I put this list together for guests at The Sundune, my 2-bedroom walkable condo in Palm Springs. These are the spots I'd actually tell a friend to go. A few of them are walking distance from the property, which is a bigger deal than it sounds when you factor in $30 Ubers home at midnight.
This is not a sponsored list. Nobody paid me to include them. I just drink here enough to have opinions.
<img src="/blog/images/ps-boulevard-palms-mountains.webp" alt="Palm Canyon Drive in Palm Springs lined with palm trees and backed by San Jacinto mountains at dusk" width="1400" height="933" loading="lazy">
The main drag. Most of this list is within a few blocks of here.
La Perlita Mexican Food
901 Crossley Rd, Palm Springs | 760-778-8014
The best margaritas in Palm Springs are not at a hotel bar or a trendy strip spot. They're at La Perlita, a Mexican restaurant on Crossley that doesn't need to try hard because it's already good. I've had margaritas all over this valley and these are the benchmark I measure everything else against.
Outdoor seating when the weather cooperates, which in Palm Springs is most of the year except the weeks that make you question your real estate decisions. Go before sunset if you can get a table outside.
<img src="/blog/images/ps-street-bougainvillea.webp" alt="Bougainvillea-covered wall along a Palm Springs street near downtown restaurants and bars" width="1400" height="933" loading="lazy">
Palm Springs evenings hit differently. This is the general vibe at the right time of year.
Las Palmas Brewing
461 N Palm Canyon Dr, Palm Springs | 760-992-5082 | laspalmasbrewing.com
Family-owned brewery on North Palm Canyon. Tuesday specials are worth knowing about if you're here midweek. The beer is solid desert-climate stuff: lighter ales, session IPAs, a rotating selection that doesn't take itself too seriously.
The thing that catches people off guard is the tacos. They are better than they need to be at a brewery. I don't fully understand it, but I stopped questioning it. Order them.
This one is walkable from The Sundune, which solves the getting-home problem before it starts. If you're staying on Tahquitz Canyon Way or nearby, you're looking at maybe a 12-minute walk each direction.
<img src="/blog/images/ps-palm-street-blue-sky.webp" alt="North Palm Canyon Drive in Palm Springs under a clear blue sky with mountains and palm trees" width="1400" height="933" loading="lazy">
North Palm Canyon, where Las Palmas Brewing sits. The walk back at night is actually pleasant.
The Nest
75188 CA-111, Indian Wells | 760-346-2314 | gotothenest.com
This one requires a car. Indian Wells is about 20 minutes from Palm Springs, and The Nest is the kind of place that needs no explanation once you've been there and needs a lot of explanation before you go.
Live music. Dancing. Drinks. A full restaurant. A crowd that skews older than your average rooftop bar, which is actually a feature. The energy is high but not performative. People are there to actually have fun, not to be seen having fun.
I usually tell guests: go once, tell me what you think. Everyone comes back with a story. It's become a bit of a dare in my welcome guide. The place has been there forever and shows no signs of apologizing for it.
<img src="/blog/images/ps-desert-moonrise.webp" alt="Desert moonrise over the Coachella Valley near Palm Springs with clear dark skies" width="1400" height="933" loading="lazy">
The valley at night. The Nest is worth the drive out.
For the Morning After
Two coffee spots worth knowing for recovery purposes:
Cartel Roasting Co. (1551 N Palm Canyon Dr) is my regular. It's also walkable from The Sundune. The coffee is serious without being annoying about it. Good space to sit and reassemble yourself before the day.
Koffi (650 E Tahquitz Canyon Way) is the backup and honestly a strong backup. Outdoor patio, nice neighborhood location, and they have a banana walnut muffin that has saved me on more than one slow morning. The full Palm Springs coffee guide covers both in more detail if you want the whole picture.
Worth Mentioning: Sherman's Deli and Bakery
401 E Tahquitz Canyon Way
Sherman's goes late, which earns it a spot on a bar guide even though it's technically a deli. If you need something to eat after The Nest at 11pm or want a low-key nightcap somewhere that doesn't require making any decisions, Sherman's is the answer. Old Palm Springs institution. The pastrami is real.
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Classic Palm Springs. The whole neighborhood around Tahquitz Canyon Way has this energy at night.
The Walkability Factor
If you're staying at The Sundune, I want to be specific about what's actually walkable versus what requires a car.
Walkable without thinking about it: Cartel Roasting Co., Koffi, Las Palmas Brewing. These are all within 15 minutes on foot from the property. Sherman's is in that range too.
Requires a car or rideshare: The Nest (Indian Wells, 20 minutes). La Perlita is doable on foot depending on your tolerance for a 20-minute walk, but I usually drive or get a ride and figure out getting home from there.
Palm Springs is more walkable than people expect coming from LA. It rewards walking the way beach towns do: you find things you weren't looking for, the air is good, and you don't need to negotiate a parking situation.
What I Skip
I'm not going to list every bar on Palm Canyon with a patio and a $22 cocktail. There are a lot of them and they're all roughly fine. The spots above have something specific going for them: La Perlita has the margaritas. Las Palmas Brewing has the tacos and the walk-ability. The Nest has the vibe you can't manufacture. Sherman's goes late.
For more on what to eat while you're here, the Palm Springs restaurants guide covers lunch and dinner across the valley with the same approach: places I'd actually recommend to someone I like.
Quick Reference
| Spot | Location | Walkable from Sundune | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| La Perlita | 901 Crossley Rd | 15-20 min walk | Best margaritas in PS |
| Las Palmas Brewing | 461 N Palm Canyon Dr | Yes, ~12 min | Craft beer + tacos |
| The Nest | Indian Wells, CA-111 | No (20 min drive) | Live music, dancing |
| Cartel Roasting Co. | 1551 N Palm Canyon Dr | Yes, ~10 min | Morning anchor |
| Koffi | 650 E Tahquitz Canyon Way | Yes, ~8 min | Coffee + banana walnut muffin |
| Sherman's Deli | 401 E Tahquitz Canyon Way | Yes, ~10 min | Late night, nightcap vibe |
Palm Springs nightlife is easy to overthink. A few of these spots will carry your whole trip. Pick one for the first night, figure out the rest as you go.