Coachella 2023: A guide to food and drink at the festival

Ema Sasic, Palm Springs Desert Sun
·7 min read
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By this point, you've probably made a list of every artist you want to see at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, as well as chosen what outfits you'll be rocking. But there's another important part of your festival experience to consider: what you're going to be eating and drinking.

Every partygoer needs a pit stop. Lucky for you, the music festival has announced its lineup of delectable eats to nosh on when you need a little fuel to keep the dancing going. The 2023 lineup includes everything from a sushi speakeasy to a communal meal to Trill Burgers' mouth-watering smashburgers.

Of course, just like certain areas of the festival grounds, the food and beverage vendors you have access to depend on the pass you hold. But whether you have a general admission wristband or a VIP one, there's something for everyone to munch on at Coachella.

Here's what we know about the food and drink options available at the Empire Polo Club.

Bites for everyone

Craft Beer Barn

This beer-lover's paradise has more to offer than just ice-cold brewskies. Restaurants include:

  • Burger She Wrote: Burgers made with Snake River Farms American wagyu ground beef

  • El Chino Grande: A Taiwan night market experience

  • Ggiata: An East Coast-inspired Italian deli (vegetarian options available)

  • Sumo Dog: Japanese-inspired hot dogs

  • Taco Party: Mexican-American inspired Mexican fast food (vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free options available)

Festival goers eat food inside the Indio Central Market at Coachella 2019 in Indio, Calif. on Sat. April 13, 2019.
Festival goers eat food inside the Indio Central Market at Coachella 2019 in Indio, Calif. on Sat. April 13, 2019.

Coachella Courtyard

So far two vendors have been announced for the courtyard area:

Indio Central Market

This is THE spot for all your food needs. The lineup includes:

  • Bun B's Trill Burgers: Juicy smashburgers (vegan options available)c

  • Cena Vegan: Plant-based Mexican Street Food (vegan only)

  • Chimmelier: Korean fried chicken (dietary options not listed)

  • Farmhouse Thai: Bold flavors of traditional and non-traditional Thai dishes (dietary options not listed)

  • Forever Pie: Plant-based pizza and wingz (vegan only)

  • Kogi: Korean BBQ Fries (vegan and vegetarian options available)

  • Maneatingplant: Plant-based Asian comfort food (vegan and gluten-free options available)

  • McConnell's: Ice cream made from scratch (vegetarian and gluten-free options available)

  • New School Quality Grilled Cheese: Gooey grilled cheese sandwiches (dietary options not listed)

  • Ramen Hood: Hot and chilled vegan ramen and spicy togarashi tater tots (vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free options available)

  • Sumo Dog: Japanese-inspired hot dogs

  • Sunny Blue: Japanese omusubi, aka rice balls (vegan and gluten-free options available)

  • Sweetfin: Poke and plant-based bowls (vegan and gluten-free option)

Festival goers eat food inside the Indio Central Market at Coachella 2019 in Indio, Calif. on Sat. April 13, 2019.
Festival goers eat food inside the Indio Central Market at Coachella 2019 in Indio, Calif. on Sat. April 13, 2019.

Terrace

In the mood for something fried and not the least bit healthy? Head over to the Terrace for:

Additional options

Other spots on the festival grounds have a couple of food options available:

A secret sushi experience

If you love sushi and want to get away from the crowds, Chef Phillip Frankland Lee’s Sushi by Scratch is calling your name. Once you find this omakase speakeasy − look for the red door within the Coachella Courtyard across the way from the every one tent − you'll get to enjoy 16 courses and a sake pairing. You'll have to act quick as there's only seating for 12 inside. There are also only three dining options each day of Coachella, and the experience is only open to guests 21 and older. For more information and to buy tickets, visit https://coachella.com/sushi-by-scratch.

The exclusive lineup

12 Peaks VIP

Want some VIP food options? Head to the 12 Peaks VIP section, where there's even more spots to tantalize your tastebuds:

  • Alfalfa: Healthy and delicious salads, doughnuts and breakfast burritos (vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free options available)

  • Big B The Chef: Specializing in soul food, seafood and more

  • Broad Street Oyster Co.: A New England-style seafood restaurant (vegan options available)

  • Camphor: Family-style tasting menu and Le Burger

  • Mírate: Expansive and casual modern Mexican dining

  • My Lai: California fresh Vietnamese flavors (vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free options available)

  • Olivia: Plant-based cuisine (vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free)

  • Prince Street Pizza: Sicilian squares and classic New York-style slices (vegetarian options available)

  • Ronan: Wood-fired pizzas with a unique twist (vegetarian options available)

  • Slab: Texas-style BBQ (at the Postmates ReTreat)

  • Something Good: American fair food with a Latin twist

  • Sweetfin: California-inspired poke bowls and burritos (vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free options available)

  • The Nice Guy: Italian-inspired signature bites (at the Postmates ReTreat)

  • Yangban: Korean American dining

Rose Garden VIP

If you have the correct wristband and want to indulge in some delectable delights, try any of the following:

Outstanding in the Field

The exclusive, intimate dining experience is back for another year. Founded by Jim Denevan in 1999, guests will gather around a long table in the VIP Rose Garden and enjoy a four-course, family-style meal prepared by some of the world's best chefs to celebrate the rich agricultural history of the Coachella Valley as they curate meals for their guests. Announced chefs include Zarah Khan (Rustic Canyon Restaurant), Tolu Erogbogbo (Ile + ile.eros), Jared Simons (Restaurant Argento), Javier Plascencia (Erizo and Caffe Saverios), Monty Koludrovic (Grandmaster Recorders) and Rene Andrade and Derek Christianson (Bacanora).

Tickets, which include a welcome cocktail, beer and wine and exclusive access to the VIP Rose Garden on the day of your dinner, can be purchased at outstandinginthefield.com/coachella.

Quench your thirst

Open to everyone

  • Absolut.Land: Mix cocktails and mingle with friends

  • Best Friend: A mash-up of a bodega, bar and restaurant in the Craft Beer Barn

  • Block Party: A modern cocktail bar

  • The Cabin: A cozy mountain atmosphere located near the Craft Beer Barn

  • Craft Beer Barn: Enjoy a wide variety of local and regional craft beers on tap, IPAs, sours and even hard kombucha

  • Craft On Draft: Shane McKnight, Beau Griffin, Erica Arvizu, Nathaniel Fields and “Team Mixi” have been the festival's craft cocktail curators and cocktail engineers for more than nine years. They craft spirits and cold pressed juices, locally farmed produce infusions, shrubs, “live” fermentations, locally bottled syrups, house-made bitters, botanicals, teas and fresh herbs

  • Everbloom Coffee: An Indio coffee shop that will be located in the Indio Central Market

  • #JUICEBAE: Exotic cold pressed juices located in the Indio Central Market (vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free options available)

  • Kreation: Juice bar located in the Terrace food south area

  • PDT (Please Don’t Tell): A sophisticated yet unpretentious cocktail oasis

  • The New Bar: A nonalcoholic full bar located in the Indio Central Market

  • Sonny's By Attaboy: 1980s themed "Miami Vice" bar

  • Unshackled Wine Bar: Enjoy wine or cocktails as well as games

  • White Sparrow Coffee: A specialty coffee shop

  • Wine Down Oasis by Kim Crawford: Enjoy a glass of Kim Crawford wine

Festival goers eat food inside the Indio Central Market at Coachella 2019 in Indio, Calif. on Sat. April 13, 2019.
Festival goers eat food inside the Indio Central Market at Coachella 2019 in Indio, Calif. on Sat. April 13, 2019.

For the VIPs

  • Bar Flores: Premier cocktails in the VIP Rose Garden

  • Chamberlain Coffee: Ready-to-drink plant-based lattes in the 12 Peaks VIP area

  • Delilah: A modern-day supper club with a vintage aesthetic at the Postmates ReTreat

  • Menotti's: Serving all types of caffeine needs in the 12 Peaks VIP area

  • Mirame: Embraces Mexican flavors using local and seasonal influences in the 12 Peaks VIP area

  • The New Bar: Also located in the 12 Peaks VIP area

Ema Sasic covers entertainment and health in the Coachella Valley. Reach her at ema.sasic@desertsun.com or on Twitter @ema_sasic.

This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Coachella 2023: Here's what you can eat, drink at the music festival