Cotino Bay Beach: Public Access & What to Expect
A practical guide to the projected opening, public beach admission, waterfront businesses and details still awaiting announcement.
Cotino Bay Beach, Dining, Shops is the planned public-facing waterfront destination within Cotino in Rancho Mirage. It is designed to combine a ticketed white-sand beach experience with restaurants, cafés, specialty shopping, an open-air marketplace, community events and walkable views across Cotino Bay.
The town center and beach should not be treated as one all-inclusive admission. The commercial district is planned for public visitors, while access to the beach and lagoon experience will require a separate day ticket. Final prices, hours, reservations and operating rules have not yet been announced.
- The current projected opening is spring 2027: an exact date and possible phased openings remain unannounced.
- The town center is public-facing: restaurants, cafés, shops, markets and events are planned around a walkable waterfront district.
- Beach access will be separately ticketed: no public day-ticket price, reservation system or detailed inclusion list has been released.
- Nine businesses are currently announced: the lineup includes dining, coffee, specialty food, gelato, artisan retail and refillable household products.
- Homeownership and private-club membership are different: buying a Cotino home does not automatically provide access to the bay or beaches.
Latest Cotino Bay Development Status
Public opening projected for spring 2027
Storyliving by Disney announced six additional businesses joining three previously announced tenants. Visitor admission details and individual business opening dates remain pending.
View update history
August 2026: The projected opening moved to spring 2027 and six additional dining and retail businesses were announced.
July 2026: Paid public beach access remained confirmed while ticket pricing, reservations and detailed visitor policies remained pending.
October 2025: The first three businesses in the current lineup were announced for the approximately 45,000-square-foot first commercial phase.
One Waterfront, Two Public Experiences
Dining, shopping and events
The public-facing district is planned around restaurants, cafés, specialty retail, a marketplace, farmers markets, live music, art displays, seasonal events and waterfront gathering spaces.
Ticketed sand and water access
Visitors are expected to purchase admission for the white-sand beach, swimming and water recreation. The final ticket inclusions and operating policies remain unannounced.
A visitor may eventually come only for coffee, shopping or dinner without planning a beach day. The final boundary between freely accessible promenades and businesses, controlled beach entry and separately charged activities will become clearer when operating details are released.
Public Access, Homeownership and Artisan Club Membership
Use the public district
Visitors will be able to use the town center under its operating policies and purchase admission to the public beach experience.
No automatic beach access
Official disclosures state that purchasing a residence does not grant access to Cotino Bay or its beaches. Residents remain subject to the applicable public or club arrangements.
Separate private experience
Accepted members pay separate club charges for private beaches and facilities. Club access is not the same as the public Cotino Bay Beach day ticket.
Compare Artisan Club membership, costs and access for the private side of the waterfront.
What a Beach Day May Include
Official announcements describe a white-sand beach with swimming and water recreation. Kayaks, paddleboards and other equipment have been referenced, but final rental procedures, age requirements, safety rules, reservations and pricing remain unpublished.
Sand, swimming and waterfront recreation
The beach is planned as a place to relax along the shore, enter designated swimming areas and participate in water activities.
Exact operating experience
Chair and umbrella inventory, cabanas, lockers, changing areas, lifeguard operations, food service, accessibility features and included equipment remain to be announced.
Food, drinks, watercraft, reserved seating, cabanas, special events and other services may be separate purchases until the final ticket terms say otherwise.
What Cotino Bay Beach May Cost
No public dollar amount has been announced for the Cotino Bay Beach day ticket. The confirmed point is that access to Cotino Bay and its beaches requires a separate fee.
Price pending
Ticket tiers, resident pricing, child pricing, capacity limits, reservations and cancellation policies have not been released.
Purchased separately
Restaurant meals, drinks and retail purchases will follow the participating businesses’ menus and prices.
Inclusions pending
It is not yet clear which water activities or equipment, if any, will be included with admission.
Policies pending
Parking availability, fees, event admission and special reservation systems remain unannounced.
Explore the Nine Announced Businesses
Six businesses announced in August 2026 join Elevare, Artigiano and On the Mark Fine Foods & Provisions. Additional tenant announcements are expected as the waterfront district develops.
Cotino Bay business directory
Filter the nine currently announced dining, café and shopping concepts.
Elevare
An elevated American dining concept planned around seasonal ingredients, panoramic water views and a large outdoor terrace.
More details
Created by Oak View Group and designed by Ignisio Studios, Elevare is planned for daily lunch and dinner plus weekend brunch overlooking Cotino Bay and the San Jacinto Mountains.
Artigiano
A European-inspired specialty coffee concept from Canada making its first United States appearance at Cotino.
More details
Artigiano is expected to serve espresso drinks and coffee made with Arabica blends alongside café offerings prepared with thoughtfully sourced ingredients.
On the Mark Fine Foods & Provisions
The locally owned Palm Springs specialty market plans a second location with gourmet food, drinks and provisions.
More details
The announced selection includes artisan goods, premium meats and cheeses, made-to-order sandwiches, wine, craft beer and other specialty provisions.
Asada Cantina + Kitchen
A full-service Mexican restaurant from San Clemente combining crafted dishes, cocktails and an energetic social setting.
More details
The restaurant is planned to open daily for lunch and dinner, pairing vibrant Mexican flavors with cocktails and a setting designed for gatherings.
Mojave Flea Trading Post
An experiential desert retail concept featuring a rotating mix of regional makers, artisans and independent brands.
More details
The announced mix includes vintage apparel, home goods, handmade ceramics, artwork, apothecary products, accessories and other locally rooted finds.
SottoSopra
A new Italian concept from the team behind SottoVoce Cafe, bringing Milanese inspiration to the waterfront district.
More details
SottoSopra is planned for breakfast, lunch and dinner, with pastries, paninis, ossobuco, risotto giallo and a selection of Italian wines.
Big Juice
A Coachella Valley business focused on cold-pressed juice, protein smoothies, specialty coffee and daytime food.
More details
The planned menu includes fresh cold-pressed juices, protein smoothies, handcrafted specialty coffee and casual breakfast and lunch selections.
It Refills
A locally established retailer offering refillable household and personal-care products designed to reduce everyday waste.
More details
The announced selection includes hand and body wash, toothpaste, household cleaners, laundry soap and other refillable essentials.
La Dolce Piccola Gelateria
A family-owned Palm Desert gelateria planned as a casual stop for house-made gelato, coffee and baked treats.
More details
The rotating menu is expected to feature fresh homemade gelato, coffee and artisanal baked goods in an Italian-inspired dessert setting.
Location and Arrival Details
The first phase is planned off Monterey Avenue between Gerald Ford Drive and Frank Sinatra Drive in Rancho Mirage. Cotino residents are expected to have convenient walking and golf-cart connections, while public visitors will approach the destination under future parking, circulation and admission policies.
Exact parking capacity, fees, rideshare procedures, accessible arrival details, beach-entry locations and event traffic plans remain to be announced.
What Has Not Been Announced Yet
- Exact opening date and whether businesses will open in phases
- Beach ticket prices, categories, capacity and reservation system
- Operating hours and seasonal schedule
- Parking rules, availability and possible fees
- Final swimming, watercraft and safety policies
- Beach seating, shade, cabanas, lockers and changing facilities
- Accessibility details and service-animal policies
- Event calendars, market schedules and individual business opening dates
Plans, tenants, offerings and timing remain subject to change. This guide should be updated when Storyliving by Disney publishes final visitor information.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is Cotino Bay Beach expected to open?
Storyliving by Disney currently projects Cotino Bay Beach, Dining, Shops to open in spring 2027. An exact opening date and whether the beach, businesses and events will all begin simultaneously have not been announced.
Will Cotino Bay Beach be open to the public?
Yes. The waterfront town center is planned as a public-facing destination. Access to the beach and lagoon experience will require a separately purchased day ticket, while final policies for visiting the restaurants, shops, promenade and events have not yet been published.
How much will a Cotino Bay Beach day ticket cost?
No public dollar price has been announced. Reservations, operating hours, capacity rules, age policies and whether watercraft, seating or other experiences are included also remain pending.
Will Cotino homeowners receive free beach access?
No. Official disclosures state that purchasing a Cotino home does not grant access to Cotino Bay or its beaches. Residents may use the public experience under its visitor and payment policies or separately apply for voluntary Artisan Club membership.
Is Cotino Bay Beach the same as the Artisan Club?
No. Cotino Bay Beach is the planned public-facing, ticketed waterfront experience. The Artisan Club is a separate private club for accepted Cotino homeowners who apply and pay initiation, dues and other applicable charges.
Sources and Further Reading
Opening schedules, tenants, admission, operating rules and proposed offerings can change. Current official announcements and visitor policies control over this independent summary.
