103 Best Restaurants in Los Cabos and the Baja Peninsula, Mexico

Named for its location on the map, this upscale restaurant at El Cielo Vineyards specializes in grilled cuts and Baja-Yucatán cuisine. Suggested El Cielo wines are listed next to each menu item to assure a perfect pairing with dishes baked in annatto, sour orange, and other unique indigenous spices. The pork belly tacos are particularly good, as is the cast-iron octopus bathed in chili oil. The main challenge is deciding between the strawberry crumble or the chocolate ganache pudding. 

Located in the middle of a lemon grove garden, you won't soon forget this alfresco dining experience. Menu items that highlight the peninsula's fresh seafood and produce like bluefin tuna steaks or pork ribs are expertly cooked over an open flame grill.

Come to Los Claros for seafood tacos galore! Fill your tortillas with a variety of fish and shrimp, served battered, grilled, or "crunchy." It's inexpensive, but cash-only.

For refined dining in an intimate atmosphere, head to this modern French restaurant that serves refreshingly original dishes. The setting is sophisticated without excess, while the cuisine is bold and authentic. Start with the escargots or a lobster soup, and then order the catch of the day or the surf and turf picanha for your main course; either is guaranteed to satisfy.

This jaw-dropping restaurant at Lomita winery is your chance to try a six- or eight-course tasting menu with a wine pairing. Grab a table overlooking the vineyards or head indoors, where a glass-roofed dining room allows the stars to shine over your table. At the helm is twentysomething chef Sheyla Alvarado, who changes the tasting menus weekly. Expect mouthwatering dishes like spider crab, suadero tacos, oyster mushrooms, firewood lamb, and, for a sweet and smooth finale, camomilla with honey. If you've fallen hard for one of the courses, simply ask for seconds at no additional cost.

This casual, open-air spot advertises themselves as "probably the best breakfast restaurant in the whole country," and they're not wrong. Everything on the menu is good (if you return multiple times on the same trip, you'll be in good company), but their claim to fame is the decadent French toast stuffed with a mix of cream cheese and ricotta topped with fresh fruit, pecans, and flambéed orange liqueur.

Two of the most exciting chef-owners in Baja, Benito Molina and Solange Muris, have taken a truly modern approach to Mexican cuisine at Manzanilla, integrating the freshest catches from the local waters—oysters, mussels, abalone, and clams, for instance—and using ingredients like ginger, smoked chilies, fresh herbs, and huitlacoche (corn truffle). The ahi with ginger raspberry vinaigrette melts in your mouth, and the white clam with Gorgonzola is delicious. A local ranch sources their beef, grilled and served on a cutting board with warm tortillas. Next to the port, this hip joint is popular for its pleasant atmosphere and eclectic style of concrete floors and an intricately carved wooden bar from the 1930s brought over from Los Angeles.

Want to go where the locals eat lunch? El Tigre is a bit out of the way, in a residential neighborhood (take an Uber rather than walk), but it has the some of the absolute freshest seafood in town. The chocolate clams are obligatory, but get the aguachiles, too, to order like a Mexican.

Maxico is the main spot in town for coffee and coworking. The menu features healthy options like avocado toast, omelets, wraps, and smoothies, as well as numerous vegetarian and vegan options.

You’ll be hard-pressed to find a better Mexican restaurant in the area than this stylish establishment. Modern gastronomic techniques and sophisticated dishes highlight organic ingredients from local farmers. Chef Odin Rocha has put together a string of fantastic menus filled with Mexican classics, but you should try the nine-course tasting menu with Mexican wine pairing to get the full Mezcal experience.

Deliciously prepared chiles rellenos—stuffed with cheese, beef, fish, and vegetables—are the attraction at Miguel's; the signature version is made with shrimp. Look for the sign out front claiming these are the main attraction, as well as the faded but framed New York Times article, which proclaims them the best in all of Baja.

An outpost of Los Angeles’ Michelin-starred Osteria Mozza, Mozza Baja blends the best parts of LA and Italy with the cool, casual spirit of the East Cape. The menu features wood-fired pizzas, pasta dishes, and excellent antipasta options. If you come from the Four Seasons, you can arrive and depart via a complimentary water taxi.

Cabo San Lucas's original sushi restaurant, Nicksan has remained a go-to date night and celebration location for over 30 years. Owner Angel Carbajal is an artist behind the sushi counter (he also owns fishing boats that collect fish each day), having been mentored by Masayuki Niikura (one of the first-ever Japanese chefs to prepare spicy tuna), and his creative Japanese-Mexican fusion dishes, nicknamed “Nicksan style,” expertly balance the culinary traditions of Japan with the unique flavors of Mexico. Reservations are recommended, especially on weekend nights and during high season. Otherwise, be prepared for a wait.

For fresh, inventive sushi, there's no question that the Nicksan franchise corners the market, and this outpost in The Shoppes at Palmilla shopping mall wins the prize. Pair wine or sake with each of your selections, perhaps the lobster roll (with cilantro, mango, mustard, and curry oil), lobster sambal (marinated in sake with soy, ginger, and garlic), or tuna tostadas served on rice crackers with avocado.

Sitting pretty as one of the world's most famous high-end restaurant chains, Nobu exudes luxury and cool. The Los Cabos location features the classic menu by namesake chef Nobu Matsuhisa---traditional Japanese cuisine fused with Peruvian flavors---as well as specialty plates inspired by ingredients local to the region. Despite the hefty per-item price, most dishes are served as small plates and designed to share, so be prepared to order (and spend) quite a bit. Opt for an omakase experience where the waiter and chef hand-select the best compilation of bites based on your preferences.

Based on seating availability alone, this is, without question, the most popular restaurant in Cabo San Lucas. Day and night, the place is packed, thanks to its well-prepared and well-portioned seafood-based menu and drinks, as well as its history of being the first-ever palapa to grace Médano Beach's sandy shore. It's a bit touristy, for sure, but the near-perfect views of El Arco and the merry atmosphere make up for it.

If a restaurant could be an "It Girl," the queen bee of Todos Santos would be Oystera. The historic building that houses it---the town's oldest (former) sugar mill---is covered with lush, elegant ivy and the oysters here are some of the best you'll find in Baja. The greenery climbs inward, with a mountain of ferns topping the interior bar, and then outward, as patio seating overlooks the beautiful gardens and palm groves of the Todos Santos oasis. But she's more than just a pretty face: Michelin Guide agrees, having recently recommended Oystera in their first-ever Mexico Guide.

Sample one or several of the more than 500 tequilas available and you'll surely appreciate the rainbow-color Oaxacan tablecloths, murals, painted chairs, and streamers even more than you did when you first arrived. Coat your stomach in the process with dishes from different states throughout Mexico: mole from Puebla, carne asada from Sonora, tamales from Oaxaca, and seafood from Baja are just some of the tasty items you can order. Note: though many souvenir shops advertise "complimentary" tequila tastings, this is the place to actually do it; they're available every evening with advanced reservation.

PanVero is an absolute godsend for travelers with dietary restrictions: every item on the menu is gluten-free, dairy-free, and plant-based---and at least half of the items are vegan, as well. Only natural and organic ingredients are used, so feel free to order a sweet treat without feeling guilty. It's a little bit of a drive from town, but there's a cute takeout window, should you want your order to go.

A rustic-chic oasis overlooking the Pacific, Pícaro is not just a restaurant, but a destination in and of itself. Perched on a hilltop about a 20-minute drive from Centro, you'll forget about the schlep when you taste Chef Christian Ricci's Mexican/Mediterranean cuisine, inspired by both the local produce and his Italian upbringing. The menu is regularly changing based on what ingredients are in season, but expect to always find fresh seafood and tender meats.

Puerta Vieja translates into "Old Door," and the beautiful door you enter through, imported from India, is indeed over 160 years old. Though Puerta Vieja serves lunch, we suggest dinner at sunset, when the view of El Arco is the most impressive. The cuisine pulls from Continental, Latin, and Mexican traditions, with a touch of Asian flavorings. Specialties feature lobster, shrimp, and Sonoran cuts of meat. There's live piano music nightly from 7 to 10 pm.

La Playa is one of the nicest places to have fresh seafood or beverage in Los Barriles. It’s a little pricey, but everything tastes incredibly fresh, and you can’t beat the location or beach access. It’s a fun spot to watch the kiteboarders on a windy day.

Rico Suave boasts an impressive selection of 100% natural juices and smoothies, freshly squeezing and blending almost every fruit (and vegetable) that you can imagine. You can order breakfast or lunch here, as well; tortas (street food--style sandwiches made on bolillo bread, a baguette-style roll) are popular.

Sitting on the intimate patio of this adorable restaurant feels like visiting a friend's home—should that friend happen to be the best Italian chef that you know. The fresh pasta is incredibly tasty, but the best part of your meal might be the straight-from-the-oven bread basket that gets served first.

At this longtime local establishment near the entrance to Pedregal, diners are delightfully surprised to find an elegant dining area that's open to the stars. Nightly live music and an adjacent wine bar offer a more romantic and sophisticated evening out, a reprieve from the neighborhood's rowdiness, and fresh, house-made pasta (including gluten-free options) and tableside Caesar salad are among the highlights.

Hidden inside the lush courtyard of a local boutique hotel, this humble, family-owned eatery has been serving up a Sicilian storm for over a century, bringing the Galluzzo family's heirloom recipes and signature massive portions to the hungry people of Cabo's center. The place has gotten so popular that there are often set seating times for dinner; be sure to call ahead to make a reservation. More spontaneous diners should have no problem walking in for lunch.

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 hamburgers. The wine list extensive. The chocolate truffle cake will leave you asking, “Did I really just eat that whole thing?”

Chef and owner Brian Solomon runs one of the most popular restaurants on the Cabo San Lucas Marina, supplementing waterfront views with first-class service and an enormous range of quality food and beverages. Fresh local seafood is the specialty of the house, but pastas, steaks, and traditional Mexican favorites are also staples of the lunch and dinner menus. The palapa-style architecture is fun yet classy, and the space is pet-friendly, too. 

Stunning views of El Arco from cocktail tables along the cliffs make this restaurant just outside Cabo San Lucas the best place to toast the sunset. Chef Hector Morales' menu offers a variety of dishes including beef tenderloin delivered on a hot stone and grilled table-side, but portions are on the smaller side, so it's worth splurging for the Mona Lisa signature five-course menu, which includes truffle fettuccine and Australian Wagyu. If the breeze is still, stay outside and enjoy dining alfresco; if not, move into the candlelit dining room under a palapa. And, if you arrive without a reservation, you can always head upstairs to the more casual Sunset Point, a gastro pub offering a wide range of top-shelf cocktails and à la carte menu.

In addition to the fresh Southern California cuisine, many come to this restaurant to connect with the charming owner Susanna who moved to Rosarito years ago to open a furniture shop. Her love for fine food prevailed, thus turning her store into a restaurant that makes people feel right at home. From the moment you try the fresh-baked bread with homemade butter and tapenade, you know you’re in for a memorable meal. Everything here is made from scratch including salsas and vinaigrettes. Entrées are beautifully prepared, like the grilled salmon with strawberries and spinach or the pork rips with a spicy pineapple sauce. Susanna’s rich flan is made with Grand Marnier and three types of milk, a dessert perfect to share. Larger groups can request the private table in the wine cellar, ideal for private parties.