Welcome to another edition of Ask Lindsay! This month, I’m answering your questions about everything from the best local restaurant patios to work-friendly coffee shops to mariachi band recommendations—and more. Enjoy!
xo, Lindsay
Best coffee shops on the east side of the Valley to get some work done?
This one comes from the daughter of my bestie Heidi (of Lucky Linqs), who was recently on the hunt for a good WFC (work-from-café) situation on the east side of the Valley. And since I’m nothing if not a coffee fiend, I didn’t have to think twice about where to send her.
Here are my go-to spots for getting some work done, latte in hand—think quiet vibes, plenty of space to spread out, and excellent espresso to keep you going:
The Vintage Coffee House (Indio, pictured) – One of the only places in the desert to offer bulletproof coffee, alongside plenty of seating, a spacious patio, and consistently great drinks. Bonus: it’s a favorite WFC spot for Justin Bieber!
Rutina (Palm Desert) – A newer addition to the desert’s coffee scene with a clean, minimalist vibe and plenty of room to post up and power through that inbox.
Saguaro Coffee (Indio) – Another newer spot that’s quickly become a favorite option for a productive coffee session. Bright, welcoming, and easy to settle into for a cup or two.
Everbloom Coffee (Indio) – Great coffee, chic environment, and lots of table space make this a stellar work spot. Pro tip: be sure to hit up the Smurr Street café—the sister location on Highway 111 is a bit tight on space.
Cali Rosina (La Quinta) – Not coffee, but still worth including. This Old Town tea house recently added a serene anteroom that’s quiet, cozy, and perfect for a low-key work session.
Favorite patios for outdoor dining in the desert?
Considering our gorgeous winters, it’s no surprise the desert is teeming with stunning restaurant patios. Read on for a curated list of some standouts.
Adobe Grill (pictured) – Hands down my favorite restaurant and patio in the entire Valley. Strung with twinkle lights and overlooking the beautiful grounds of La Quinta Resort, it’s simply magical. And the enchiladas verdes are not to be missed!
Azúcar Restaurant & Rooftop Bar – Perched above downtown Palm Springs under a canopy of Edison bulbs with mountain views, this eatery is stunning! The craft cocktails and bites are just as swoon-worthy.
Spencer’s Restaurant – A true Palm Springs institution with one of the prettiest patios in town.
Le Vallauris – Fine dining at its finest, with a sprawling, tree-strewn patio framed by a gorgeous backdrop.
Escena Grill – Overlooking the sweeping course at Escena Golf Club, this patio is especially beautiful during breakfast and lunch hours when the sunlight dapples the vast greenery.
Sunnylands Café – My go-to lunch spot, I love grabbing a coffee and salad here and soaking up the tranquil atmosphere on the serene, fountain-flanked patio.
SilverRock Grill – Another favorite breakfast/lunch option, with a lovely shaded terrace overlooking the lush fairways of SilverRock Resort.
Grapefruit Basil – Set amongst a picturesque olive grove with a roaring double-sided fireplace, this is one of the desert’s prettiest spots to dine al fresco.
Copley’s Restaurant – Once Cary Grant’s off-site guest quarters, the patio here is lush and intimate, so it’s no wonder it was named one of OpenTable’s Top 100 Romantic Restaurants in America.
Bar Cecil – Twinkle lights, colorful pillows, and cozy couches set the scene for what will no doubt be one of the best meals you’ll find in the desert.
Palm Springs Surf Club – Soak up a vacation-like vibe while enjoying signature cocktails and California-fresh fare, plus a front-row seat to the lazy river and surf pool.
Lavender Bistro – A dreamy oasis of trees strung with hundreds upon hundreds of sparkling lights—this La Quinta patio is pure magic.
Mélange – The only lakeside dining experience in the Valley, overlooking serene Lake La Quinta, complete with docks, boats, and gently lapping water.
The Tropicale – Warm, vibrant, and perfectly pink, this lush patio is a full-on tropical escape.
La Quinta Cliffhouse – Literally built into the mountainside above Highway 111, the patio here is dramatic in all the best ways.
The Sandbar – The retro interior here gets all the attention, but don’t sleep on the back patio—intimate, romantic, and anchored by a cozy fireplace.
La Brasserie – Last but certainly not least, the expansive terrace at this elegant French bistro boasts a fountain, twinkle lights, and stunning mountain views.
Do you ever miss living in Los Angeles?
While I never thought I’d say this, the answer is . . . no.
Before I moved here in January 2013, I’d spent nearly 15 years in Los Angeles, where I covered filming locations for various media outlets and publications—and there was pretty much no place else I ever thought I’d want to be. L.A. had everything: world-class shopping, incredible restaurants, iconic venues, and, best of all, movie star sightings on the regular. I felt like I was in the center of it all.
So, relocating to the desert definitely came with a bit of reverse culture shock. I’ll never forget my first week here, running to the Sephora on El Paseo just after six on a Friday night, only to find it closed. I quickly realized I was stepping into a much slower way of life—and it took some getting used to.
But now, well over a decade later, I truly can’t imagine living anywhere else. The landscape is beautiful, the pace is relaxed, the small businesses are next-level, and the people are some of the friendliest I’ve ever encountered.
The Coachella Valley may be made up of nine cities, but it has a verysmall-town feel—and that’s one of the things I’ve grown to love most. I run into people I know almost everywhere I go and the sense of community here is unlike anything I’ve ever experienced before. People genuinely show up for each other—supporting local businesses, celebrating wins, and lifting one another up. The Coachella Valley is a genuinely special place and I feel so lucky to call it home. And yes—I’ve even managed to squeeze in quite a few celebrity sightings along the way.
That said, there are two things I do miss about L.A.: the temperate summers and Zara. The day we get a Zara out here, this Valley will truly have it all.
Any recs for local mural artists?
A neighbor reached out with this question on behalf of a friend looking to transform a patio wall with a realistic jungle motif.
I had one artist in mind right away—Randi Elise Wilson, the Joshua Tree-based tattooist and muralist who created the gorgeous blooms wrapping the side wall of Gabino’s Creperie in downtown Indio (pictured).
I also tapped my network for a few additional recommendations. My local artist friend (and Leadership Coachella Valley alum) Debra Ann Mumm pointed me to Zachary J.F. Boyles, a painter who specializes in foliage designs—and the artist behind the mountainous mural that serves as the vibrant backdrop for the Colossal Cacti exhibit on Smurr Street in downtown Indio.
And yet another friend suggested Molly Keen of Molly Keen Art, a nomadic muralist who “lives and works off-grid” in a 40-foot converted school bus, traveling the country and creating site-specific work along the way. Her murals are deeply inspired by place—often incorporating local plants, animals, and history into each design. To date, she’s completed 95 murals across 34 countries.
Safe to say, there’s no shortage of incredible mural talent to choose from.
Do you know any good mariachi bands for a birthday party?
Another neighbor posted this question on Facebook, and I was only too happy to chime in.
For what feels like ages now, I’ve been following local midcentury lover and expert DIYer Krys Melo (aka @melodrama) on all the things. Her style is so adorably Palm Springs, I challenge you not to get immediately sucked into her Instagram feed!
Krys’ father, Fernando Gonzalez, just so happens to be the founder of Mariachi Coachella. Enmeshed in the mariachi world since childhood, he was already performing professionally by the age of 12—and he’s still at it today!
Following casino residencies, a collaboration with Ringo Starr, and the release of three studio albums, Fernando now serves as director of Mariachi Coachella, bringing the vibrant sounds of mariachi to the Valley and beyond alongside celebrated harpist Ernesto Franco. He also founded Armonía Music Center, a nonprofit dedicated to teaching mariachi to both children and adults throughout Southern California.
You’d be hard-pressed to find a better group to play your next event.