Coachella attendees face $360 check for dinner garden party

Coachella kicks off in just under two weeks, and festivalgoers can expect to spend a fortune on its 2026 lavish menu that’s full of Michelin-star pop-ups.

April 10 is set to see droves of people trekking through the California heat to see their favorite artists perform for the weekend, and of course, they’ll be peckish during their stay.

However, with a weekend stay costing anywhere from $549 to over $1700, the last thing you’d expect is to pay hundreds more for meals.

But to experience Coachella, one must be able to afford Coachella, and sadly, that includes incredibly expensive food this year thanks to its Outstanding in the Field pop-up. Located in the VIP Rose Garden, the long-table dinner experience is the peak California culinary scene vibe.

But it costs over $300.

Coachella offers a $360 dining experience (Getty Stock Images)

On the Coachella website, it states that the offering is ‘Jim Denevan’s roving, off-grid culinary experience’ that has roamed around 25 countries and will be carrying out a menu featuring a ‘signature cocktail’ and ‘a four-course, wine-paired communal dinner prepared by acclaimed chefs from California and beyond.’

Starting at 6pm sharp, the $350 booking that allows people to dine ‘without walls’, includes $12.50 fees, bringing its total to $362.50 per person.

That’s an expensive course.

But according to the company, it’s an experience to connect diners.

Its website claims they are ‘setting our long table in fields, orchards and along the seashores where the meal's ingredients were harvested’ to ‘reconnect diners to the land while celebrating the hardworking hands that feed us.’

The food hopes to 'reconnect' diners (Getty Stock Images)

So, what food is being served at Coachella?

If you want to know what food is on offer before committing to the price – tough luck.

An inspection of Coachella’s and the dining experience’s websites come up empty on a specific meal plan.

However, Coachella states that there is vegetarian, vegan, and alternative food options for attendees.

But if you’re in need of something more budget-friendly, there are many different foods to choose from elsewhere, such as pizza, bang bang noodles, pasta, tacos and more.

While some people have debated if the price is worth it on Reddit, some claimed it takes place during the time when the most popular performances are happening – which means you’d miss it.

One person responded to someone asking if it’s ‘worth it’ with: “If you’re ok with missing primetime music hours for a fancy-shmancy meal then yes it is.”

But others enjoyed the meals, so it’s really up to you.

UNILAD reached out to Outstanding in the Field and Coachella for comment.

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