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Counter Reformation

4.5 (193 reviews)
Closed • Closed

Counter Reformation Photos

COUNTER REFORMATION ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Moderate noise
Hipster
Romantic
Intimate

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Recommended Reviews - Counter Reformation

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Nijole T.

I just love the atmosphere and vibe here! Staff is so wonderful and welcoming, very fun to talk to. They are also very informative and really know about their wine and products they sell. They have unique varieties you cannot find elsewhere, great speak, easy vibe! Located inside of the park, Palm Springs, this is an ideal spot for a nightcap while staying at the hotel, highly recommended!

Scallops
Elizabeth Y.

This place is a hidden gem! Probably one of the best and most unique restaurants in Palm Springs! It's a small bar that seats about a dozen ppl. Hidden way inside the Parker Hotel. It's first come, first serve. They don't take reservations but when we arrived, there was no wait. Food was excellent! Loved every dish we tried, including the lobster bolognese on chopsticks, foie gras macaron (our favorite!), caviar quail egg and more! Excellent service too and prices were very reasonable!

Citrus donuts with caviar. Love the presentation.  Want the hands!
Brian M.

Like others point out this is a wine bar so no spirits other than wine and limited beer. There are no tables. There is simply a bar. The ambiance is wonderful and the theme is carried out well. The bar stools, while attractive leave much to be desired. While visually impactful they seem flimsy and are difficult to maneuver in and out of. The overall setting of Parker is an experience as a one of a kind boutique hotel. You really must take the entire place in. The food was very well done. In true tapas style we ordered five items and were pleased with each one, some more than others, but each enjoyable. We did not peruse the wine selections but a nice Rioja was available so that was my choice. The service was very well established and obviously a major focus of the entire experience at the hotel and Counter Reformation. One suggestion...everything on he menu cannot be "my favorite" and "the best". While it is all very good and this place will be on my return lists for the area it would be good to have an honest assessment as service teams should have their opinions and personal tastes reliably valued but now I'm knit picking.

Bar
Krystle C.

Celebrated our 9 yrs anniversary in Palm Springs and since my husband is not into fancy Michelin star type of meals, I had to meet him in the middle. I booked a reservation online, it's a wine bar located inside Parker hotel. You walk by the Parker lobby and out to get here and it is beautiful. The wine bar itself is tiny, about 10-12 bar seats? But romantic and cozy. We ordered the ff: Jamon Iberico- 5/5 - generous portion of jamon, the pan con tomate balances the dish. Garlic & prawns - 5/5 delicious. Escargot cassolette- 4/5- it's good, tastes as expected. Really hot though, burned my tongue so be careful. Pastel de bacalao-5/5- I've had plenty of bacalaos and love that this dish was simple made perfectly well. The fish battered and lightly fried. Caviar and donuts- 4.5/5- perfect way to end our meal, sweet with a touch of savory. I love caviar so any dish with it is a winner for me. The food was paced well, and our server recommended the best wine to pair with our dishes. Laura our bartender/server was attentive and knowledgeable. I had an amazing night here and can't wait to go back.

Wine from Armenia on the menu, bravo!
Sarin P.

What an adventurous dining experience... Walking through the lobby out the double french doors we were greeted by an associate from the Parker. He kindly walked us over via a hidden pathway to the doorstep of Counter Reformation. And this my friends, is where the magic started. Upon entry, you see a complete bar set up with two confessionals in the back and a love bench to your left. We opted for high bar seating and eagerly browsed the menu (although I admit I did preview the menu on Yelp a few days in advance). We started our wines from white to red: Txakoli (poured the traditional way), Albarino, and Tempranillo. We also sampled the Areni (red) from Armenia. Kudos to the sommelier for adding this wine from Areni-1 winery, which is a 6100-year-old winery discovered in the Areni-1 cave. Food items ordered: 1) Seared Bay Scallops - 3/5, interesting bottarga/champagne rosemary dipping sauce 2) Jamon Iberico - 5/5, tasted just the way I remembered it in Spain, the pan con tomate was dangerously good as well 3) Charred Black Pepper Beef Carpaccio - 5/5, personally loved this! But if you are averse to raw meat, approach with caution. It is very flavorful and the truffle chimichurri leaves you begging for more. 4) Truffle & Fontina Club - 5/5, grilled cheese but make it classy as hell wrapped up in black truffle I wish we had room for more! The presentation of each dish was great. I felt like I was at the chef's tasting table. Really a wonderful experience. Our host/waitress/bartender was so well versed with the menu (both dinner and wine) and provided great feedback/suggestions to our inquiries. I will definitely be coming back here as it seems they rotate items on their menu. Reservations are a must and can be easily obtained via Open Table.

Michelle I.

Would have given 2.5 stars but it's not an option. I do hold Counter Reformation to a high standard based on previous visits. This is (was) my favorite spot in Palm Springs. Sadly, it is not what it used to be. Went a few months back, waited to review to make sure I still felt the same. First things first, I've been going to Counter Reformation since 2017 or so. It's always been the best experience. I've made reservation and also just walked in. It was always packed. If we needed to wait for a seat, we would gladly wait. This new process is ridiculous. Having to pay for your seat on top of your meal?! I understand fees for last minute cancelations or using those $30 pp toward your meal. But just charging and additional $30 per person to be able to sit and then pay for you dinner is too much. Not even 3 Michelin star restaurants do this. Ambiance- It always felt very welcoming and lively. Everyone was always engaged and attentive. Recommending wines and different pairings. This is no longer the case. servers seemed very disengaged. Only interacting with a small group who told them they were restaurant reviewers. I understand keeping them happy, but what about the rest of us. It's a wine BAR and I trying to call the servers attention for a while to get a second glass of wine. Food- They eliminated the best dish on the menu, the caviar Quail egg toast. I'm all for changing it up, but you've got to leave the things that are working for you. Nothing truly memorable on this new menu. The pork belly beignets, were a little bland and too sweet to be a middle course. We had to send the oysters back, just inedible. There was this one dish we really liked (pictured below). Wanted to order more food, but since we couldn't get their attention on time, they started cleaning up to end service. We were never told of a last call for food or anything. Their attention was completely on the other group with the "restaurant reviewer" Would give it another (reluctant) try, when they have a new menu and eliminate that reservation process.

Me before I died on the toilet
Makena S.

A stunning secret little spot in Palm Springs that had impeccable decor and absolutely lovely staff. My friend and I loved the little confession booth and as a graphic designer, I was obsessed with their attention to detail with the branding and menu. The bartender recommended some nice wine for us to pair with the food we ordered. Food was phenomenal and we ate it all super quickly. My own complaint would be that the beef carpaccio gave me severe diarrhea throughout the night after our dinner date only a few hours prior. I have eaten raw meat such as beef carpaccio before and had no issues before. Maybe a bad batch? Just don't order that and you will have a great night!

Caviar Donuts #wtf
Soleil B.

One of my favorite places to go in PS. It's all so special. Make sure you get the inside scoop on the bread/butter from the staff. And the confessionals! #onestopshop

Deena I.

Pretty cool place! Located in a hotel. It is just a bar with seating at the bar. Their drink menu has wine. They have food options, mostly small bites but lots of meat and vegetarian options. I wasnt familiar with any of their wines but the bartender was pretty knowledgeable and helped me figure out what to order. Their food is pretty and tastes really good. Food comes out pretty quickly. The ambience is cool. Small space but accommodates quite a few people because of the bar seating arrangement. Because of how small the space is the noise level can get pretty high but I didn't mind it. Pretty cool place, will be back.

This is the wine, and the good lighting.
Geoff B.

So sorry. I know it would be very 'uncool' to say anything negative about this place... but allow me to be the 'uncool' guy. I've travelled the world and have eaten at ma and pa Restaurants in the most questionable parts of the planet. I know how good food tastes... Did you travel too? Do you love this place? If you do I bet all the places you travelled to 99% of your meals were at the Four Seasons in that country or at some safe tourist recommended places, and hence you don't really know what real food tastes like.. sorry... If you have travelled and know what you are talking about then i suggest you go here for two plates just so you know what's considered the best on the planet Is a joke. Music here was good and the food is fine but it's a bit of a pretentious joke. Sorry.

Entrance
Erica H.

The ambiance is amazing at CR. The staff at the resort is very welcoming and the restaurant service was on point. Reminder this is a wine bar so beer and wine are only available at this venue on the property. The small plates were delicious and we tried many. It was a great spot for an intimate setting.

Baguette n butter

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4 months ago

Immaculate vibes, service and food. This is the best dining experience on the property. No notes!

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1 year ago

My favorite restaurant in Palm Springs. We ordered almost every item and had a wine pairing and it was fantastic. Amazing for a date night.

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Counter Reformation Reviews in Other Languages

Ask the Community - Counter Reformation

Is Counter Reformation open on LABOR DAY (Monday, 9/2) in the evening?

Is it possible to make reservations? Also, what is the dress code? Thanks in advance! :)

Yes! Check out open table (the app) for reservations. Dress code was causal and classy.

Are minors allowed?

Is not a place for kids. The whole sitting area is a bar ( hence the name- a " counter")

Can you bring your own bottle of champagne and what's the corkage fee?

Hello Timo R., No, we do not allow any wines to be brought in. The good news is that our wine is… 

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Ash & Vine - Scallop risotto & Rigatoni

Ash & Vine

4.8(93 reviews)
3.2 mi

Ash & Vine has such an intimate, welcoming atmosphere. We came without a reservation, and the staff…read morekindly found us a table. The service was friendly throughout--even the cooks said goodbye as we left, which was such a sweet touch. We ordered the Young Herb Salad, Butterflied Branzino, Ribeye Aguachile, and finished with the chocolate-espresso Panna Cotta. I especially appreciated that the branzino didn't have a single bone, making it so easy to enjoy. The ribeye was generously portioned and beautifully presented. A lovely spot for a relaxed dinner or an intimate date night. There's free street parking nearby if you're lucky enough to find a space!

Very nice restaurant with a local vibe. Setting is in a house and has an intimate feel. The service…read morewas friendly and works hard. The wine menu is good and got a Cabernet. 1. Dumplings - good tomato sauce, bacon gave lots of flavor 2. Sloppy joes - fun do it yourself. Good amount of beef and fluffy bread. Delicious. Not too salty. 3. Filet - too much salt on the filet. Good flavor but a bit dry. Veggies had a bit too much salt as well. 4. Panna cotta - best one I've had. Creative with the different design and loads of fruit. Would come back just for this! Overall 4.25 stars for an excellent evening where the only miss was the salt level for the steak.

Photos
Ash & Vine - This space has so much ambience, romance and deliciousness. Great experience

This space has so much ambience, romance and deliciousness. Great experience

Ash & Vine - Short Rib Benny

Short Rib Benny

Ash & Vine - Raviolone Pasta

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Raviolone Pasta

Clandestino - Taco

Clandestino

4.6(888 reviews)
3.4 mi
•$$

I came here this evening and honestly ended up having a really good experience. When I first got…read morehere, there was about a 45-minute wait for a table for one. After waiting around 20 minutes, I decided to just grab a seat at the bar, and I'm actually glad I did. There was no wait, and even though the restaurant was packed, my food came out really fast. Jon was my primary server. He was polite but was not attentive, I didn't feel like we connected much during the meal. The front staff was very friendly, though, and helped me with some recommendations. I ordered the guacamole with chips and salsa, fried whole jalapeño, chile relleno, and rice and beans. Everything was fresh, flavorful, and well seasoned. The guacamole was really good, the rice and beans had a lot of flavor, and the fried jalapeño with the habanero sauce had just the right amount of heat. If you like spicy food, I'd definitely recommend trying it. The chile relleno was recommended by Alvaro, and he told me it reminds him of his grandma whenever he eats it. I really liked hearing that because it made the recommendation feel personal, and he was absolutely right, it was delicious. Huge shoutout to Alvaro. He wasn't even my primary server, but he kept an eye on me, checked in, helped with recommendations, and made sure everyone around the bar was taken care of. He was just genuinely friendly and easy to talk to, and that stood out to me. For dessert, I tried the Pan de Elote for the first time, again on Alvaro's recommendation. I had never tried it before, but trust me, hands down, it was really good. I'm glad he convinced me to give it a try because it was the perfect way to finish the meal. The kitchen deserves a shoutout too. Everything came out cooked well and looked great. The restaurant is clean, nicely decorated, and has both indoor and outdoor seating, and I thought the prices were pretty reasonable. I've been to a few highly rated places around Palm Springs that looked great on paper but didn't quite live up to the reviews, so it was nice to finally have a meal that actually delivered. Good food, good atmosphere, and genuinely nice people. Alvaro definitely made the experience more memorable!!!!

I rarely leave negative reviews, but unfortunately, our experience at Clandestino was…read moredisappointing, especially considering we were celebrating my birthday. My partner took me here for my birthday weekend, and the evening started off wonderfully. We ordered an appetizer and drinks, enjoyed the atmosphere, and were looking forward to a great dinner. Unfortunately, the service took a noticeable turn after we ordered our entrees. After finishing my first drink, approximately 20 minutes passed without anyone checking on our table. We were seated outside, and there wasn't a server nearby to flag down. When our entrees finally arrived, they were quickly dropped off by someone other than our server, without anyone checking whether we needed anything else. I specifically asked that person to send our server over because I wanted another drink, and another five minutes passed before someone, possibly a manager or lead, finally approached us. By that point, I had been waiting approximately 25-30 minutes just to order another drink. There were two cocktails on the menu I wanted to try, so I asked for both. His response was curt and surprisingly uncomfortable: "We don't usually do two drinks because it looks like we're overserving." I completely understand and respect a restaurant's responsibility to serve alcohol responsibly. My issue wasn't necessarily with the policy itself, but with how it was communicated. His tone felt dismissive and almost reprimanding, as though I'd done something inappropriate simply by asking to order two cocktails. I'd only had one drink up to that point, was enjoying a full meal, and had given no indication that I was intoxicated. What made the interaction particularly frustrating was that the restaurant's lack of attentiveness had created the situation in the first place. Had someone checked on our table regularly, I likely would have ordered another cocktail much earlier. Instead, after nearly half an hour of waiting, I was made to feel uncomfortable for requesting two drinks when someone finally appeared. It was also a little confusing considering the restaurant offers a margarita flight on its own menu. While I understand that's not necessarily equivalent to two full cocktails, it does make the response feel somewhat inconsistent with the experience the restaurant promotes. A more hospitality-focused response could have been as simple as, "Absolutely, let's start with one and I'll check back shortly to see if you're ready for the second." That would have respected the restaurant's policy while still making me feel like a valued guest. We spent approximately 2.5 hours at the restaurant, and I don't think wanting to enjoy two or three cocktails over the course of a birthday dinner is particularly unreasonable. Ultimately, this was disappointing because the evening started so positively. The food and atmosphere were enjoyable, and I genuinely wanted to love this restaurant. Unfortunately, the extended gaps in service and the unnecessarily uncomfortable interaction overshadowed what should have been a special occasion. Hospitality is about more than serving good food. It's also about making guests feel welcomed, comfortable, and taken care of. Unfortunately, that wasn't our experience, and I don't see us returning.

Photos
Clandestino - The Bar Area

The Bar Area

Clandestino - Fried Squash Blossoms

Fried Squash Blossoms

Clandestino - Margarita flight

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Margarita flight

The Front Porch - Lemon Ricotta Cake

The Front Porch

4.7(358 reviews)
3.2 mi
•$$

SHORT ANSWER: Yes in many ways…read more LOCATION: on the corner next to FARM, so a fall back if you do not have FARM reservations and hate disappointment of being turned away. FACILITY: Small, limited seating indoors with very nice, fun, outdoor seating areas. Love this place. MENU: Simple, easy to understand, great photos online if you have any questions. FOOD PREP: Very well done, like professional in just how it looks. FOOD QUALITY: Professional in how it also tastes... Watermelon Gazpacho was perfect with drinks prior to main. LIBATIONS: drinks and bartender were excellent, fun, and the photo print was very cool. WAITSTAFF: just so nice, and fun making the experience all that much better. We have been enjoying The Plaza Theater so spending a little more time in Palm Springs and this will be one of our favorites places to relax prior to an event. OVERALL VALUE: Good, but it is Palm Springs, outdoors, great locations, classy.. no, not inexpensive but well worth it. TIP: I'd say be nice, be patient, and you will get a table. Don't be an angry rude touron, we don't need that vibe and we see some of that in PS.. You can try for reservations, not sure if they take off season.

Had lunch at The Front Porch in Palm Springs. We had the Italian sandwich, ahi tacos, and the…read moremelted Brie with nuts on top served with fig jam and pears. Food was really good - the Brie with fig jam and pears was delicious and the ahi tacos were fresh and flavorful. Italian sandwich was solid too. Giving 4 stars because service wasn't top notch. Overall great spot downtown at 117 La Plaza, would come back for the food and cocktails.

Photos
The Front Porch - Indoor sitting area.

Indoor sitting area.

The Front Porch - Banana Brûlée

Banana Brûlée

The Front Porch - Italian on gluten free bread, very yummy !

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Italian on gluten free bread, very yummy !

V Wine Lounge & Martini Bar

V Wine Lounge & Martini Bar

4.5(161 reviews)
3.1 mi
•$$

Always an amazing experience at V Wine Lounge! Such a beautiful, relaxing atmosphere and the…read moreperfect place to enjoy a great glass of wine and most amazing martinis! My husband and I came over two months ago and were blown away with how welcomed we felt. We are now regulars and have met the most amazing friends here. James and his staff are the absolute best!! V Wine Lounge is definitely a great spot for date night, a night out with friends, or simply unwinding. Come out and join us!!!

I was here last week for an event hosted by the PalmSpringsGuy last week. I've seen this place…read morenumerous of time but actually never been. Well, it was finally time to try it out. It's part of a little strip mall with a few other business. The parking situation was a little confusing as we didn't know if you were allowed to park at any of the spots. Some were reserved while some didn't have anything assigned to them. Afterwards we did find out that you were allowed to park there. Street parking is also available if needed. The place is quite nice and literally down the street from the main downtown strip. Also around the corner for the casino. There's a massive patio seating but with the summer heat, no one was outside .Right when you walk in, there's a cute seating area before heading straight to the bar. Main bar as you walk in as well as second bar towards the back area. It's a full bar so whatever you like, it could be made. As we were here for an event, a meet and greet with everyone was perfect for this place. Drinks were rolling and people enjoying getting to know each other. A nice concept to make new friends in the area. Besides wine and cocktails, there's beer as well as food. I didn't get a chance to check the menu but food was supplied at the event. Flatbread were brought out as well as hummus and crudités. Let me say, the selections of flatbread that was served was great. So many different selections and flavors to go around. They were quite nice. The indoor area is an open concept with loads of tables and comfy couches places throughout like seating areas. We also found out that certain nights they offer karaoke. Plus happy hours happens nightly. The crowd for the event was great but being able to check out new places that Palm Springs has to offer was great. It's a place thats perfect for mingling with friends, popping in for a drink or just lounging with a nice glass of wine. Grab some food if you want as they have a good selection on the menu. When the weather allows it, it's perfect for an evening on the patio. This place is now a must for us as it was great. A fun place for a nice glass of wine or cocktails. Glad we finally tried it out. Also, the staff were all amazing and the sweetest. Highly recommend.

Photos
V Wine Lounge & Martini Bar - Party time with a  large Charcuterie table at the V Wine Lounge and Martini Bar.

Party time with a large Charcuterie table at the V Wine Lounge and Martini Bar.

V Wine Lounge & Martini Bar - Sunset from the patio

Sunset from the patio

V Wine Lounge & Martini Bar - Chocolate Martini

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Chocolate Martini

Counter Reformation - wine_bars - Updated October 2026

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