I took a couple of friends here to treat them to their first desert date shake - and we were pleasantly surprised! The food was pretty good and everything was appropriately sized. The main dish that WOWed me was the stuffed dates. The way that blue cheese meshed with the saltiness of the meat, spice of the jalapeño, and the sweetness of the date was perfect. Make that a must! Everything else was good too, but I wouldn't call them flavor explosions. After our meal, we were able to walk around the gardens which was a cool sight to see. Give this place a try if you want to see where these magical dates come from! read more

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Um..... bizarre in a strange Bible Belt Midwest way. I came here hoping for a tour of the date gardens with an emphasis on the history of Shields, Date production, harvesting and propagation etc, and none of this was part of the grounds tour. Instead you walk through a biblical story in time complete with concrete Jesus statues, plaques on the glory of god, the importance of Psalms, crosses embedded in the walking paths, and at the end of the tour you get to say goodbye to an impaled life sized rendition of Jesus on the cross. It was so weird, and completely unrelated to dates that we walked away baffled. Trust us folks, this one is easy to miss and don't waste your time unless you want to walk through a storybook on the importance of Jesus. read more

This was our first stop in Palm Springs, and what a sweet welcome to the desert! We were hungry after our flight and decided to try the famous date shakes. While you can't choose the size, for $10, you get a huge serving that's both sweet and filling--definitely worth it! Made with date crystals, ice cream, and milk, they're now served out of soft serve machines, which is a great way to speed up the process. The place has a large gift shop full of date products--anything you could ever imagine! We also picked up a date tray with stuffed dates (filled with walnuts and rolled in coconut)--definitely a treat to take home. One of the best parts was the garden in the back where you can roam around while sipping on your shake and enjoy the beautiful date trees. It was a peaceful spot to relax and take in the sights. If you're in Palm Springs, this place is a must-visit for an authentic desert experience! read more

Every time I have eaten at Shield's the food has been amazing! After, we always walk our dog, Peanut on the short paved trail through the date farm. read more

Shields Date Garden - Tuna, mango, cucumber, seaweed salad and pickled ginger stack - Fruits & Veggies Near Me - Indio, California

Delicious breakfast in an iconic landmark. We enjoyed "the walk"- glad these monuments found a second home. Tasty date treats for souvenirs too! read more

What more can be said about Shields Date Garden after over 100 years in business? It's an institution in Indio and a place I always yearn to go to when I'm craving a date shake, which is quite often by the way. Sipping on the legendary shake while driving back to LA just makes that very boring drive tolerable. It is delicious and unique and tastes like a century of experience with dates went into it. If you go around Palm Desert and Palm Springs you will notice many many shops serving date shakes as well but it's because they're capitalizing on Shields fame and just remember this is the place where it started and they still make it the best. Get yourself one and sip on it while walking around their 17 acre date grove and you will be in a true desert paradise. read more

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This is definitely worth the hype. It is unlike any shake I have had, almost has a malty taste but in its own way. The gift shop where you purchase is really cute as well and you can make a whole day out of walking the farm! read more

Shields Date Garden - Shields' World Famous Date Shake - Fruits & Veggies Near Me - Indio, California

We drove here from Hemet for the date shake Ended up having lunch at the restaurant which is an outdoor patio I had the Carne Asada tacos and my girlfriend had the chicken tacos Both were really good We shared 1 date shake and it was excellent Service was great. Had live music. It was a very relaxing experience We will go back again read more

This place is a hoot. Americana has so many kitsch roadside attractions and Shields Date Garden, which has a shop, eating venues, and a little theater, is no exception. This venue is in Indio, California. The reason I decided to go out this way was because there was one of the Coachella Valley's few urgent care providers that was on my in-network list according to my insurer, and, when I got there, the list was no longer valid and they wouldn't see me. However, I had gone to Shields Date Garden before looking for the urgent care place, so it took off some of the frustration with the insurer and the urgent care place. First, I immediately noticed that Shields Date Garden has been in operation for 100 years. I asked an employee when their actual birthday was or would be. He said they opened on Christmas Day. That's great! Happy birthday and Merry Christmas. Upon arriving, the parking lot is ample. The store looks sort of wide, and that's because there is a little theater as well as places to eat. The theater's program is about the "romance and sex life" of dates. I'm not joking. Dates are actually "gendered." The little theater looked hokey and I didn't have time, but it's interesting for those looking for an easy to grasp science lesson. Note that the Shields Date Garden cafe' only serves breakfast and lunch, so it closes at 2:00 p.m. However, there are exceptions, and there is a Taco Tuesday option available at slightly later hours. Shields Date Garden's store has many packaged renditions and groupings of dates. There are also many types of dates, just like there are many types of oranges and lemons. The most common date is the "Medjool," which rhymes with "pasta fazool," the incorrect and more Jersey Shore name for pasta with fagioli. The package pricing is high but, then, dates are never cheap as they are an exotic fruit that seemingly has been elevated to delicacy status. My parents liked them a lot while I thought they had a weird appearance and consistency. As I ate more of them, I came to like them. There are smaller and less expensive gift packages of dates if you look for them. There are also plenty of gift items, be it apparel, trinkets, postcards, etc. Store employees are definitely helpful, but, if it's busy, you have to work at getting their attention and your questions answered. Inside the main store is what looks like a counter from an old fashioned malt shop. They serve some food as well as beverages. They tout their famed date shake. Note that it is $9.95, but it is big and filling. It's also creamy and tasty. It probably has nutritional value since dates are, for the most part, good for you. Now, if I was a resident of the Coachella Valley, their price hikes described in other reviews might have me scratching my head ... and it's already why I'm not giving them 5 stars. Do not miss the date garden in the back. As you look at it from the parking lot, you would almost expect a camel to saunter by. It looks like something from Egypt or Morocco, but it's also true to form for the Desert Southwest. The garden is quite large and has a path, with many marked shrubs and water features. Note that there is religious symbolism along the path, obviously steeped in Catholicism, but keep in mind the history and demographics of this area, and the fact that it was created a long time ago. I say, "If you don't like it, lump it" ... in that case, you don't have to go into the date garden, which is free of charge to begin with. I will always chuckle at the fact that I've been to Shields Date Garden in Indio, California. I've known about it for a while. Not only that, it reminded me that dates are a really tasty sort of "Mediterranean" food and I was able to finally tick off trying a date shake, which was better than I had expected. read more

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Cool place to take a stroll in garden and palm tree garden.. informative film about history of shields garden and date palm groves-production.. free to stroll the 30 minute walks. Cafe closes by 2pm - 6pm w-sun. .. we did the date coffee milkshake and date samples .. All tasty read more

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We've been coming to the desert for many years but this is our first time to Shields. I mainly was trying to find a place to buy the huge Red Flame grapes that I bring home every trip. The COD Street Fair doesn't operate in the heat of the summer and we didn't want to go all the way up to Hadley's and this is the produce stand that came up in our search. I left with $65 worth of dried fruit, nuts, ice cream and a shake. Super cute place but didn't check out the cafe and gardens this time. read more

The service was great, Chef made me breakfast special that was no longer on the menu; it was okay. read more

Super cool and cute place to pop in for a date shake. It's about $10 which was a little much so my husband and I simply shared. They have lots of cute merch to shop in store and there's even a theater which shares their history. Lovely spot! read more

Run down tourist trap. I live in Palm Desert and went to finally check it out and couldn't be more disappointed. The variety of dates I bought were ok at best. Btw why are the marzipan dates $4 more in store than online? Plus an extra fee for not paying cash. Who pays cash anymore? This place is price gouging at its finest. read more

Always fun to go and see all the fun items. Generational visitors now. Miss the movie. read more

Shields Date Garden - Next generation visiting - Fruits & Veggies Near Me - Indio, California

FOR SERIOUS, on my honor, you go to Palm Springs, you get the date shake. The line may be long but it is that way for a VERY good reason and it moves fast. It tastes more like a milkshake than a smoothie, but it dare I say BETTER than a milkshake or at least as good as the best milkshake you've ever had. And I do milkshakes. Separate from that, they have a really cute old theater on the far side of the store that explains about the history of the farm and how dates are grown, worth the watch and nice and quiet and dark if you're a little overwhelmed from being on the road for a while and need to sip in peace. 10/10!!! read more

Drove out to La Quinta this morning to visit long time friend. We arrived it was 102 it felt hotter. We had a big discussion on where to eat, nobody felt like cooking or dealing with going out. So we decided on a date shakes from Shield's and in&out burgers. YUM. The parking lot wasn't full like it usually is at Shield's.We were greeted by Mason as we entered. My friend Peter went up ordered 3 shakes from friendly Mason. My wife picked up a couple 1 lb containers of their delicious dates. Mason made our special shakes and checked us out after about 15 minutes of browsing Shields in a way is like going back in time very easy going We got back to Peter's in about 30 minutes. my first taste of my shake couldn't have been any better, it was so thick and creamy it barely came through my straw. If you've never had the pleasure of enjoying a Shields Date Shake you're missing out. It made my I & O double double even better. read more

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Want to see some of the history of Indio And grab a cooling date shake? This place will not disappoint. You can walk in the garden and see dates growing on the palm trees. Pretty cool read more

The garden was closed when we were there, but even if they hadn't been, it was hot and we wouldn't have walked through them. The date shakes, though? Delicious!! The shop was well staffed and they moved us through line quickly. The shop also sells all kinds of intriguing date products in addition to some fun souvenirs. Definitely worth the few minutes drive off the highway! read more

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i've been to shields a few times in my life now whenever i'm in palm springs and i think it's a lovely little stop :) there's also a little outdoor art museum nearby as well. the date shakes are really yummy & i love how there's an area you can walk around. the service is rlly nice is so is the ambience because there's a lot of outdoor seating. the food is pretty decent, nothing crazy but if you're feeling peckish you won't be mad about the food. read more

Shields Date Garden - Side Salad - Fruits & Veggies Near Me - Indio, California

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Palm Springs favorite. Date shakes are an absolute must!!!! Cute store with all kinds of gifts and snacks. read more

Visited Shields today and bought some yummy Medjool dates. My hubby was wearing his military cap and they asked him for his military ID and gave us a nice discount. There is a lovely outdoor patio serving what looked like an interesting menu. We had already eaten or we definitely would have tried it. There was also live music and a beautiful garden. Well worth a visit! read more

I have been coming here since I was born.....literally with my parents and as an adult. I have so many fond memories of this place and love the fact they did not ruin it like Hadley's did by renovating the place. It still looks the same inside as it always has which is a great thing...The biblical walk is awesome as a new addition also. I really hate giving this place a 1 star review but charging $10 for a shake is an insult.....Seriously no amount of inflation should justify that kind of stupid price for shake......They literally have doubled this price in the last few years for this shake....No more date shakes for me from this place....... read more

We were there December 8, 2025 in Indio CA I was going to do the date shake and it was busy so I tried the ice cream dates. Double scoop for 8 dollars. Well worth it and actually better than the date shake experience. Lots of dates in that ice cream. Not sure how good the ice cream would compare to a quality ice cream but didn't matter since there was a lot of date bits in it. Thus, ice cream was a secondary consideration. Analogy would be going to Costco and getting their soft serve ice cream with a flavoring. read more

Got the Churro waffle with sausage and a side of eggs (gotta have salty with my sweet). This place is consistent and seems to get better. BEST FOOD! BEST SERVICE! GOOD VIBES! read more

What a lovely place . Been living here for 18 years with my son and never visited once, nor my fiancé whom was born here in the Coachella valley. I loved the walk and how the walk relates the story of our King Jesus Christ , so beautiful I definitely fell in love with it. To me it was a gem so Many times I passed through there and finally visited. Staff seemed very welcoming too. Thank you, see you soon ... read more

I have my share of date shake and I have to say, this is the best damn one of them I have ever had! Smooth, creamy and dates mince tiny for an easier slurp! Gotta stop here if in the area!!!! read more

Shields Date Garden - Fruits & Veggies Near Me - Indio, California

Shields is a huge date plantation which has lots of date trees and a self guided tour of their garden. It is a but off that it's mostly a religious tour which is cool but not really related to dates. Inside there is a cool theater which explains how the dates are grown as well as a cafe which sells a bunch of date related desserts including date ice cream and date shakes. I LOVE date shakes. Although it's very sweet, I still really liked it especially in the blazing hot heat. The ice cream was also really good and actually less sweet compared to the shake. Lots of chunks of dates. Overall, everyone was nice inside and the dates were delicious. Lots of cool stuff to see and the tour and walking the grounds are completely free. Lots of parking as well. Staff were all very friendly. I think it's a must see while in Palm Springs. read more

This review is concerning their latest change to the date shack. I still love the patio cafe and other date related products Since moving to SoCal in the early 1980's, Every visit to the Coachella Valley has included a visit to Shield's for my date shake fix. I have raved to friends that it is the best date shack in the valley. Unfortunately, after my latest visit, I can no longer make this claim. In the past, one would watch your custom made shake assembled ingredient by ingredient, and blended together, poured into a cup and served with a straw which included a spoon shaped end. And yes the taste was incredible. My latest visit was extremely disappointing. In realize speedy order delivery in important. Over the years, the from scratch individual shake transitioned to pre assembled, stored in the frig, but still machine blended. Still tasted fantastic. The shakes are now poured from soft serve machine and have a consistency of a thick paste. Also the look and taste has changed, and not for better. I have now removed Shield's date shake from my desert visit must do list and will no longer recommend it to others. The patio cafe is excellent. read more

shake tasted good but only drink if you want a interesting bathroom experience. wayyyy to much sugar

2 pound box of dates were marked at $13. Didn't pay much attention but when we got to the register the young man said these were marked wrong. Said he thought that's what we should be charged. He then called a woman over and she stated they were marked as a 1 pound box. Went over grabbed another 2# box and said they were fresher and we should buy those at $26. We said no we would take the $13 box. She refused to sell us the other ones at the price on the box. I said isn't it a law you have to sell something at the price marked. She said no and she could not sell them at that price Hope it was worth loosing a customer read more

Everything was fantastic! Date shake is "Out of this world!" service was timely and extremely polite!

It's an older business that has plots of date trees where you can see how they're harvested. It's DATEd lol YSWIDT? But I love independent businesses that specialize in cool produce. There are various date products and delicious ice cream and shakes! The date shakes can be flavored and their machines do a great purée mix into the ice cream. The coffee shop in the back has a great tropical green tea as well. Highlights: ice cream samples, awesome shakes and clean restrooms. Plenty of parking. read more

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Very informative short film about raising dates! Many varieties available for sale. Lovely desert garden to walk in, and I enjoyed statues of Christ throughout His life. read more

The food was amazing, along with the service! Prayer walk was closed due to palm tree work. Date shake was worth every penny!!

I've always heard that the date shake is a must when here in the desert so where better to have one than at a business that has been around almost 100 years? We came here after 4p on a Monday to an almost empty store and a convenient parking lot right in front. We wanted to see the sex of dates movie but the projector was in need of repair. We looked through the variety of date products (dried dates, stuffed dates, date sugar, cookies, etc) and headed to the counter for our date shake. $7.95 for a 21 ounce cup. An extra 50 cent charge for a cup!! Maybe 25 cents? And at the counter, there is a sign stating that the extra charge is due to inventory shortages. Sorry but this isn't right. How about selling a kids cup size and sell more? Set aside my own disdain for the extra charge, the shake is delicious but a scoop of date ice cream, I would say is even better because the scoop is chunks of dates. The guy at the counter was fairly knowledgeable about dates and gave us samples of the ice cream. Good service! Try the cafe next time and walk the garden. At 104f, we couldn't do it. Support this great local business. read more

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Food was good, I had the chilaquiles and a date pancake. I ate outside and I was very calming. Customer service was good too. read more

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the ambiance of this place was super pretty and the live music was awesome. the food was just okay! definitely come here for their date milkshake Oh em geeee so freaking gooood!!!! read more

Shields Date Garden - tuna melt - Fruits & Veggies Near Me - Indio, California

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We checked their website AND we called. "Yes, we're open" they said. Upon arriving after many miles, they told us the gardens were closed, but that we were welcome to spend money in their gift shop. read more

The menu for this place is HUGE. Im not even kidding. It was like a book. No complaints there, it just made me very indecisive in what to order. I ordered the chorizo con huevos and it was so yummy. I haven't had chorizo before, only plant based chorizo, but this was good. I may still like the plant based chorizo more just because I like the taste and texture more but this was good and spicy. The potatoes were very very good. It has a good seasoning to it. I also ordered the date shake and it was very sweet but good to try. If you are lactose intolerant I would ask if they have almond or oat milk because after finishing the drink, I got a stomach ache. I totally forgot about asking for a different milk lol (or if they offered it). Overall this place was good and I would try something else from the menu! read more

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