Palm Springs is a Sunday town by nature: a resort city built for late brunches, pool afternoons and an easy dinner before the drive home. The catch is summer. When the desert hits 110 degrees, a number of the seasonal rooms cut back or close for the season, so a Sunday plan in June needs checking. The good news is that the city's strongest year-round kitchens keep full Sunday hours, brunch and dinner both. These six are confirmed open on Sunday through the summer of 2026, with the hours that make each one safe to plan around.
Six Palm Springs rooms confirmed open on Sunday through summer, from Workshop's design-award room to a Rowan rooftop. Book Workshop; brunch at Spencer's.
How Palm Springs Eats on a Sunday
The desert rhythm is brunch-first. Sunday late mornings are the social peak, when Spencer's, Melvyn's and Workshop all run long brunch services before the heat sets in, then reopen for dinner from 5:00. Through the summer, dinner is the better bet for comfort: the patios that define Palm Springs dining come alive only after sundown, and several rooms shift to evening-only hours from June through September. Tipping is the California standard of 18 to 22 percent, and a Sunday reservation is wise even in the slow season, because fewer kitchens are open to absorb the crowd.
Palm Springs has no Michelin guide of its own; California's Michelin selection reaches the desert only lightly, and Workshop Kitchen + Bar carries a Michelin recommendation rather than a star. The more telling local credential is the James Beard Award that Workshop won for restaurant design in 2015, still visible in its concrete-and-banquette dining room. For the wider city, start with our Palm Springs dining guide.
The Six Best Palm Springs Restaurants Open on Sunday
Ranked by what we would book first on a Sunday, each confirmed open through summer 2026. Every entry links to its full verdict.
- Workshop Kitchen + BarOpen Sunday brunch 10am–2pm and dinner 5–10pm. Michael Beckmann's concrete-walled room on North Palm Canyon won a James Beard Award for design in 2015 and still cooks the most serious New American food in the desert. The bone-in short rib and the cocktail program are the reasons to come on a Sunday. Reserve ahead.
- Spencer's RestaurantOpen Sunday brunch 8am–2:30pm and dinner 5–10pm. Tucked at the base of Mount San Jacinto by the historic Tennis Club, Spencer's is the city's grande-dame brunch, white tablecloths under the palms. Summer hours can shift, so confirm, but the kitchen holds Sunday service through the season. The patio is the seat to ask for.
- Mr. LyonsOpen Sunday 5–10pm. A reinvented midcentury steakhouse on Palm Canyon, dark and clubby, with dry-aged cuts and a strong martini. It runs Wednesday to Sunday, so Sunday is one of its nights. The best Palm Springs steak dinner you can book on a Sunday evening; ask for a booth.
- Melvyn's at the Ingleside EstateOpen Sunday brunch 11am–2pm and dinner 5–10pm, with a live jazz jam from 3:30pm. Frank Sinatra's old haunt at the Ingleside Estate still serves tableside Caesar and steak Diane under the same Hollywood-Regency ceilings. Come for the Sunday jam and stay for dinner; it is the most nostalgic table in town.
- 4 SaintsOpen Sunday 5–9pm. The rooftop dining room atop the Kimpton Rowan has the best rooftop view in downtown Palm Springs, west to the San Jacinto wall. It is dinner-only and intimate, so it suits a Sunday date better than a group. Book the sunset slot for the light on the mountains.
- The TropicaleOpen Sunday 11am to 10pm. A retro supper club off Amado with a tiki-edged bar, a globe-trotting menu and a courtyard built for warm desert nights. It keeps long, forgiving Sunday hours, which makes it the easy fallback when the marquee rooms are booked. Good for a relaxed Sunday group.
Best for a Sunday Brunch or Date
For the classic desert Sunday brunch, Spencer's at the Tennis Club and Melvyn's at the Ingleside Estate are the institutions. For a Sunday-night date, the rooftop at 4 Saints atop the Kimpton Rowan takes the view. See the global best first-date restaurants.
Palm Springs Sunday Dining FAQ
Which Palm Springs restaurants are open on Sunday?
Six rooms we trust open on Sunday year-round: Workshop Kitchen + Bar (brunch and dinner), Spencer's Restaurant (brunch and dinner), Mr. Lyons steakhouse (5-10pm), Melvyn's at the Ingleside Estate (brunch, dinner and a jazz jam), 4 Saints atop the Kimpton Rowan (5-9pm) and The Tropicale (11am-10pm). All hold Sunday service through the summer; the more seasonal rooms cut back from June.
Are Palm Springs restaurants open on Sunday in summer?
Many are, but not all. Palm Springs runs hot from June through September, and several seasonal rooms reduce hours or close for the season. The six picks above keep full Sunday service through summer, though some shift toward evening-only dinner. Spencer's notes that summer hours can change, so a quick call before a Sunday brunch is worth it.
Where is the best Sunday brunch in Palm Springs?
Spencer's Restaurant by the Tennis Club is the grande-dame Sunday brunch, served on the patio under Mount San Jacinto from 8am. Melvyn's at the Ingleside Estate is the nostalgic alternative, with a live jazz jam on Sunday afternoons, and Workshop Kitchen + Bar runs a sharper, more modern brunch from 10am. Reserve a patio table at any of the three.
Does Palm Springs have a Michelin restaurant open on Sunday?
Palm Springs sits outside the core of California's Michelin coverage, so no desert restaurant holds a star. Workshop Kitchen + Bar carries a Michelin recommendation and is open Sunday for brunch and dinner; it also won a James Beard Award for restaurant design in 2015. Judge a Palm Springs Sunday by the kitchen and the confirmed hours, not by stars.
How far ahead should I book a Sunday dinner in Palm Springs?
In the cooler season, two to three days is plenty; in summer, fewer kitchens are open, so the ones that are fill faster than you would expect. Workshop and 4 Saints reward booking ahead for a Sunday evening, while The Tropicale and Mr. Lyons usually hold space closer in. Always confirm summer hours before you drive out.
Where to Eat Near Palm Springs
Driving in from the coast on a Sunday? See our companion guides to Los Angeles and San Diego, browse the desert's strongest steakhouse rooms, or plan a different night with the full Best Restaurants in Palm Springs guide.
Compiled by the Restaurants for Kings editorial team. Hours change; we confirm Sunday and Monday service against each restaurant's published schedule before listing, but call ahead for holidays. This guide carries affiliate reservation links and earns no fee for inclusion.