Coachella 2018 Food & Drink Guide: Indio Central Market, VIP Dinners & More

While music defines Coachella, the festival features over 100 top chefs, restaurants, and bartenders, establishing it as one of the world's premier food and beverage events. The 2018 lineup expands with beloved returning favorites and innovative newcomers for an elevated culinary experience.

A major highlight is the debut of Indio Central Market, a food haven inspired by L.A.'s Grand Central Market. This 40,000-square-foot shaded tent—repurposed from the former Mojave music stage—hosts 15+ acclaimed restaurants nationwide, with plenty of seating. Standouts include New York’s Fuku by Momofuku, serving fried chicken sandwiches and slushies; L.A.’s Cena Vegan with burritos and nacho boats; and Santa Ana’s Wingman Kitchen, offering Hong Kong-style puffle cones filled with popcorn chicken.

Coachella offers diverse dining from casual stands and trucks to upscale experiences. In the VIP area, three pop-up restaurants require advance reservations: Gwen by Curtis Stone, The Exchange from L.A.’s Freehand, and Moby’s Little Pine. Priced at $50 per person, each features a prix-fixe tasting menu (check individual links for details and bookings).

Another exclusive option is Outstanding in the Field, the renowned farm-to-table series with unique outdoor dinners. At Coachella, six chef-led four-course meals unfold in the Rose Garden VIP area over both weekends. General admission ticket holders can buy access ($225 per person online here), starting at 6 p.m. The 2018 lineups:

April 13: Bruce Kalman (Union, Pasadena; Knead, Grand Central Market, L.A.) and Tyler Anderson (Millwright’s, Simsbury, CT)

April 14: Brooke Williamson (Playa Provisions, Playa del Rey) and Shirley Chung (Ms Chi, downtown L.A.)

April 15: Kyle Johnson (Bourbon Steak, Glendale) and Josh Smith (Bardot Brasserie, Las Vegas)

April 20: Christian Page & Elia Aboumrad (Cassell’s, Koreatown L.A.), Fabian Gallardo (La Esquina, New York), Oso Campos (Tacos Kokopelli, Tijuana)

April 21: Pawan, Nakul, and Arjun Mahendro (Badmaash, downtown L.A.)

April 22: Sara Kramer & Sarah Hymanson (Kismet, Los Feliz; Madcapra, downtown L.A.)

Newcomer Shake Shack recreates its original Madison Square Park stand, while Van Leeuwen ice cream unveils an air-conditioned pop-up shop.

The secretive PDTiki bar returns, alongside Broken Shaker (Freehand L.A.), Las Perlas mescal bar, and Beer Belly’s Rare Beer Bar in the Craft Beer Barn. Non-alcoholic highlights include booze-free cocktails at Bar Not Bar, kombucha in Indio Central Market, and “refreshment pods” with cold-pressed juices, wellness shots, and sparkling matcha.

Explore all 100+ vendors in the official Coachella Eat & Drink Guide or via the Coachella mobile app for on-site maps.

_{Photos by Neil Husvar, courtesy of Coachella}