Birba
Italian · Palm Springs · $$
Almost entirely outdoor - wood-fired pizzas, spritzes and fire pits under string lights in the Uptown Design District. One of the best warm-night tables in town.
Patio
Food & drink
Where to eat in Greater Palm Springs
PalmSpots keeps this list short on purpose — rooms we would send a friend to, with the patio and happy-hour details that matter in the desert.
Cafe Aroma
Italian · Idyllwild · $$
Art-covered cafe with live jazz, wine and a shaded garden patio under the pines. Cafe Aroma is an Italian spot in Idyllwild. Prices sit in the mid range. Served here: breakfast, brunch, lunch, dinner. There is a patio. Kids are comfortable here. Best for lunch, live music.
PatioBrunch
Capri Italian Restaurant
Italian · Desert Hot Springs · $$
A red-sauce neighbourhood Italian that has fed Desert Hot Springs for decades. Capri Italian Restaurant is an Italian spot in Desert Hot Springs. Prices sit in the mid range. Served here: lunch, dinner. Kids are comfortable here. Best for dinner after a soak.
Castelli's
Italian · Palm Desert · $$$
Palm Desert Italian institution for 37 years - traditional pastas, prime beef and a piano-bar atmosphere with an intimate enclosed patio.
Ciro's Ristorante & Pizzeria
Italian · Indio · $$
A long-standing family Italian and pizzeria on Highway 111. Ciro's Ristorante & Pizzeria is an Italian spot in Indio. Prices sit in the mid range. Served here: lunch, dinner. Kids are comfortable here. Best for family dinner, takeout.
Enzo's Bistro & Bar
Italian · Rancho Mirage · $$
Neighborhood Italian with handmade pasta and artisan pizza; the arancini won a local Indy Endorsement in 2026. Second location in La Quinta at 78121 Avenida La Fonda.
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Ferro
Italian · Idyllwild · $$
Idyllwild's date-night Italian, pizza and pasta with a wine list. Ferro is an Italian spot in Idyllwild. Prices sit in the mid range. Worth knowing: wine list, patio. Served here: dinner. Hours: Wed-Sun 4pm-9pm. There is a patio. You get a view from the tables. Best for dinner in the mountains.
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Il Corso
Italian · Palm Desert · $$$
Authentic Italian and Sicilian cooking with wood-oven pizza and a strong seafood list. Two locations: the El Paseo original and a downtown Palm Springs room at 111 N Palm Canyon.
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Johnny Costa's Ristorante
Italian · Palm Springs · $$$
Classic fine-dining Italian run by the Costa family since the 1970s - Frank Sinatra's favorite table in town, with veal, cioppino and tableside Caesar. Seasonal closures in summer; reopened for its 49th season in late August 2026.
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Piero's PizzaVino
Italian · Palm Desert · $$
Neapolitan pizza, pasta and Italian wine in a lively room off Highway 111. Piero's PizzaVino is an Italian spot in Palm Desert. Prices sit in the mid range. Served here: lunch, dinner. There is a patio. Kids are comfortable here. Best for casual family dinner.
Patio
Ristorante Mamma Gina
Italian · Palm Desert · $$$
Florentine-style Italian on El Paseo with housemade pasta, an outdoor terrace and a daily happy hour. Reliable for groups.
PatioHappy hour
Sammy G's Tuscan Grill
Italian · Palm Springs · $$
Italian-California grill in a converted downtown space with a big patio, lounge bar with live music, and a bottomless-champagne Sunday brunch. Handles large parties well.
Patio
Trilussa Ristorante Italiano
Italian · Cathedral City · $$
Neighborhood Italian favorite in Cathedral City with handmade pastas. Trilussa Ristorante Italiano is an Italian spot in Cathedral City. Prices sit in the mid range. Worth knowing: pasta, wine list. Served here: dinner. Hours: Tue-Sun 5pm-9:30pm. There is a patio. Kids are comfortable here. Best for low-key italian dinner.
Patio