Day 4

After several days in Joshua Tree and a slight detour to Salvation Mountain, we headed back to Palm Springs for a few days of R&R. We arrived just in time for dinner, so we headed to El Jefe, located in the the Saguaro Hotel. El Jefe is known for its Mexican street food and tasty margaritas while the hotel is known for its vibrant colors and lively pool scene. We were sure to stop by the pool for some photo opps prior to eating dinner.

Afterward, we settled into our hotel, Talavera. Like I mentioned in my Joshua Tree post, Palm Springs has countless boutique hotels to choose from. Whether you’re after a bohemian, retro, or luxury feel, there’s something for everyone. We ultimately chose Talavera due to its relaxed, bohemian vibe. It was also located pretty close to most things we wanted to experience while visiting; nearly everything that we did was a 5 minute drive from our hotel.

Day 5

We started our first full day in Palm Springs with a stroll down Palm Canyon Drive. We were on a mission for a date shake. But first, coffee. We grabbed cinnamon-vanilla cold brews from a local coffee chain, Koffi. After stopping in a few boutiques along the way, we ultimately made it to Fruit Wonders for a date shake. Given all the date palms in and around Palm Springs, date shakes are pretty unique to the area and are one of those things you simply have to try while visiting. I thoroughly enjoyed mine, especially because Fruit Wonders makes their with coconut creme and almond milk rather than ice cream. However, if you’re not feeling a date shake, they offer an awesome selection of smoothies, acai bowls, and cold-pressed juices.

We then hopped in the car for a quick drive to Palm Spring’s Indian Canyon neighborhood. This is where the city’s iconic midcentury modern homes are located. We didn’t want to be too intrusive and were eager to spend most of the afternoon at our hotel’s pool, so we snapped a few pics and headed back.

After a glorious afternoon spent poolside, we got ready for a night out. First, we had pre-dinner drinks at Boozehounds, a dog-friendly bar and restaurant. I can’t vouch for the food, but the decor is stunning and the cocktails (including an extensive list of coffee cocktails) are to die for! Next up was dinner at Azucar, located in La Serena Villas. I loved its funky, boho-chic decor, as well as its eclectic food menu that lent itself to being served tapas style. I still dream about the Spicy Melon cocktail (pictured above). Side note: La Serena Villas were gorgeous and somewhere I’d love to stay if I were to venture to Palm Springs again.

Day 6

There were no morning outings to be had on our second full day in Palm Springs. Lounging poolside all morning and afternoon was the name of the game. Eventually, however, we got ourselves together for another night of top-notch food and beverage. We first enjoyed handcrafted tiki cocktails at Bootlegger Tiki. They were as beautiful to look at as they were fun to sip on. The space is small and fills up quick, so I would definitely book in advance. After a couple drinks, we had one of the best meals of my life at Sandfish Sushi & Whiskey. Between the impeccable service and exquisitely executed menu, I can’t recommend this place enough.

Day 7

After learning that Bootlegger Tiki and Ernest Coffee are under the same ownership, we went out of our way to check out the latter for our morning cup of joe. Ernest Coffee is a super chill coffee shop that serves unique and delicious coffee drinks. In fact, their iced horchata chai latte is one of the best coffee drinks I’ve ever had.

With our coffee in hand, we headed to Moorten Botanical Garden. This privately-owned arboretum showcases desert plants that range in size from gigantic to miniature. I particularly love that the Moorten family has owned and operated this impressive collection since 1938. I definitely recommend stopping here!

And, just like that, our adventure came to a close as we headed to the airport to catch our flight home.