These are the new restaurants and bars you should visit in the Coachella Valley this summer

Kristin Scharkey | Palm Springs Desert Sun

Show Caption Hide Caption Coachella Valley's newest restaurants and bars for summer 2018 A roundup of the latest restaurants in the Coachella Valley for summer 2018.

Some call the summer a "slow" season for the Coachella Valley, but a recent flurry of restaurant and bar openings is creating quite a buzz.

From Palm Springs to Palm Desert, a slew of new hot spots provide something for everyone – whether you're looking for glitz and glamour, or fast-casual eats.

There's a new ice cream shop serving up cold treats just in time for the warmer weather, and an organic-based restaurant offering “guilt-free” versions of classic dishes if you're looking to eat a bit healthier.

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Here are the new Coachella Valley restaurants and bars you should stop by this summer:

Revel Public House, Palm Springs

In downtown Palm Springs, Alicante was beloved for its happy hour sangria and Spanish-style tapas. But the sister restaurant to Zin American Bistro has since been replaced with a new endeavor by owner Mindy Reed: Revel Public House.

Billed as "a Palm Springs gathering place," the pub offers burgers, pizza and skewers, plus beers on draft that include selections from its own Palm Springs Brewing Co., made exclusively in San Marcos.

If you're feeling eggy, you can grab breakfast – think omelettes and French toast. And those who have become accustomed to Reed's award-winning wine lists don't have to worry: There's more than 30 types of vino to complement over 15 bourbons, according to the restaurant's website.

La Quinta Brewing Co., Palm Springs

La Quinta Brewing Co. now has a taproom in Palm Springs – its third in the valley since opening in 2013. The taproom – with at least 20 varieties on tap – had a soft opening Friday at 300 N. Palm Canyon Drive, Suite 101, and offers seating inside and outside on a covered patio.

Depending on the time of year, 10 to 14 of the taps serve what La Quinta Brewing makes and the rest are guest handles, featuring beer from all over the country, not just California, Lloyd said. The taprooms do not serve food, but staff encourages outside food to be brought in.

Learn More: La Quinta Brewing Co. opens new taproom in downtown Palm Springs

The microbrewery was founded in November 2013 by Scott Stokes, a home-brewing hobbyist and Coachella Valley native, who teamed with Lloyd and Ryan Pearson to create his dream business.

The beer is also served in more than 175 bars and restaurants in the Coachella Valley area. The company’s Poolside Blonde, Even Par 7.2 IPA and Koffi Porter are also available at retailers throughout the valley.

Paul Bar, Palm Springs

If you've driven down Gene Autry Trail toward Interstate 10, you've probably passed by Sosa's Plaza without a second glance. The grungy strip mall on East Vista Chino in Palm Springs isn't exactly ... attractive. But a new sign just went up between the smoke shop and a cannabis dispensary. It reads "Bar/Food," and has locals descending in droves.

Learn More: Palm Springs' hottest new bar is in the most unexpected of places

It's partly the East Coast ambiance: plush beige bar stools, Asian artwork, walls painted in Manhattan blue, and an ornate mahogany bar with mirrored back. But it's more so the classic cocktails. There are no bells and whistles – just straight-forward Manhattans, Negronis, and vodka or gin martinis made right. Patrons are flocking for the boozy, frozen Sidecars, churned out by a margarita machine. Others are stopping in for the CosmoPaul, a non-sweet, dusty rose masterpiece served with a lemon twist.

The good news is you probably won't go broke at this new hot spot. Happy hour prices include $6 well drinks, $8 specialties and that $7 frozen Sidecar. (There's also wine and draft beer.) Plus, the food's affordable. There are big plates like a $12 burger with garlic bacon aioli as well as sides like $10 Jersey-style calamari, $6 French fries and an $8 grilled cheese made with bacon and Fontina cheese on sourdough. Try the $10 pulled pork sandwich – it's juicy in all the right places.

Pink Cabana, Indian Wells

As the name suggests, the exterior of the Pink Cabana is the same Desert Rose shade as the rest of The Sands Hotel & Spa. And when you walk inside the restaurant, the color palette continues on the ceiling, the napkins, the booth cushions and the cocktails – there's the Pink Lemonade and 50 Shades of Pink.

Learn More: Pink Cabana brings hip flavor to Indian Wells that's like nothing else in the city. Check out the pics

The décor, by Martyn Lawrence Bullard, designer to the stars, is a nod to the mid-century tennis and racquet clubs with old-school racquets mounted on the wall with vintage photos of people playing tennis. A green and white leaf-patterned wall paper and wicker-backed chairs provide a hint of tiki, while the low-back brass bar stools and brass bar shelves further push the retro aesthetic that is so popular in the desert.

With a background in modern French and Mediterranean, executive chef Jason Niederkorn was excited to incorporate both styles into the menu which includes everything from house-made naan with hummus and tagine of beef shortrib to fritto misto and moules frites. The cocktail program is ingredient driven with a handpicked wine list to enhance the food. There's classic cocktails like a mojito, an old fashioned and a colada, but all with unique ingredients and surprises. The Cabana Colada for example, has coconut in it, but they use real coconut cream in addition to a coconut soda so it’s a lot lighter and brighter.

The Marlin Bar, Palm Springs

The first thing you might wonder when walking up to the new Tommy Bahama Marlin Bar & Grill in downtown Palm Springs is if you’re in the right place.

Don’t worry, you are.

The reason it doesn’t resemble what you might be used to in Palm Desert or some of their other locations, is because it’s their newest dining concept and the first location of its kind in California. It looks like Tommy Bahama’s cooler, younger brother — if restaurants had siblings. And that’s not meant as a blow to the location in Palm Desert. It’s just that the new restaurant and bar in Palm Springs, which opened Tuesday, is more casual and affordable.

Learn More: Say hello to Tommy Bahama's hip younger brother: The Marlin Bar in downtown Palm Springs

There is some seating indoors, but most of the tables are outdoors underneath or near huge umbrellas with misters. So, even if it’s the middle of the summer, you shouldn’t feel like you’re sizzling. Try the Lobster Mac & Cheese! Also of note are its fun tropical drinks: the Baja Margarita, the Cucumber Smash, Bahia Sangria – which can be ordered as a pitcher – and the Blood Orange Margarita.

Which Wich, Palm Desert

Jon and George Kasira have brought the area’s first Which Wich sandwich franchise – best known for its bag ordering system and variety of “Yummy Side Up” Eggwiches – to Palm Desert.

Customers can choose from a menu of Which Wich “favorites” or build their own sandwiches from a long list of ingredients – meats, vegetables, toppings and condiments. Which Wich is best known for its variety of “Yummy Side Up” Eggwiches – “the sandwich that drools back” – including the Bánh Mì, a soy glazed pulled pork sandwich inspired by the flavors of Vietnam.

Learn More: Which Wich sandwich shop opens in Palm Desert, franchise's first in the Coachella Valley

There is also the Cheeseburgerwich – tender sirloin, smoked thick-cut bacon, American cheese, tomatoes, caramelized onions, pickles, toasted sesame seeds, special sauce and sunny side up egg on toasted baguette. Menus also include vegan and vegetarian sandwiches. For dessert or other cravings, the menu also includes milkshakes, cookies and other sweets.

Kreem, Palm Springs

Palm Springs got a whole lot cooler. Kreem opened on East Palm Canyon Drive to offer gourmet coffee and ice cream just in time for the warmer weather.

Expect coffee floats and fresh almond milk at owner Bianca Simonian’s mid-mod parlor. The Los Angeles transplant uses top quality organic dairy to make all her ice cream in house, complementing brews from Portland-based Heart Coffee Roasters.

Learn More: Palm Springs is getting a new ice cream shop, and we got the tasty scoop

You can savor flavors like s'mores, lemon meringue pie and Cookies & Kreem, as well as vegan options including chocolate cookie, Almond Joi and vanilla bean. You can purchase the ice cream by the pint in addition to various sizes served in a cup or waffle cone. (Plus, special "Canine Cones" will be offered for pooches!)

At the coffee station, you can add ice cream-inspired accompaniments like vanilla bean sugar to offerings that include cold brews, cappuccinos, lattes, hot chocolate/steamers and, of course, coffee floats. If you’re in the mood for something a bit heartier, try an ice cream sandwich with locally baked cookies. And don't forget to top off your selection with fresh vanilla bean and rose water syrup, caramel or chocolate sauce.

AC3, Palm Desert

AC3 Restaurant + Bar, owned by well-known valley restaurateurs Tony Marchese and Andrew and Juliana Copley opened this winter adjacent to Hotel Paseo in Palm Desert. Marchese owns TRIO in Palm Springs while Andrew and Juliana Copley own Copley’s, also in Palm Springs.

Learn More: AC3 Restaurant + Bar, owned by celebrated Palm Springs chefs, set to open Sunday off El Paseo

Nicholas Kontaxis: A Rancho Mirage artist who doesn't talk much expresses himself through his colorful art

AC3’s dinner menu highlights include Jumbo Lump Crab Cakes with wasabi guacamole, sweet and sour sauce and tobiko; Berkshire Pork Schnitzel with dijonaise crushed potatoes, bacon brussels sprouts, herbed yogurt and cranberry; Striped Sea Bass with black lentils, tinker bell peppers, dinosaur kale, mushrooms and smoked citrus butter; and Citrus Icebox Cake with yuzu cream, graham crust and basil ice cream.

The restaurant’s contemporary interior was designed and decorated by Monique Lemon and Angela Paladino of Design One Eleven in Indian Wells. It features paintings by local artist Nicholas Kontaxis.

Wildest Greens, Palm Desert

This organic-based restaurant offers cold-pressed juices and organic coffees, teas, beer, wine and house-made kombuchas. The menu features raw, vegan, gluten-free, paleo and macrobiotic items. Customers can indulge in “guilt-free” versions of burgers, pizzas, soups, and desserts, along with salads.

You will be hard-pressed to find any white sugar or white flour in the pastries.

Owner Denise DuBarry Hay said her family has long focused on eating mindfully, and felt that there weren’t many options in the Palm Desert area to meet that need. She said she often was driving to Palm Springs to find a spread of organic dining options.

Learn More: Organic, health food restaurant with cold-pressed juices and 'guilt-free options' to open in Palm Desert

The restaurant has a café featuring wine, beer and homemade kombucha on tap, plus a refrigerator stocked with bottles of juice and nut milks. There is an area featuring salads, sandwiches, pizzas and wraps, as well as a smoothie bar. The shop also offers tonics, cleansers and shooters aimed at detoxifying the body and stimulate fat-burning.

Wexler's, Palm Springs

OK so it's not opening this summer, but October can't come soon enough! Wexler’s, a popular classic Jewish deli that originated in Los Angeles, is expected to open this fall at Arrive hotel in Palm Springs, replacing the restaurant now known as Reservoir which will remain open through the summer.

Founded by chef Micah Wexler and business partner Michael Kassar, Wexler’s Deli first opened in April 2014 at downtown L.A.’s historic Grand Central Market. Wexler’s menu features traditional Jewish deli favorites, including corned beef, pastrami, lox and sturgeon – all cured and smoked in-house using old-school methods – as well as house-made condiments and freshly baked breads and bagels.

Learn More: One of LA's favorite delis is replacing Reservoir at the Arrive hotel in Palm Springs

At Arrive, Wexler’s will be serving breakfast, lunch and dinner from menus created specifically for this hotel location. Classic Wexler’s Deli items will be offered as well, including The McArthur Park and the double-smoked pastrami lox.

Kristin Scharkey is the editor of DESERT magazine and community content editor at The Desert Sun. Reach her at kristin.scharkey@desertsun.com or on Twitter @kscharkey. Desert Sun reporters Sherry Barkas, Nicole Hayden and Xochitl Pena contributed to this report.