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

OpenTable

Updated February 05, 2025

Looking for restaurants with the best ambiance 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!

Canopy Wine Lounge

4.9

4.9 (129)

$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

Richard

Dined 5 days ago

Very reasonable prices for the quality and quantity of food. Charcuterie board fed 6 of us. As a group we got the spinach lasagna - very filling and fed 2 people, the tartine - had a great balance of flavour, fried chicken sliders - good portion packed with flavour, and the caramelized onion grilled cheese - pairing it with the butternut squash sidecar made it to be such a cozy meal on a chillier night . We were full for the rest of the evening. Steve was amazing to deal with in regards to communication on our reservation. Jen was an incredible server, highly recommend

SO.PA at L'Horizon Resort and Spa

4.6

4.6 (752)

$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

CraigVIP

Dined 4 days ago

Our party of four, including one vegan, had a wonderful dinner at Sopa. Every dish we had was delicious. The service was excellent and the outdoor dining area was beautiful. The place is expensive but not overpriced for the high quality food and experience. Highly recommended.

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Experience

Wines of the World Series 2 - Mountain Stories

Experience

Wines of the World Series 3 - Southern Hemisphere

Experience

Wines of the World 4 - International Desertscapes

Arnold Palmer's Restaurant

4.9

4.9 (4868)

$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

JjVIP

Dined 2 days ago

We sat inside. Very classy place with a sophisticated atmosphere. The food, wine, and cocktails were amazing!!

Bar Cecil

4.8

4.8 (1757)

$31 to $50

Bistro

Palm Springs

About the restaurant

"Your Pleasure is Our Pleasure!"

Please join us at Bar Cecil for a delightful evening. We welcome parties of 5 or fewer guests (limited space for parties of 5). Unfortunately, we are not able to accommodate larger parties.

We book tables for 2 hours. Last dinner orders are taken at 9 pm and we close the bar at 10 pm. We've gone cashless and happily accept credit and debit cards.

Due to our small size, tables with separate reservations can not be combined. Please reserve online; if OpenTable is not showing availability, we're fully booked or it is more than 14 days out. We accept reservations up to 30 days out. Our bar is always walk-in and we open at 5 pm (the bar list is usually full around 4:30 pm).

We can't wait to have you as our guests! "Shall we?"

Top review

maryVIP

Dined 2 days ago

Food and service were great. Had a wonderful evening. Tony was our server and he was knowledgeable and patience. Food was yummy!

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Popular dish

Smoked Bone-In Pork Chop

Popular dish

Pan Seared Halibut

Popular dish

Bucatini Cacio e Pepe

Copley's on Palm Canyon

4.7

4.7 (6671)

$50 and over

Contemporary American

Palm Springs

About the restaurant

Please Note - Copley's is now open 7 days a week through June 2025.
Copley’s is an award-winning restaurant serving American cuisine infused with hints of tropical and European flavors. Located in part of the former Cary Grant estate in the heart of Palm Springs, guests experience an upscale and inviting dining experience either outside on the patio with stunning mountain views or by enjoying the friendly atmosphere indoors. Executive Chef Andrew Copley has an extensive 20-year culinary background at five-star restaurants and hotels across the world, and is well known for innovative dishes such as Asian Spiced Barramundi, Charred Berkshire Pork Chop and creative nightly specials. Come and see why we were voted Top 100 Patio Dining in America!

Top review

PatriciaVIP

Dined 1 day ago

This my favorite restaurant in Palm Springs. I always bring guests and they are equally impressed. Perfect!

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Popular dish

Asian Spiced Barramundi

Popular dish

Copley's Caesar Salad

Popular dish

Chicken & Lemongrass Pot Stickers

Jillian's

4.8

4.8 (1019)

$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

TimVIP

Dined on Feb 5, 2025

Absolutely fantastic! Love the food, service and music!

FARM

4.8

4.8 (4004)

$50 and over

French

Palm Springs

About the restaurant

FARM is a traditional Provencial-style restaurant in downtown Palm Springs in the historic Plaza, tucked away from traffic. Chef has taken care to create a menu comprised of traditional European dishes, brimming with locally sourced produce and artisanal meats. In true Provencial-style, the prix fixe dinner menu is served at a pace so you may enjoy your evening with us.
Enjoy a meal in our outdoor setting and take in the ambiance of being out of the city and transported magically to the South of France.
*I apologize, but we do not have Vegan menu items. *

Top review

Tyler

Dined 2 days ago

Wonderful environment, amazing food, great service, awesome cocktails. Had an issue with my dish and the staff was very generous and kind when trying to resolve the issue. I will definitely go back.

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4.6

4.6 (6885)

$31 to $50

Californian

La Quinta

About the restaurant

At Lavender we combine the finest meats and seafood with the freshest organic ingredients to create unforgettable dishes. Dine indoors in a warm, cozy atmosphere or on our stunning tree-lined patio. Lavender Bistro also prides itself on providing superb live music nightly to set a warm and friendly atmosphere.

For every occasion, to change the ordinary into extraordinary, come join us at Lavender Bistro, "where memories are made!"

Closed for Summer Break from the last Sunday in May until the last Thursday in September.
Re-Opening 09/28/2023!

Top review

Richard

Dined on Feb 11, 2025

The halibut special was outstanding as was the ahi tuna. The service was also excellent.

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Popular dish

Caesar Salad

Popular dish

Dijon & Walnut Crusted Chilean Sea Bass

Wally's Desert Turtle

4.8

4.8 (3903)

$50 and over

Contemporary American

Rancho Mirage

About the restaurant

"The Finest Dining in the Coachella Valley" Offering a refreshed and re-imagined take on Modern California Cuisine. And the local response has been "Amazing"!

An Official California Dining Destination, Wally's Desert Turtle in Rancho Mirage proudly supports local Ranches, Farms and Fisheries committed to the smart-stewardship of the planet through sustainable, earth-friendly and ocean-friendly practices.

The finest local ingredients, impeccable service and exceptional surroundings always make for "A Great Night Out" at Wally's Desert Turtle.

Top review

EricVIP

Dined 5 days ago

Our Valentine's Day dinner at Wally's Desert Turtle was our first visit there and we were not disappointed - everything was fantastic! The pricing is high... but it's totally worth it, especially for special occasions. I had a filet mignon, my wife had the lamb, and both were delicious; the zucchini with toasted almond soup was incredible and the deserts were out of this world. In general, service was excellent, but the delivery of cocktails was a bit slow - understandable perhaps, because the place was packed! This is now one of our top five favorite restaurants in the entire Palm Springs area, and we will be back again for certain!

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Popular dish

Honolulu Tuna Tartare

The Barn Kitchen at Sparrow's Lodge

4.7

4.7 (245)

$30 and under

American

Palm Springs

About the restaurant

Adults Only 21+

Michelin Guide Recommended Restaurant for 2022, 2023 and 2024

The Barn Kitchen offers a refined take on rustic American cuisine. Executive Chef Jon Butler focuses on influences from the nearby Coachella Valley, and the Barn Kitchen brings small local farms and the unique aspects of the desert to classic American favorites. We aim to create simple, uncomplicated cuisine by showcasing fresh California ingredients. We invite all of our guests to make meaningful connections and savor each experience.

Top review

BruceVIP

Dined 1 day ago

One of the best restaurants in Palm Springs. Really good modern California canine and great atmosphere, especially outside.

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Experience

Valentine's Day at Sparrows Lodge

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