Not many restaurants in Palm Springs can claim a connection to Barrack Obama, but Canopy Palm Springs might not have happened without the former president.
The restaurant and wine lounge was opened in 2023 by former U.S. Ambassador to Argentina Noah Mamet, who served during Obama’s second term, from 2015 to 2017.
Mamet’s experience in the country’s wine region helped inspire the restaurant. Some of the drink offerings even come from Mendoza’s own vineyard in the country.
But the wine lounge has recently expanded its menu to include food, and Mamet has teamed up with Boozehounds co-owner Bryan Rogers to provide what the pair are hoping will be a unique experience in Palm Springs.
While the city is known for its retro vibe, with Canopy, Mamet and Rogers have strived for a more international flair that is attractive to visitors seeking something more than just mid-century modern architecture.
“The city has grown into a much more international city, with guests from LA and New York,” said Rogers. “Guests are coming here from places with really developed food programs. Its about staying ahead of those expectations.”
Initially, the venue opened as just a wine lounge with some light food options. It quickly became known as a place for locals and visitors to hang out and watch the sunset, but Mamet soon set his sights beyond just the drinks.
“People just loved the experience. They said, ‘We don’t want to have to go somewhere else for dinner,'” Mamet said. “They now don’t have to go anywhere before or after.”
The menu features upscale comfort food staples like meat loaf and chicken pot pie. Crafted by Executive Chef Kristin Puttkamer, the menu also contains many starters, fit for snacking while sipping on some wine.
Among those starters is Dungeness crab potato cakes, an East Coast favorite of Rogers’.
“I’m from the D.C. area,” he said. “Seeing an Old Bay remoulade really warms my heart.”
But aside from the food, the owners of Canopy Palm Springs see the restaurant as an experience beyond just enjoying a meal. They encourage visitors to stay and chat with each other as they sip their drinks. It’s part of a “social dining experience” both Rogers and Mamet hope to cultivate with the restaurant’s relaunch.
They say the strategy is paying off.
“Seeing people come to us because somebody recommended it when they were in Seattle or New York or Chicago or even internationally is a cool experience,” Mamet said. “That’s new and that’s getting bigger by the month.”
Located at 175 N. Palm Canyon Dr., Canopy is right at the center of downtown Palm Springs’ tourist experience. The owners hope that more and more restaurants will follow in their footsteps and offer “experience-driven” dining.
“Palm Springs is just undergoing this transformation,” Mamet said. “It just continues to get better and better.”
Sam Morgen covers the city of Palm Springs for The Desert Sun. Reach him at smorgen@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Palm Springs wine bar Canopy has a new vibe and more food
Reporting by Sam Morgen, Palm Springs Desert Sun / Palm Springs Desert Sun
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