Eight4Nine Bootlegger Tiki
Artwork, bright pink accents
and an eclectic mix of light
fixtures bring to life the
minimalist, modern white
walls, tables and chairs at
Eight4Nine, which opened
in 2015 in Palm Springs’
first U.S. post office. The
gallery-like space in the
Uptown Design District fea-
tures a main dining room,
private rooms, a lounge and
mountain view-patio where
an eclectic lineup of West
Coast-influenced modern
American cuisine is served.
Start with a roasted beet
or pear salad or shoyu pork
belly, then continue with
poke, grilled scallops, bar-
becued oysters, lobster mac
and cheese, honey-glazed
duck breast, grilled lamb
flank steak salad, Willa Jean’s
Fried Chicken or Marsala pork
tenderloin, all made from
scratch with the freshest
ingredients.
(eight4nine.com) In a building that once housed Don
the Beachcomber, a restaurant
established back in the 1950s, the
team behind popular Ernest Coffee
opened Bootlegger Tiki in 2014. In
fact, the bar and adjacent cafe—
which serves Stumptown coffee
and pastries in the morning then
turns into a wine bar at night—share
an outdoor patio and scenic moun-
tain vistas. At Bootlegger, woven
bamboo walls and pictures of hula
girls accent the dimly lit space with
a speakeasy vibe. The handcrafted
tropical cocktails are as creatively
named as they are tasty, with mon-
ikers like Lost at Sea, Acid Drop,
Islay Zombie and Paradise Lost.
Drinks made with rum, gin, vodka,
brandy, whiskey and mezcal are on
the lineup including three variations
of mai tai. Sip while you snack on
a bowl of banana chips, beef jerky,
Sriracha popcorn or flavored nuts.
And, for the brave, punch bowls are
available if that glass seems too
small. (bootleggertiki.com)
Moxie Palm Springs
ACQUA CALIFORNIA BISTRO
The owners of the popular Lulu California Bistro, Jerry and Barbara Keller, recently
opened a second “sister restaurant”: Acqua California Bistro at The River at
Rancho Mirage. With views of the Santa Rosa Mountains, Acqua California Bistro
is located in the space once occupied by the Kellers’ first restaurant, Acqua Pazza,
and most recently by B.B.’s at The River. Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, the
extensive menu includes dishes like Meatloaf a la Arturo (named for the chef),
ahi tuna on crispy won ton tostadas and hand-spun cotton candy. From a three-
course Sunday brunch to a raw oyster bar, a vegetarian menu and a gluten-free
menu that includes pizza and beer, this is a sure bet for picky guests. (acquaran-
chomirage.com)
The Fox and Fiddle
An upscale pub, offering bar favorites like fried pickles and calamari as well
as Canadian dishes like poutine, The Fox and Fiddle opened in February at
The River at Rancho Mirage shopping center. A wide range of British-style
fare can be found on the menu, from a Scotch egg to fish and chips, bangers
and mash, shepherd’s pie and desserts like sticky toffee pudding. Diners
can also choose from a selection of salads, flatbreads, burgers (including
beef, turkey, lamb or portobello mushroom), sandwiches (turkey, roast beef,
Cubano or BLT), nachos, chicken wings and, of course, beer, wine and hand-
crafted cocktails. (foxandfiddlecalifornia.com) PC
44
PAC I FI C COAST
PAC I F I CCOAST M AG.CO M
te
A brand-new rooftop bar and lounge, Moxie
Palm Springs—situated above the new
Broken Yolk Cafe on South Palm Canyon
Drive—features views of downtown and the
mountains beyond in a garden-like setting
with faux grass floor, large stone fireplace and
fire pit. Life-size games of Connect Four and
Jenga are among the diversions outside, while
live music is presented on an indoor stage
Thursday through Sunday nights, and sports
games are shown on eight big-screen TVs.
Beer, wine and craft cocktails with names like
Bramble Smash, The Palm Canyon and Brass
Monkey are served alongside flatbreads,
salads, bar bites including street tacos and
grilled shrimp in a jicama taco shell, and
larger plates of pulled pork nachos and cev-
iche avocado stacks to share with friends
while toasting a night on the town.
(moxiepalmsprings.com)