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$$$ | Centro |
Alcaravea Gourmet has come a long way from its humble beginnings as a tiny, off-the-beaten-path bistro, and is now considered one of Cabo's top stops for Italian and Mediterranean style cuisine. Enter through a flower-and-vine-garlanded opening into an intimate dining area. Chef Enrique Diaz's menu features salads, fresh pastas, chicken, seafood, and meat dishes. Try the pescado con champiñones (fresh catch of the day with mushrooms, garlic, herbs, lemon, and a touch of Parmesan), the rib-eye steak, or the scalloped beef with prosciutto. The wine list is modest but includes nice selections from México, Italy, Argentina, and the United States. Alcaravea also boasts the best lunch deal in town: soup or salad, entrée with veggies or pasta, plus dessert and drink, all for only $12.
Zaragoza at 16 de Septiembre, Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur, 23410, Mexico
Known For
- Excellent $12 lunch deal
- Delicious pescado con champiñones
- Top-tier rib-eye steak
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun.
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Argentinean chef Guillermo Gomez delivers an elevated culinary experience at Cocina del Mar, the elegant restaurant in the exquisite Esperanza Resort. Using daily market ingredients and focusing on simple seafood, Gomez presents inventive dishes such as lobster macaroni, grilled Kumiai oysters, or the impressive seared totuaba. Grilled Angus is accompanied with a charred chili meat sauce. Just when you thought it couldn't get any better, the waiter delivers a banana soufflé in a cast-iron skillet, topped with homemade ice cream. Opt for a table on the cliffs where waves crash so close, you can feel the spray.
Carretera Transpeninsular, Km. 7, The Corridor, Baja California Sur, 23410, Mexico
Known For
- Romantic location on the cliff
- Delicious banana soufflé
- Whole fish encased in salt and herbs
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Reservations essential
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$$$$ | Pedregal |
Atop a bluff at the Waldorf Astoria Los Cabos Pedregal, El Farallon provides one of the most breathtaking vantage points in Cabo San Lucas. Chef Gustavo Pinet presents a seafood-heavy menu with a "fresh fish market" displaying the catch of the day. Customize your dish from an array of fish and meats—from yellowtail, parrotfish, spiny lobster, rib-eye steak, and sea bass to the irresistible local chocolate clams. All dishes come with a tasting of the day's three appetizers, which can include anything from tuna ceviche to crab-and-chipotle soup, as well as two sides that range from asparagus to grilled corn to cilantro-infused rice. Fish and meats are simply prepared on a flat grill with fine herbs and a drop of butter, and are so well executed that you may forego the accompanying sauces. It's challenging, but save room for desserts like apple and banana cobbler, then digest over an after-dinner drink at The Champagne Terrace while you ogle the view.
Camino Del Mar 1, Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur, 23455, Mexico
Known For
- Irresistible local chocolate clams
- The Champagne Terrace
- Dishes come with a tasting of the day's three appetizers
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Reservations essential
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$$$$ | Las Animas Bajas |
This alfresco dining experience is built right in the center of the self-sustaining Flora Farms. It's a charming oasis featuring a farm-to-table restaurant, spa, gift shop, cooking school, organic market, and culinary cottages (private homes), all under the Flora Farms brand. Meals are homemade including produce and meat (chicken and pork) grown on the property and bread baked on-site. Wholly organic meals include favorites like fried chicken with mashed potatoes and gravy, massive pork chops fired in the wood-burning oven, butternut squash ravioli, and a selection of pizzas and seasonal salads. Even the sausages served with sweet potato chips are homemade. The adjacent Farm Bar serves unique takes on classic cocktails delivered in Mason jars, like the ginger and beet margarita or the Farm Julep (watermelon juice with basil, mint, and rum). Flora's is a wonderful learning experience for families by day and a romantic spot for couples by night. There's live music nightly at 7:30 and cooking classes Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday from 10:30 to 2 pm (cost $115 includes lunch).
Flora Farms, San José del Cabo, Baja California Sur, 23450, Mexico
Known For
- Wood-fired pizzas
- Farm setting with live music
- Produce raised on-site
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon. and daily 2:30–5 pm
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$$$$ | |
Set aside three hours for this extraordinary dining experience inside a cozy little house. Celebrity chef Jair Téllez's ambitious prix-fixe menus (there are four-course and eight-course versions) change frequently, but may include chione clam soup, yellowtail tartare, and braised beef with butternut squash and cauliflower purée, all served with excellent regional wines. After the main entrée, cleanse your palate with refreshing orange-carrot-mint sorbet, and then sink your teeth into one of their savory desserts like churros with carob tree ice cream. Don't be surprised if a bonus course suddenly appears at some point throughout your meal. If you aren't satisfied with the portions, simply ask for more at no extra charge. Polished woods and windows overlooking the valley make the dining room and outdoor plaza as sleek as the menu. A meal here is well worth the drive.
Highway 3, Km 83, Baja California Norte, 22750, Mexico
Known For
- Eight-course wine pairing
- Twist on Mexican and international flavors
- Farm-to-table with everything local
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Credit cards accepted, Closed Sun.–Tues. and late Nov.–early Jan. No dinner Wed. Last orders taken at 8:30 pm Thurs.–Sat, Reservations essential
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Recommended Fodor’s Video
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$ | Centro | Coffee
In a relaxing garden filled with retro decor, waiters in mesh trucker hats and black T-shirts deliver remarkable urban Mexican cuisine with a dash of Grandma’s secret recipes. Under the shade of a mango tree, start with the trio of salsas infused with orange and chipotle, served with a basket of freshly fried tortilla chips. Local breakfast favorites are the French toast and Costa Azul (baked eggs with a Dijon cream sauce). Or go straight to the lunch menu, featuring the pork shoulder sandwich, jicama mango salad with citrus cream dressing, and a cheese-and-vegetable stuffed poblano sandwich. All pastries are crafted in-house, including the sinfully divine churros, served with sweet milk.
Manuel Doblado 24, San José del Cabo, Baja California Sur, 23400, Mexico
Known For
- Delightful breakfast under the shade of a mango tree
- Yummy churros and gourmet coffees
- Fresh squeezed juices and healthy smoothies
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon. No dinner
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$$$ | Centro |
A romantic courtyard shaded by fruit trees, classic rancheras (Mexican folk music), and traditional preparations of regional Mexican specialty dishes are the hallmarks at Los Tres Gallos. Discover their delicious heritage dishes such as cochinita pibil (slow-roasted pork) and molcajetes (stone bowls) filled with flank steak, shrimp, chorizo, nopal, and panela cheese. The downtown eatery's name pays tribute to three of the greatest stars of Mexico's golden age of cinema. Photographs of Jorge Negrete, Pedro Infante, and Javier Solís—collectively referred to as "the three roosters"— adorn the walls of one of the dining areas, and their music often plays softly in the background, adding to the restaurant's old-fashioned charm. A second location has recently opened in San José del Cabo.
Calle Leona Vicario at 20 de Noviembre, Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur, 23469, Mexico
Known For
- Old-fashioned charm
- Delicious flan for dessert
- Tribute to stars of Mexico's golden age of cinema
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What began as an underground supper club in the home of Dennis and Bo Bendana is now the leading restaurant in Rosarito. Inspired by the founders' international travels, the decor reflects their love for Morocco and Bali while the menu from chef Guillermo Trexo celebrates the Mediterranean and Mexico. The menu changes regularly, but you might find dishes incorporating local fish, such as yellowfin tuna with almond mojo. Floor-to-ceiling windows frame the coastline, making it a popular brunch spot on weekends. Grab a table in the formal dining room or on the rooftop terrace where dishes like slow-cooked lamb with Oaxacan mole coloradito are served. Locals often drop by for live music and fresh-baked pastries served with a cup of sweet Moroccan tea.
Estero 54, Rosarito, Baja California Norte, 22560, Mexico
Known For
- Red velvet churros with dark chocolate
- Sunday brunch and live music
- Seven-course tasting menu
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon.–Wed. No breakfast or lunch Thurs.–Fri, Reservations essential
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$$$ | Marina San Lucas |
Nick-San may very well be Cabo San Lucas's top restaurant. Owner Angel Carbajal is an artist behind the sushi counter (he also has his own fishing boats that collect fish each day), and his creative fusion menu of Japanese and Mexican cuisines truly sets his masterpieces apart. The sauce on the cilantro sashimi is so divine that some say diners sneak in bread to sop up the sauce (rice isn't the same), while all of the tuna specialties—from seared sashimi with sesame seeds to tuna tostadas—are exquisite. Beware; you can run up a stiff tab ordering sushi here, though it's worth the splurge. The mahogany bar and minimalist dining room are packed most nights, but the vibe is upbeat. If you're staying in the Corridor, you're in luck; there's also a second Nick-San in Las Tiendas de Palmilla shopping center. Reservations are recommended, especially on weekend nights and during high season. Otherwise, be prepared for a wait.
Blvd. Marina, Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur, 23450, Mexico
Known For
- Tuna specialties
- Reservations recommended
- Divine sauce on the cilantro sashimi
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Credit cards accepted
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This elegant restaurant, with its white linens, open trusses, and soft candlelight is the best steak house in Baja California. Prepared on mesquite wood, the steak is divine and tender, almost as if it's been marinated in butter (though the chef swears salt and a little love are the secret). Aged for 21 days, the rib eye is the star of the show—juicy, flavorful, and served with a side of asparagus and baked potato. Preempt the experience with local oysters, a Baja beer tasting, and the romaine wedge doused in blue cheese. They also serve homemade pastas, grilled lamb, and a lovely chicken in plum sauce. Service is impeccable and the wine list extensive. The chocolate truffle cake will leave you asking, “Did I really just eat that whole thing?”
Carretera Tijuana–Ensenada, Km 108, Ensenada, Baja California Norte, 22880, Mexico
Known For
- Aged rib eye
- Dishes cooked to perfection
- Excellent service
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Credit cards accepted, Closed Mon.–Wed
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$ | Centro | Coffee
Many of the area's best restaurants source their coffee blends from Cabo Coffee Company. The café, just off the Plaza Amelia Wilkes town square, serves a wide array of espresso drinks made from organic beans grown in Oaxaca's cloud forest. The café is a popular meeting place for locals, who appreciate the comfortable couches and complimentary Wi-Fi, as well as the fresh pastries.
Calle Miguel Hidalgo at Francisco I. Madero, Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur, 23450, Mexico
Known For
- Local hangout
- Free Wi-Fi
- Tasty fresh pastries
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$ | Centro |
Closed Permanently
La Paz's hippest, hottest dining spot sits in a century-old restored building, painted ocher on the outside with a bright blue door, and with vaulted ceilings on the inside. Owners Lei Tam and Michele Milano, natives of Hong Kong and Italy, respectively, traveled the world, gathering knowledge of the world's cuisines, before setting down in La Paz. Tam has now established herself as one of Mexico's top woman chefs. At its core, the menu is standard Italian—the pastas and breads are made fresh here daily—with local touches, such as chipotle pepper in a seafood pasta, tossed in. You can see your creation being made: the kitchen is open to view. Best of all, prices here are reasonable for what you get.
Esquerro 15 at 16 de Septiembre, La Paz, Baja California Sur, 23000, Mexico
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun, Credit cards accepted
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$$$$ | Centro |
Closed Permanently
"No menu, no rules" is the way chef Casiano Reyes describes the spontaneous cuisine at this creative spot where a changing palette of local ingredients appears on a free-form menu. Once you're seated, you'll be presented with a little tablet in a bowl that impressively morphs into a hand towel once your waiter adds water. Your server will offer a list of the day's ingredients, which can include anything from goat cheese, heirloom tomatoes, and lobster, to scallops, fillet of beef, and foie gras. Advise the kitchen of your preferences, and the talented, Oaxacan-born Reyes will whip up a three- to five-course tasting menu. Standouts include the seasonal Mexican specialty chiles en nogada, New York steak with sweet corn puree, jumbo shrimp with mushroom sauce, and sea bass with lentils. Wine pairings are pricier, but worth it, especially since the number of courses usually doubles by the end of the meal, thanks to the generous and talented chef.
Calle Manuel Doblado 16, Local B-3, San José del Cabo, Baja California Sur, 23400, Mexico
Known For
- Three- or five-course tasting menu
- Creative fine dining
- Perfectly seared fillet
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Credit cards accepted, Closed Sun. No lunch, Reservations essential
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$$$ | |
Closed Permanently
Open for two seasons, Deckman's is doing something very different than its counterparts. With a daily changing menu that showcases all-Mexican ingredients used in elevated ways, this indoor-outdoor restaurant is a revelation for food lovers. Chef Drew Deckman spent 10 years in France, Switzerland, and Germany cooking with masters such as Paul Bocuse and Jacques Maximin, earning a coveted Michelin star for his work as executive chef at the Four Seasons in Berlin. Here, Deckman serves dishes in three portion sizes so that guests can experiment with the many flavors and textures on his menu, which include beautiful presentations of oysters from northern Baja in a yuzu, tobiko, and mint mignonette; octopus and pork belly paired with cauliflower, Meyer lemon, and chili; and Spanish mackerel with littleneck clams. Three-, five-, and seven-course tastings are offered at slightly higher prices, paired with the many Mexican wines that shape the list, which is the best way to appreciate all that the Deckman's kitchen has to offer.
Hwy. 1, San José del Cabo, Baja California Sur, 23400, Mexico
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon. and Aug. and Sept.
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$$$$ | Centro |
Closed Permanently
Due to the talent and creativity of chefs Uziel Leaño and Luis González, El Tupé has become one of the darlings of the La Paz dining scene. They dish up exquisitely prepared and presented regional favorites in unexpected ways: Serving vessels often include abalone and chocolate clam shells, or cross-sections of indigenous trees. They conceived of El Tupé during backpacking trips. The two Sudcalifornianos were so impressed with some of the traditional dishes they found in their native state's less traveled areas, they decided to open a restaurant to showcase the region's unique flavors and signature culinary style. Six- and twelve-course menus change daily to take advantage of the freshest local, organic ingredients. Seatings for both are at 6 pm daily and include excellent pairing options from Baja's wine country, Valle de Guadalupe.
Calle Mutualismo, between Nicolás Bravo and Ocampo, La Paz, Baja California Sur, 23000, Mexico
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No lunch.
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$$$$ | |
Closed Permanently
The first Latin American restaurant opened by three-star Michelin chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten resides in the One&Only Palmilla. It's one of the priciest spots in Los Cabos, but it's also one of the best. Described as Eurasian with Mexican influences, the elegant yet comfortable restaurant is accented with deep red and rich burgundy details, and original artwork. Appetizers like caramelized foie gras or caviar atop a lemon gelatin will make you swoon. Entrées include thoughtful presentations of almond-crusted duck, sautéed grouper with sweet chili, and corn ravioli with cherry tomatoes and basil fondue. For a sweet finish, try the corn soufflé with chipotle ice cream. You can bring your bill down slightly by opting for a fine Baja wine from the extensive wine list rather than a European one. Feeling more casual? Adjacent to Market, also overseen by Jean-Georges, is Suviche Bar, which offers fresh sushi and Mexican ceviches incorporating both local and Asian flavors, and chic cocktails.
Hwy. 1, Km 27.5, The Corridor, Baja California Sur, 23401, Mexico
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Credit cards accepted, Reservations essential