Local Guide
Full Day Date in Palm Springs: Canyon Hike, Melvyn's Martinis and Dinner Worth the Uber
A canyon hike, French toast at Farm, a nap at Ingleside Estate, cocktails at Melvyn's and an Uber to Copley's. We read 161 of their 9,682 Google reviews to plan it.
The Local Desk · Palm Springs, CA · October 12, 2026
Some dates are a dinner. This one is a whole Saturday. We read 161 of the 9,682 Google reviews behind the six places on this route, and the plan below is what they pointed to: dirt on your shoes by 9, French toast by noon, a historic hotel by 3, a cocktail when the sun ducks behind Mount San Jacinto, and a car waiting to take you to dinner. You do the hike. Somebody else does the driving.
8:00 AM: Hike Indian Canyons before the desert wakes up
Start at Indian Canyons, at the far south end of South Palm Canyon Drive, on the ancestral land of the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians. It's 4.5★ on 1,154 Google reviews. You pay at the toll gate, then pick your canyon. Andreas Canyon is the easy, shady loop along a creek lined with fan palms, and it's very forgiving of anyone who said "light hike" and meant it. One reviewer timed the loop at 35 to 40 minutes. Want more? Palm Canyon starts below the Trading Post and runs as long as your legs allow.
4.5★ · 1,154 Google reviews · 38520 S Palm Canyon Dr, Palm Springs, CA 92264, USA
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“Beautiful place, an unexpected oasis in these mountains. Great hikes for all levels. We were lucky enough to see an animal that looked like a coyote.”
“Did Andreas Canyon today and really enjoyed it. It was around 90° when I went, but it was cloudy, so honestly the weather was pretty perfect for the hike. There is a $12 admission fee, but I thought it was worth it. The whole loop took me around 35–40 minutes. It’s not a difficult hike at all and there’s very little incline, so I think most people can do it without a problem. What I really liked was how peaceful and green it felt. You’re basically walking through a maze of palm trees in the middle of the desert. There’s a creek running through the canyon, and between the palm trees, rocks, water, and mountains, it’s just really beautiful. You almost forget you’re in Palm Springs. Most of the trail is shaded by the palm trees, which was really nice, especially with the heat. Just keep in mind that when you’re coming back around the loop, there are some sections that are more exposed to the sun. Bring water! They require you to have water with you, and I would definitely recommend at least 32 oz. There’s nowhere along the trail where you can just stop and buy water, so come prepared. Also pay attention to the hours. The entrance closes around 4 PM and the canyon closes at 5 PM, so don’t wait until late in the afternoon to come. And please respect the land. Stay on the trail, don’t mess with the plants or rocks, and don’t disturb any of the cultural sites. This is a beautiful place and it should stay that way. Overall, this was such a peaceful little oasis in the middle of the desert. Beautiful palm trees, water flowing through the canyon, and hardly any feeling that you’re in the middle of Palm Springs. Definitely recommend checking it out if you’re visiting the area. 🌴💧”
Go early. The canyons open at 8:00 AM, and by late morning the rocks are throwing heat back at you. Bring more water than seems reasonable, since you're required to carry some and there's nowhere to buy more on the trail. Wear real shoes, and leave the dog at home: no animals are allowed in the canyons. From early October to early July it's open daily, with the last car in at 4:00 PM. Summer is Friday through Sunday only, and one reviewer drove an hour to find the gate shut, so check the tribe's Indian Canyons page the night before.
11:30 AM: Lunch on the patio at Farm
Shower optional. Sunscreen mandatory. Farm sits inside La Plaza downtown, through a red archway and into a garden patio full of umbrellas, fans and misters. It's 4.7★ on 3,770 Google reviews, and the people writing them have opinions about French toast.
Breakfast and brunch are walk-in only, so expect a waitlist on weekends. Reviewers say it moves fast, and two people get seated faster than a table of six. Order the banana French toast to share, a savory crêpe or the crab Benedict, and a French press, which is the only coffee option and pours about four cups.
“So so yummy! I had a frosé with the madame croque. It was decadent and homey feeling at the same time.”
“Cute place for brunch. Staff is friendly and food was tasty. French press serves about 4 cups. Worth a shot. Smaller groups will get seated faster.”
Fair warning: the patio is the whole point, and on a hot day a few reviewers found it warm anyway. If one of you melts easily, ask for a table near the fans or go inside.
3:00 PM: Check in somewhere with a past
Now for the cheeky part. Ingleside Estate on West Ramon Road is an adults-only hotel of bungalow-style rooms and old Palm Springs charm, with a hot tub, a fire pit and Melvyn's on the property. It's 4.5★ on 421 Google reviews. Book a room, drop the hiking clothes on the floor, and take the nap you've earned.
4.5★ · 421 Google reviews · 200 W Ramon Rd, Palm Springs, CA 92264, USA
Read the reviews →Check-in times vary, so if you want the room before 3, ask when you book. If Ingleside is full, The Colony Palms Hotel and Bungalows and Holiday House Palm Springs are good backups for the same mood.
5:30 PM: Golden-hour cocktails at Melvyn's
You don't even need shoes with laces for this commute. Melvyn's at the Ingleside Estate is a few steps from your room. It's the Old Hollywood room Palm Springs keeps telling stories about, it recently marked its 50th anniversary, and it's 4.2★ on 1,078 Google reviews. Grab a seat in the lounge, order a martini, and let the light go orange on the mountains.
4.2★ · 1,078 Google reviews · Ingleside Estate, 200 W Ramon Rd, Palm Springs, CA 92264, USA
Read the reviews →Melvyn's usually has live piano in the evening. Ask the bar what time it starts, and dress up a little. This is not the room for the hiking shirt.
7:30 PM: Uber to dinner at Copley's
Order the car from the Ingleside driveway and head north up Palm Canyon Drive. Nobody has to pick a designated driver, which is the entire reason this plan works. Copley's on Palm Canyon is set in a guesthouse from Cary Grant's former estate, and it's 4.5★ on 1,103 Google reviews.
4.5★ · 1,103 Google reviews · 621 N Palm Canyon Dr, Palm Springs, CA 92262, USA
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Book ahead. Reviewers say reservations are close to required, and Copley's charges a fee for late arrivals and no-shows, so don't linger over that second martini. Ask for the courtyard patio if the night is cool, or one of the roughly 20 tables inside if it isn't. Reviewers keep naming the lobster-stuffed mashed potatoes, the miso roasted duck and the sticky pudding.
“Had a lovely dinner here for my friends birthday! The service was very friendly and accommodating, the patio is beautiful, especially if you go at sunset, and the food was really good! I had the Miso Roasted Duck, it was delicious and very flavorful!”
“An amazing place, with very friendly and attentive waiters and excellent food at high but reasonable prices, in a historic setting linked to Cary Grant. An absolutely delightful experience all round. Do check the menu in their website since the ones listed here go out of date quickly. I’d recommend scoring a table inside if the weather is hot, and also because the small room ;only around 20 tables) gives it a very intimate and personal feel.”
Not every night lands. A couple of recent reviewers said a dish or two fell flat, so ask your server what's on point that week. Reviewers also mention a summer break, so check the dates before you plan around it.
Plan B if Copley's is booked: Spencer's Restaurant, on West Baristo Road, is 4.5★ on 2,156 Google reviews and has a patio reviewers can't stop describing.
4.5★ · 2,156 Google reviews · 701 W Baristo Rd, Palm Springs, CA 92262, USA
Read the reviews →“It’s hard to go wrong here. This upscale American restaurant is quintessential Palm Springs if you’re looking for something a little more classy for an evening out. Excellent menu; strong cocktails (have a martini) and delicious food, with attentive staff and a dreamy outdoor dining area (sit by or under the tree if you can). We’d certainly recommend to anyone looking for a sure thing.”
The day on one map
The route
- 1. Indian Canyons · 38520 S Palm Canyon Dr, Palm Springs, CA 92264, USA
- 2. Farm · 6 La Plaza, Palm Springs, CA 92262, USA
- 3. Ingleside Estate · 200 W Ramon Rd, Palm Springs, CA 92264, USA
- 4. Melvyn’s at the Ingleside Estate · Ingleside Estate, 200 W Ramon Rd, Palm Springs, CA 92264, USA
- 5. Copley's on Palm Canyon · 621 N Palm Canyon Dr, Palm Springs, CA 92262, USA
Before you go
- Trail: Indian Canyons opens at 8:00 AM. Check the season's days, hours and entry fee on the Agua Caliente site before you drive down.
- Heat: Start early, carry at least a liter of water each, and wear a hat. Palm Springs heat doesn't care how fit you are.
- Lunch: Farm is walk-in only for breakfast and brunch. Join the waitlist and wander La Plaza while you wait.
- Hotel: Ingleside Estate is adults-only. Book the room and your Copley's table on the same day.
- Dress: Hiking shoes in the morning, something with a collar or a sundress by 5:30.
- Uber: Request the car about 15 minutes before your reservation. Copley's charges for late arrivals, and Palm Canyon Drive is slower than it looks on a Saturday night.
The last word
Hike, eat, nap, drink, get driven to dinner. It's not complicated, and that's the charm. The canyon gives you the earned-it feeling, Farm gives you the French toast, and Melvyn's gives you a reason to dress up before Copley's gives you the courtyard. Which stop would you swap? Tell us, and we'll read those reviews too.