(This story was updated with new information.)
When Greg and Eleanor Rivers learned in 2025 that their lease for the Palm Canyon Roadhouse wouldn’t be renewed after 19 years, the couple decided the time was right to do something different than the rock-and-roll-oriented bar, which had become a fixture of Palm Springs’ live music scene.
So they set their sights on Palm Desert and country music, which Eleanor describes as “the new top 40” at a time when the rock bands that used to play the roadhouse have become less numerous.
The result of that effort is the newly opened Platinum Cowboy Dancehall and Saloon, which has taken over Palm Desert’s old Kaiser Grill space and reimagined it as something straight out of “Deadwood,” or perhaps the recently completed Stagecoach country music festival.
Here’s a closer look at the Platinum Cowboy. And we’ve also rustled up a list of other new restaurants, ice cream shops and more that have opened recently across the Coachella Valley.
Platinum Cowboy Dancehall & Saloon
74040 Highway 111 Suite G in Palm Desert
So far, the Platinum Cowboy’s country theme can be seen in the décor, which includes antique western-style chandeliers, mounted longhorn skulls and walls adorned with the visages of famous country music stars. It’s also comes through in the menu, which is heavy on cowboy-friendly fare such as country fried steak, chili, short ribs, burgers and even a selection of western-themed cocktails (although you’ll also find classic bar fare such as Buffalo wings and fried pickles).
But the Riverses are making plans to turn the Platinum Cowboy a destination for country music, although they say it will likely take some time to secure the permits needed to host live shows.
“We’re looking for a little bit of different entertainment, so we’re thinking of maybe once a month bringing in an out-of-town band from Vegas or Nashville and doing like a big show,” said Greg, noting that the venue could also be attractive to bands on their way to or from shows in LA. “We’d like to go that route and then have a country DJ some other nights.”
A Bakery
72221 Highway 111, Suite 111 in Palm Desert
This is one business whose name says exactly what it is. A Bakery’s long fermentation sourdoughs, focaccia and other breads have become a fixture of farmers markets throughout the Coachella Valley. Now the business has opened its first brick and mortar bakery next to Palm Desert’s Olive Garden. The sleek black and white storefront offers a selection of pastries, cookies, scones, cinnamon rolls and other sweets along with its trademark breads.
Desert Kid Coffee
44850 San Pablo Ave. in Palm Desert
As its moniker suggests, Palm Desert’s newest coffee shop is the brainchild of two Coachella Valley natives. The beverage menu consists of a mix of espresso and tea drinks, plus a few seasonal offerings such as a coconut lemongrass matcha. There’s also a food menu with several baked goods, some grab-and-go items, two toasts and a few soft-serve ice cream treats. The space is large and airy, with a big garage door that opens onto an outdoor patio.
Yucha Donut and Boba
34580 Monterey Ave., Suite 105 in Palm Desert
This strip mall shop specializes in two of the major food trends of the past few years: boba tea and mochi donuts, which as their name suggests are donuts filled with the soft and chewy Japanese rice cake substance known as mochi. Popular tea options include a taro milk tea and a banana pudding matcha latte. The donuts, meanwhile, come in variations from strawberry to Fruity Pebbles cereal. There’s also “Biscoff waffsants”, which are described as croissants in waffle form.
Mz. Freeze
45127 Towne Street in Indio
The desert’s newest dessert spot specializes in rolled ice cream. That’s a Thai variation on the dessert that involves pouring a liquid ice cream base onto a very cold plate and scraped into thin, spiral-like forms. Mz. Freeze’s menu consists of several sundae-like desserts that combine the ice cream with various topping combinations that range from mint Oreos and marshmallows to Fruity Pebbles cereal. There’s also several “Latin Signature” desserts, that come with toppings like Tajin, Chamoy and Marias cookies. Customers can also create their own combinations or order their rolled ice cream in “a waffle taco” (waffles are apparently popular this month).
Taqueria El Compa Habibi
81581 Highway 111, Suite 3, in Indio
One of Indio’s newest taquerias offers tacos, tortas and burritos that can be filled with steak, shrimp, chicharron, birria and 10 other proteins. But it also has a wider menu than one might expect from a taco shop, including carne asada, enchiladas and several seafood dishes. There’s also flan and cheesecake for dessert.
Leo’s Tacos
82451 Highway 111 #A101 in Indio
Indio’s other new taco spot is the brick-and-mortar expansion of a food truck that operated under the same name. You’ll also find classic taqueria fare here including tacos, burritos, tortas and quesabirria, along with horchata and rice and beans. A more unique wrinkle are the surf & turf taco and burrito options.
San Fernando Coffee Company
Inside Vallarta Supermarket at 42425 Jackson Street in Indio
This fast-growing chain of cafes from Los Angeles County has arrived in the desert with a new outpost within Indio’s Vallarta Supermarket. San Fernando Coffee Company is known for its iced coffee drinks flavored with horchata, chocolate syrup and other sweeteners. There’s also a fairly expansive breakfast and lunch menu made up of waffles, crepes, sandwiches and baked goods.
Sibayan Bubble Tea & Coffee
13313 Palm Drive, Unit K, in Desert Hot Springs
This colorfully patterned strip mall spot offers an assortment of milk- and fruit-based boba teas in flavors that range from mango and grape to caramel vanilla and taro. There’s also a menu of coffee and tea drinks, plus a few flavored lemonades.
La Taqueria Del Patio
231 E. Tahquitz Canyon Way in Palm Springs
The family that owns such popular Palm Springs Mexican spots as Felipe’s and El Patio has renamed and reimagined their small restaurant along Tahquitz Canyon Way near downtown Palm Springs (which was previously known as El Tacolgado). While tacos are still a focal point, the menu has been broadened to include several sharable specialty dishes of meat and vegetables, akin to fajitas. There are also volcanes and gringas (both of which are variations on the concept of a quesadilla), as well as other Mexican dishes such as carne asada and al pastor platters. The restaurant has also transitioned from being a lunchtime spot to one focused on dinner.
Farmer Boys
68895 E. Palm Canyon Drive in Cathedral City
Fans of such Farmer Boys’ staples as the Big Cheese and Bacon Boy can now get their fix in the western Coachella Valley. This is the only outpost of the growing Inland Empire burger chain between Beaumont and Indio. It joins Chipotle and Starbucks as the latest eatery to open in the new Cathedral Cove Center on the south side of Highway 111. Chicken sandwiches, fish and chips, salads and an assortment of breakfast fare round out the menu.
Mykonos Modern Greek Mediterranean
In The River at Rancho Mirage at 71-800 Highway 111
Located next to Cheers Coffee in The River shopping center, Mykonos is a family affair run by two generations of the Papas family. Diners will find gyro and falafel sandwiches and plates, plus other favorites like as Moussaka, a lamb shank and pastitsio (which is sometimes referred to as Greek lasagna). There’s also several salads and seafood entrees, plus a selection of mezes (the Greek term for small shared plates) that includes calamari, spanakopita and a shrimp and cheese clay pot.
What closed?
What’s coming soon?
Paul Albani-Burgio covers growth, development and business in the Coachella Valley. Email him at paul.albani-burgio@desertsun.com
This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: 12 new restaurants in Palm Springs area include country bar, tacos
Reporting by Paul Albani-Burgio, Palm Springs Desert Sun / Palm Springs Desert Sun
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
