El Paseo shopping guide
How to spend an afternoon on Palm Desert's main street
PalmSpots Editors · Published Aug 31, 2026 · Updated Oct 11, 2026
El Paseo is a mile of galleries, boutiques and patio restaurants in Palm Desert — the valley's only proper shopping street, and best walked late in the day.
El Paseo runs about a mile through Palm Desert, parallel to Highway 111, and it is the closest thing the Coachella Valley has to a shopping street rather than a shopping centre. Galleries, independent boutiques, national labels and restaurant patios alternate along both sides, with public sculpture between them and the Santa Rosa mountains closing the view south.
How to walk it
Start at the Gardens on El Paseo, the open-air centre roughly in the middle, where the parking is free and structured. From there, walk east for the galleries and independents, west for the larger labels. The whole street takes about two hours at browsing pace. Sidewalks are wide and shaded in stretches, but there is no getting around the heat — from May to September, do not start before 5pm.
What is actually here
The strength of El Paseo is its galleries and its interiors shops: mid-century furniture, desert landscape painting, jewellery, and a rotating outdoor sculpture exhibition that changes every couple of years. Fashion runs from resortwear boutiques to a handful of designer names. It is not a bargain destination — for that, drive to Cathedral City's Perez Road for consignment and vintage furniture, or to Cabazon's outlets 25 minutes west.
Eat while you are here
Clementine Gourmet Marketplace & Cafe is the daytime stop for coffee and lunch. In the evening, Pacifica Seafood has a rooftop patio with live music, and Cuistot serves the best food on the street. Book ahead from January to April.
Season and hours
Most shops open around 10am and close by 5 or 6pm, which surprises visitors who plan to shop after dinner. Sundays are shorter, and August is genuinely quiet — several independents take two or three weeks off. High season, January through April, is when the street is at its best: full patios, art walks, and comfortable evening temperatures.
For a shopping-focused overnight visit, our hotels near El Paseo guide separates walkable district lodging from broader resort alternatives.
FAQ
- Is El Paseo free to visit?
- Yes. Parking is free, and the public sculpture exhibition along the street costs nothing.
- How long does El Paseo take?
- About two hours to walk and browse the full mile, longer if you stop to eat.
- Is there air-conditioned shopping nearby?
- The Shops at Palm Desert, a few minutes north on Highway 111, is fully indoors.
- When is the best time of day?
- Late afternoon. Shops close by 5-6pm, so start by 3pm, then stay for dinner on the same street.
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
Clementine Gourmet Marketplace & Cafe
Californian · El Paseo · $$
All-day cafe and market on El Paseo with pastries, salads and a shaded patio. Clementine Gourmet Marketplace & Cafe is a Californian spot in El Paseo, Palm Desert. Prices sit in the mid range. Worth knowing: patio, market, coffee. Served here: breakfast, brunch, lunch. Hours: Daily 8am-4pm. There is a patio. Kids are comfortable here. Dogs are welcome on the patio. Best for breakfast and lunch on el paseo.
In this guide
Where to go
El Paseo Art in Public Places
A rotating outdoor sculpture exhibition along the El Paseo median, free to walk any time. El Paseo Art in Public Places is in El Paseo, Palm Desert. It suits a free hour between shops. There is no admission charge. Hours: Anytime.
Full detailsIn this guide
The places
While you're here
Coming up nearby
Sat, Oct 17 · 8am
College of the Desert Street Fair
College of the Desert, Palm Desert
Sat, Oct 24 · 8am
College of the Desert Street Fair
College of the Desert, Palm Desert
Sat, Oct 31 · 8am
College of the Desert Street Fair
College of the Desert, Palm Desert
Sat, Nov 7 · 8am
College of the Desert Street Fair
College of the Desert, Palm Desert
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