As I am sure you know, when I travel, I am always looking for the best bars. When I was planning my “escape Winter 2021” trip, I wasn’t finding a lot of craft cocktail bars in Palm Springs. Many of the bars served great wine and beer selections, but mixed drinks seemed slim. This is just the kind of challenge that I love, and I always strive to bring you the best places to go. (Not all places make the post, trust me.) I think these bars in Palm Springs have all the things a cocktail lover looks for in drinks, atmosphere, and service.
1. Bootlegger Tiki
I enjoyed Bootlegger Tiki so much that I went twice and wrote a whole blog post about it. Trust me, you’ll want to read about the bar and their incredible cocktails. If you are looking for fantastic drinks with top-shelf spirits, great service, and chill vibes you’ll want to head here. It’s slightly hard to find but full details about how to find it are in the post.
2. Sandfish Sushi & Whiskey
- Address: 1556 North Palm Canyon Drive
- Hours: Monday-Sunday, 4:30-10pm
- Scores:
- Hospitality: 5.0, everyone was super friendly and accomodating
- Atmosphere: 4.9, chic and cozy space
- Drinks: 4.9, interesting and delicious drinks
A bar that serves sushi and whiskey? Yes please! Sandfish Sushi & Whiskey is a place you’ll want to add to your Palm Springs wishlist. The space was designed by local architect Chris Pardo and combines Scandinavian and Japanese elements like concrete walls, natural woods, and fish-scale tiles behind the bar. They serve gorgeous sushi, fresh fish, and whiskey, neat or in cocktails. I had an excellent meal and a great conversation with the sushi chefs who share the bar with the bartenders. My favorite cocktail was the Harmony & Honey. Not only was it beautiful but the blend of Hibiki Harmony, honey, Angostura bitters, Peychaud’s bitters, and champagne was a treat to taste as well.
3. Truss & Twine
- Address: 800 North Palm Canyon Drive, Suite F
- Hours: Monday-Sunday, 6pm-12:30am
- Scores:
- Hospitality: 4.8, it’s a busy bar but the service was great
- Atmosphere: 4.8, an attractive industrial-style space
- Drinks: 4.8, very solid classics
Truss & Twine is a cocktail bar that celebrates the history of drinks in America from the Golden Ages through today’s modern classics. When I looked at the menu initially I was a little confused by the range, but it’s cool to get so many eras on one menu. It is the second concept in Palm Springs from the team behind Workshop Kitchen & Bar, which sits right behind it. The space is dark and industrial and is perfect for a quick drink or an all-night hang. The bartenders are swift and friendly. If you sit towards the front or on the patio, it’s the perfect place to watch people stroll by. My favorite cocktail of the ones I tried was the Velvet Touch. It’s made with Redemption Rye, Amaro Nonino, Pedro Ximenez sherry, and orange zest.
4. Workshop Kitchen & Bar
- Address: 800 North Palm Canyon Drive
- Hours: Sunday-Thursday, 5-10pm | Friday-Saturday, 5-11pm
- Scores:
- Hospitality: 4.9, very good service
- Atmosphere: 5.0, while some people might find concrete cold, I loved it
- Drinks: 4.9, all the drinks I had were very solid
Workshop Kitchen and Bar opened in September 2012. In 2013, the London-based Restaurant & Bar Design Awards named them “Best Design for the Americas” followed by another design win in 2015 from the James Beard Foundation. The restaurant is located inside the first movie theater in Palm Springs, the El Paseo building, built in 1926. The theater operated from the 1930s and operated through the 1950s. Prior to opening as a restaurant and bar, it housed several other businesses after the theater closed. I loved that everything was concrete and minimal. The food was delicious and the drinks were great.
I enjoyed the M-80 which is made with tequila reposado, vida mezcal, lime juice, ginger juice, and grapefruit oils. It was so fresh and delicious. My second cocktail was The Good Lion made with a blend of Buffalo Trace bourbon, Jamaican rum, crème de banane, bitters, and orange oils. A very nice, strong sip. It’s not pictured, but I also enjoyed the house-made limoncello for dessert.
5. Tac/Quila
- Address: 415 North Palm Canyon Drive
- Hours: Monday-Sunday, 11am-10pm
- Scores:
- Hospitality: 4.9, great service from a very busy staff
- Atmosphere: 4.9, I loved the indoor/outdoor vibe of the space
- Drinks: 4.8, delicious margaritas
I had heard about Tac/Quila from my friend Val’s blog post about a weekend in Palm Springs. It was the perfect place for a fresh Mexican lunch. I obviously couldn’t resist the margarita flight. My food was really good and the service was great. The margarita flight included Kiwi Mint, Guavamente, Prickly Pear, and Avocado flavors. The menu was chock full of other delicious-sounding drinks.
6. Mini Bar at Parker Palm Springs
- Address: 4200 East Palm Canyon Drive
- Hours: Monday-Thursday, 3-11pm | Friday, 3pm-2am | Saturday, Noon-2am | Sunday, Noon-11pm
Due to my obsession to brunch at Norma’s, I haven’t been to Parker Palm Springs when the Mini Bar is open. I have, however, enjoyed the beautiful design of the Mini Bar itself and the lobby area outside of it where you can enjoy a drink. Their cocktail menu includes drinks ranging from a Bell Pepper Tonic (yum!) to a Superfood Mule with Fair Goji Berry Liqueur and El Silencio Mezcal. One of these days, I will have my brunch late and roll right into this place.
7. Boozehounds Palm Springs
- Address: 800 North Palm Canyon Drive, Suite F
- Hours: Monday-Thursday, 2-10pm | Friday-Saturday, 10am-11pm | Sunday, 10am-10pm
I wasn’t able to visit Boozehounds, but wanted to mention it for all you dog lovers out there. The space is gorgeous, very quintessential Palm Springs. As the name implies, you are welcome to come and bring your pup. The menu is full of delicious food (for humans and dogs), craft cocktails, wine and beer. They have an open-air atrium, a cabana bar, and a patio. It’s the perfect place to hang out with friends and your dogs.
Hoping you enjoy your next trip to the desert at one of these bars in Palm Springs! If I left out one of your favorite places, drop your picks in the comments. Cheers!
