A Night at Pappy & Harriet's in Pioneertown

Eighteen minutes from the house, on the edge of a town that started life as a 1940s movie set, sits one of the desert's most beloved institutions: Pappy & Harriet's in Pioneertown.

A saloon with a soundtrack

Pappy's is a barbecue joint and honky-tonk that's hosted everyone from local bands to surprise sets by very famous names who wander into the desert to play a room this good. The food is smoky and generous, the patio strung with lights, and the crowd a happy mix of locals, hikers and weekenders.

Plan ahead

It's popular for a reason, so a few tips: reservations for dinner are worth it, especially on weekends and show nights; check the music calendar before you go; and leave time to wander Pioneertown's Mane Street, where the Old West facades are at their best at golden hour.

The drive home

The drive back to Stargaze at night is worth staying awake for — empty road, Joshua trees in the headlights, and a sky full of stars by the time you pull in. Save the fire pit for a nightcap when you get home.