Allow me to go out on a limb here: I’m guessing that if you’ve got a VIP wristband for Coachella 2025 over the next two weekends, you’re not just going for Lady Gaga, Green Day and Megan Thee Stallion, am I right? You’re there for the moments—and some of the best ones happen with an herbaceous cocktail in one hand, a Wagyu slider in the other, and your chunky iridescent statement boots kicked up in a pillowed VIP lounge somewhere. We’re talking $1,400 tickets, after all!
Judging from the lineup (and I mean the menus not the music), Coachella’s 2025 VIP food program is a festival all its own. Never mind that you’re inside a giant equestrian ring in the middle of a desert; the year’s dining options are highly curated, supremely impressive, and tempting enough to lure you away from whatever’s happening on stage. From exclusive omakase pop-ups to caviar-topped nuggets, here’s everything Coachella VIPs will want to savor before, between — and, okay, fine, maybe during — the music sets.
Outstanding in the Field: The Desert’s Most Delectable Sunset
Let’s start with the culinary crown jewel.
Tucked inside the retreat-like VIP Rose Garden, Outstanding in the Field returns for its 10th year, turning the dusty polo grounds into one of the most sought-after dining tables in California. That signature long, linen-draped communal table snakes through the artificial turf, as Aperol spritzes clink and the sun dips below the grandstands. On the playlist…for weekend one:
Chef Diego Argoti brings the chaos one bite at a time. Known for his stint as chef-in-residence at Poltergeist in Echo Park (described as “the most manic, unchecked, and wildly envisioned cooking in L.A.”), Argoti’s menu should be loaded with nostalgic flavors remixed into tastes both surreal and delicious. (He’s the chef who plated Flamin’ Hot chicharrones with ice cream, lest we forget). Expect bold presentations, unexpected heat, and a vibe that feels like a punk show masquerading as fine dining.
Tara Monsod, Executive Chef of ANIMAE and Le Coq in San Diego, draws on a decade of experience and her Filipino heritage for inventive dishes like Tuna Kinilaw, Kare Kare Short Ribs and elevated versions of Filipino classics like dinuguan. Monsod was San Diego’s first James Beard Best Chef California finalist in 2024.
Weekend two, it’s a three-pack culinary extravaganza featuring:
- Eric Greenspan, now helming Hollywood’s upcoming Tesla Diner (no, it’s not a DOGE commissary), bringing his signature over-the-top Americana to the desert.
- Byron Lazaroff-Puck, Wolfgang’s son and rising star in his own right, will layer his technical finesse (he knows his way around a foam) with fresh flavors.
- Danielle & Alessandro Zecca of Highland Park’s Amiga Amore, blur the lines between Italian comfort and Mexican spice. Think tamalini, mole lasagna, and mezcal-infused tiramisu—with Post Malone warming up in the background.
Each dinner starts with a welcome cocktail, then moves through four generous, family-style courses paired with local wines. I attended one of these in the same location for Desert Trip years ago, and it definitely feels like a bucket list adventure. Wear something breezy, and come hungry.
12 Peaks VIP: Culinary Playground for the Flavor-Obsessed
Hidden in the sleekest corner of the fest, the 12 Peaks VIP area is an elevated food court of scrumptious menus and cocktail chemistry that could make you swear off General Admission passes forever. There’s something for meat eaters, vegans, sugar addicts and the California sober. The idea here is to provide some space away from masses of sweaty Charlie XCX dress-alikes in a chill zone of comfy seating, cool shade and, lo, flush toilets inside air-conditioned rest rooms (never underestimate this). New for 2025, there are also VIP areas adjacent to the Outdoor Theater and Sahara.
What’s on the menu?
Le Burger by L.A.’s Camphor is Michelin-pedrigreed but still burger forward. The Wagyu cheeseburger with crispy pommes frites is the go-to order but you can splurge (because, why not at this point?) on their caviar box, served with your choice of chips or chicken nuggets, crème fraîche, and chives.
Chubby Club is Coachella’s uni universe, where you can also enjoy some Wagyu tartare. The acclaimed LA pizza spot Ronan is making its blistered Neapolitan pies fresh onsite. On the healthier end, Monty’s Good Burger + Good Boy Matcha are your plant-based heroes, with with Impossible patties, crispy fries, and creamy vegan shakes.
As always, my man Nicely from Menotti’s (a former national barista champion) is serving all types of caffeine deliciousness. And non-alcohol drinks are available from The New Bar, known for its zero-proof cocktails, beers, wines, and the occasional fancy soda.
The VIP Rose Garden: Your Coachella 2025 Garden Party
Even if you’re not dining at Outstanding in the Field, the Rose Garden VIP is an ultra-lush escape. It’s got shade, champagne, and a rotating cast of pop-up vendors. You’ll find everything from juicy smashburgers at Love Hour to birria from Birrieria Michi, Korean comfort food from Inssal, and cult-level wings from Woodfire Wings.
Other standouts include:
- KazuNori (fresh cut delights from Coachella’s first handroll bar)
- Papa Headz (crispy fried bites and cheese fries, cheese fries, cheese fries)
- And that secret natural wine spritzer cart that somehow always shows up right when you need it most.
In its Coachella debut this year, Mixteca by Please Don’t Tell (PDT) is hosting a desert speakeasy inspired by agave traditions. I would anticipate mezcal-heavy cocktails, secret menus, and a New York-gone-Indio vibe.
Final Thought
Yes, yes, Coachella is technically a music festival. You’re going to see Missy Elliott and perhaps Lola Young and maybe FKA Twigs. But if you’re in VIP, the food is an actual attraction. I am old enough to remember the “grab a slice and keep moving” ethos of earlier festivals. But Coachella 2025’s VIP food scene has evolved into something more like “pause everything, I’m eating birria ramen under a eucalyptus tree and rethinking my life choices.” I respect that. You can still catch the music—but don’t be surprised if the uni hand roll ends up being the real headliner.