Romantic Weekend in Joshua Tree
Written by Ashley Dunn
Looking for a quick desert getaway? Or possibly coming from out of state and just interested in the Joshua Tree area? Well, we found the perfect spot. Fully remodeled and less than five minutes from Joshua National Park, España Daga from Hygge Home Rentals is one of our favorite Airbnb’s. And to be honest, it has everything you might be looking for, so we found ourselves barely leaving the house…
España Daga is located in the heart of Joshua Tree, Ca. After a slight turn off of California State Route 62, you’re taken aback by the beautiful mountains and uninterrupted views of the desert valley. España Daga is just up ahead, and you can spot the beautifully painted white house on the corner. When you first pull up you’ll notice the rustic gate, to ensure guests safety and a little bit of privacy from the neighbors. Although, the neighborhood is so quiet and quant, you’ll think you’re all by yourself. All I could hear was the wind and some trees bustling, we already felt at peace before even opening the door.
The house itself has gone through a beautiful remodel. The front yard is incredibly spacious, with a very simple desert landscape and a shaded spot to enjoy the desert views. They also have a fire pit, with a few benches, positioned perfectly on the side overlooking the desert mountains. This happens to be where we ended up enjoying a glass of wine after dinner, although we do wish we would have brought some s’mores!
As you step inside the house, you’ll notice the thoughtful design work. With pops of darker colors, with bright art/design pieces that bring the room together. Think boho modern, with some retro pieces here and there - such as the leather couch and older fireplace built into the wall. It definitely felt very comfortable and inviting, a perfect spot for some Joshua Tree Instagram moments too!
As you continue through the house, you’ll notice it’s set up to house way more than two — so this spot could also be great for a larger group. It can sleep up to 8 guests, with two full bedrooms and a separate living room that’s set up to sleep 5. The separate living room is attached to main living & dining area, it comes complete with 2 bunk beds and full sofa bed. It also has it’s own mini fridge and door that exists to the back yard. It’s perfect for the kids or a bunch of friends looking to join you on your weekend getaway!
The guest bedroom, located on the other side of the house, is equipped with a queen bed and a detached full bathroom down the hall. Both are absolutely gorgeous. The thought and decoration that went into this house really shines within the bedroom. With bright white linens, accent throws & pillows, and some cute retro reading chairs — the hosts really put some time and thought into it.
The master bedroom also embodies the same boho decor that the guest bedroom has, however we were so pleased to see that it was a king bed! It’s also so hard to find airbnb’s with king beds we noticed, so this was a plus for both of us (since Mr. SDfoodies likes to take up the entire bed). I also really enjoyed the hospitality touches of fresh towels folded on the night stand for us.
Of course, it’s not a full review without a quick bathroom review — I really enjoyed the master bathroom setup, with two adjacent sinks — perfect for the both of us to get ready for bed each night. The shower was also very spacious and I loved the rainlike shower head.
Although the inside is done beautifully, my favorite part of the property is the backyard.
I poured myself a glass of wine from our favorite new subscription - de Négoce before heading outside. A little about this wine before I jump into the backyard overview - this brand is Cameron Hughes’ new project. Cameron is constantly on the hunt for delicious wines, without a compromise in price. With 20+ years of global wine sourcing experience, they have become the #1 direct-to-consumer wine brand in the country in just one year of business. How? they source excess exceptional wine from icon and boutique wineries and sell it directly to you at incredible prices. If you’re looking for a new wine subscription, we highly recommend de Négoce to all of our friends and family. We personally love their reds, but they also offer whites, rose, and sparkling!
Now that we have my glass of wine in hand, we’re so excited to explore the backyard! This airbnb is set up for ultimate relaxation. You’ll first notice multiple hammocks set in the middle — perfect for some daytime lounging or nighttime start gazing. They were built incredibly sturdy and were really comfortable!
They also have a cowboy tub - with natural waters of Joshua Tree circulating through. The temperature of the water was amazing, it’s the perfect day time spot to lounge and relax - especially if you’re not used to the desert heat. Conveniently enough, they also have two outdoor showers attached to the cowboy tub so you can rinse off.
After some relaxing, it was time to get dinner ready. I started off by setting the table in the outdoor cabana. It was such a cute setup, especially with tree lights hanging above! With the sun beginning to set and the stars shinning above, it was the perfect romantic set up for our delicious meal prepared by our own personal chef!
The personal chef add on is optional, but we highly recommend it, as it was both so fun and delicious. If you are interested in booking the private Chef we had the opportunity to meet, here is her website: Chef Amanda Grace! Chef Amanda Grace is known for her use of sustainably grown produce, prepared simply, in an act of reverence to mother nature and to enhance the natural beauty of the food. Her goal in each dish is to bring pleasure to the senses — which I found so interesting! She came fully prepared for our meal — sourcing nothing but the best from what was available in the desert. And when something wasn’t available, she was incredibly saavy and creative as she wanted to ensure all the flavor profiles sparked the various senses.
Chef was also so fun to talk to, we actually ended up hanging out in the kitchen with her while she prepared dinner. We learned a lot about her and her cooking style and her upcoming book Aphrodisiacs to Awaken Your Sensory System, here is what she had to say about her book
“This book will make you a better cook, eater, and lover, as well help you develop your connection to your intuition, and the information which comes to you through your senses. All of the recipes contain actual aphrodisiac foods as well so handle with care.” - Chef Amanda
Interested in learning more about the book? You can read more here.
For our meal she prepared three courses….
Appetizer: Ponzu scallops, with confit rosemary. This dish was a so bright and refreshing, perfect for the start of our meal and the hot day in the desert. The fish was sourced from a local high-end grocer, in which you could definitely notice due to the fresh taste. The ponzu flavor was very zingy, which partnered very well with the citrus and confit rosemary. This dish ignited my sense of smell, with almost a springtime citrus tree sent.
Dinner: BBQ Sirloin with jalapeño, garlic, lemon, and thyme, paired with a whole roasted Cauliflower sprinkled with sage, roasted almonds, and dried cranberries. This course definitely ignited some spicey sensations! The jalapeño shined bright within this dish, pairing perfectly with the smokey bbq’d sirloin. The cauliflower was also a perfect side dish, with the dried cranberries helping level out some of the spice in each bite of the steak.
Dessert: Spiced Chocolate Covered Strawberries. Chef Amanda’s personality really blossomed in this fun play on chocolate covered strawberries. With this dish her goal is to not only to ignite your senses with the Mexican chocolate spice hidden in the sauce, but also encourage some fun playful energy through the sensual stereotypes of strawberries and whip cream. I really enjoyed this dish and it was also impressive to watch her whip the whip cream by hand in less than 2 minutes! Impressive…
Overall our meal was delicious and we really enjoyed getting to meet Chef Amanda Grace. It was a perfect end to our day here in Joshua tree — We will also add that she does private events and is very mobile! She’s currently living a bicoastal life, so if you are ever looking for a fun chef, we highly recommend her!
Want to experience this amazing stay for yourself?
The gorgeous outdoor soaking tub at Espana Daga
JOSHUA TREE EXTRA CREDIT ENTRY FORM! 🌵
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Ready to head to the desert for the perfect weekend? From luxury boho airbnb, outdoor soaking tubs, and a private chef experience, there is so much to do in Joshua Tree! ✨
We have partnered up with @_hyggehomerentals, @chefamandagrace, and @espanadaga to giveaway a TWO night stay, + private chef experience for two in what will sure to be a weekend to remember! 💛