Diners' Choice: Best Overall restaurants in Palm Springs / Palm Desert Cities

OpenTable

Updated December 05, 2024

Looking for the best overall restaurants in Palm Springs / Palm Desert Cities? You’re in the right place. Each month, OpenTable analyzes nearly 2 million global diner reviews from the past four months. We sort the results by location and category to help you discover new favorite restaurants. It's a great partnership: you reserve, eat, and review. We listen...and deliver the results for all to benefit. Enjoy!

Jillian's

4.9

4.9 (1003)

$50 and over

International

Palm Desert

About the restaurant

Romantic. Inviting. Original. Uncompromising quality.
Superb cuisine graciously served in an extraordinary atmosphere, is the unique inspiration of proprietors Jay and June Trubee.
Guests will experience a masterful Eclectic cuisine. Our menus are designed to include seasonal local ingredients, classic Jillian’s dishes and, of course, your preferences. To accompany your meal, we offer an extensive selection of fine wines from around the world.
Whether you choose one of our distinctive dining rooms or the inviting outdoor courtyard, enchanting garden or private terrace, every detail will be attended to, every need met. With everything from the menu selection to the wine pairings and flower arrangements that can be custom-designed for a most memorable occasion.

RESERVATIONS FOR 5 GUESTS OR MORE.......CALL (760) 776-8242

Top review

CarolVIP

Dined 1 day ago

We were in La Quinta to celebrate my husband’s 60th Birthday and Jillian’s was our last night’s dinner. It was the best dinner we had the whole week! Rico, our waiter, was amazing. The owners made us feel like we were old friends. And the food was delicious and perfect. Absolutely nothing could have been better. We will remember Jillian’s and will definitely be back next time we are in the area.

SO.PA at L'Horizon Resort and Spa

4.7

4.7 (743)

$50 and over

Californian

Palm Springs

About the restaurant

An ADULTS ONLY destination by Reservation. SO•PA has a NO PETS POLICY.

Decadent, refined, and intimate, SO•PA offers a unique alfresco dining experience. Join us for dinner in an intimate outdoor setting under the stars as Chef Igor Krichmar presents the seasonally enticing menu. Your elegant, yet relaxed evening includes world class cocktails and a sophisticated, yet approachable wine cellar curated by our in-house Certified Sommelier. You won't want to miss an aperitif or digestif at our exclusive fire pit and poolside bar. VALET is COMPLIMENTARY.

**2024 Winner of Diners Choice Award**
During cooler climate weather, SO•PA maintains its temperate and warm ambience with strategically placed heaters in addition to our intimate alfresco firepit.

Top review

NicoleVIP

Dined today

Perfect as always. Will be back again for fantastic food and the fabulous atmosphere!

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Experience

Wines of the World Series 1 - Vive La France!

Experience

Wines of the World Series 2 - Mountain Stories

Canopy Wine Lounge

4.9

4.9 (112)

$50 and over

Wine Bar

Palm Springs

About the restaurant

Canopy Wine Lounge is a driving source for wine & community no matter where your palate takes you. To curate this lounge, a partnership formed between longtime Palm Springs local Noah Mamet and the owner of our 15 unique winery properties around the globe. Our decor is a modern take on the popular design of the 1950's, using clean lines, pops of color, and various textured fabrics and fixtures.

To accent our wine bar, we have a custom-built clay amphora where our in-house winemaker will be fermenting and ageing a Californian rosé. Glowing fireplace features highlight our meticulously curated selection of desert plants. Our food bites are meant to be paired with quality-driven wines and lively conversation between friends.

Top review

Jennifer

Dined 5 days ago

We were greeted very warmly and the service continued to be friendly and warm. Unique and interesting selections of wine by the glass/bottle. We were here for a glass of wine before dinner elsewhere but liked what we experienced so much we immediately booked dinner for the following night!

Chez Pierre Bistro

4.9

4.9 (1548)

$31 to $50

French

Palm Desert

About the restaurant

Chez Pierre Bistro is an authentic and most charming French bistro that everybody wished they had in their neighborhood, where Chef Pierre develops his profound love for creative and innovative ideas in his kitchen.
The ambiance is intimate, friendly, his staff always very professional and his charming wife Esther watches over the dining room.

Chef Pierre has the extensive knowledge, passion and respect of the best ingredients from local farmers markets. His cuisine is superb and his daily specials are impressive, unique and follow the seasons.
In the winter you can find his famous cassoulet, in the spring, shad roe and soft shell crabs, in the summer, paella in addition to a selection of wild fish.

It is no surprise that Chez Pierre Bistro has been voted Best French restaurant of the Desert for the past 10 years and nominated among ”Best Chef of America” by his peers.

Top review

JohnVIP

Dined 5 days ago

We had an event to celebrate and we often go to Chez Pierre for such occasions. We have been dining here since 2015 and this recent evening we had one of our best meals in that time. Service, led by the marvelous Arturo, was great. Arturo is friendly, polite, and efficient. We got the usual warm welcome and a nice table in the corner. Our appetizers came quickly and our mains followed soon after we'd finished them. Both dinners were the best we've had at Chez Pierre. This was another great evening with the great staff and chefs at this wonderful restaraunt.

Arnold Palmer's Restaurant

4.9

4.9 (4733)

$31 to $50

American

La Quinta

About the restaurant

Arnold Palmer’s Restaurant features Progressive American cuisine, including fresh seafood, steaks, and some of Arnie’s great comfort foods. This one-of-a-kind restaurant features many indoor dining options, including multiple private rooms, a beautiful bar and lounge, and an impressive wine room that houses 2,500 bottles with a large table for special events up to 20 guests. The extensive newly remodeled patio (awarded 2022 top 100 outdoor dining restaurants in the country by open table diners) offers live entertainment every night featuring Mark Linford with stunning views of the Santa Rosa Mountains and breathtaking landscape.

Top review

Tom

Dined 1 day ago

Great Restaurant. Incredible ambiance coupled with great service and excellent food.

Freddies Kitchen at the Cole

4.8

4.8 (227)

$31 to $50

French American

Palm Springs

About the restaurant

A modern French Bistro serving fresh, French California cuisine with global flavors in a casual, social, and welcoming atmosphere.
Chef Frederic takes the best locally grown and sourced food, mixes it with his creativity, and re-imagines it into perfect bites prepared with love.
Located at the remodeled Cole Hotel, a place to gather in Uptown Palm Springs.
We look forward to serving you!

Top review

Jim

Dined on Dec 15, 2024

Delicious! We'll be back. Elk medallions were tender and the vegetable wellington was flaky and flavorful.

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Popular dish

Peppered Elk Medallions

Popular dish

Wild Mushroom Strudel

Miro's Restaurant

4.8

4.8 (3521)

$31 to $50

Modern European

Palm Springs

About the restaurant

Welcome to Miro’s Restaurant, voted best Mediterranean – Continental fine dining restaurant in Palm Springs. We promise to make your dining experience a comfortable, flavorful and memorable one. Be sure to call us for the daily specials, it might just be that entrée you’ve been searching for. We look forward to meeting you. Also please note that patio is first come first serve. If you wish to sit on the patio tell us here but it is not guaranteed that you will be seated on patio depending on availability.

Top review

BruceVIP

Dined today

Miro's is one of our go to places when guest are in town. Everyone we bring to Miro's rave about all the dishes they had. The wait staff is very doting and really take care of all of their guests.

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The Sandbar Restaurant & Bar

4.9

4.9 (161)

$31 to $50

American

La Quinta

About the restaurant

“Almost Four Decades of Desert Dining Excellence continues under a new helm”.

As the former owner of the Adobe Garden Hotel and Irongate Restaurant in Palm Desert, Cunard’s in La Quinta, Robert Cunard’s in Palm Desert, and The Prevue in Rancho Mirage, Robert Cunard’s reputation as a restaurateur is well-established in the Coachella Valley.

He rebuilt the Sandbar, and has remained true to his tradition of quality cuisine and impeccable service.

Robert will pass the Helm of The Sandbar to Waldo Cesoni, a local seasoned Restauranteur who is already serving the Coachella Valley with Waldo’s Ristorante and Backstreet Bistro on El Paseo.

“Bob and I share the same passion for taking care of our guests and treat every one as family”, The Sandbar will continue with the same philosophy and culture for many more years to come.

Bill Baker playing music starting at 6:00PM ~ Tuesday through Saturday.

Please say hi to Bob and Waldo

Looking forward to serving you soon and often.
Bob & Waldo

Top review

RonVIP

Dined 1 day ago

Loved the ambience, our waitress Michelle, the energy, and the brown butter filet of sole.

533 Viet Fusion

4.8

4.8 (304)

$30 and under

Fusion / Eclectic

Palm Springs

About the restaurant

533 is a contemporary Vietnamese Fusion restaurant nestled in Palm Springs, with a full bar. Cooking with the freshest local and organic ingredients is what they're known for. In their mid century modern dinning room, you can enjoy, the popular pink drink, the Thai Basil Lemon drop. Amongst the best sellers you will find the Ahi tuna roll, Chili Braised Osso Buco, Vietnamese Crepe, French Short Ribs and the Pad Thai. The menu also offers plenty of gluten free, vegetarian, and vegan dishes. Voted Best of the Best Vietnamese in Palm Springs!

Top review

LisaVIP

Dined 2 days ago

Staff is so friendly, good cocktails and the food is delicious with quality ingredients. Really love it here. Don’t let the strip mall location fool you.

Musashi Japanese Restaurant

4.8

4.8 (508)

$31 to $50

Sushi

Palm Desert

About the restaurant

Established in 1996. Musashi Japanese Restaurant and Sushi Bar has a long history of providing the Palm Desert and the Valley with the highest quality Japanese cuisine prepared skillfully.

OVER THE PAST 20 YEARS, OUR STAFF LED BY EXECUTIVE SUSHI CHEF MASAO ARAI AND AKI AKIFUMI CONTINUES THE JAPANESE TRADITION OF FRESH FISH, SOUPS AND NOODLES, AND MEATS. TRADITIONAL JAPANESE PREPARATION WITH THE FINEST INGREDIENTS AND TECHNIQUES. MUSASHI JAPANESE RESTAURANT AND SUSHI BAR REPRESENTS AND HOLDS TRUE THE LEGACY OF JAPANESE AND CALIFORNIA CUISINE.

*We seat entire party together.

Top review

JenVIP

Dined 6 days ago

Maybe the best Japanese I've had since I was last in Japan. Sushi was fresh and delicious , the rice was perfection. The tempura was light and lacy. Everything was wonderful. Who knew in the middle of the desert you could find such an incredible little gem. Would run back here.

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Popular dish

Vegetable Tempura

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