Palm Springs

Sip, Splash, Repeat: Cool Down at the Hottest Palm Springs Bars

by Kathleen Gossman

Photograph by Kathleen Gossman

Palm Springs bars

Sip, splash, repeat at Palm Springs bars. (Photo: the Picture Pantry / Alamy)

If you think the old saying, “sip, splash, repeat,” is about savoring a poolside cocktail, you’re not entirely wrong. But bars in Palm Springs turn it up a notch, which makes leaving your cabana and hitting the town wildly appealing. Plus, in the desert heat, you’ll take any reason to sip, splash, and repeat–and these Palm Springs bars live up to their allure.

Where to Sip in Palm Springs

For a more upscale drinking and dining experience, visit Workshop Kitchen and Bar, whose industrial decor includes exposed light bulbs and stark lines.

Settle at the bar for house cocktails like Hemingway Especial, which blends white rum with fruit flavors, or the M-80, a mix of tequila, mezcal, and fresh ginger juice. Workshop uses locally sourced ingredients and hand-squeezed juices.

Once you’ve sipped their creations, we think you’ll want a repeat.

Tee Off or Hit the Open Water

Dry off or make a splash on the golf course. Drive to nearby Indio Municipal Golf Course for an evening game.

With tee times until 8 p.m., you can wait for the desert air to cool and then play on lighted greens. If you’ve been sipping martinis all afternoon, though, you might find yourself hearing a splash a few too many times, as your golf balls sink into the lake between the 9th and 18th holes.

A boat ride to dinner is a lovely way to cap your Coachella Valley visit.

From the J.W. Marriott Desert Springs Resort and Spa lobby, embark on a small ferry and enjoy the trip to Mikado Japanese Steakhouse.

Glide past flamingos and waterfalls, then alight at the glass-sided restaurant. Sip a Samurai slice cocktail with Patron silver or a Gingerdrop Mikadotini with Ketel One Citroen as teppanyaki chefs wield their knives at your table.