Two Restaurant Icons of the CA Desert: Grand Central & Tropicale of Palm Springs

Dear Polite Traveler,

Learning about Grand Central and its historical importance during our Heart of the City Tour of Palm Springs, we decided to stop in for a glass of wine at their elegant bar. We felt safe to do so due to the requirement of Covid vaccine verification cards. Because we stopped for dinner earlier, we settled for a glass of their house Chardonnay at $11 for a generous pour. While we sipped, we toured their extensive art collection in their banquet room. In one word, “Wow!”

My only regret is not dining there. The menu looks amazing.

Step Back in Time at the Tropicale

Ah, but to have more time. This is another restaurant I wished we had more time to explore, but it wasn’t to happen this trip. We did stop for their Mediterranean Hummus, Tabbouleh & Warm Pita for $14 and the luscious Backhouse Chardonnay from the Central Valley for $10 per glass. The music was energizing as well.

Will We Return?

Both are a definite must if we return to the heart of Rat-Pack nostalgia and dessert modernism. I wholeheartedly recommend them.

Grand Central Palm Springs

www.grandcentralpalmsprings.com

160 La Plz, Palm Springs, CA 92262

The Tropicale

www.thetropicale.com

330 E Amado Rd, Palm Springs, CA 92262

More by the Polite Traveler

Ghosts of the Rat Pack Called and We Answered

Hilton Palm Springs Review

The Corn Beef Sandwiches at Sherman’s Deli and Bakery in Palm Springs are Unforgettable. But Skip the Pastries

Comments

Hyatt Regency Maui Resort and Spa Review

Art, Excellent Service & Penguins...Oh My My Dear Polite Travelers, Maui has experienced some horrific natural disasters, including a devastating fire and, more recently, torrential rain that caused severe flooding. However, none of that was visible during my last visit. The Hyatt Regency Maui Resort is a huge, richly landscaped, multi-building beauty. It includes a 40-acre oceanfront lagoon and a waterslide into a children’s splashpad. However, I saw many more adults enjoying the splashpad than children. It did look inviting. Directly adjacent to the lobby is a penguin den. Guests are invited to watch a daily penguin presentation. I enjoyed watching them play. They are quite adorable. Dining & Shopping In the main building, you’ll find multiple shops, including a gallery filled with unique and quite excellent art. My favorite shop was actually Honolulu Coffee . As a family-owned,...

A Few Days in Palm Springs

Palm Springs Activities Hello, my Polite Travelers, As an older couple, we often just want to relax and enjoy our favorite places at a leisurely pace. This was the case during our recent revisit to Palm Springs. For the most part, we explored downtown, stopping for coffee and chatting with the locals. Additionally, we embarked on a few other excellent adventures. Agua Caliente Cultural Museum As a Smithsonian Affiliate, I found this museum to be outstanding. This museum is a mixture of immersive video, sound, and visuals (including lifelike exhibits) to tell the story of America’s rich—and many times heart-wrenching—indigenous story. The permanent gallery begins with the 360-degree immersive video of the Agua Caliente “Creation & Migration” story. The quality of their digital animation and sound is impressive—there’s even a screen on the floor. I found their creation story to be fascinating. Don’t Miss! For the Love of Art! Don’t Miss The Palm Springs Art M...

Did that really happen at this Hampton Inn?

Hampton Inn & Suites Palm Desert, CA—Hotel & Room #330 Review Hello, my Polite Travelers. We are now in sunny Palm Desert, and it is a grand place. Everything looks clean and new. Unfortunately, I can’t say the same for the Hampton Inn. It pains me to say it, but this hotel needs some love…and perhaps a good handyman. Our room is an accessible room for hubby. On first glance, it’s adequate, with space between furniture and grab bars in the bathroom. That’s only the first glance. Blink once more, and there are a few issues for both the mobile and mobility-challenged . First, although the bathroom features plenty of grab bars, the toilet is too low, and accessible toilets require taller seats. The shampoo bar is too high, and there’s no pull-down seat in the tub. Those in wheelchairs would require a different room, and most mobility-challenged people can’t reach up to access the shampoo bar. ...

The Polite Traveler

Search This Blog