A Fiesta of Flavors

An array of culinary delights awaits you in Cabo San Lucas

By Sarah Muñoz

When it comes to dining, there is never — ever — a dull moment in Los Cabos. This is, after all, the place where you can have your choice of five-star culinary experiences, where you indulge in a mouthful of organic ingredients and nature’s bounty the likes of which you’ll be hard pressed to find elsewhere.

Gastronomic surprises are not uncommon in Los Cabos, but what is unique is its wide array of cuisines — from the simplest of traditional fare to the most exotic of dishes, all prepared with passion and great inventiveness. Your hardest choice each day will be whether to dress up or down: will it be a juicy grilled mahi mahi and a cold Pacífico beer or a five-course meal with your choice of Champagne? Take a culinary tour of Los Cabos and you’ll experience them both, and everything in between.

Cabo San Lucas

One of the most “Cabo” experiences is to enjoy it all at sea, so consider a one-two combo of dining and cruising with Caborey dinner and sunset cruises. By day this is a fun-filled adventure vessel of sightseeing, snorkeling and whale or dolphin watching, with a selection of hors d’oeuvres, free-flowing cocktails and live music on this 144-foot, spacious triple-deck catamaran. Several sundecks and enclosed lounging areas make for an extremely comfortable tour. By night, Caborey transforms into Cabo’s most prestigious and elegant Sunset Dinner cruiser. You can choose the Hors d’Oeuvres Margarita Cruise or the lavish Dinner Cruise option; the latter allows you the choice of six different meals: Chateaubriand, lobster (in season), shrimp, chicken breast, sea bass or vegetarian, all in an exciting blend of flavors. Caborey also features a nightly cabaret-style show in an air-conditioned dining room. It’s really a fun and popular experience, so make sure you reserve in advance.

You can celebrate Mexico’s heritage at Hacienda El Coyote, where the country’s delicious and spicy essence can literally be tasted. Inside you’ll find a colorful setting and décor full of warmth, reflecting the natural charm of a Mexican hacienda. The restaurant’s original recipes come from the states of Jalisco, Oaxaca, Yucatán, Puebla and other locations that have made traditional Mexican food famous the world over. Try the exquisite cochinita pibil, Oaxacan tamales or the authentic mole poblano for real Mexican flavor.

By the Marina. Back on land, there is the Marina Golden Zone, a hub of good food and good times, with lovely views of skiffs, yachts and catamarans waiting their turn to go out to sea. Here you’ll find Fish and Shrimp Cabo, where you can enjoy some seafood for breakfast. This is a hot spot for fish ceviche, tuna, clams and other local temptations — plus its waterfront terrace is great for people watching. Here, also, is the pirate-themed Los Corsarios Steak House and Sports Bar, which has a nice variety of Angus-certified prime beef cuts, seafood options and a few specialties from the chef worth considering. Presto has an assortment of pizzas, wraps and pastas, including the Fetuccine Frutti di Mare, filled with octopus, shrimp, scallops and fish. Nearby is Los Deseos Restaurant, which offers yummy Mexican fare — no cheap chips and boring fajitas here! — in a colorful setting that mixes traditional and modern art. You’ll want to try the tequila-style three melted cheeses (served in a volcanic rock with handmade tortillas).

Not too far is famous Lorenzillo’s, the place with the gigantic lobster up front. “Your way” is Lorenzillo’s way starting at 2 pounds: you can order it with garlic sauce, curry, poblano pepper sauce… Lorenzillo also offers a long list of beef, fish and chicken options, and the desserts are fantastic.

You might yearn for a steak with a fresh side of seafood, and you’ll get it at Ruth’s Chris Steak House in Puerto Paraíso Mall. Ruth’s Chris has the tenderest cuts of U.S. prime beef, and its stellar history of top service ensures a classic dining experience. Puerto Paraíso is also home to Ristorante Amarone, which features a delectable menu of Northern Italian cuisine. There are carpaccio, homemade pastas, veal and seafood — we’ve yet to go wrong at Amarone, which also has live jazz a few nights a week and well stocked wine cellars.

Cabo favorite Alexander’s Restaurant, in Plaza Bonita, is the brainchild of Chef Alex Brulhart, who has in turn tapped Fabricio Petrelli to be executive chef. A tantalizing menu features choices such as Sake Lobster, Duck à l’Orange, Seafood Fondue and Lamb Chops with peanut butter and rosemary sauce.

Lively and Beachy. Should you fancy a meal that’s a bit less elaborate, there’s The Shrimp Factory on Marina Boulevard. You’ll find shrimp by the kilo, deviled, ranchero, beer-battered… the list is long. But there is lobster here, too, as well as cheese quesadillas, lots of combo platters and other classic favorites.

Hard Rock Cafe, in Puerto Paraíso, is another good stop for pre- or post-shoreline noshing with a side of comfort and a helping of music memorabilia. Visitors will find all-American favorites along with tasty fare such as Hickory-Smoked Bar-B-Que Ribs and Twisted Mac, Chicken & Cheese.

Once on Médano Beach, one of the area’s most popular stretches of shoreline, there are quite a bit of options not too far away from your beach towel. One is Mango Deck, a bar, restaurant and beach club with a 2x1 all-day, five-beer bucket, a great breakfast menu for early risers (is there such a thing in Cabo?) and plenty of sun-and-sand diversions. Mango Deck is always crackling with life, and it’s one of those tried-and-true spots in which to hide out from the sun for an hour while you recharge to head back to the sea. Menu options include everything from tacos and quesadillas to Tampico marinated steak and shrimp platters. Mango Deck also offers an enchanting view of Lover’s Beach.

Also on Médano is The Office on the Beach, one of Cabo’s shoreside landmarks. This restaurant has Thursday Mexican fiestas (complete with piñatas, folk dances and tequila shooters) with their own menu, as well as strong cocktails and a menu of local favorites for the Médano crowd. Among the choices: lobster tacos, crabs in garlic, black-bean nachos with chicken, steak or shrimp and a seafood medley dubbed “Todos Santos Cocktail.” The best thing about a visit here is that you can call home from your cell and say, “I’m at The Office, honey” — but beware: the noise around you will kill the lie.

Edith’s Restaurante is not far away from the beach but is not part of the “rowdy beach bar” crowd as are some area counterparts. Dubbing its offerings “the cuisine of the Baja Peninsula,” it has a merry crowd of staff and diners, palapa roofs and lots of happy Mexican panache. Edith’s is a favorite in Cabo year-round, with aromatic handmade tortillas steaming from each table as they wait for their main dishes: filet mignon, lobster tail, rack of lamb and more.

Elegant Standards. Switch gears a bit and stop one night at LaFrida Restaurant in Pueblo Bonito Sunset Beach Resort. Patrons love the mix of organic ingredients with seafood and meats that show up on their plates, well prepared and with a great dose of imagination. The Mexican and Latin American cuisine is courtesy of an award-winning chef who provides a sinfully delicious array of elegant dishes in an indoor/outdoor dining area overlooking the Pacific Ocean.

You’ll get a kick out of Mi Casa’s kicky Mexican offerings. Housed in an old adobe building, the ambience is busy, colorful and very spirited, with a festive feel that is almost palpable. Among its first-rate offerings: the chile en nogada, a poblano pepper stuffed with different types of meat and served with a fresh walnut cream sauce; the carnitas de Michoacán, oven-roasted pork chunks; or red snapper or sea bass Tikin Xic-style, grilled and wrapped in a banana leaf.

For a romantic European experience in Cabo, head to Peacocks, with a walk-in cellar and garden patio. The restaurant is known for its innovative twist on dishes: braised duck breast in a turmeric mole sauce, tamale with an arriero garlic-style octopus and an award winning Shrimp “Sin Fronteras”: flash-grilled big shrimp marinated in citric juices with a taste of habanero sauce, served over mashed plantains and topped with a black-bean-and-orange-liqueur relish. Amazing!

Italian Fare. As its name implies, Sunset Da Mona Lisa is the premier spot in which to watch the sun go down, with each of its terraces designed to take full advantage of the magnificent, painting-like vistas (it’s a great place in which to hold a wedding, too). The restaurant is an idyllic setting for a romantic dinner for two or a lively gathering with friends, with talented chefs serving fresh seafood steeped in Italian flavors. Chef Salvatore Messina prepares seasonal menus, giving his utmost attention to each dish and gladly accommodating any dietary needs; he can easily whip up savory vegetarian, celiac, gluten-free or dairy-free meals. There’s a Sunset Wine Bar on the second floor that is perfect for pre-dinner cocktails. Reservations are recommended.

Galeon Ristorante Italiano is a romantic restaurant that allows you to enjoy sweeping views of the Sea of Cortés with live piano music and a top assortment of Italian favorites inspired by the Los Cabos setting: veal medallions with artichokes and fresh cream, spaghetti with mussels or maybe a seafood oven-baked pizza. The menu is delightful and the desserts are outstanding.

Romeo & Julieta Ristorante is a bit hidden away, near the entrance of Camino Pedregal, but the atmosphere is relaxed and homey, with affordable prices. You will find a full and very tempting menu of handcrafted pizzas, pasta dishes, beef, veal, seafood, chicken… all in true Italian style.

Click here for a quick list of bars and restaurants in Los Cabos to help you plan where to eat, dine, party and drink.

Read unbiased opinions about Cabo San Lucas hotels and Cabo San Lucas vacations at TripAdvisor.