The Best Places to Drink and Dine Around Joshua Tree National Park

Located approximately 130 miles from Los Angeles, Joshua Tree National Park is a mecca for rock climbers, hikers, stargazers, and those looking for a more serene desert getaway than the adjacent Palm Springs. The nearby towns of Joshua Tree, Yucca Valley, and Twentynine Palms offer a classic California high-desert experience: Find homey saloons that serve cocktails in Mason jars with live music, barbecue joints, and sun-soaked cafes that feel like literal oases in the desert. Whether a trip to Joshua Tree calls for long drives through the desert or a mezcal flight, here are the best spots to drink and dine near the park.

The road from Los Angeles to the desert can be beautiful but appetite-inducing, so check out this road trip map detailing where to make enjoyable stops on the way out. If venturing the 40 miles from Yucca Valley into Palm Springs or the Coachella Valley, try Eater’s Palm Springs dining guide, or the Palm Springs cocktail map.

Altadena-native Mona Holmes finds solace in Yucca Valley. Her favorite desert activity is waking up at 4 a.m. to take in the desert sky without city light interruption before heading into Joshua Tree National Park to climb an unusually shaped rock and watch the sunrise with coffee.