Dine At The Historic Spot In Southern California Where Frank Sinatra Ate Steak And Drank Whiskey
By Natasha Kayes|Published March 03, 2023
×
Natasha Kayes
Author
I was born and raised in sunny Southern California and will never tire of the West Coast, although I spent several years living in Southeast Asia, about as far from California as you can get. Wherever I am in the world, I love straying from the beaten path, experiencing local life, and discovering hidden gems - camera in hand. The beach is my happy place and when I am not there (or writing), you will usually find me baking, watching movies, and cuddling my pugs. I have traveled around the country and around the world, and it never, ever gets old. Being able to combine my passion for travel and my love of writing is nothing short of a dream.
Beginning in the 1930s, Palm Springs became a favorite escape for Hollywood A-listers. From that time on, many celebrities have escaped to this desert city, spending the weekend, building vacation homes, even living here for extended periods of time. And of course, they had their favorite places to dine or enjoy a cocktail. This one historic restaurant is one of the best restaurants in Palm Springs, and it has a particularly classy claim to fame.
Melvyn’s Restaurant in Palm Springs opened in 1975 at Ingleside Inn and quickly became a hotspot for scores of celebrities, not the least of which was a certain crooner named Frank Sinatra.
As with many restaurants in Palm Springs, the Rat Pack dined at Melvyn’s. And while this was not the only place Frank Sinatra dined, he was a regular here. He came so often, in fact, that management kept a certain table near the door ready all the time, just in case he came by.
Old Blue Eyes, as Sinatra was known, was not at Melvyn’s every single day, but his mother, Dolly, was. In fact, according to a story in the LA Times, she had her daily 5 p.m. meal at Melvyn’s just before she was killed in a plane crash.
Melvyn’s is proud of its history and shares some of it in the menu, where among other stories and “fun facts,” it mentions that Frank Sinatra and his fourth wife, Barbara, had their pre-wedding dinner here.
Steak Diane, a flambé show of steak prepared table-side, was Frank Sinatra’s favorite dish at Melvyn’s, and he generally enjoyed a Jack Daniels-and-water cocktail to go with it.
There are plenty of details throughout the restaurant that provide a throwback to the guests, stories, and atmosphere of decades past, especially here in the lounge where black and white photos of the original owner with his many celebrity guests adorn the walls.
After decades of little to no change, Melvyn’s was renovated but still exudes the same classic glamour of the past, with candelabra chandeliers and servers in tuxedos.
The gorgeous patio may not have been Sinatra’s chosen spot to enjoy his steak, but it may have been frequented by plenty of other celebs, and it definitely has an old-school Hollywood vibe.
A trip to Palm Springs is all it takes to dine where Frank Sinatra did and to imagine sharing the dining room with stars of the past. Have you ever been here? What do you think of this historic Palm Springs eatery? Find out everything you need to know on the Melvyn’s Restaurant website and Facebook page.
OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.
