(Credit: Omar Ornelas, Special to Metromix)
Pop quiz: What makes a bar hip? Answer: We trolled dozens of watering holes to find the valley’s hippest hotspots.
We discovered it’s not the drinks that make the place. The menu could have anything from trendy herbal-infused cocktails to frosty pints served in mason jars.
It’s not the crowd, either. We found excellent bars crowded with cowboys, weirdos, scenesters and everything in between.
There’s not a formula for decor, either. From battered license plates to glittery baubles, we saw it all.
It’s one of those things you can’t put into words — you just know it when you see it. So check out our picks. We definitely think these 10 local places raise the bar.
Amigo Room
Where it’s at: Inside the Ace Hotel, 701 E. Palm Canyon Drive, Palm Springs.
The vibe: Anything goes. Ride here on your bike, bring your dog, hold a ping-pong tourney. This is one place where you can chill without any pretentiousness.
Who you’ll see: The creative class — artists, musicians, writers, designers, people in funny hats.
Order this: The Figa, a fun fig-infused vodka with Earl Grey and honey tangerine.
Don’t miss: The photo booth in the lobby
Riviera Bikini Bar
Where it’s at: Under a thatched awning at the Riviera Resort’s main pool, 1600 N. Indian Canyon Drive, Palm Springs.
The vibe: It’s totally retro Palm Springs, especially after the sun sets and the glitterati come out to play.
Who you’ll see: Sometimes the crowd is so pretty, we think they must be importing tan, long-legged, shiny-haired patrons.
Order this: Sip the watermelon mojito while you dip your feet in the pool.
Don’t miss: On your way out, make a stop in the Starlite Lounge, inside the mezzanine opposite the lobby. You’ll feel like an A-list celeb.
Toucan’s Tiki Lounge
Where it’s at: Just north of downtown Palm Springs, 2100 N. Palm Canyon Drive, #A100.
The vibe: Everybody is welcome to party in this jungle. Shake off the stress of the day and dance until the sweat pours off your body.
Who you’ll see: A full rainbow of revelers, from beautiful drag queens to young, hot men who quickly shed their shirts.
Order this: Try it all! The drinks are actually reasonably priced.
Don’t miss: Two-for-one drink specials every Tuesday.
We discovered it’s not the drinks that make the place. The menu could have anything from trendy herbal-infused cocktails to frosty pints served in mason jars.
It’s not the crowd, either. We found excellent bars crowded with cowboys, weirdos, scenesters and everything in between.
There’s not a formula for decor, either. From battered license plates to glittery baubles, we saw it all.
It’s one of those things you can’t put into words — you just know it when you see it. So check out our picks. We definitely think these 10 local places raise the bar.
Amigo Room
Where it’s at: Inside the Ace Hotel, 701 E. Palm Canyon Drive, Palm Springs.
The vibe: Anything goes. Ride here on your bike, bring your dog, hold a ping-pong tourney. This is one place where you can chill without any pretentiousness.
Who you’ll see: The creative class — artists, musicians, writers, designers, people in funny hats.
Order this: The Figa, a fun fig-infused vodka with Earl Grey and honey tangerine.
Don’t miss: The photo booth in the lobby
Riviera Bikini Bar
Where it’s at: Under a thatched awning at the Riviera Resort’s main pool, 1600 N. Indian Canyon Drive, Palm Springs.
The vibe: It’s totally retro Palm Springs, especially after the sun sets and the glitterati come out to play.
Who you’ll see: Sometimes the crowd is so pretty, we think they must be importing tan, long-legged, shiny-haired patrons.
Order this: Sip the watermelon mojito while you dip your feet in the pool.
Don’t miss: On your way out, make a stop in the Starlite Lounge, inside the mezzanine opposite the lobby. You’ll feel like an A-list celeb.
Toucan’s Tiki Lounge
Where it’s at: Just north of downtown Palm Springs, 2100 N. Palm Canyon Drive, #A100.
The vibe: Everybody is welcome to party in this jungle. Shake off the stress of the day and dance until the sweat pours off your body.
Who you’ll see: A full rainbow of revelers, from beautiful drag queens to young, hot men who quickly shed their shirts.
Order this: Try it all! The drinks are actually reasonably priced.
Don’t miss: Two-for-one drink specials every Tuesday.
Velvet Palm
Where it’s at: The tippy-top of Fantasy Springs Resort Casino, 84-245 Indio Springs Parkway, Indio.
The vibe: As close to Vegas as you can get in our desert. Wait behind velvet ropes until the bouncers escort your group upstairs into the dark, sexy club.
Who you’ll see: Sizzling dancers in slinky clothes and young professionals looking to let loose for the weekend.
Order this: Splurge for VIP, where you can enjoy bottle service and flights of vodka or tequila.
Don’t miss: Leave the pulsating dance music behind and escape to the patio, which has sweeping views of the entire valley
Where it’s at: The tippy-top of Fantasy Springs Resort Casino, 84-245 Indio Springs Parkway, Indio.
The vibe: As close to Vegas as you can get in our desert. Wait behind velvet ropes until the bouncers escort your group upstairs into the dark, sexy club.
Who you’ll see: Sizzling dancers in slinky clothes and young professionals looking to let loose for the weekend.
Order this: Splurge for VIP, where you can enjoy bottle service and flights of vodka or tequila.
Don’t miss: Leave the pulsating dance music behind and escape to the patio, which has sweeping views of the entire valley
Pappy and Harriet’s Pioneertown Palace
Where it’s at: Right smack in the middle of Joshua trees and tumbleweeds, 53-688 Pioneertown Road, Pioneertown.
The vibe: Raucous fun, accompanied by the scent of slow-cooked mesquite BBQ and more stars in the night sky than you’ve ever seen before.
Who you’ll see: Cowboys, bikers, eclectics, even the occasional Grammy Award winner.
Order this: Don’t try to get all fancy-pants. Order a beer and shot of whiskey.
Don’t miss: The bands. The live music is the throbbing heart of this place.
Where it’s at: Right smack in the middle of Joshua trees and tumbleweeds, 53-688 Pioneertown Road, Pioneertown.
The vibe: Raucous fun, accompanied by the scent of slow-cooked mesquite BBQ and more stars in the night sky than you’ve ever seen before.
Who you’ll see: Cowboys, bikers, eclectics, even the occasional Grammy Award winner.
Order this: Don’t try to get all fancy-pants. Order a beer and shot of whiskey.
Don’t miss: The bands. The live music is the throbbing heart of this place.
Firehouse
Where it’s at: 36-891 Cook Street, Palm Desert.
The vibe: You’ll feel as though you’re inside a bona fide fire station with high ceilings, a concrete floor and sprawling wooden bar. The firehouse theme even includes artifacts dating back to the 1800s.
Who you’ll see: On the weekends, expect to see a college-age crowd ready to kick back and enjoy some loud music.
Order this: The sliders are one of the most popular items on the menu. The mini chiefs feature 2-ounce burger patties served with melted Swiss cheese and grilled pastrami, topped with Thousand Island dressing.
Don’t miss: Karaoke from 9 p.m. to 1:30 a.m. every Wednesday and live music on Friday and Saturday.
The Parker mini bar
Where it’s at: Tucked behind a silver bead curtain inside the Parker, 4200 E. Palm Canyon Drive, Palm Springs.
The vibe: This place is like a mood ring. It changes all the time. One night will be hopelessly cool, while the next is all frenetic energy.
Who you’ll see: The possibilities are endless, but there’s a good chance you’ll catch Robert Downey Jr.
Order this: The bartenders excel at the Pimm’s Cup and other refreshingly old-school cocktails.
Don’t miss: After you order, take a stroll through the Parker’s stunning grounds. Among the beautiful plants, the air smells sweeter than anywhere else in the valley.
Where it’s at: Tucked behind a silver bead curtain inside the Parker, 4200 E. Palm Canyon Drive, Palm Springs.
The vibe: This place is like a mood ring. It changes all the time. One night will be hopelessly cool, while the next is all frenetic energy.
Who you’ll see: The possibilities are endless, but there’s a good chance you’ll catch Robert Downey Jr.
Order this: The bartenders excel at the Pimm’s Cup and other refreshingly old-school cocktails.
Don’t miss: After you order, take a stroll through the Parker’s stunning grounds. Among the beautiful plants, the air smells sweeter than anywhere else in the valley.
The Red Barn
Where it’s at: 73-920 Highway 111, Palm Desert
The vibe: This is the home of the desert grunge rock scene. John Stanley King used to live upstairs. But, they call it the Red Barn because, well, it looks like a big red barn. And who dresses up to go to a barn?
Who you’ll see: This has been a locals bar for 40 years. You’ll see older locals during the daytime and younger locals when bands are playing.
Order this: Beer. Nothing fancy. And don’t ask for a glass.
Don’t miss: Bands like Fatso Jetson, Dali’s Llama, Vic DuMont and Waxy. If you see a Coachella Valley band in Europe, it’s probably an alumnus of The Red Barn. Angry Hank will play Southern rock Friday, tonight7-24 and the alternative band B Movie Superstars (comprised of members of Lung Cookie and Puck) perform Saturday with Josh Heinz’s new band, Blasting Echo.
The Tack Room
Where it’s at: Near the Empire Polo Club, 81-900 Avenue 51, Indio.
The vibe: Western hip. This isn’t a cowboy bar, but the wood-paneled interior and patio hangout invites a casual Western attitude. Maybe it’s because there are horses stabled nearby.
Who you’ll see: The crowd is 21 to 80. The place has a youthful vitality, but, like Pappy & Harriet’s, everyone is welcome. in the scene. Goldenvoice has selected it as a Coachella party site — partly because they can walk there from the festival site.
Order this: The Tack Room Tavern Punch. With Southern Comfort, vodka, Amaretto Disaronno, Schnapps, cranberry juice and sweet and sour, this punch packs a punch. But, as a bartender said, “It tastes so good, you don’t even think about it.”
Don’t miss: Live music on the weekends with some of the desert’s best rock and blues bands. Alex A and the Desert All-Stars perform a wide range of rock tonight. The Mighty Delta-Tones play blues Chicago and Kansas City style on Saturday.
Yard House
Where it’s at: The River, 71-800 Highway 111, Rancho Mirage.
The vibe: This place will never be confused with a chic martini bar. but it’s not trying to be one, either. It’s grudgingly hip, like your older brother who turned out to be kinda cool.
Who you’ll see: Desert dwellers, thirsty travelers and sports fanatics. all ready to mingle.
Order this: Beer, of course. With the world’s largest selection of draft beers, we can’t, in good conscience, endorse a cocktail.
Don’t miss: The late-night bar menu.
Bruce Fessier and Angela Franzer contributed to this story.
What other people are saying...
desert4life from CATS - September 14, 2009 at 1:35 PM
There's also Shakerz, J-Dee's, The Point After...they have great live bands all the time. Check out this site if u like reggae myspace.com/revolcon...
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Report This CommentSickBoy from Orange County - August 03, 2009 at 7:38 PM
The Yard House is a chain restaurant with a big beer selection. No more No less. Pass! The Firehouse, Just a place to smoke while you drink, No Fr...
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Report This CommentSickBoy from Orange County - August 03, 2009 at 7:34 PM
These guy's have a Saturday Night Happy Hour! $2.95 Pints of Micro,I'm There BABY!
Report This Commentswweetness70 from Palm Springs - July 29, 2009 at 7:19 PM
SOCIAL DISTORTION IS COMING TO THE SHOW @ AGUA CALIENTE! SATURDAY SEPT.19TH. GET YOUR TICKETS AND SHOW MIKEY SOME RESPECT! IF YOUR WORTHY!
Report This Commentsally92260 from panarama - July 28, 2009 at 3:05 PM
The best local bar in town is Armando's on El Paseo. They serve the BEST margarita's in town, bar none!!!! "Bet you cant drink two"?
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