Now THIS is a dive bar but we loved it! Came all 3 night we were here in 29 palms. Josh behind…read morethe bar is super friendly as most of the clientele seem to be because we struck up conversations readily even though we are " east coasters". Good liquor selection and Josh lived up to his rep with a big perfect dry and ice cold martini. As good I would have in any restaurants back in dc where I live. Stopping in each night was a highlight of our trip.

I went to this place on a recent mini vacation to Joshua Tree. I wanted some local color, and I did…read morenot want to visit the spots for tourists. I wanted to clink glasses with locals who could tell me about the fun and flaw of growing up in a small town. And I figured that local dive bars would allow me to check off my hopes. Plus, the word on the street was that the Virginian was a local haunt for marines. I wanted to party with marines. Spoiler alert: I did--and it added an extra layer of crisp and pop to my night. On my first night, I went there, by my lonesome, and I was surprised to know that it was a cash-only establishment. This worked to my favor because I did not want to drink too much and then go to my hotel. I did not aim to get a DUI, I just wanted to have fun. When I go alone to a bar, I have a primary objective: to find friends to drink with and talk to. Especially on vacation, I wanted to find an experience that would lead me to a "hangover-like night." I know it might be impossible, for sure, but that does not impede me from trying. And when one tries, one might be successful. I was. I went to put my name on the chalkboard to eventually play pool. I gathered around the others who were waiting for pool. I quickly made friends with a marine. He was not the marine I had my eye on, but he was the one who entertained my advances. Soon after, we went to the bar to get him a drink. One for me too. We were getting shots. The wait was long-loving for it gave him and me the opportunity to connect. Let's call him Lalo. He told me about life as a marine. I told him about my life. He told me that he had found a girl--now his fiancée--on an app called Chispa. Basically, a dating app for Latinx people. I did not think he had found a fiancée, but rather a person he could fall in love with. He was young, you see, and love for marriage seems to be a long game best played by those who are at least in their mid-twenties. Regardless, I will root for those two crazy kids. As we drank and grew closer, Lalo and I just became friendlier and friendlier, which led to friendly hugs. On one particular long and gripping hug, I uttered, "This feels so nice, Lalo." His reply was, "I am glad, Frankie, I am glad." My chosen name is Frankie. His words comforted me because they sounded sincere, and words I had not heard before, within this context. Here in the middle of a desert, I had found comfort in the arms of a marine. I never thought I would, but like I said, I tried, and I was happy to be successful. Soon one of his friends came and requested to leave. Lalo did. I was irked. I wanted him to stay with me for a few more drinks at the Virginian. It did not happen. I got lucky, but my luck did not extend the night. But I did get lucky the next night. I went again after my day at Joshua Tree. It was a Saturday night. The place was full but not so full that it was overwhelming. I saw three young men sitting. There was a stool next to one. They had the build and essence of marines. So, I sat next to one. And again, I made a quick friend. He was from South Dakota. I can't remember his name, so let's call him James. James introduced me to his two friends. One was from the same town I grew up in. Happy coincidence. James and I spoke. He was kind enough to get me a glass of water. The service of the armed forces rings high and small. They were taking shots, one after the other, without restraint. One of James's friends stepped outside and puked. The bartender reprimanded them. He gave them a mop to clean their own mess. Wow, this would not happen in an LA bar, I thought. The marines were put to work. James took the mop and finished for his friend. The bartender inspected the mess and green-lit for them to go. Again, I wanted a marine to stay for my own selfish needs. He did not. He grew and gave me a smile as he went. This bar is a local haunt, but great for visitors. So, if you go to Joshua Tree or a nearby town, don't be shy and stop in here for local color. I got to see small-town vibes at play. It was great, and I met my own personal goal of partying with marines. The Virginian may not be sophisticated, but it is a place to have fun and engage in a way that feels homey yet exciting. Please remember it is cash only but it has ATMs. If you use credit cards, to get by at times, then skip this place.

The only DJ spin in 29 Palms, there's a outdoor patio, I think they used to have pizza catering on…read moreFriday, I'm not sure if they're still doing that. There's Sunday brunch all you can eat taco.

Very friendly staff, great service, yummy drinks, and such a cool vibe! I love that there is an…read moreoutdoor patio as well.

Had a great time dancing at this place. The cocktails were delicious and their DJ (DJ Shuffles) was…read moreincredible! The energy was inviting and fun.

If you're in Joshua Tree I DEFINITELY recommend coming here whether it's for coffee/matcha or…read morecocktails! The staff and vibes are both very welcoming and it feels like a vacation here! It also makes for great photos and you can take a photobooth pic too! Their matcha was a bit milky but still great!

Why th do I always lose here!! Lmao this casino is small. Don't really like coming here cus I have…read morethee worst luck HERE! only visit when I'm in twentynine palms with family and cus it's the nearest casino to the house if nobody wants to make a drive to morongo or pechanga. So yeah, this casino is not an ideal first choice. My last visit I was with my sister and niece. Got pretty drunk after having some drinks. LMAO. Our bartender Gianelli was a sweetheart and made the drinks perfect. The games here are just alright. Would be better if I left a winner lol

This is my first time today visiting the tortoise rock Casino. I've been to the big casino in Indio…read morecalled 29 Palms and always had a great time. I had some good food did all right on the slots and have the best service from Shannon one of the bartenders. She is very kind with a smile and helpful and welcome me to the neighborhood. Can't wait to come back. The two nice ladies at the oasis Grill were very helpful and kind also so I just don't remember their names.

Okay, being totally honest, this wasn't the absolute best food of our entire Joshua Tree-Palm…read moreSprings trip, but a close 2nd. BUT it was definitely the biggest, most positive surprise when it came to expectations vs. actual quality! We landed in Palm Springs late in the evening and were starving on our way out to Joshua Tree. After a quick Yelp search for something open past 7-8pm, this spot popped up. We pulled into a super quiet parking lot and found this tiny little place. Looking at it from the outside, we honestly figured it would just be a quick, forgettable pitstop. Boy, were we wrong. For starters, the place was relatively full for a Tuesday evening! We ordered the duck confit nachos, the kimchi bulgogi sandwich, and the pony wings. Wow! Granted, our expectations were unfairly low walking in, but this turned out to be probably our second-best meal of the entire week--and we ate out every single day! It absolutely crushed it in terms of exceeding expectations. It also helped that we happened to be there on a Wednesday, so all the wines were half-priced! Unfortunately, since we weren't familiar with the area, we didn't know exactly how much further we had to drive to our accommodations, so we couldn't imbibe more in such a welcoming environment. (Missed opportunity, but safety first!) Oh, and definitely save room for dessert--their pie with ice cream of the day was delicious too! If you are passing through, do not sleep on this place. I would definitely come back the next time I'm in the area!

The Tiny Pony is a cool little spot. The decor is kind of all over the place but it works and fits…read morethe desert vibe. Got the Tiny Pony burger and it was really good. Proper smash burger with crispy edges and a juicy center. The patties had great flavor and didn't need anything extra. Came with homemade chips which were actually really good and easy to keep picking at. Service was good and everything came out without a long wait. Simple, tasty, and a spot I'd come back to.

This restaurant is set away from primary Palm Springs. We took a drive one night to explore and try…read morethis place out. I love that it's placed on the landing strip and enjoyed reading the history behind its existence. When you walk in you feel like you're stepping into another time. It's original decor and wait staff is very friendly. We ordered the spinach artichoke dip, ahi tuna starters, Copper Room steak, cheeseburger and Smash Burger. I ordered Tequila Sours and they were delicious! This place was such a fun experience, I would highly recommend!

Avoid The Copper Room: Hostile Service and Pure Confusion If…read moreyou enjoy being lied to and treated like an inconvenience, The Copper Room is the place for you. After being told by the hostess that we could order from the full cocktail menu on the patio, we sat down only to be immediately shut down by our waiter. When I pointed out that the hostess had literally just handed us the menus and confirmed we could use them, the waiter didn't bother to check; he simply gave a dismissive, "I'm sure," and brushed us off with zero interest in helping. It is rare to find a staff so poorly coordinated and a service style so openly hostile. We didn't even stay for water before walking out. Don't let the mid-century aesthetic fool you--the service is stuck in the dark ages, and there are far too many great spots in the high desert to waste your time being treated like garbage here.

Came here twice. Very friendly we had excellent super meaty super Smokey baby back ribs, some of…read morehe best Mac and cheese we've ever had, very good plan chops. Good gyros. Food appears to all be home made. Angelina who works the bar where we sat is sweet and friendly. Highly recommend. Divey atmo but done top Shelf liquor and perfectly comfortable

Not sure I would have gone in if my husband wasn't with me…read more But we enjoyed the Brisket Quesadilla. It was simple comfort food, freshly prepared, very cheesy and came with generous servings of salsa and sour cream. My Greek Salad with gyro was also just what I needed after too many vacation days without a nice salad.

Went here for fun with my boyfriend during our trip to Joshua Tree and we loved the experience…read more Also brought in our own bowling balls (because what type of bowler are you if you dont bring your bowling bags everywhere lol) and there was no problem with the lanes. Went during a less busy time so no wait needed. The guy in the counter was very nice as well. Customer service was great. It's one of the smaller lanes that we've encountered but the place was in great shape.

Bowladium looks like nothing special from the outside but it is so fun! It was clean and friendly…read moreand accommodating. Love the attached bar and taco shop. Food was fantastic! Lane rental for 2 hours was $50 with shoes for the whole gang included. They also were fun with us ordering Rocky's Pizza from across the way and bringing it in. Free big parking dirt lot on side or street parking. In one block off the highway on Adobe Road- really close to Vista Del Sol Apartments.

Wifey and I love this place. She had the snakebite burger with sidewinder fries. She loved the…read moreburger and the fries are amazing. I had the Pork belly tacos, these tacos are to die for! Came with pickled onions, a pickled jalapeño half and lemon. They were covered in a most delicious salsa and spicy too. They're piled high on 2 street taco sized tortillas each. So much I easily split them and made 4 tacos. I also had the freshly made chicharrones with the same spicy salsa. I believe it's habanero based. The place has great atmosphere. Diner on one side and dive bar looking on the other side. The diner side is dark and dimly lit, it's really cool looking. And they have different retro radios sitting on each diner table. Service has always been top notch and tonight was no difference and we were served surprisingly quick. From the host to the server and everyone else we saw I can't say enough about the service.

The food was just what I needed after a few drinks. Definitely give the Cajun pasta a try. So…read morefilling and flavorful I would come back just for that! The service was good. We didn't have to wait long for drinks or food. Ambiance is pretty chill. The only downside is the tvs were only playing a live feed of birds.

Joshua tree really offers gems in secret places. This is one of them! It looks like a smoothie shop…read moreduring the day. The drinks are priced well. The bartender with the beard was friendly and accommodating and the ambiance is chill, soulful, and intimate with the jazz music in the background. I genuinely enjoyed myself and meeting the regular patrons!

Z Club is a true little gem. The music was great, the crowd had a fun local vibe, and the space…read moreitself is small, cozy, and full of character. It's surrounded by a handful of interesting little shops which makes the whole area feel special. We grabbed an amazing vegan meal from a pop up on the patio, which was a great surprise, and Alex behind the bar was fantastic, super friendly and clearly cares about the place and the people there. Already looking forward to coming back and bringing more friends!