Within the past few years, Palm Springs has become a small business hotspot, especially for new restaurants. In response to Editor Jake’s prompt, Blogger Sara decided to share, in her opinion, the coolest small business restaurants in her hometown of Palm Springs.

By Sara Habibipour

Kreem Ice Cream + Coffee

170 E Palm Canyon Dr #8822, Palm Springs, CA

If I was given the choice on where to go out for ice cream, my number one choice would be Kreem, a small, in-house creamery a few minutes away from the Ace Hotel. What I like about their ice cream is that it’s refreshing and that they offer vegan coconut-milk based options as well. They rotate their flavors, but some of them include lemon meringue pie, rosemary, ube, and turmeric-ginger. They also serve coffee and soda floats! I think this unique variety of flavors and options–that you can’t get at Ben and Jerry’s or Cold Stone–is what makes Kreem a stand-out destination.

Gabino’s Creperie

170 E Palm Canyon Dr #4, Palm Springs, CA 92264

I’ve never been to Gabino’s Creperie, but it seems to be such an interesting place! It’s a small, family-owned business that serves savory crepes. For example, Chicken Pesto Crepes and BBQ Chicken crepes. It also appears to be next to Kreem, so, hey, get a crepe and go get some ice cream one day. This business seems to appeal to the innovative and aesthetic foods that the younger generation is so interested in nowadays, so I see them becoming more and more popular in the valley. 

Aspen Mills

555 S Sunrise Way # 101, Palm Springs, CA 92264

I. LOVE. ASPEN. MILLS. 

If you’re ever craving a sandwich, go to this place! All the sandwiches are delicious. If you like tuna go for the Newporter! They also have a bakery, so you can buy fresh bread and baked goods. In addition to being hit by COVID, they actually suffered from a fire and had to renovate their kitchen and restaurant. So, if you’re looking to go support a local business, head to Aspen Mills! All of the Palm Springs locals love it. And, the staff is so kind!

Nature’s Cafe

555 S Sunrise Way UNIT 301, Palm Springs, CA 92264

Are you vegan or vegetarian (or maybe not and you still like that kind of food)? If so, you have to visit Nature’s Cafe. It’s an exclusively vegetarian/vegan cafe and juice bar that serves just about anything you could desire. Veggie burgers, stir fry, protein shakes, blue algae juices…they have it all! I’ve been going there for the past few years, and every time I go there seems to be more and more people! It’s definitely a booming business in Palm Springs that’s worth checking out! It’s also in a vegetarian/vegan health store, so you can pick up groceries while you wait for your food! 

Great Shakes

160 S Palm Canyon Dr A, Palm Springs, CA 92262

Last but certainly not least… 

Great Shakes. 

Pure awesomeness (if you have a sweet tooth, that is). 

Located in Downtown Palm Springs, this business has been growing greatly within the past couple years, especially during the summer heat when tourists and locals look for a refresher. They even have tiny signature donuts around the straws!

Up-and-Coming Businesses Editor: Jake Sonderman