Counter Reformation on Postcard

"Counter Reformation is a casual wine bar inside the Parker Palm Springs hotel. It’s unstuffy and beautiful to behold, and the best part is that reservations are not required. The wine collection rotates regularly, offering excellent reds, champagne, and whites, including the Azahar vinho verde from Portugal. The kitchen serves Portuguese-style cod fish cakes, oysters, and a garlicky plate of prawns." - Mona Holmes

11 Spots to Find Stellar Cocktails in Palm Springs

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@afar

"There’s something about a place being “secret” that makes it exponentially more exciting. Counter Reformation, the European-style wine bar hidden from sight inside the Parker hotel, lives up to that notion. Open from Thursday to Monday, 3 to 10 p.m., the pocket-sized shrine to great wine has no tables and takes no reservations (though leaning at the low-lit 14-seat bar is encouraged). But there is food, and fantastic food at that. Instead of trying to be everything to everybody, Counter Reformation’s tapas menu is short and original, including caviar served with crème fraîche and a quail egg, plus a layered summer tomato salad with melon. The wines are carefully curated from California, France, and Italy , with a few wild cards from places like Portugal and Oregon, and are all priced the same. While the spot has the feel of an insider’s club, it’s without pretense, with the experts behind the bar providing enthusiastic guidance. For dessert, order the foie gras macarons with sea salt, with a sip of champagne. If you overdo it, don’t worry: You can ask for forgiveness in the restaurant’s authentic confessional booth, shipped in from Italy."

Where the Locals Eat and Drink in Palm Springs

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@infatuation

"Counter Reformation is one of the newer spots in all of Palm Springs, but it’s already operating on a higher level than just about everyone else. Hidden in a corner of the massive Parker Palm Springs, this is a cool wine bar that happens to have some of the best food in town. You’re going to want the cheese plate, the beef charcuterie, and the hen of the woods. Also, lots and lots of wine. More places like this please, Palm Springs. photo credit: Jakob Layman" - Brant Cox

Counter Reformation Review - Palm Springs - Los Angeles - The Infatuation

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@foodandwine

"Hidden away in an inky, narrow space in the Parker Palm Springs hotel, Counter Reformation offers a solid selection of wines from around the globe, and small plates you’d see on menus in France or Spain." - Mary Holland

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Kyle Conway

Google

Counter Reformation is such a cool, unique and perfect place. Jocelyn the bartender, food runner, meat cutter, and I’m sure more is absolutely amazing. She gave us great recs for food and wine. Such a cool good vibe in here. Spain meets portugal meets tapas meets palm springs meets trendy wine bar. Totally recommend for anyone coming to town. 5 stars easily. The garlic shrimp are amazing with a great bravas sauce. The truffle chimmichuri on the the beef carpaccio is incredible. Thanks to counter reformation for a great night!

Greg Johnson

Google

First off, the young woman who ran the place the night I was there (11/08/24), Jocelyn, is a national treasure. The place seats 22 by my count and she greeted, seated, took wine orders, food orders, delivered food and wine and cleaned up for the next rotation at least twice while I was there and was ALWAYS pleasant and unflappably perfect. Amazing I was a bit skeptical about the wine pricing scheme, but pleasantly surprised by the cab franc and the Tempranillo. The food was likewise excellent. Escargot and shrimp. From the looks at food served to those around me, all the selections were in the vein of tapas and quite good An honestly great experience

Mauro Gonzalez

Google

Adorable place, great ambiance and delicious small bites! Perfect place for a date night (partner, family or friends). Customer service is top tier, our order was input incorrectly and the server proactively took care of us without having to point out the obvious! That’s what great customer service is about, not making the customer feel like they are at fault or having them feel the need to explain themselves. 👏🏼 love the entire hotel in general, our go-to place when we visit Palm Springs!🌴💛

Mark Pitts

Google

Absolutely gorgeous little bar tucked into the Parker Hotel. Make sure that you get reservations! The Parker is pretty exclusive, and they won’t allow you even to enter the grounds of the hotel unless you have a reservation at one of their bars or restaurants. The service was great, and we enjoyed tasting several wines and multiple tasty treats from their menu. Be sure to get the quail eggs with caviar. Absolutely amazing!

Travel & Champagne

Google

I absolutely loved it here. Great find for amazing wines and small bites in Palm Springs. The champagne was delicious as well as the octopus. I highly recommend for all wine lovers.i couldn’t resist the fresh out of the oven bread and house made butter.

Felisa Zhang

Google

Wish Uber can deliver their foie gras macaron to my house every week. Amazing tapas menu in a medieval reflective tiny setting. It’s hiding in the gardens of the Parker Hotel. The bartenders are fantastic. Food and drinks are like the hotel design - tastefully and poetically thoughtful. Been to many places around the world, this is one of my all time favorites in Southern California. If I lived in Palm Springs, this would be my ‘reformative’ hang out place at end of the week.

Maoput

Google

How do I start it? The bar is small and currently only allowed 10ish people, which is good. There is a rule of minimal two plates for a person. I ordered 4 different plates, the presentation is above average. However, their taste were below average. I couldn't tell what it was within the grilles cheese and I just couldn't even finish it. For sure it's on the tip of my wrong choice. Not because it tasted quite bad. It's just bad value.

Stephen Codekas

Google

How I love this place. I only found it because I was searching for a cheese board late at night, and I am so glad I found this place. It's small, counter being a clue. Some would call this intimate in the hopes of making lame excuses for its size but here, intimate really is the perfect adjective. I love their collection of wines and the food was incredible. Even better, the Catholic in me is enthralled at the decor and the prayer cards!

Kyle Conway

Google

Counter Reformation is such a cool, unique and perfect place. Jocelyn the bartender, food runner, meat cutter, and I’m sure more is absolutely amazing. She gave us great recs for food and wine. Such a cool good vibe in here. Spain meets portugal meets tapas meets palm springs meets trendy wine bar. Totally recommend for anyone coming to town. 5 stars easily. The garlic shrimp are amazing with a great bravas sauce. The truffle chimmichuri on the the beef carpaccio is incredible. Thanks to counter reformation for a great night!

Greg Johnson

Google

First off, the young woman who ran the place the night I was there (11/08/24), Jocelyn, is a national treasure. The place seats 22 by my count and she greeted, seated, took wine orders, food orders, delivered food and wine and cleaned up for the next rotation at least twice while I was there and was ALWAYS pleasant and unflappably perfect. Amazing I was a bit skeptical about the wine pricing scheme, but pleasantly surprised by the cab franc and the Tempranillo. The food was likewise excellent. Escargot and shrimp. From the looks at food served to those around me, all the selections were in the vein of tapas and quite good An honestly great experience

Mauro Gonzalez

Google

Adorable place, great ambiance and delicious small bites! Perfect place for a date night (partner, family or friends). Customer service is top tier, our order was input incorrectly and the server proactively took care of us without having to point out the obvious! That’s what great customer service is about, not making the customer feel like they are at fault or having them feel the need to explain themselves. 👏🏼 love the entire hotel in general, our go-to place when we visit Palm Springs!🌴💛

Mark Pitts

Google

Absolutely gorgeous little bar tucked into the Parker Hotel. Make sure that you get reservations! The Parker is pretty exclusive, and they won’t allow you even to enter the grounds of the hotel unless you have a reservation at one of their bars or restaurants. The service was great, and we enjoyed tasting several wines and multiple tasty treats from their menu. Be sure to get the quail eggs with caviar. Absolutely amazing!

Travel & Champagne

Google

I absolutely loved it here. Great find for amazing wines and small bites in Palm Springs. The champagne was delicious as well as the octopus. I highly recommend for all wine lovers.i couldn’t resist the fresh out of the oven bread and house made butter.

Felisa Zhang

Google

Wish Uber can deliver their foie gras macaron to my house every week. Amazing tapas menu in a medieval reflective tiny setting. It’s hiding in the gardens of the Parker Hotel. The bartenders are fantastic. Food and drinks are like the hotel design - tastefully and poetically thoughtful. Been to many places around the world, this is one of my all time favorites in Southern California. If I lived in Palm Springs, this would be my ‘reformative’ hang out place at end of the week.

Maoput

Google

How do I start it? The bar is small and currently only allowed 10ish people, which is good. There is a rule of minimal two plates for a person. I ordered 4 different plates, the presentation is above average. However, their taste were below average. I couldn't tell what it was within the grilles cheese and I just couldn't even finish it. For sure it's on the tip of my wrong choice. Not because it tasted quite bad. It's just bad value.

Stephen Codekas

Google

How I love this place. I only found it because I was searching for a cheese board late at night, and I am so glad I found this place. It's small, counter being a clue. Some would call this intimate in the hopes of making lame excuses for its size but here, intimate really is the perfect adjective. I love their collection of wines and the food was incredible. Even better, the Catholic in me is enthralled at the decor and the prayer cards!

Counter Reformation

Counter Reformation

Photos

Highlights

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