The Tropicale

If you’re looking to have a cocktail somewhere fun (and who's not?), sidle up alongside the locals at the perennially popular Tropicale Restaurant & Coral Seas Lounge. It’s the kind of spot where the friendly bartenders will immediately make you feel like you’re a regular. You'll find Wednesday’s 4:00 pm to close Happy Hour to be especially busy, although the regular Happy Hour from 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm the other six nights of the week is pretty packed as well. Indoors, there’s a long midcentury-inspired bar area that overlooks the lively dining room. You can also enjoy a drink at an outside bar that spills into a beautiful, tropical-like 2,000-square-foot dining patio that’s open year round. There’s a large menu, along with weekly specials, but if it's your first visit you may want to try the restaurant's number one seller—Southern Fried Chicken. The chicken is marinated in buttermilk overnight, seasoned with paprika, and served with corn mashed potatoes, buttered collard greens, and red-eye gravy. Chef Tony Di Lembo was trained in New Orleans so he incorporates his down-home flair and unique Southern spices to create an unforgettable dish. Palm Springs renters will most likely become regulars before their stay is up, but this place is worth a visit no matter where you renting.