The Heyday: Palm Springs’ Most Talked‑About Smashburger Spot

Smashburgers at the North End of Palm Canyon

If you’re looking for great smashburgers in Palm Springs, one name comes up more than any other: The Heyday! The stand‑alone spot on the north end of Palm Canyon has become one of the city’s most consistently talked‑about casual restaurants, drawing locals and visitors even during the slower stretches of the year.

It was a busy late‑afternoon lunch in September when I met a friend there. September usually sits in the tail end of the Coachella Valley’s slow season, but you wouldn’t have known it at Heyday. Even at 1:30 p.m., most of the tables were full, and the front‑of‑house team moved with steady, efficient purpose.

From Pop‑Ups to a Permanent Home

The Heyday began making its mark around the Coachella Valley in 2018, showing up at VillageFest and local pop‑ups before settling briefly at The Cole Hotel. A longer run followed inside the Hilton Palm Springs, where the smashburger concept built a strong local following. In early 2023, Heyday moved into its current stand‑alone space on North Palm Canyon, marking its first fully independent home.

The building previously housed JJ’s Mexican Restaurant, positioned on the quieter stretch of North Palm Canyon. Over the last decade, the Uptown Design District has seen steady restaurant growth, and Heyday now sits at the far edge of that expansion. The exterior still carries touches from its past life, including a small Virgin of Guadalupe alcove near the entrance — a detail that gives the space a bit of inherited character. Sandfish Sushi & Whiskey is right next door, Arrive Hotel sits across the street, and both Rick’s and 1501 Gastropub are within the same block — a cluster that continues to grow and pull more diners north.

A Menu That Excels in Its Simplicity

The Heyday’s menu thrives in its simplicity. It centers on two smashburger builds: the classic single or double patty with American cheese, caramelized onions, shredded lettuce, and house 1,000 Island; and the Western Bacon version, also offered as a single or double, topped with bacon, onion rings, and barbecue sauce. Beyond those two anchors, the menu branches out only slightly — a Fried Chicken (Thigh) Sandwich, a vegan mushroom‑based Frisco Burger, and a House Salad. Fries and onion rings are served à la carte, keeping the focus on the mains rather than a long list of sides.

A few additional items round out the offering without complicating it. The Late Night Fries are the one indulgent outlier, smothered in house queso, special sauce, caramelized onions, and chopped chiles. Buffalo Wings and Lemon Pepper Wings add two more options for anyone looking beyond burgers. But the core lineup stays intentionally tight.

A Standout Western Bacon and a Busy All‑Day Crowd

My lunch on this visit was the Double Western Bacon Cheese, and it was excellent. I’ve had the classic smash patties a few times before and enjoyed them every time, but this was my first time ordering the Western Bacon, and it outperformed everything I’d tried previously. The patties were cooked perfectly — great beef flavor with a crisp, charred exterior — and the bacon, barbecue sauce, and onion rings were all well‑executed and balanced. It was a standout burger from the first bite to the last. The crinkle‑cut fries were well done too.

I’ll add that I’ve had their Late Night Fries in the past and enjoyed them, though they’re an over‑indulgence as a burger accompaniment. They’re better suited as a stand‑alone order with a beer or as something shared at the table. It’s a decadent take, but a good one.

Heyday also has a full bar with local craft beers, wines, and cocktails. There’s even a Martini & Burger combo — the menu notes that if this isn’t already a thing, it should be. While the printed menu sticks to traditional cocktails, several more creative specials are posted on the wall, giving the bar program a bit of extra personality. 

All‑Day Energy and What’s Next

The Heyday is open all day, every day, making it an easy choice for lunch, late afternoon, or a late‑night stop. The room blends retro diner touches — red booths, small table lamps, and a warm bar glow — with the easy, modern energy Heyday is known for. It’s casual and informal, which makes it just as comfortable for solo diners as it is for groups. The staff moves quickly, the room carries a steady buzz, and the restaurant has earned its reputation as Palm Springs’ most recognized smashburger destination. After expanding from its early pop‑up roots, Heyday is now fully settled into its North Palm Canyon home and remains one of the strongest recommendations for burgers in the city.

The owners of The Heyday are also working on a separate full‑scale dining concept elsewhere in Palm Springs. That project is independent of The Heyday and won’t impact the current restaurant. More information will come as the new concept moves closer to opening.