My Guide to Palm Springs – Coffee

My love of coffee knows no bounds!  So I have, of course, visited pretty much every café the Coachella Valley has to offer.  Of that group, there are a few standouts.  Read on for my list of the very best spots to grab a cup of joe in the desert.  As was the case with my hotel recommendations, this guide is not limited to Palm Springs, but encompasses all area cities including Indian Wells, Indio and Palm Desert.

1. Ristretto (500 South Palm Canyon Drive, Palm Springs) – This spot gets the award for my favorite downtown Palm Springs café.  Formally known as “Ristretto, for Coffee Lovers,” the establishment serves up the very best java in the desert (in my opinion, at least).  From iced lattes to americanos, you can’t go wrong with an espresso order here.  The ambiance is pretty stellar, too.  Situated on the ground floor of The Five Hundred building, a landmark property originally built in 1968 to house Alan Ladd Hardware, the contemporary surroundings are gorgeous and so very Palm Springs!  (Be sure to check out the fabulous fountain in the main lobby!)   Ristretto (Italian for “narrow,” the name refers to a short espresso pull) also offers baked goods, salads and sandwiches, as well as mobile ordering for those pressed (see what I did there? ) for time.

2. Old Town Coffee Company (78100 Main Street, La Quinta) – You won’t find a prettier spot to grab a cappuccino in all of the desert!  Old Town Coffee Company, in the heart of picturesque Old Town La Quinta, features stunning views of the neighboring adobe buildings, mountain peaks in the distance, and towering palm trees dotting the premises.  Add that to the fact that the place serves up some heavenly lattes and there’s nothing more you could desire – except for maybe some baked goods and Old Town Coffee’s homemade muffins and scones can’t be beat!  The café’s motto, “It’s where good friends meet for great coffee,” couldn’t be truer.  I always take visitors here for a cup or two and have countless fond memories of lounging on the eatery’s expansive patio with loved ones.  The bistro even counts Kevin Bacon as a fan!  The actor spent several hours here soaking up the ambiance one sunny Saturday morning in 2017.

3. Ernest Coffee (1101 North Palm Canyon Drive, Palm Springs) – This place touts itself as the only independent coffee house in Palm Springs to serve Stumptown java.  But there’s so much more to be had here!  With cheeky décor, bright airy windows showcasing bustling Palm Canyon Drive, a banana-leaf-mural-adorned patio, and plenty of comfy spots to lounge, Ernest Coffee is a must-visit.  And it’s historic!   Situated in the building that once housed Don the Beachcomber (originally opened in 1953), the café is named in honor of the landmark tiki restaurant’s founder, Ernest Gantt, aka “Donn Beach.”  The site even retains some of the Beachcomber’s original kitschy detailing, like the bright orange tiki torches that tower above the front door.  Besides fine roasts, Ernest also serves wine, beer and champagne (yaaaaaas!), as well as finger foods.  And it has a celebrity following, too!  I first learned about it thanks to Abigail Spencer who posted about it in an Instagram story in early 2017.

4. IW Coffee (74995 CA-111, Indian Wells) – Easily the desert’s most Instagrammable café (that coffee sign, amirite?), this spot also serves up a great cup of joe.  It’s the kind of place you’ll want to grab a drink and settle in for the afternoon, as evidenced by the always-occupied tables.  Started by one of the former owners of Old Town Coffee Company, the eatery serves up similarly scrumptious muffins and scones, a well as sandwiches and salads.  Bonus – there is a sister location in Palm Desert.

5. Starbucks Reserve (110 North Palm Canyon Drive, Palm Springs) – I had never heard of Starbucks Reserve until this place opened in late 2017.  Featuring exclusive drinks (my first ever Reserve sampling is below!), counter seating, and striking décor, the Reserve locations are described as being “coffee theatre.”  And the one in downtown Palm Springs truly is!  With a sleek, contemporary interior, the design boasts nods to the desert surroundings via a huge air plant display that serves as a focal point.  It is also one of the biggest outposts of the chain I’ve ever come across – so large, it feels like three regular stores could fit inside it!  Despite being insanely crowded at all hours (it is the only Starbucks in downtown Palm Springs), wait times are surprisingly not all that terrible and mobile ordering is also offered.  If it were up to me, though, I’d linger in line and soak up all the beauty the café has to offer.

6. Il Sogno (73375 El Paseo, Palm Desert) – This place is best known for its extensive array of homemade goods, which are decadent, gorgeous and delectable to say the least.  But it also serves up a perfect pour of java, not to mention great European Old Country-style lunches, including incredible soups of the day!  Per owner Mirjana Ilic, who is always on-hand to answer any and all questions about her exquisite fare, everything served is artfully crafted on the premises daily.  Originally founded in 1990 in the Pacific Palisades (where The Wall Street Journal deemed it one of the two best restaurants in all of Los Angeles), it moved to Palm Desert’s exclusive El Paseo shopping district in 2009.  The quaint front patio is the perfect spot to enjoy one of the desert’s many sunny afternoons, iced latte and baked good in hand, of course.  Be forewarned, the insanely charming Zagat-rated eatery is pricey.  Il Sogno (“the dream” in Italian) is worth every penny, though.

7. Vintage Coffee House (49990 Jefferson Street, Indio) – A strip mall with a grocery store as its anchor tenant may seem an unlikely place to find some of the best java in the Coachella Valley, but that is the case with Vintage Coffee House.  Known for being one of the only cafés in the area with bulletproof coffee on the menu, all of its offerings are actually fabulous.  The eatery is adorable to boot and the service stellar, with some of the friendliest baristas I’ve ever encountered.  Even Sylvester Stallone is a fan!  Vintage is also situated in extremely close proximity to the Coachella concert grounds, so if you are in town for any of the festivals, this is the spot to grab your daily joe!

8. Koffi (515 North Palm Canyon, Palm Springs) – Java at this spot is roasted in-house, so it’s no surprise that Koffi repeatedly lands on Palm Springs Life’s “Best of the Best” list.  It'”‘”‘s most notable feature, though, besides the stellar coffee, is the adjacent garden where you can enjoy it.  The lush oasis, dotted with small tables and boasting incredible mountain views, serves as the center of The Corridor complex and is one of my favorite sites in the entire valley.  Tranquil and serene, even when bustling with people, there’s no more idyllic venue to sip a cuppa and savor the city’s ever-present sun.  Though Koffi has three sister locations (all worth visiting), The Corridor outpost is, obviously, the one to see.

Don'”‘”‘t forget to check out the other posts in My Guide to Palm Springs series about the desert’s best hotels, restaurants, bars and places to see/things to do.  And, as always, for more stalking fun, you can follow me on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Los Angeles magazine and Discover Los Angeles.

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