Bar Issi

I don't understand the low reviews for this place. Most of them seem to be diner error. READ THE ROOM. Anyways, we LOVED Bar Issi. Service was fantastic. Dylan and Milo were an incredible duo--attentive, warm, and made the experience so much fun. They made great recommendations. The decor was SO FUN. The velvet on the ceilings, bright pops of color, and a playful vibe made the whole place feel fun and lively. The food was outstanding. We started with the crispy octopus which was perfectly crispy and bursting with flavor, the special truffle linguini was rich but just right, the lamb was cooked to absolute perfection, and the pizzas were spot on. Already counting down the days until we go back!

We ate at Bar Issi on a Saturday night and had an exceptional experience. Our waiter, Dylan, was excellent! Super knowledgeable, friendly, and fun. We also had a chance to meet the Director of Operations and he was also excellent at his job. The food was so delicious. We had the Greek salad, the Cacio e Pepe, and the All Day Lamb Ragu topped off with some delicious wine selections. The atmosphere is a real vibe - we loved the wallpaper, the interesting furniture pieces, and the mosaic patio floor. We’ll be back for sure!

We are delighted to welcome you to the prettiest restaurant, recognized as a premier dining destination in Palm Springs. We pride ourselves on offering exceptional cuisine within a captivating atmosphere. Our decor, coupled with our dedicated staff, creates a unique and memorable experience. We highly encourage you to visit and discover what makes us a standout choice. You will not be disappointed.

The food was fine. The pizza was really good. My main problem was that we decided to sit at the kitchen counter and thought that would give us a seat to watch all the action in the kitchen. As you can see by my photos and videos, most of the glass is made so you can’t see a thing. So basically you’re sitting facing a wall. The one pane that is clear is in the center of the counter and barely viewable because the way the seats are setup. That has never been my experience at other restaurants sitting at the kitchen counter. In fact, quite the opposite in that it is usually open and you interact with people while watching all the kitchen excitement. The bar looked fun and I might go back again. My neighbor had a better idea and said just order the pizza as take out. It’s good pizza and you don’t have to deal with all the hype and high priced other things.

Bar Issi is a total Palm Springs vibe — bold, beautiful, and buzzing. The décor is stunning, cocktails are creative (try the Pornstar Martini!), and the food has some real highlights. Service was great and the place was packed, worth it for the scene. Go for the atmosphere and stay for the energy. Newest edition to the Palm Springs foodie scene. $$$ Must try; Hamachi yellowtail Pepperoni pizza Lamb Bolognese Pornstar Martini

Bar Issi is such an outstanding establishment! From the aesthetics, design, decor, atmosphere, the drinks, food and service. You are in for a treat! The staff is outstanding, full of personality and knowledge. The bartenders are like the green barrettes of the industry with just as much charm. The menu has the best selections of proteins, pastas and some of the best pizza I had ever had. Tonight was date night and my fiancé and I kicked it up a notch. We had a glass of bubbles accompanied by the housemade bread, hamachi crudo and oysters. Following that we had a beautiful caviar tower. For the grand finale we had the delicious Agnolotti (vegetarian) and tantalizing ribeye (x2 orders which is why it looks bigger in the picture) WOW! This is a place where your time and money are well spent! Our incredible server Linda was just as excited for our excursion and helped us to navigate the menu and was the concierge to our beautiful experience. Needless to say we will be becoming regulars. We are so happy and so satisfied. Everyone, come and give this place a try. Bring a good heart and attitude and the team will ride that positivity high with you- and take you higher Bravo, Bar Issi! PS: After reading a lot of the other reviews and seeing the clientele of entitled, impossible to please, miserable folks who treat waitstaff and anyone in the restaurant industry less than the dirt beneath their shoes- take what these people have to say not with a grain, but a mountain of salt. I’ve been to Bar Issi over a dozen times now and have been meaning to drop a loving line for them. And I’ve seen the chumps there in person who leave the reviews just because things didn’t go 100% their way and they know how to abuse the review system. The team here goes above and beyond to perform and keep this astounding operation moving. Will it ever be 100% perfect if you already go in setting a timer like a psycho and already looking for any issue or small mishap? Obviously not. These are hard working and real humans not AI, and even then AI makes mistakes. It’s a busy restaurant and you and your group won’t be the only ones dining, waiting for a table, waiting for your drinks from a busy bar and food from a busy kitchen. Patience is not only appreciated, it’s required. And that goes for rules for life in general. Be kind, cool and read the room. You’ll have a beautiful experience, just like myself and my friends continue to have ☺️

A welcome addition to the Valley cuisine. The ambiance and decor is beautifully crafted elegance, warm, inviting, and joyful. Sitting at the bar, the bartender was extraordinarily, delivering cocktails and crafted drinks professionally, friendly and smiling. The food was phenomenal, indulgent, mouthwatering and left you satisfied. As you savor each bite, you look forward to the next. A well rounded menu has something for everyone. We definitely will return again and again.

I really enjoyed the restaurant — the atmosphere was pleasant, the service was great, and the food was delicious. I tried the octopus and desserts, and both were excellent. The non-alcoholic cocktail was also very tasty. The restaurant was fully booked in the evening, but the dishes were served quite quickly. I wish you continued success and growth with your new restaurant.

Good and service was fantastic. Ambiance had a Palm Springs vibe going. We will be back

I was a bit hesitant to try Bar Issi after reading some of the reviews, but I'm so glad we decided to go and it turned out to be a great experience. Service was excellent from the start: constant water refills, frequent check-ins, and the staff never felt pushy. The inside decor itself is funky yet chic. We began with the hamachi crudo, which, while a small portion, was packed with flavor. My only suggestion would be to provide a small spoon as the marinade was delicious, and I wanted every drop. My partner ordered the tomato salad, which came in a generous portion and was super fresh. For mains, I had the agnolotti, and my partner went with the cacio e pepe. We also got the bread though a bit on the pricey side. I really appreciated that the server accommodated my slightly obnoxious drink request: I loved the zebra cup but didn't want the Mai Tai, so they kindly swapped in the French rosé instead. DeThe soft serve with raspberry topping was incredible. It was creamy, tart, and perfectly balanced. The Madeleines, however, weren't quite what I expected; they were more cake-like than the crisp cookie style I was hoping for. Overall, Bar Issi pleasantly surprised me. Great service, thoughtful touches, and flavorful dishes and definitely worth a visit

I don't understand the low reviews for this place. Most of them seem to be diner error. Anyways, we LOVED Bar Issi. Service was fantastic. Dylan and Milo were an incredible duo--attentive, warm, and made the experience so much fun. They made great recommendations. The decor was SO FUN. The velvet on the ceilings, bright pops of color, and a playful vibe made the whole place feel fun and lively. The food was outstanding. We started with the crispy octopus which was perfectly crispy and bursting with flavor, the special truffle linguini was rich but just right, the lamb was cooked to absolute perfection, and the pizzas were spot on. Already counting down the days until we go back!

This place is an absolute gem! My family and I went for the first time and are all SO excited to come back for the next seasonal specials. The decor is stunning, and the food was top tier. We got the octopus, lamb chops, pepperoni/Margherita pizza, and truffle pasta - all 1000/10. The staff ultimately made the experience perfect, everyone was so kind and service was great! Thank you to our servers Dylan and Milo!!

With so many great options for dining in Palm Springs, we were very picky in deciding where to go. I picked this one mostly because of the grand decor. We arrived and they told us they were bought out for the night and the only seating was outside. They had misters to avoid the heat, but I was sad we weren't able to eat inside. Service and food were just okay. I wouldn't recommend the pizza, but the Spaghetti Cacio e Pepe was good (a little salty). Drinks were yummy, i'd recommend the Lavender drink. I asked for a side of parmesan with the pasta that we never got, and wanted to ask for ranch with the pizza which I never got the opportunity to :(

My friends and I are on a girls trip and came here for dinner on a Friday night. We did have a reservation and were seated right away. It's super cute inside- great vibes and decor. The staff were all very friendly, super attentive, and welcoming. The food was also very tasty! Parking was fairly easy for us we got a spot right out front. Definitely recommend you give this place a try! Food/drink review: Rose: (5/5) Super tasty! I could have easily had 2 or 3 glasses. Puccia bread and butter: (3/5) It comes with 3 butters. Regular salted butter, I think a pesto one, and sun-dried tomato. The sun-dried butter was the best. It was OK, very burnt. Shoestring fries; (5/5) These were bombbbb. Def recommend. You can get truffle on top for an extra $10, but these were perfectly fine without it. Broccolini; (5/5) Simple, but well seasoned and flavorful. Ribeye steak: (4/5) It was cooked well, but we had more than half fat on our plate, which was a bummer for the price we paid. Agnolotti: (2/5) It was OK. The lemon zest really threw off the flavor for the pasta. We definitely wouldn't order again especially for $32.

Love this place. Service was so attentive to our large group and nearly every dish was a hit. The poke, hamachi, and oysters were delicious. But the shrimp cocktail was amazing! They had the largest, juiciest shrimp that I have ever tried. Then we had roasted veggies, broccolini, pizza, shrimp pasta, branzino, and skirt steak. They were all really good but the standouts were the shrimp pasta, steak, and broccolini. We sat outside which was great for catching up, sipping our drinks, and sharing bites. Inside there was a DJ and cute decor. I can't wait to go back the next time I'm in PS.

What a beautiful place! Great service by bartender Nick. This is not a place for cheap eats- this is high quality food and a fab atmosphere. A salad, chicken dish, and a side of fries with 2 drinks cost $125 without tip but everything was so good. Lot of characters at the bar- great for people watching. Definitely will come back!

We had a large party and were sat outside. It was a great vibe. The staff was very patient and attentive. Food: Shrimp linguini- This was everyone's favorite! The shrimp was perfectly cooked. The sauce was so good people started sipping their bread in it. 5/5 Puccia bread with the trio of butters was great. A perfect starter. The 5/5 Shrimp cocktail- the shrimp was huge! And so delicious 5/5 Skirt steak- was so good we wanted to order another one! Perfectly cooked and seasoned 5/5 Branzino- ok. could have had more flavor 3/5 Pepperoni Pizza- was yummy. Nothing amazing 4/5 Fries- too salty! 3/5

Where do I start, the ambience it's incredible you feel transported to a different era as soon as you walk in, The hostess very helpful and polite they really have a sense of hospitality. The food was The Cherry on top, the cocktails were amazing, the Branzino and the octopus were the highlight of the night. Thank you guys.

That bread !!! OMG that bread !!! Totally worth going for. Deliciously wood fired bread made with flour from Italy apparently. No words !! Obviously we had "the bread", shrimp pasta, squash blossoms, Calabrian pepperoni pizza, rosé, and pornstar martinis. Not a clunker in the bunch. Great food, service, ambiance, 10/10

This is such a Palm Springs vibe! I love it and will be back! Note: last call for food is at 8:45, although they don't close until 10.

Palm Springs' hottest new restaurant is Bar Issi. This place has everything: art deco overload, mirrored and gold-leaf ceilings, chandeliers that look like they were made by tassel-loving witches, and dragon wallpaper that stares directly into your soul. The vibe? Sensory overload -- but like... in a good way. There are flame-stitch patterned chairs that say "I brunch," Roman shades with palm fronds that whisper "Golden Girls realness," and beneath them? White pleated café curtains that are so cute and chic, it's like Blanche Devereaux is holding your hand through dinner. Our server Amanda? A legend. She described the bread as "to die for" -- and while I didn't technically die, I did consider writing it into my will. The grilled octopus -- tender, charred just right, and plated like it was about to walk the runway. Even the squash blossoms were serving: lightly battered, stuffed with flavor, and possibly blessed by a tiny Italian grandmother backstage. They were out of branzino, so we got the chicken instead -- and thank God because it was crispy on the outside, tender on the inside, and made me believe in poultry again. It was almost better than their grilled octopus. We also got the five-cheese pizza with hot honey (aka the edible version of a bear hug) and the shrimp linguine, which tasted like what happens when a yacht crashes into delicious. The linguine noodles were giving ramen, but the creamy sauce and shrimp were on point! Drinks? I had the Melon Daisy -- a margarita's cooler, gayer cousin. Sweet, refreshing, not too sugary. My friend ordered a Mai Tai that came in a zebra-cup, which legally makes it a fashion accessory. The music was perfect -- a chill DJ mix of '70s, '80s, and '90s. Kinda gay, but not too gay -- great for everyone from your brunch crew to your straight cousin who listens to The Killers. Volume? Just right. You could groove and hear your friends talk about who's aging well. The tables had rechargeable lights, which are perfect for the sight-impaired, the selfie-inclined, and people who just love reading a curated menu under flattering LED. Also -- four individual bathrooms. FOUR. Because nothing kills the mood faster than waiting in line while doing the pee-pee dance behind a guy named Trent. And let's talk about the eye candy. The servers and their assistants? Absolute smoke shows. Hotter than the wood-fired oven. They were giving chic, fit, and mildly unattainable -- the kind of staff you pretend not to notice while sucking in your stomach. We wanted to see more of Joel, so we stayed well hydrated so he could keep returning to top off our waters. Bar Issi is a maximalist's dream, a grandma's fantasy, and a disco ball's fever dream -- and I loved every minute of it.

Not sure what it's like on a Tuesday but on Saturday night it's jumping. Cool decor and lively atmosphere but Saturday night, we were shouting to hear ourselves. Bachelorette parties are very commonplace in PS and not only were we sandwiched between two of them, but the (dining room LOL) DJ booth was 15 feet from us. Could be your thing, but was kinda hard to have a conversation. Anyway, food was good, as was the service. Prices a little on the higher end, but whatever. In any case, glad to see an anchor restaurant in the Thompson Hotel plaza thriving - it's great for downtown.

A nice addition to downtown PS with quintessential Palm Springs decor and vibes. No shocker that it's on the pricey side but the food was quite good. At brunch I had the lobster roll, it wasn't a big portion of lobster but still delicious and extra buttery, served with a small side of perfectly dressed crisp greens. Service was...odd. The hostess barely acknowledged us as we stood awkwardly inside the entrance. Then had to give my # to a different host, which was confusing, when I asked how long the wait would be he said he could seat us right away but wanted to get me "in their system". OK whatever (turns out, I got added to their email list, no thanks). Then 3 separate servers came by to take our drink order--and our iced teas still didn't come until well after we'd ordered it the third time. Two different servers then came to take our food order. Food took a long time to arrive, they were busy on a Saturday. Overall I think they still have some kinks to work out...

We came on a busy Friday night and this place was in full effect! Decor, Vibe and music were on point. Service was friendly and fun, but slow. My drink was good but not worth $18 in my opinion. We started with the bread which is like a doughier naan that came with pesto, plain and chili butter. It was good but $14 a bit pricey. The burrata app was good. My spaghetti cacao & pepe was undercooked and very peppery. I didn't finish it. My husband got the flank cooked steak medium well, but I came medium rare. He sent it back and it came almost medium. A manager came by before we got our food to ask how things were going but never came back when we had real feedback. Instead, he had drinks at 2 tables down from us with staff. They were out of soft serve so we opted for sorbet. The chocolate is dang good. For $100 each we don't feel the need to return. We had high hopes to bring out of town friends here the next week but changed plans. Hope they get it together.

Went here with my friend while on a little getaway, and was blown away!!!!! We are dirty martini galsssss and like them a very specific way. That being said I'm not shy when it comes for asking for them to make it "colder" or " dirtier". I did not have to do that here as the martini was the best I've ever had. Not only did the drink blow me away but the pizza was some of the best I've had ! Definitely go try if you're in the area!

Bar Issi is new to the downtown Palm Springs but already has a solid reputation. I recommend reservations as this place is pretty popular. The ambiance is very posh and makes a great date night. Our server was really kind and had great recommendations. We ordered the pepperoni pizza($24) and the radiatori($34)which was a rigatoni pasta with truffle fries($12). They truly were delicious and filling. For dessert we ordered the chocolate budino ($16) and the hazelnut with the chocolate was airy and phenomenal. The food was top notch and enjoyed the cocktails as well. Overall a great new spot in downtown Palm Springs. I recommend!

Downtown Palm Springs has a poppin new spot; enter Bar Issi. Not just a vibe (and it IS a vibe!), but a culinary dream topped off with service that was truly off the charts. Unable to make a reservation online, we arrived for a linner sort of situation and were graciously accommodated by the hostess. Our waiter was great. Totally on it, zero qualms. But the support staff (and I mean ALL of them, not just the particular people in our 'section') were the true stars. My husband and I watched one of the waitstaff ACROSS THE RESTAURANT watching the gentleman two tables down who was frowning at something on his water glass and the server immediately came over with a brand new glass to replace it before the gentleman could even mention it. Several other waitstaff were also exceptionally attentive to us, in between our waiter coming back to check on us frequently. And then food arrived !! And WOW. The pasta (cacio &pepe) was SO deliciously perfect it ALMOST made the wonderful pizza seem lackluster (my advice, enjoy a slice of pizza first and then dig into the pasta). Overly satisfied on both our experience and food, we still indulged in dessert - which we never do - and the $19 (yikes) soft serve fancy pistachio ice cream with raspberry sauce (also option for chocolate sauce) was an absolute dream - worth EVERY penny. We will be back, hands down.

Really beautiful restaurant. First time here and it was one of the busiest restaurants in the area tonight. Great service and loved the pizza. Looking forward to returning next time I stay at the Thompson

Calling all white lotus lovers, this is the restaurant for you. From the wall paper to the music, this place is screaming resort. Food was really good. All the breads and pastas are made fresh at the restaurant and you can taste the quality. The grilled octopus was a little overdone but still delicious. The service was top tier. They are a new restaurant and still figuring a few things out, but you can tell the staff is experienced and deliver high quality service. Parking is difficult, I would suggest ride sharing unless you don't mind a walk.

Beautiful restaurant with vibrant prints. Food generally speaking is good, but the winning dish is the pizza as the dough one of the best compliments to it. The restaurant was very busy and it felts very crammed based on layout and tables (you can hear everything each table next to you is saying). The cocktails here are delicious as well. The service started strong and finished bad. We had to wait a long time between meals (the pacing was no good) and at the end had to wait a while for the check.

Say hello to the new hotspot in Palm Springs. Bar Issi brings everything you could dream of to the dessert - class, ambiance, and delicious food. First and foremost, the place is gorgeous. It's filled with vibrant colors and amazing textures and patterns. It's very Palm Royale meets Palm Springs. Service is amazing. There is an employee at every corner just waiting to serve you and make your day. We went for a dinner with the girls and had wonderful service. The dinner and drinks were delicious. Getting the bread is a must, and it comes with a side of three types of insane butter. The tuna tartare was fresh and simply incredible. The pizza was perfect and had the best crunch. Big fans of the shoestring fries with truffle! The drinks were also a big hit - even the non-alcoholic ones. The only disappointing one was the martini and I assume it had to do with the olives/olive juice. Now, the true gem? The pistachio ice cream. That may be one of the best things I've ever tasted and I don't even care for dessert. Do not skip it!!! While getting reservations may be hard, it's absolutely worth doing so. We had an amazing night and cannot wait to be back!!!

The food delicious the ambulance gorgeous service awesome the attention to detail in the decor has everyone amazed. Highly recommend you join them to experience the white lotus inspired prettiest restaurant in Ps. Don't be surprised if you see a big name celebrity dining right next to you.

Great spot right in the heart of downtown Palm Springs. We celebrated my husband's birthday with some cocktails after just having dinner at another spot. We had made reservations a week in advance, and I'm glad we did because it was packed inside! It's a beautiful bar/restaurant in the Thompson Hotel. There's a variety of seating options for different sized parties. We sat outdoors and to our surprise, it was very comfortable and not super hot. It was around 7pm so the sun was just setting, but they have misters which made it super enjoyable. The standout drink was the punch bowl - definitely fun to share! The team was so nice and friendly during our visit. I would totally go back for drinks and try some of their menu items!

We checked out Bar Issi, the new restaurant at The Thompson Hotel. We were super excited to try it since it came highly recommended, but unfortunately, we left very disappointed. We arrived about 15 minutes before our reservation and were directed to the bar. Both bartenders (one being Nick) were extremely nice and attentive (great first impression)! At 4:35 p.m., when our reservation time arrived, we were seated. However, no server approached our table. After waiting until 4:50, we finally waved down Nick, who kindly came over, apologized on behalf of the staff, and took our order himself. He truly went above and beyond, even serving us additional drinks. We noticed Nick speak to the manager, who then spoke to the server assigned to us. Yet, she never introduced herself, never apologized, and barely acknowledged us. (She had brown hair pulled back in a ponytail, but that's all we know.) When our food arrived, it was good, but the service remained unacceptable. The server came by briefly but still didn't apologize once. What bothered us most was the manager's (bald man) response, or rather, lack of one. Even after being made aware of the situation, he never approached us or offered an apology. Instead, he seemed more concerned about how the napkins looked on the tables. To make matters worse, we saw another party seated after us who received immediate and attentive service from the same server. Why were we treated differently? We are paying customers too!!! Because of this, our server (the woman with the brown ponytail) did not deserve a tip. Instead, we gave Nick over 30%!! He was the only one who showed genuine care and professionalism!!!! Unfortunately, we will not be returning, nor will we recommend this restaurant to family or friends. Management, do better!!!!! A great restaurant is defined not only by its food but also by its service and on that front, Bar Issi failed!!!

We had an amazing experience at Bar Issi this past weekend! It is absolutely beautiful there! Such a cute place and great service. The food and drinks were all great, and it made for a really wonderful end to a girls trip! Can't wait to go back again.

A beautiful addition to Palm Springs! The staff is super friendly. We came in for a drink as we waited for a reservation across the street. Other bars will not allow you to get a drink at the bar unless you are sitting. They don't apply that rule here, plus we didn't have to waive down a bartender, a server nearby came to us! The manager was also super friendly and talkative. The drinks were good, a bit pricey but that's expected. The decor is lovely and can't wait to come back for the food!

The space at Bar Issi really is gorgeous..Palm Springs vibes to a tee, very aesthetic, very Instagram-worthy. Unfortunately... that's about where the positives ended for us. We ordered the branzino, wood-fired vegetables, and lamb chops, and let's just say: the flavors gave absolutely nothing. Plates were left not even half eaten, and surprisingly, no one asked if something might have been wrong with the food. Service was painfully slow.. though it was hard to miss the staff socializing with each other while guests waited. Drinks? Subpar. Truly, I can think of half a dozen spots in the area that serve a better cocktail without the hype. If you go for the look and want a cute backdrop, you'll probably enjoy yourself. But if you actually care about the food and service experience, I'd absolutely skip this one. Gorgeous restaurant, yes. Worth the hype? Not even close.

I started with a Greek salad that was absolutely amazing. It had no lettuce, just all of the deliciousness of a Greek salad and a huge slice of feta cheese.... My husband had cold gazpacho soup which he has asked for the recipe, amazing! Then came to pizzas, one mushroom and one pepperoni. It was hard to tell which one was better than the other. They were both so delicious! The ambience of the place is extremely high-end, amazing wallpaper, chandeliers, and decor ... the food cost, for Palm Springs, California, was very reasonable. If you're looking for a fun, new restaurant with great food and ambience, you will talk about for weeks... Come to bar ISSI!

I was super excited to try Bar Issi as we have so few good Italian. I'd heard it even looked like The White Lotus Italy:) When we walked in, there was a DJ playing 80's hits super loud. The hosts were very nice and sat us quickly. They were out of the pasta I wanted so we ordered a mushroom pizza and a tomato salad. The tomato salad was very literal with very few of the herbs it was described as having. Basically heirloom tomatoes you can get at Ralphs with some balsamic. Not bad, though. The mushroom pizza was perfection. The crust is also amazing . But the music is so in your face and you just can't think about anything else. And it's not even cool ambient hotel/restaurant vibes. It's Michael Jackson. So instead of a sophisticated restaurant, it basically a douchey nightclub. A total tourist trap. It's so sad. I don't think I'll ever go again because of this.

Fourth time experiencing Bar Issi in Palm Spring. Amazing food with Spectacular service. Thumbs ups to the experienced, talented staff. Dining at the bar is a great experience. Alex the bartender takes pride in creating a drink that matches what you may desire just by stating what you desire for a drink. Alex is a professional with a great presence and ready to make your experience a memorable one. It is a great bar to stop by as a single and get to meet some wonderful people, both locals and tourist. Thank you for a great evening. Robert (Palm Springs Resident)

*Highly recommend reservation We had a reservation for a Friday night. We were seated right away and ordered drinks. The Mai Tai comes in the cool Zebra glass. It was sweet and refreshing. We ordered pizza, it is very thin and crispy. We enjoyed it. The Cacio e Pepe was creamy and delicious. Hamachi Carpaccio was light and zesty. Fries were crispy, salty, and so satisfying. We had a wonderful time! The service was amazing. It was a really hot day and we each drank multiple waters with our cocktails, the staff was very efficient and helpful. Funky meets glam aesthetic. We chatted with others near us. It was a great experience!

There's a lot of buzz around this place and it's all well deserved. Palm Springs' newest hot spot is a welcome addition. The food is full of flavor the drinks are fun and the service is top notch. The entire team works to make sure you are cared for. They make eye contact, they greet you, they check in on you AND they still manage to give you space to enjoy yourself. Friday and Saturday nights are enhanced by DJ Chris De Jesus who casually and seamlessly transitions the evening into a hot scene with the best tunes. You won't want to leave.

Questo non è vero cibo italiano, Olive Garden sarebbe un passo avanti! Zero stars if possible!! They didn't have traditional bread and the waitress didn't even know if they had olive oil or balsamic, my spouse pointed out their burrata has aged balsamic which seemed to be news to the waitress. Epic fail.... Moving forward the waitress talked about Italian food like she has personally lived in Italia & the pompous attitude matched the horrendously made food that Olive Garden quite frankly wouldn't even serve even to the raccoons outside. The Puccia bread was bland, I've been to Salento where puccia originates from and it was extremely doughy/ yeasty while overly burnt. The waitress tried arguing about it with me including the underdone pizza that Little Caesars wouldn't serve. As an Italian this was insulting and condescending to have the waitress who hasn't stepped foot into my homeland, who didn't even know if this "Italian restaurant," had olive oil & balsamic to stand on ten toes to say that "this is how the food is properly made," when this joke of a restaurant hasn't even been open for more than a month. Never again!

Had the most incredible dinner at Bar Issi in Palm Springs, truly one of the highlights of our trip. From the second we walked in, we were welcomed with warmth and hospitality. The space is effortlessly cool and inviting, with a vibe that is both elevated and relaxed. Our servers, Linda and César, were beyond wonderful. Kind, attentive, and made the whole evening feel special. They took the time to walk us through the menu and made great recommendations. The star of the night was the cacio e pepe. Easily the best I have ever had. Perfectly seasoned, rich but not heavy, and just unforgettable. Every dish we tried was thoughtful, flavorful, and beautifully plated. You can tell the kitchen really cares about what they are creating. Bar Issi is a true gem in the desert. Whether you are celebrating something special or just want a great meal with great energy, this is the spot. I cannot wait to come back.

Great looking space, however I found it pretentious, expensive and LOUD. If you must go, book reservations early and confirm outdoors.

As a longtime Palm Springs local, I love supporting new businesses--especially those that bring a more upscale, trendy vibe to town. Bar Issi is a fantastic addition to the Palm Springs dining scene. The location is great, the décor has a fun White Lotus feel, the food is solid, and the martini was outstanding. The only drawback was the tight seating and small tables. Ours wasn't quite large enough for everything we ordered, which made the pacing feel a bit rushed, and the tables are close enough that it takes away from the sense of privacy during conversation. Next time, we'll definitely request a 4-top in the central dining area for a more comfortable experience. Overall, we're big fans--and thrilled to welcome Bar Issi to Palm Springs!

I came here to celebrate my birthday, and it was such a wonderful experience. We had a reservation but arrived a little early, so we started with drinks at the bar. The bartender was very nice and clearly passionate about what he does. Once we were seated, our server was just as nice and knowledgeable about the menu. We ordered a variety of dishes--salad, tuna tartar, pizza, pasta, and chicken--and everything was delicious. The pasta, in particular, was outstanding. I'd absolutely come back just to try more of their pasta dishes. For dessert, we all had sorbet and tried different flavors, mango was the standout favorite. Overall, the atmosphere was vibrant and positive. Everyone working there had such great energy, which really added to the experience. I'll definitely be returning!

-100 Review! Glass found in my food! DO NOT GO HERE This was supposed to be a celebratory night for my bachelorette, and instead we left with serious concerns for our health, safety and whether we treated with racial bias. We had a confirmed 9:00 PM reservation for August 30th, but upon arrival we were told our table had been given away to a "VIP customer" (described as an LA interior designer) and we would have to wait 45-50 minutes for the table. Mind you that food orders stop being placed at 9:50pm. This was upsetting--especially as it was my bachelorette dinner weekend. We had no choice to settle for a table right next to the bathroom with not enough room to fit my table of 5 comfortably. This was extremely disappointing, especially as this was my bachelorette dinner and some of us traveled 8 hours to Palm Springs for what was supposed to be a special dinner. Being told that our confirmed 9:00 PM reservation was given away to a so-called VIP customer already left us feeling disrespected. As women of color, this left us questioning whether our treatment was influenced by racial bias. Regardless, the decision set a very negative tone for the evening and compounded the later incident with the glass in our food Glass in food: Our tiramisu contained multiple small shards of glass! My friend found two significant pieces, and by then all members of our party had already eaten it, meaning we could have unknowingly swallowed glass. This posed a significant risk of injury which has left us anxious and scared for our health these past few days with not knowing if our esophagus, stomach or intestines have gotten damaged during the process of digestion. This could have resulted in severe medical harm which I am still scared about. While the meal was eventually comped, the manager Michael and server Mariam initially only offered to remove drinks from our bill until I raised my voice about the seriousness of the hazard and threatened to highlight this all over the internet.

Bar, cocktails, staff, decor, indoor and outdoor seating are fabulous! We look forward to returning to eat another time.

Absolutely wonderful experience with unique flavors and great scenery. I loved all the workers they were very charismatic and attentive, gave great recommendations and context on the restaurant. I extremely recommend the branzino, very flavorful and super juicy and flakey. Perfectly cooked without needing unnecessary fancy shmancy sauces. I didn't try the shrimp pasta but I tried the sauce and it was delicious. I think the chives or green onions go great in the sauce. The pizza was extremely thin crispy , sooo good. Didn't try the steak but was told it was very yummy and the chimichurri was fresh. The broccolini was paired with the fish and it was crispy and not too greasy. Bathroom was a cool vibe and very colorful, clean. The bar area was cute and overall the restaurant was nicely decorated. Chairs were comfy as well. Will be back, a great experience, and definitely recommend.

DO NOT WASTE YOUR TIME & OUTFITS. Find a local Olive Garden for better Italian food. Dry ass noodles- Cacio e Pepe

Definitely the best Italian restaurant in Coachella Valley and another great dining option within the Thompson Hotel. For a soft opening of a restaurant, this place exceeded expectations given the sheer amount of people dining inside and waiting to get in. One can tell why this place is so popular by the moment they step inside the restaurant because of the eccentrically designed, yet elegant decor of the space. I definitely felt a White Lotus vibe when I walked in because of the unique floral green theme the restaurant had going on. I highly recommend to make a reservation on Resy or else you may be limited to bar seating if it's even available. Food (4.5/5) I ordered the following items: tuna tartare, housemade puccia bread, margarita pizza, lamb chops, and tiramisu. The best items that I tried today were the puccia bread and the margarita pizza and I could tell they were serious about the dough they make at this restaurant. The puccia bread came with three different butters but the best one was the basil flavored one. The margarita pizza crust was quite firm and not floppy (an essential requirement for a well made pizza in my honest opinion). Next, the tuna tartare was very good except the puffed rice crackers it came with were a bit oily and I could taste a heavy amount of vegetable oil. I think I would order the hamachi carpaccio instead as it was the most photographed raw item that I noticed on the internet. The lamb chops were also very well seasoned and cooked perfectly; however, my only complaint would be the amount of fat on each lamb chop (the fat was still delicious but I wish there was a bit more lean meat on the bones). Additionally, their dessert selection was quite impressive and I decided to try the tiramisu as a classic option to get at an Italian restaurant. I appreciated that the tiramisu was less sweet than I expected and it felt like a good ratio between mascarpone cream and lady fingers. Service (4.5/5) For a soft opening, the service at this restaurant was surprisingly almost flawless. I had my water refilled numerous times, a few general check ins with the waiter asking if I needed anything, and a very friendly busgirl who recommended some of her favorite items on the menu for a future visit. When I went to this place, the restaurant was extremely busy so expect a short wait with the hostess to check you In. Atmosphere (4.5/5) The large curved bar and green curtain really catches your eyes when you enter the restaurant. The seating at the tables were comfortable, but I would try to be seated more towards the back of the restaurant in order to avoid the strong sun glare that comes in towards the front of the restaurant.

We went to Bar Issi on its 2nd day of business. We were expecting the restaurant to have some initial hiccups being so new. They were having problems with their pizza oven, but seemed like they were able to get it going later in the evening. Our server was Christian. We were pleasantly surprised that service was so on point. Our food came out relatively quickly and in order. Best of all, everything tasted really good. We opted to start with the squash blossoms filled with Ricotta & Feta. They came out piping hot as they should. Crispy on the outside & creamy and cheesy on the inside. We loved that they left the stems on which tasted like asparagus. This dish is reminiscent of the first time I had squash blossoms prepared this way in a little village in Tuscany, which set the bar high. Next we ordered the salmon w/ peas & yogurt, and the Radiatori pasta with Lamb Bolognese. The salmon was perfectly cooked with a crispy skin. Fish can be tricky, but it was very moist and paired well with the yogurt and peas. The pasta was outstanding. The pasta to sauce ratio was perfect and the bolognese was very rich and decadent. For dessert we opted for the freshly baked Madeleine cookies. They are baked when ordered and served as hot, lemony, buttery pillows of mouth watering yumminess. We were able to save two of them to go with our morning coffee the next day. The restaurant has a great bustling vibe with lively music and a cool unique decor. The top handles on the chairs seem to come in handy. Wait staff and bussing were quick and friendly. We're quite happy about this new addition to the Palm Springs restaurant scene and glad they hit it out of the ballpark so soon after opening. Keep it up.

Wow! The other reviews really helped me give Bar Issi a try and I am so glad! Honestly much better than I expected and I am returning on our last night here (Saturday) Food was amazing!!! We split the Greek Salad..,absolutely delicious!!! My wife had the pepperoni pizza and I had the Skirt Steak...Delish!!!! But our server Amanda absolutely made the night so special! 50% of what made our first visit to Bar Issi so incredible was due to the attentive, wonderful, and reason we are returning Saturday to enjoy this wonderful place again. I wholeheartedly recommend Bar Issi!!!

We arrived at3:30 for appetizers and drinks from San Diego. We were given food and drink menus that clearly state that happy hour occurs DAILY between 2:30 and 4:30. We were hungry and wanted something off the menu that was given to us and we were told no food until 4:30. Also the happy hour drinks prices were not honored. I didn't want to cause a scene with my daughter so I will call today and speak to the manager. Not a great impression of the place. The bar staff was smug and unhelpful and not at all accommodating. The decor was nice.

If I could give more than 5 stars I would do so gladly. My new city Palm Springs, while a traditional tourist and resort spot, in my sour food snobby opinion suffers from culinary ingenuity. Too many of our dining spots stay unimaginative and cater to tourists with amateur palates. BAR ISSI.. you may just put us back on the map. The interior design, the artisan type cocktails and pizza? It was everything. Both the staff and and the diverse clientele looked happy to be there. And Lauren our wait staff was WONDERFUL!! Thank you for a terrific evening. My friend Christine and I really enjoyed seeing each other again at this new venue. Can't wait to go back and indulge. And thank you to our host/concierge who changed our seating per my request. Patio dining works best after our 100 degree sun DROPS behind the mountains.

Small yet delicious menu. Highly recommend the pistachio soft serve ice cream for dessert. The service is some of the best in Palm Springs. From the managers to the bus person. Our server Keanna was friendly, patient, spot on and super attentive. We will definitely ask to sit in her section again. We loved the decor and atmosphere.