The Palm Springs food scene has really elevated over the last 5 years, as celebrity chefs and rising culinary stars flock to the desert oasis to show off their prowess. Along with the restaurant growth of Greater Palm Springs comes an ever-blooming array of food and wine festivities. Here are two intimate food festivals worth the drive from LA – where you won’t wait in line for the best bites and sips and will be treated to stunning desert scenery, dramatic mountain backdrops, and tasteful palm tree landscapes.

Happy eating!

Taste of On The Mark

The annual food extravaganza presented by The Taste of On The Mark showcases exceptional organic and natural wine purveyors, craft beers, delicious artisan provisions, and other favorite products found in their shop at 111 N Palm Canyon Drive. On The Mark’s gourmet market and deli is widely known by locals for its hand-selected wines, deli sandwiches, specialty culinary items, and over-the-top charcuterie boards.

This “boozy block party,” in downtown Palm Springs takes place in the fall and spring, outdoors in front of the Marilyn Monrose statue, right outside of On The Mark. The price of admission includes an endless array of bites and sips as well as the occasional branded swag giveaway. We went home with Tshirts from Belgian-style beer Delirium Tremens who wowed us with their new special releases.

Some of our favorite finds include Le Sel Oysters oysters flown in from Massachusetts, paired with caviar bumps from Tsar Nicoulai and Chablis and champagne from Aline Wines. Everything on offer was impressive. We returned for chimichurri wagyu hanger steak bites from Rocker Bros Meat & Provisions and couldn’t get enough dessert Medjool dates from Daties and scoops of handmade ice cream with seasonal flavors from Carmela Ice Cream (now open at Flannery Exchange).

The event is a wonderful way to meet other foodies and bond with like-minded folks in the community. Grab your friends and family and come celebrate at this pleasurable cullinary extravaganza! A portion of all ticket sales benefit select charities in the desert, including the Girls and Boys Club of Coachella Valley.

The Taste of On The Mark is held twice a year. Keep an eye out for the next one in March 2024.

Palm Springs International Food and Wine Festival

This might be the most pleasurable food and wine festival you will ever attend, as you may not have to wait in line to enjoy a new sip or bite. The casualness of this culinary event – paired with extraordinary bites and many of California’s best wineries and local restaurants – makes this one of our favorite food festivals yet.

Experience over 40 chef-owned restaurants and over 80 boutique wineries and brands (from all over the world) for the ultimate weekend indulgence. This year, the festival occurred November 11-12 at the outdoor Palm Springs Stadium Pavillion in absolutely perfect weather. A VIP tasting area included many estate wines like Hestan Vineyards, Hamel Family Wines, and Tansy Wines (Italian-inspired but grown in northern California) – and where the sips are complemented with sustainable American caviar and smoked salmon dip on crackers from Tsar Nicoulai.

Welcomed with delicious Brut bubbly from Je T’aime, we began our culinary journey oooh-ing and aaah-ing over the spicy Sweetwater River Lamb Meatballs from New Leaf Catering based in Cathedral City. We loved every bite from LG’s Prime Steakhouse (from steak to creme brulee), Wildest, and Fuzion Five, a Palm Springs restaurant that serves Vietnamese and Lao Cuisine. Egg rolls with chili fish sauce and Lao Pork Sausage made us want to make a reservation right away. The famous Parker hotel served seared scallops with espelette butter while the Tommy Bahama Marlin Bar served Ahi Tuna Mini cones with red wine Bahia Sangria.

We discovered tasty Jager Cold Brew, new bites from Exotic Taste of Persia, and adorable snack packs from event planner Steven Janji.

We were transported to Paso Robles with sips of all Tin City Cider Co. flavors that are extra dry, dry-hopped ciders and are barrel fermented. Their deeelicious Poly Dolly is a Tin City Cider Rose blend dry hopped with Cascade and Citra hops with notes of watermelon and rose for a bright full finish. Also, Sans Liege Wines from Paso Robles tantalized us with incredibly impressive red blends.

We were thrilled to meet NASA astronaut Jose Hernandez, a winemaker and farmer from Lodi responsible for Tierra Luna Cellars. He also wrote a children’s book.

After devouring several flavors on offer from Gelato Granucci, we happily left fat and full with a set of Stella Artois beer glasses. The event benefitted the Culinary Institute of America, Les Dames d’Escoffier and DAP Health.

Shhh, don’t tell anyone. Palm Springs food and wine festivals are the best-kept secret, featuring world-class fare without the LA crowds. We hope they continue to preserve their charm in years to come.