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The sun-splashed resort town of Palm Springs, California, is known for world-class golf, shapely swimming pools, and spectacular mid-century style. But it’s also an oasis for fine food and drink lovers. Here in the desert, happy hour is an event. It’s when visitors and residents alike shake off the stress of the day and don their best caftans, unwinding over small bites and a cocktail (or three!). Meanwhile, the sun begins to sink behind the mountains, ushering in an early twilight, which makes for the perfect time to head out and explore. These picks are a great place to start.
Boozehounds
Photo: Raven & The Willow
Billed as the place “where dogs bring their humans,” any dog that brings their owner to this Michelin-recommended lounge is a good boy indeed. While the elegant interior at Boozehounds is for humans only, the expansive patio is Fido-friendly, so feel free to bring your pooch along. The happy hour offerings are eclectic, including a ricotta board, kimchi fries and veganwürst, washed down with beer, wine and other boozy specialities. Find these specials from 2 to 5pm every day during most of the year (Friday, Saturday and Sunday only during the sweltering summer).
Seymour’s
Photo: Audrey Ma
Nestled inside Mr Lyons steakhouse, Seymour’s, an unmarked speakeasy, is a glam little lounge showing off mid-century mixology with classic cocktails, as well as an inventive menu of originals concocted by beverage mastermind Steen Bojsen-Møller. (The aromatic, sotol-based Desert Flowers is a real knockout.) For an evening under the calm desert sky, take your drinks to the intimate patio, which features comfy lounge seating and bocce ball.
PS Air Bar
A bar for the travel lover, the aeroplane enthusiast, or anyone who needs a dose of good fun, PS Air Bar offers all the joy of flying without any delays, cancellations or TSA lines. Put down your tray table for aviation-themed cocktails, like Black Box, Cockpit and Warm Nuts, then buckle your seatbelt for a first-class array of food, from sesame chicken skewers to tri-tip sliders. There’s also an epic charcuterie platter. Though you’ll never leave the ground, happy hour here is a real altitude adjustment.
Counter Reformation
Courtesy of Counter Reformation
A former closet-turned-cheeky wine bar at the posh Parker Palm Springs hotel, Counter Reformation is a homage to the Parisian tabac – a slender neighbourhood hangout with a handful of seats, a ledge for leaning and a church confessional booth. (Hey, we said it was cheeky.) Alongside an eclectic wine list, this spot is where the chef cuts loose, so the menu is always compelling. Wide-ranging tasting plates include beef tartare with egg yolk jam, pork belly beignets, and savoury, sauteed hen of the woods.
Window Bar
Photo: Pocial
Just inside the lobby of the Kimpton Rowan Palm Springs Hotel is Window Bar, a stylish but not-at-all snobby lounge in the heart of downtown. Happy hour is the most picturesque time to stop by, with tall windows showcasing the dramatic San Jacinto Mountains and flooding the room with filtered light. International foodies rejoice: Executive Chef Richard Crespin crafted the new Bar Bites menu with fusion dishes informed by his time spent in Japan, Paris, Spain and New York, like tuna tartare ribbons, crispy pork belly and shishito, and Basque clams with chorizo. Summer-y lavender-infused gin and peach vodka cocktails enhance the experience.
The Reef
There’s nothing like a tiki bar to make your brain flip from work to relaxation mode, and The Reef does this better than anyplace else. Tucked in the historic Caliente Tropics Resort, The Reef feels like a vacation from vacation, especially with a generous ‘hula happy hour’ that runs from noon to 5pm, Monday through Thursday, with deals on mai tais, spiked punch, and other tropical libations. In a previous incarnation, this site was home to the Congo Room steakhouse, which attracted the likes of Frank Sinatra, but it remains a great place to do it your way.
Blackbook
This award-winning bar, located on one of the liveliest, most LGBTQ+-welcoming streets in Palm Springs, boasts the largest selection of whiskey in town and a solid bar menu. Favourites at Blackbook include Palm Springs-style nachos, garlic adobo yuca fries and a vegan burger that even draws raves from omnivores. When owner Dean Lavine kicked off a new happy hour recently, his goal was to do something different. “There are plenty of places for super cheap drinks,” he says. “We wanted to elevate it.” Blackbook’s elevated happy hour runs from 3 to 5pm on weekdays featuring discounts on what Lavine calls “the three M’s” – Tito’s martini, Old Forester Manhattan and Corazon Reposado margarita.
Zin
Photo: Ian Cush
A local favourite for nearly 20 years, Zin is known for fine dining and great drinks, period. At happy hour, you’ll find small plates featuring elevated American fare, such as wagyu beef sliders, roasted bone marrow and 'Zin bites' – puff pastry stuffed with filet mignon, goat’s cheese and a Zinfandel shallot reduction – all crafted from locally sourced ingredients. That’s accompanied by a discounted menu of wine, draft beer and spirited cocktails.
Bar Cecil
Courtesy of Bar Cecil
There’s no official happy hour menu at Bar Cecil, but that’s because every hour is happy in this maximalist refuge. One of Palm Springs’ newest and most popular spots, the vibe is highbrow meets deliciously lowbrow. Order a thick, hearty burger that requires both hands to hold, or opt for the refined Thomas Keller caviar service. Sip an old-fashioned or splurge on the $50 martini. The upscale bistro also serves as a visual treat, with original works by Andy Warhol and Damien Hirst sharing space with sketches from local graffiti artist Tysen Knight.
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