Best Breakfast in Palm Springs (A Local’s Guide — Updated Summer 2026) 

The Palm Springs Morning Ritual

Palm Springs wakes up slowly and deliberately, with that soft desert light that makes everything feel a little cinematic. Breakfast here isn’t just the first meal of the day — it’s a ritual, a rhythm, the way locals and visitors settle into the city. As daytime temps ramp up in the desert heat, people tend to eat early (and late), letting breakfast drift into lunch and become one of the most important anchors of the day. Patios fill early, coffee lines stretch out the door, and the desert air carries that unmistakable mix of sunscreen, citrus, and fresh‑brewed espresso.

This guide exists for one purpose: to help you find the best breakfast in Palm Springs — the places that truly define the city’s morning culture. Whether you’re searching for the best breakfasts in Palm Springs, exploring Palm Springs breakfast spots, or simply looking for reliable Palm Springs restaurants to start your day, this is the definitive list rooted in lived experience.

If you’re waking up a little later try: Where Palm Springs Eats Lunch

The Essential Breakfast Spots

At a Glance

Elmer’s

When you dine at Elmer’s, you feel Palm Springs history in the room. The walls are lined with photos of Hollywood personalities and presidents, a reminder that this diner has been part of the city’s fabric since 1960. It’s old‑school in all the right ways, with familiar classics elevated by generous portions and better ingredients. The towering German Pancake is a true spectacle, and while Elmer’s stays busy all day, but breakfast is its heartbeat.

Cheeky’s

Cheeky’s reshaped Uptown Palm Springs and earned its place on Palm Springs Michelin-listed restaurants. They set the standard for farm‑to‑table breakfast in the city. The menu is fresh, locally sourced, and rotates weekly, which keeps regulars returning and lines running long in season. Their pastries are excellent, and that same quality shows up in the biscuit‑style Benedict. The patio is ideal for late‑morning mimosas. Creative twists like the Buttermilk & Fresh Corn Pancakes define the Cheeky’s experience while their bacon flight is a novel signature. 

Read: Cheeky’s Palm Springs: The Breakfast Hotspot that Defined the Modern Uptown Dining Scene

Wilma & Frieda

Wilma & Frieda builds its reputation on familiar homestyle cooking taken a step further, with dishes that feel heartier and more impressive than standard breakfast fare. Their freshly baked goods — especially the house‑made pop tarts — anchor the menu and define the comfort‑food approach. They’re best known for their heftier dishes like the Griddled Meatloaf & Eggs, while specials often include upgrades like a full‑on surf‑and‑turf Benedict. Wilma’s downtown location and upstairs patio makes it one of the most reliable Palm Springs brunch spots.

FARM

FARM’s 1930s courtyard is one of Palm Springs’ most charming breakfast settings, with a Mediterranean‑inspired feel that fits the morning pace. The menu leans French, with savory crepes, benedicts, baked brie, and other daytime dishes that feel refined without losing comfort. The smoked salmon crepe is a standout, and the brioche French toast à la banane is a staff favorite. FARM is a Coachella Valley landmark — one of the area’s most memorable breakfast experiences.

Escena Lounge & Grill

Escena offers one of Palm Springs’ most beautiful breakfast settings — wide‑open golf course views, mountain backdrops, and a patio that feels like a morning postcard. The menu leans fresh and California‑casual, with dishes like the summer vegetable frittata and the tomato‑and‑burrata omelet fitting perfectly with the scenery. It’s relaxed, spacious, and ideal for long, sunny mornings. Escena is also one of the city’s best dog‑friendly patios.

Sherman’s Deli & Bakery

Sherman’s is a 1970s Palm Springs landmark, a classic Jewish deli with deep local history and one of the city’s most recognizable breakfast experiences. The foyer’s pastry case sets the tone, packed with impressive baked goods that frame the homestyle, old‑school diner cooking. Portions are hearty, with familiar favorites alongside uniquely Jewish deli specialties. Corned beef shows up across the menu, making the corned beef hash a breakfast essential. Sherman’s has long been a Palm Springs breakfast institution, drawing locals, snowbirds, and visitors for decades thanks to its classic deli comfort and generous portions.

Broken Yolk Café

Broken Yolk is the modern, polished take on classic American and Mexican breakfasts, giving familiar dishes a fresh, elevated facelift. The menu is big and generous, with standouts like the Fiesta Burrito — a two‑pound barbacoa‑filled monster topped with salsa verde, avocado, salsa fresca, and sour cream. It’s clean, hearty, and built for groups, with bottomless mimosas served a dozen ways. If you’re looking for the best pancakes in Palm Springs, Broken Yolk is also a top pick.

Townie Bagels

Townie Bagels is more of a stop‑and‑go breakfast spot, but it earns its place because it’s truly exceptional. They serve authentic New York–style bagels with about two dozen varieties each morning, and the most popular ones sell out fast. The Lox Works bagel sandwich is a standout. Seating is limited, but locals rely on Townie daily, and it anchors Palm Springs’ growing artisan‑bread culture, making it a go‑to Palm Springs breakfast spot for locals who want something quick but exceptional.

Read: Townie Bagels: The Best New York‑Style Bagels in Palm Springs

Spencer’s

Spencer’s is a fine‑dining restaurant that adds an elevated breakfast option to Palm Springs, anchored by one of the city’s most beautiful and romantic patios tucked against the mountains. The menu is approachable, with familiar classics, but if you want to dial it up a notch they offer a filet mignon Benedict and a Maine lobster omelet. It’s a refined, special‑occasion morning spot.

Juniper Table

Juniper Table is part of the Kimpton Rowan and serves as the hotel’s fresh, well‑executed daytime option. Set against a quaint European‑style courtyard and surrounded by photo‑worthy art fixtures, it offers a modern, Mediterranean‑leaning breakfast that’s stylish but approachable. The Turkish Eggs are a standout. For clean flavors and contemporary design, Juniper Table is a top Downtown pick.

Note: Juniper Table breathes the same ethos as its Palm Springs Michelin-listed rooftop dinner restaurant 4 Saints

Norma’s

Norma’s is part of The Parker Palm Springs and serves breakfast on a bright, open‑air terrace beside lush estate gardens. The menu is brunch‑forward and approachable, offering everything from light plates to decadent indulgences. The James Beard–winning potato pancake is a don’t‑miss. For stylish, garden‑side breakfast, Norma’s is a standout.

Also check out Parker’s Counter Reformation, a speakeasy with elevated tapas and part of our Where to Eat in Palm Springs: A Local’s Guide

Manhattan in the Desert

Manhattan in the Desert opened in the early 2000s and brings an old‑school East Coast deli vibe to Palm Springs, but with a more modern feel than the Uptown classics. It’s known for huge portions, a sprawling breakfast menu, and oversized homemade pastries. Fresh corned beef hash is a standout, and for big, comforting breakfast plates, Manhattan remains a reliable choice.

Billy Reed’s

Billy Reed’s is vintage Palm Springs — a sprawling, old‑school dining room with chandeliers, patterned carpets, and a breakfast menu that feels like stepping back in time. Opening in the early 1970s, it once operated as an Uptown supper club with ballroom dancing before evolving into a neighborhood diner steeped in local history. Today it’s known for hearty homestyle meals, an in‑house bakery, and excellent housemade pies. Its Uptown location makes it a classic Palm Springs diner breakfast choice, especially for visitors looking for a nostalgic morning meal.

Rick’s Restaurant & Bakery

Rick’s opened in 1977 and grew up in the same Uptown‑adjacent neighborhood environs as Billy Reed’s, sharing similar roots but leaning more into a classic diner look. It’s known for an expansive diner menu, hearty portions, excellent pastries, and an old‑school atmosphere that has kept locals returning for decades. The service is quick, the vibe is welcoming, and for a Palm Springs breakfast that feels reliably local and unfussy, Rick’s is a strong pick. Rick’s is one of the most consistent Palm Springs breakfast restaurants, known for fast service and a loyal Uptown following.

Jimmy B’s

Jimmy B’s sits right on South Palm Canyon with a lively streetside patio and an open, welcoming interior that makes it a natural downtown breakfast stop. Portions are hearty, and this is the place to go for steak and eggs — big, satisfying plates that feel unfussy and generous. Live music on weekends adds extra energy. Its downtown patio gives Jimmy B’s a lively, social feel, making it a popular Palm Springs breakfast spot for groups and weekend mornings.

Palm Greens Café

Palm Greens Café is Palm Springs’ go‑to healthy and vegan breakfast spot — a cozy neighborhood café built around organic, local, and sustainable ingredients. The regular menu leans naturally plant‑based, with vegetarian, gluten‑free, and protein‑rich options. Their juice and smoothie bar is a major draw, and the vegan biscuits and gravy are a must‑try, even for skeptics. It’s also one of the most established healthy breakfast spots in Palm Springs, with a menu that appeals to vegans, vegetarians, and clean‑eating regulars.

Best For… Categories

Best for Classic / Diner Breakfast

• Elmer’s — Old‑school diner comfort with iconic Palm Springs history.
• Billy Reed’s — Vintage Uptown dining room serving hearty, nostalgic plates.
• Rick’s Restaurant & Bakery — Classic diner cooking with excellent pastries and quick service.
• Manhattan in the Desert — East‑side deli comfort with oversized portions and homestyle favorites.
• Sherman’s Deli & Bakery — A Palm Springs landmark serving Jewish deli classics and hearty breakfast staples.

Best for Modern Fusion Breakfast

• Broken Yolk Café — Big, bold American‑Mexican plates with bottomless mimosas.
• Wilma & Frieda — Elevated homestyle cooking with standout baked goods.
• Cheeky’s — Farm‑to‑table creativity and weekly rotating menus.
• Norma’s — Garden‑side brunch with playful, indulgent daytime dishes.

Best for Brunch

• Cheeky’s — The city’s brunch benchmark with fresh, seasonal menus.
• Wilma & Frieda — Comfort‑forward brunch plates with heft and personality.
• FARM — French‑leaning brunch in a 1930s courtyard setting.
• Norma’s — Bright, stylish brunch on The Parker’s garden terrace.
• Spencer’s — Refined brunch classics on one of Palm Springs’ most romantic patios.

Best Elevated Breakfast Experience

• Norma’s — James Beard‑winning signatures and upscale garden dining.
• Spencer’s — Filet mignon Benedict, lobster omelet, and mountain‑side ambiance.
• FARM — French‑inspired daytime dishes in a historic courtyard.
• Escena Lounge & Grill — Scenic golf‑course views and refined California‑casual plates.

Best Patio Breakfast

• Escena Lounge & Grill — Wide‑open views and one of the city’s best dog‑friendly patios.
• Juniper Table — European‑style courtyard dining with modern Mediterranean flavors.
• Jimmy B’s — Lively downtown patio perfect for hearty morning plates.
• Spencer’s — Romantic mountain‑side terrace with elevated breakfast options.
• FARM — Charming garden courtyard ideal for slow, scenic mornings.

Best for Healthy Breakfast

• Palm Greens Café — Vegan, vegetarian, and gluten‑free favorites with organic ingredients.
• Juniper Table — Clean, modern Mediterranean plates with fresh daytime flavors.
• Rick’s Restaurant & Bakery — Classic diner options with lighter plates and fresh pastries.

Best Mexican Breakfast

• Broken Yolk Café — Fiesta Burrito, salsa verde, barbacoa, and generous Mexican‑leaning breakfast staples.

Best Pancakes in Palm Springs

• Elmer’s — The towering German Pancake is a Palm Springs classic.
• Sherman’s — Old‑school diner pancakes with deli‑style comfort.
• Broken Yolk Café — Modern, fluffy pancakes alongside big, bold breakfast plates.

Neighborhood Breakdown

Uptown Palm Springs

Cheeky’s, Billy Reed’s, Rick’s Restaurant & Bakery

Downtown Palm Springs

Wilma & Frieda, FARM, Broken Yolk Café, Juniper Table, Jimmy B’s, Sherman’s Deli & Bakery

South Palm Springs

Elmer’s, Townie Bagels, Spencer’s, Palm Greens Café

East Palm Springs

Manhattan in the Desert, Norma’s, Escena Lounge & Grill

The Palm Springs Breakfast Identity

Breakfast in Palm Springs is a blend of old‑school diners, modern cafés, iconic brunch spots, and scenic patios. It’s where the city’s personality shows up most clearly — in the early light, on quiet garden terraces, and in the mix of locals and visitors easing into the day.

Whether you’re in the mood for simple breakfast pancakes and bagels, a quick stop for Koffi, a mimosa‑leaning brunch, or one of those elevated, hefty, almost man‑versus‑food morning plates, Palm Springs has a breakfast style for every appetite.

Since Palm Springs is a brunch town, breakfast often lingers long into early afternoon — and many of these restaurants also appear in our Where Palm Springs Eats Lunch feature.

If you’re searching for the best breakfast in Palm Springs, the top brunch spots, or simply a reliable Palm Springs breakfast restaurant, this guide gives you the full picture: the classics, the icons, the modern favorites, and the places that define the city’s morning culture.