DOWNTOWN. Chockablock with retro kitsch, this festive establishment is both bar and restaurant. Fun is always on order, and strong martinis ensure that the means to sociability keep flowing. A lounge, a bar, and the restaurant all invite patrons to relax and take in the high-spirited ambience, which is often bolstered by cabaret shows. Should you get hungry, the menu offers tasty appetizers and a range of creative, flavorful main courses. The owners also run Shame on the Moon restaurant in Rancho Mirage.

PALM SPRINGS. Affiliated with Melvyn's restaurant, this snazzy night spot reeks of old-school glamour. It's where Hollywood stars like Frank Sinatra and Greta Garbo made their escape from Hollywood, and the venerable piano bar still invites folks to nurse a martini and to take a spin around the dance floor. These days, the crowd is varied, consisting of patrons trying to recapture that allure and folks hoping to tap into the mystique of bygone days. Whichever role you choose to play, you'll experience one of the city's best-known mainstays.

PALM SPRINGS. Citron Bar, like the restaurant itself, is a sunny study of retro chic and Hollywood glam. An interplay of mirrors and white and yellow tones sets the scene, a perfect backdrop against which stylish patrons pose and mingle. Strong cocktails are de rigueur, just as you'd expect in a place that harks back to the golden era of movie-making. If you opt to forgo some of the bar chit-chat, take advantage of Citron's California cuisine, which includes steaks, seafood, grilled pork, and more.