Best Restaurants in Downtown Palm Springs & Uptown
Every pick within walking distance of Palm Canyon Drive
PalmSpots Editors · Published Sep 10, 2026 · Updated Oct 20, 2026
Plan your meals around the part of Palm Springs where you are staying. The downtown core and Uptown Design District both offer dining choices, but they are not interchangeable when you are walking.
| Restaurant | Location | Planning note |
|---|---|---|
| FARM | 6 La Plaza, downtown | Breakfast/lunch walk-in; dinner reservations |
| Las Casuelas Terraza | 222 S Palm Canyon, downtown | Choose patio setting; check service days |
| Cheeky's | 622 N Palm Canyon, Uptown | Walk-in breakfast and lunch |
| Birba | Uptown Design District | Select Palm Springs location |
| Workshop Kitchen + Bar | 800 N Palm Canyon, Uptown | Check dinner availability |
| Sandfish | 1556 N Palm Canyon, farther north | Map transport from your hotel |
Downtown core: courtyard dining and Mexican food
FARM at 6 La Plaza is a courtyard option for a meal near the central shopping district. Breakfast and lunch are walk-in only; dinner reservations are separate. For an occasion meal, compare the romantic restaurants guide.
Las Casuelas Terraza at 222 South Palm Canyon offers Mexican food and different patio settings. Ask which patio suits your group if you prefer conversation to the music area. Check its current service days before planning a midweek visit.
Uptown: breakfast or an evening reservation
Cheeky's at 622 North Palm Canyon serves breakfast and lunch with a changing menu. Regular service does not take reservations; large groups should use its separate inquiry process. Allow flexibility for seating instead of scheduling a timed activity immediately afterward.
Birba is the Uptown Italian option for a patio-focused evening. Select the Palm Springs location when checking menus or booking; the business also has a Cabazon location.
Workshop Kitchen + Bar at 800 North Palm Canyon is another Uptown dinner choice. Compare its current menu and booking availability with Birba before choosing your evening.
Sandfish is farther north
Sandfish is at 1556 North Palm Canyon. It is a separate destination north of the central downtown dining cluster, not steps from Arenas Road. Map the journey from your actual hotel and arrange transport if the distance, weather or return trip makes walking impractical.
For options across the city, use the full restaurant guide. A restaurant being in Palm Springs does not make it part of a compact downtown walking route.
Build a meal plan around your hotel
Choose one area per outing: downtown for a meal around La Plaza, or Uptown for breakfast and browsing followed by a later dinner reservation. See downtown hotels and Palm Springs without a car before booking your base.
Walking times depend on your starting point, crossings and mobility needs. Check the route and forecast rather than relying on a single estimate for the entire district. For outdoor seating, compare the patio restaurants guide.
Reservations and late dinners
Check the restaurant's own booking page for your date, party size and seating preference. Opening hours do not necessarily tell you the last kitchen order time. For a late arrival, confirm that the kitchen will still serve you and use the late-night food guide to plan alternatives.
FAQ
- Which restaurants are in central downtown Palm Springs?
- FARM at La Plaza and Las Casuelas Terraza on South Palm Canyon are central choices. Cheeky's, Birba and Workshop are in the Uptown dining area.
- Can I walk to all these restaurants?
- That depends on your hotel and walking needs. The guide separates the downtown core, Uptown and Sandfish farther north. Map each route before committing.
- Does FARM take brunch reservations?
- No. FARM lists breakfast and lunch as walk-in only; reservations are for dinner.
- Is Sandfish near Arenas Road?
- Sandfish is at 1556 North Palm Canyon, farther north than the downtown core. Plan the route separately.
PalmSpots is an independent local guide. We may earn a commission when you book through some links, at no additional cost to you.
In this guide
The restaurants
Cheeky's
Brunch · Uptown Design District · $$
Cheeky's is the Palm Springs breakfast institution — a small, bright storefront on North Palm Canyon with a menu that changes weekly and a bacon flight that has become a local rite of passage. Expect five rotating strips (maple, jalapeño, chipotle and whatever the kitchen is testing), farm-egg dishes, and a sharp seasonal approach that is unusual for a breakfast place. There are maybe a dozen tables inside plus a patio, no reservations, and a line that starts before opening on winter weekends. Prices are moderate for the quality; portions are generous without being diner-sized.
Farm
French · Downtown · $$
A French country courtyard tucked behind La Plaza — all-day breakfast under fig trees. Farm is a French spot in Downtown, Palm Springs. Prices sit in the mid range. Served here: breakfast, brunch, lunch. Hours: Thu-Mon 8am-2pm. There is a patio. Tiny courtyard, reservations essential.
Birba
Italian · Palm Springs · $$
Almost entirely outdoor - wood-fired pizzas, spritzes and fire pits under string lights in the Uptown Design District. One of the best warm-night tables in town.
Workshop Kitchen + Bar
New American · Uptown Design District · $$$
Workshop Kitchen + Bar occupies a 1920s building on North Palm Canyon that was converted into one of the most striking dining rooms in California: a soaring concrete nave lined with private booths, which won a James Beard design award. The food is modern American with a wood-fired backbone — chops, whole fish, vegetable dishes that get as much attention as the proteins — and the cocktail program is the most serious in Palm Springs. It is the valley's go-to special-occasion restaurant, and it stays busy: dinner reservations on winter weekends should be made a week or two out. Sunday brunch is quieter and just as good a way to see the room.
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