Desert Dining

After journeying all the way to the desert, sometimes you don’t want to travel any further for a nice meal. Luckily you don’t have to leave your hotel to enjoy some of Coachella Valley’s finest dining. The restaurants at three resorts—Renaissance Esmeralda, Hyatt Regency Indian Wells, and Rancho Las Palmas, as well as the eatery at Classic Club, top our "A" list, each offering its own unique personality, menu, and ambiance.

Sirocco

Chef Gregorio Calderin takes great pride in the authentic Italian dishes he prepares at Sirocco, an Italian restaurant located at the Renaissance Esmeralda Resort & Spa. From homemade pasta, bread, and desserts to the special dishes Calderin alone creates, dining here feels like a trip to Italy.  After sampling the culinary treats and memorable ambiance, we can say without reservation that this spot is worth a visit any time of the year.

[ Shown above Sirocco located in the Renaissance Esmeralda Resort & Spa ]

Each meal starts with a "Regalo," a gift from the chef that consists of a small pasta serving of his creation. Reviewers have told us it is one of the most romantic restaurants in the valley, so consider it for the next special occasion. The wine list includes bottles from Italy, of course, but also from some of California’s top labels. Damian Jenkins, director of restaurants is there to ensure your experience is memorable. In season, reservations are a must.

Renaissance Esmeralda Resort & Spa

44-400 Indian Wells Lane, Indian Wells

760-836-1286

renaissanceesmeralda.com

Latana

One of the best-kept secrets in the desert is the patio dining at Lantana, located in the Hyatt Regency Indian Wells Resort & Spa. The patio is known to fill up quickly on a warm pleasant evening, where one can enjoy the golf course and mountain views in the distance.

Serving up a contemporary dining experience, the restaurant’s centerpiece is its open kitchen with mesquite grills and a wood-burning pizza oven. Executive Chef Chris Mitchum, a Hyatt veteran of 25 years, and Chef de Cuisine Geoff Bororad offer only the freshest of seasonal ingredients, and many of the items are gluten-free. Lantana’s motto is simple: "Food, thoughtfully sourced, carefully served." A variety of mix-and-match items will allow guests to pair entrées with their choice of sauce.

Mitchum suggests the blackened mahi mahi tacos while Chef Bororad is eager to prepare your custom pizza alongside the other specialty items on which he prides himself. Don’t miss the "Chef’s Inspiration," a daily dish that displays Bororad’s creative spirit.

Hyatt Regency Indian Wells Resort & Spa

44-600 Indian Wells Lane, Indian Wells

760-674-4075

indianwells.hyatt.com

bluEmber Restaurant 

With a contemporary spin on classic California cuisine, bluEmber at the Rancho Las Palmas Resort & Spa offers a warm and inviting setting. Recently awarded the "Best of the Best" in outdoor dining by "Palm Springs Life," the restaurant boasts six fire pits, providing an enjoyable evening at this well-known Rancho Mirage resort.

New Executive Chef Billy Deaver’s seasonal menu is sourced from ingredients locally grown for freshness. The scallops and braised short ribs are two of the favorite items on the menu. Once a month, a "farmers’ showcase" allows local farmers to show locally grown fruits and vegetables, giving the guest a chance to pair the freshest of ingredients with items from the menu.

Adjacent to the restaurant is R Bar, a sports bar that offers its own small-plate menu. Music is provided five nights a week, and reservations are recommended, especially for the outside patio.

Rancho Las Palmas Resort & Spa

41-000 Bob Hope Drive, Rancho Mirage

760-568-2727

rancholaspalmas.com

Bellatrix Restaurant 

Not too far to travel from any hotel or resort in the valley is Bellatrix at the Classic Club in Palm Desert. Executive Chef Gerard Brunett believes that freshest is best, plain and simple, touting his mantra that "food does not need to be complicated or overdone."

To spice things up a bit, Brunett adds his own Mediterranean-style influence, taking great pride in making sure that the seafood is the freshest and the meats are of top quality. Extensive wines complement the Bellatrix menu, with an array of California chardonnays, pinot noirs, and cabernets sourced from great vintners to elegant boutique wineries.

The view of the 400-acre Arnold Palmer-designed golf course from the second floor of the Mediterranean-style clubhouse is one of the best views in the desert. The patio is always busy lunch and dinner, so call for reservations.

Classic Club

75200 Classic Club Blvd., Palm Desert

760-601-3690

classicclubgolf.com