After three hours of laying by the pool doing nothing, reward yourself with a leisurely lunch at The Heyday. The former smashburger pop-up is now located on the north end of Palm Canyon in a retro dining room with dark red booths and stained-glass lampshades. It feels like a pizza parlor from the mid-'80s where everyone’s eating crispy crinkle fries, double-fried chicken wings, and smashburgers slick with Thousand Island dressing.

The Heyday evolved from appearances at the weekly VillageFest street fair to a pop-up shop to a permanent fixture at the Hilton Palm Springs. With arguably the best burgers in town, this joint also serves up a mean fried chicken sandwich and magic mushroom burger. The Heyday has expanded into a restaurant and lounge space with a full menu of craft cocktails and natural wine.How to book: Walk-ins welcome, no reservation required.

This eatery opened inside the Hilton Palm Springs last March, but the Heyday’s signature smashburger — an uber-thin Harris Ranch beef patty on a potato bun layered with shredded iceberg, caramelized onions, a housemade Thousand Island-style sauce, and melty American cheese — had a loyal following of local burger buffs long before that. First, owners Brad and Crystal Reihl were hawking burgers at VillageFest. Then, they offered curbside pickup at the Cole Hotel and, later, the Hilton parking lot as part of their pandemic-pivot plan.

The duo behind this smash burger spot first gained a faithful following at Palm Springs’ Thursday night street fair VillageFest, later shifting to pop-up form. Now they’ve settled into a permanent space inside the Hilton hotel, where they sell Harris Ranch beef cheeseburgers, fried chicken sandwiches, and mushroom burgers on potato buns, as well as loaded fries and an impressive house salad. Look for the off menu specials like lobster rolls when in season at this casual spot.

For a deliciously messy burger, head to The Heyday for a casual meal of gourmet smash burgers, crinkle-cut fries and Thrifty ice cream. Some recent patrons say the burgers are juicy with tons of flavor, and several note the carhop-style drive-through is a fun way to pick up your meal. Situated within the Hilton Palm Springs, the restaurant is open for lunch and dinner with a variety of house cocktails, limited-time specials, burgers, chicken sandwiches and salads.

Step back in time and into the groovy world of The Heyday, a restaurant that captures the essence of 1970s Palm Springs with its retro-chic atmosphere. The moment you walk in, you’re greeted by the sight of classic red leather booths and vintage decor that transport you to a bygone era. This attention to detail in the restaurant’s design creates a unique dining experience that’s as much about the atmosphere as it is about the food.

For a deliciously messy burger, head to The Heyday for a casual meal of gourmet smash burgers, crinkle-cut fries and Thrifty ice cream. Recent patrons say the burgers are juicy with tons of flavor, and noted the fries and salads were delicious. Situated within the Hilton Palm Springs, the restaurant is open for lunch and dinner with a variety of house cocktails, limited-time specials, burgers, chicken sandwiches and salads.

After hours of laying by the pool doing nothing, reward yourself with a leisurely lunch at The Heyday. The former smashburger pop-up superstar is now located on the north end of Palm Canyon in a retro dining room with dark red booths and stained-glass lamp shades. It feels like a pizza parlor from the mid-80s where everyone’s eating crinkle fries, chicken wings, and smashburgers coated with housemade Thousand Island.

As one of the most distinctive dining places in all Palm Springs restaurants, The Heyday was already featured in Palm Springs Life, LA Times, and The Desert Sun, among others. They offer the best comfort food like fried chicken sando, smash burger, wings, Heyday salad, late-night fries, magic mushroom with plant-based patty, and other menu items. They currently have six cocktail pieces on their cocktail menu.

The Heyday — Across the street from Gastropub, this burger joint went from street vendor to hotel residences to their own brick and mortar in four years. That’s pretty impressive. Their burger is a local favorite — they have a mushroom burger that will rock your world — and the vibe is great; a DJ was spinning the afternoon I went, and the place was swinging.

Another resort/restaurant mashup is sizzling to perfection at The Heyday. Located inside the Uptown Design District, this throwback diner proudly serves its signature Smash Burger with locally sourced beef and caramelized onions, all snuggled seductively between two griddled potato buns. This is so hidden that even many of the locals don’t know about it.

Azucar is a Mexican-fare restaurant located in a local Palm Springs hotel – La Serena Villas. The restaurant serves modern contemporary cuisine to a sophisticated adult-only crowd, focusing on local farm-to-table food that is fresh and healthy. Outdoor seating by beautiful pool and on gorgeous rooftop deck make for a perfect dining experience.

The Heyday delivers one of the best smash burgers in the business with beef from Harris Ranch. The patties are smashed down and caramelized, topped with oozing cheese, iceberg lettuce, and their own special sauce. They even serve a plant-based ‘magic mushroom’ burger for the vegetarians in the group.