Reporting by Ema Sasic, Niki Kottmann, and Brian Blueskye/Palm Springs Desert Sun
What’s better than a good drink with an old friend or two?
The holidays are the perfect time to head to that favorite neighborhood spot and catch up over a glass of your favorite adult (or NA) beverage, and we have a lot of opinions on the best places in the desert to do so.
From laid-back breweries to a chic rooftop bar with views of the San Jacinto Mountains, here are The Desert Sun staff’s seven favorite bars in the Coachella Valley to bring a group this holiday season.
Desert Beer Co.
Details: 77-770 Country Club Drive, Suite D, Palm Desert; 442-227-4409, desertbeercompany.com
There’s something special about walking into a neighborhood watering hole and feeling as welcome as the regulars holding court at the bar. That’s how it always feels at Desert Beer Co., a brewery tucked into a Palm Desert strip mall that can feel bare bones compared to the stylish spots down the road on El Paseo, but has its own string-light-and-neon-Firebird-sign charm.
Like many breweries in town, its menu is packed with beverages brewed on-site (in some cases, mere feet from your seat), but along with the long tables and board games, there’s one major reason to come here with a group: there’s quite literally something for everyone on its menu. Unlike most California breweries that lean (too) hard on IPAs, at Desert Beer Co., at any time you’ll find several sours, a couple lagers, a couple seltzers, a couple IPAs, a couple cream ales, a saison and a porter to choose from.
— Niki Kottmann
Hair of the Dog
Details: 555 S. Palm Canyon Drive, Suite A111, Palm Springs; 760-323-9890, hairofthedogps.com
If you’re looking for a laid-back environment to get together with friends, Hair of the Dog in Palm Springs is a great option. This no-frills sports bar is huge, and it’s packed with dartboards, pinball machines and, taking center stage, plenty of pool tables. Not interested in playing? You can watch friends game, or you can watch the pros on any of the large TVs perched all around the interior (note: this is a British-themed bar, so it’s an especially good place to watch soccer).
In addition to the bar area itself, there are several high top tables in between pool tables, as well as a seating area on the back side of the room with a long bench that I have experience packing many friends into.
— Ema Sasic
RetroRoom Lounge
Details: 125 E. Tahquitz Canyon Way, Suite 102, Palm Springs; 760-656-8680, retroroomlounge.com
If you’re looking to liven things up this holiday season, RetroRoom Lounge in Palm Springs might be the place for you. This stylish downtown Palm Springs bar features nostalgic décor and a door that’s constantly open, so you hear this establishment before you even see the sign for it. That noise spilling out is the sound of nightly Karaoke offered 8 p.m. until close, so don’t come here for a quiet drink to catch up.
Instead, RetroRoom is the spot where you and your most bold (or intoxicated) loved ones can come to choose from an extensive song library and belt your heart out without judgment. Note: Consider this your official warning that if you’re there on a weekend, you will absolutely be sitting next to a bachelorette party, which can be super fun with the right attitude or less than ideal if you’ve got a Scrooge in your group.
— Brian Blueskye
Rosemary Hi-Fi
Details: 45-120 Oasis St., Indio; rosemaryhifi.com
Rosemary Hi-Fi is a natural wine and vinyl listening bar where you can take in great tunes with all the music lovers in your life. The cozy interior is reminiscent of your hipster cousin’s living room, and I mean that as a compliment. The owner said most of the furniture and decor is thrifted from Facebook marketplace and secondhand stores, and that, coupled with the fresh roses in bud vases on every table, result in the kind of space that’s somehow equally trendy and inviting.
Grab a glass of natural wine or a local beer at the bar, then sink into one of those thrifted couches to listen to whatever’s spinning on the record player — which is quite literally built into the bar — that night (check out their monthly calendar online to learn the theme for any given night). Rosemary is modeled after Japanese listening rooms, which means this isn’t the best place if your main goal is to chat rather than enjoy the music, but if you want to catch up, just come earlier in the afternoon when the music is a little softer and some chatter in the corner adds to the relaxing ambiance.
— Niki Kottmann
High Bar at the Rowan Palm Springs
Details: 100 W. Tahquitz Canyon Way, Palm Springs; 760-904-5015, rowanpalmsprings.com
Rooftop bars aren’t the norm in the Coachella Valley, so that’s what makes this bar the perfect spot for a special reunion with close friends or family. High Bar, located on the seventh floor of the Rowan hotel, is Palm Springs’ only rooftop bar, and it offers relaxing poolside lounge vibes as well as a great view of both the nearby San Jacinto Mountains and desert floor. Enjoy tasty cocktails like the Mystic Lychee-Tini, Flor Mai Tai or the Prickly Pear Sour and grab a few shareable bites with friends to really make the most of your outing.
Note: If you’re not staying at the hotel, the easiest way to enter is via the pedestrian-only alley near Juniper Table. Follow the GPS directions to Juniper Table, then keep walking and a couple doors down you’ll see an orange and white sign with the words “High Bar” leading to the bar’s elevator.
— Ema Sasic
Coachella Valley Brewing Co.
Details: 30-640 Gunther St., Thousand Palms; 155 S. Palm Canyon Drive, Palm Springs; 760-343-5973, cvbco.com
Several new breweries have popped up across the Coachella Valley in recent years, so why not celebrate your friend reunion with a locally made cold one? The original Coachella Valley Brewing Company location in Thousand Palms offers plenty of space and seating for large groups to gather, and depending on the day of week you go, there is a theme associated with it (Mondays are dedicated to trivia night, Tuesdays have open mic nights and so on).
The brewery also has a second smaller but more scenic taproom on Palm Canyon Drive in Palm Springs for those looking for a more intimate indoor space accompanied by a cute patio with mountain views and a cozy fireplace. The downtown Palm Springs location has an extensive food menu, whereas the Thousand Palms location only has occasional food trucks, but both are great spots for everything from specialty lights to fruited IPAs.
— Ema Sasic
Bart Lounge
Details: 67-555 E. Palm Canyon Drive, Suite 124, Cathedral City; 760-799-8800, bartlounge.com
Not sure where to bring your more alternative friends? Bart Lounge offers something a little different. This Cathedral City bar and nightclub located above Upper Crust Pizza celebrates owner Michael Murphy’s love of art and music with a special pop-culture aesthetic. The bar also features video game consoles and arcade cabinets, so if you aren’t interested in dancing along to whatever the DJ’s playing, there’s other activities to keep your group engaged.
Need a break from the dancefloor nor gaming space? The bar features a wraparound balcony and outdoor patio with plenty of couches to lay back and get some fresh air. Note: Certain evenings like Goth Night have a cover charge at Bart Lounge, so check the website ahead of time to see what special event might be going on.
— Brian Blueskye
This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun.
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