The Coachella Music and Arts Festival offers a ton of options for your adult beverage drinking pleasure. But, the Craft Beer Barn and craft cocktails available inside the Empire Polo Club can be, well, a little pricey (and sometimes hard to find)- so you may want to pregame a bit before you go. Here are your best options that a short Uber or Lyft ride from the venue.
Presented in no particular order.
Neil’s Lounge
This Indio dive bar has cheap drinks and decent food for your to enjoy on your way to the festival. Plus they have happy hour starting at 9 am and running through 8 pm.
Distance from Coachella Fest: 2.8 miles
Neil’s Lounge, 80956 CA-111, (760) 347-1522
Pueblo Viejo Grill
Looking for a taco and a margarita or two or three before heading out to see Beyonce? This would be your spot.
Distance from Coachella Fest: 2.6 miles
Pueblo Viejo Grill, 81931 Highway 111, (760) 342-5900
Sloan’s Restaurant
If you are planning to get your drink on early, this would be your place. They serve breakfast, lunch, and dinner – plus they have a Bloody Mary that has everything and anything as a garnish.
Distance from Coachella Fest: 2.6 miles
Sloan’s Restaurant, 81539 Highway 111, Indio, (760) 347-3923
Augustine Casino
The casino is known as being a locals casino and that means cheap drinks, a pretty good chavela, and a reasonably priced buffet if you really want to load up on grub before you head to Coachella. Plus, who knows, maybe you can win big on the slots before heading to the Empire Polo Club and buy me a drink with your winnings when you see me there.
Distance from Coachella Fest: 3.9 miles
Augustine Casino, 84001 Avenue 54, Coachella, (760) 391-9500
La Quinta Brewery
The local brewer has a ton of its own beers on tap at their Old Town La Quinta location plus rotating guest taps and even wine, if that’s your thing. They don’t serve food but they are cool with you bringing your own in as long as you are not a jerk about it.
Distance from Coachella Fest: 5 miles
La Quinta Brewing Co. Old Town Taproom, 78065 Main Street, #100, La Quinta, (760) 972-4251
Stuft Pizza
Another Old Town La Quinta spot, this place is known around town for having a rad Happy Hour with low-priced huge draft beers and a big selection of cocktails and menu items.
Stuft Pizza, 78015 Main Street #100, La Quinta, (760) 777-9989
Distance from Coachella Fest: 5 miles
Beer Hunter
Plenty of beers on tap and some killer nachos.
Distance from Coachella Fest: 6.5 miles
Beer Hunter, 78-483 Highway 111, La Quinta, (760) 564-7442
Applebee’s
It just so happens that Dollaritas are back just in time for Coachella. Coincidence?
Applebee’s, 82894 Highway 111, Indio, (760) 342 – 4149
Distance from Coachella Fest: 3.7 miles
Cheers!
