The Palm Springs Dining Renaissance Is Here

How the Coachella Valley is changing the way it eats

For casual Angelenos with a bit of expendable income, Palm Springs can be a very alluring place. There are hip weekend options like The Ace Hotel and the Colony Palms to stay at, plus endless vintage thrift shops and cool, quirky experiences to enjoy. But by and large the Coachella Valley food scene could still do with a little upgrading beyond the handful of truly worthwhile spots in the area. Luckily, help has been coming for a while.

Relative newcomers like the sleek new wine bar Dead or Alive (backed in part by LA wine maestro Matthew Kaner) are changing the way locals and longtime travelers view a night out, with co-owner Christine Soto turning up with some seriously intriguing stuff. Across the street is Seymour’s, an easygoing cocktail bar tucked into the back of longstanding steakhouse Mr. Lyons that plays heavily to the local crowd.

Then there are the dining stalwarts that have served the community for a few years now, whether that’s brunch spot Cheeky’s, King’s Highway at the Ace, or the Mediterranean-leaning SOPA. Even La Copine, located up in the high desert near Pioneer Town, has been raising eyebrows from newcomers for a while now. Each in its own way has been changing hearts and minds about the dining options in greater Palm Springs, but there are still plenty of newcomers on the horizon.

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Among them is Truss & Twine, a second option from the Workshop Kitchen & Bar folks. Situated on Palm Canyon Drive, the early 2017 arrival will do everything from uni deviled eggs to wagyu tartare, with a strong focus on drinks as well.

In short: It’s a good time to be dining in the Coachella Valley. Add in the manageable temperatures this time of year and the relatively low cost of a weekend away there, and you’ve got all the makings of a great escape that, for the first time in a while, doesn’t have to skimp on the dining and drinks.

Coffee talk for the Daily Bruin

UCLA’s paper of record highlights the coffee scene around Los Angeles, talking up a variety of great places to get a cup. They include the Blue Bottle on Beverly, Coffee Tomo in Sawtelle Japantown, and Barista Society inside Union Station in Downtown.

A day in the life

Ever wondered what it’s like to keep a high-volume place like Jon & Vinny’s afloat? Question no more, as My Domaine chats it up with Courtney Storer, chef de cuisine of Jon & Vinny’s. Her routine is anything but easy, as there are trips to the farmers market, lots of employee engagement and, yes, tons of cooking to be done in the average day.

Nushii does sushi burritos in Westwood

And here’s different kind of option for UCLA: Nushii, a modern sushi-ish option doing rice bowls, sushi burritos, and other filling fare. As Toddrickallen notes, the place lands on busy Broxton Avenue, and is now open.

Some tasty shopping options

Need to get some holiday shopping done, but don’t want to absolutely lose it over an empty stomach and some long lines? Fill up in style at some awesome shopping-adjacent options, says LA Weekly, including Din Tai Fung at the Americana and all of the incredible offerings at the Westfield Santa Anita.

Another location for La Chuperia

Lincoln Heights sandwich and craft beer spot La Chuperia is expanding, landing another location in nearby City Terrace. Nothing is confirmed just yet, but soon enough there will be yet another great place to drink and dine in the emerging area, where Dough Box already reigns supreme.