Want to eat like a local at the BNP Paribas Open? Here’s how

The Coachella Valley is home to a number of impressive restaurants, many of which are on the grounds at the BNP Paribas Open.

If you’re looking to eat like a local while at tennis paradise, there are plenty of options available on the grounds at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden. One such spot, Palm Desert’s Porta Via, overlooks Stadium 1 and serves up several tennis-inspired meals and drinks to amplify spectators’ experience.

Defending champs meals, tennis-inspired drinks

When you’re in tennis paradise, you’re meant to enjoy the good life. Porta Via helps bring that vibe to a whole new level.

The eatery greets tennis fans with an impressive view of stadium 1, allowing spectators to take in all the action without sacrificing lunch or dinner. For those hoping to eat along the window seats, diners should note that there is a $150 viewing seat minimum charge (per seat, per match).

The menu features a number of tennis-inspired dishes, such as the “Desert Smash” cocktail, consisting of vodka, lemonade and raspberry liquor and a green melon ball garnish, and the “Fritz” spritz, in honor of SoCal’s champ Taylor Fritz, made with aperol, gin, grapefruit, elderflower and prosecco.

The restaurant also honors defending BNP Paribas champions Jack Draper and Mirra Andreeva with two dishes that they’ve picked out, including steak au poivre (Draper) and syrniki, or farmer cheese pancakes (Andreeva).

Other classic dishes on the menu include the creamy Porta Via Salad (with butter lettuce, shaved sweet onion, dill, chervil, avocado, French feta and a champagne shallot vinaigrette), a tuna tower (with ahi tuna, sticky rice, cucumber, mango and avocado), grilled chicken paillard (with vegetables, brown rice and a lemon caper sauce), chocolate cake and cheesecake.

Other local restaurants at the BNP Paribas

Looking for other local eateries at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden? Stop by these locations on the grounds:

• Chef Tanya’s Kitchen (food village and stadium 1 south landing)
• China Jo’s (stadium 2)
• Coachella Valley Coffee Co. (food village and stadium 1 north landing)
• Dragon Lili Café + Boba Bar (food village)
• J’s Deli (food village and stadium 1)
• John’s (food village)
• Handel’s Homemade Ice Cream (stadium 1 north landing and stadium 3)
• La Dolce Piccola (stadium 2)
• Mole Mexican Kitchen (stadium 2)
• Ristorante Mamma Gina (stadium 2)
• Spotlight 29 Bar (stadium 1 south landing)

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: Want to eat like a local at the BNP Paribas Open? Here’s how