Airstream at The Gardens on El Paseo. It sells pints, so plan to take it back to the rental. Confirm hours on its website.

Lappert's also has a Sun City shop at 78206 Varner Road, Suite G, open 11am to 9pm Sunday through Thursday and 11am to 10pm Friday and Saturday per its website. Our Palm Desert restaurant guide has dinner stops to pair with it.

Shave Ice in the Coachella Valley

Shave ice is thin on the ground here, so set expectations. Lappert's has offered Hawaiian shave ice at its Palm Springs shop, so ask at the counter before you count on it. When it is not available, a fruit sorbet from a gelato shop does a similar job on a hot afternoon.

Shave ice cup with bright syrup flavors at a stand

Shave ice, shown here at a Florida stand. Photo: The Bushranger / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.

How to Pick the Right Ice Cream Stop

Different trips need different stops. Here is how the options sort out.

Three ice cream cones with colorful scoops and sprinkles

A classic cone, the baseline every stop on this list is competing with. Photo: AlphaLemur / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.

Kids, Heat and Dogs: Practical Tips

Heat changes the game. In summer, plan outdoor ice cream runs before 11am or after 5pm, and expect a cone to melt within minutes in direct sun, so order a cup if the kids are small. Drive-thrus and walk-up windows keep everyone shaded, and our Palm Springs with kids guide has more ideas for family days.

Dogs and ice cream do not mix well in 100-degree weather, and shop patio policies change, so confirm before you bring one. Hot pavement can burn paws, so carry water and see our desert dog summer guide. Never leave a dog, a child or a melting treat in a parked car.

FAQ

Where can I get a date shake in Indio?

Shield's Date Garden on Highway 111 is the best-known stop. Check its website for current store and cafe hours. Lappert's on North Palm Canyon Drive in Palm Springs also lists date shakes.

What is the best gelato in Palm Springs?

Gelato Granucci at 301 N Palm Canyon Drive makes dairy and vegan gelato fresh in the shop with no mixes. Its summer schedule closes some weekdays, so check its website.

Which ice cream shops in the Coachella Valley stay open late?

Per their websites, Handel's in Indio runs until 10pm daily, Kreem until 10pm Friday and Saturday, and Lappert's in Palm Springs until 10pm Thursday through Saturday. Confirm before you go.

Is there shave ice in Palm Springs or Palm Desert?

Shave ice is rare in the valley. Lappert's has offered Hawaiian shave ice at its Palm Springs shop, so ask at the counter.

Which ice cream stops work best with kids and in the heat?

Drive-thrus and walk-up windows keep kids shaded. Go before 11am or after 5pm in summer, and never leave children or melting treats in a parked car.