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

Dining at Casamarte offers the quintessential La Paz experience: truly nothing can beat slurping back raw oysters and chocolate clams while people watching on the malecón at sunset. Though the menu is pretty diverse, the seafood (and the raw bar, especially) is what you come for.

Baja Californian chef Raul Soto 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, Soto presents inventive dishes such as charred octopus, grilled Kumiai oysters, or the zarandeado-style blue colossal shrimp. Comondu lamb chops are accompanied by salsa verde, pink guava, and ember-roasted onion. Just when you thought it couldn't get any better, the waiter delivers a mango and passion fruit sorbet that will leave you wanting for more. Opt for a table on the cliffs where waves crash so close, you can feel the spray.

Read the sign on wall that asks, “Do you oyster?” and then dive into a culinary journey that blends an alfresco shell bar with local sparkling wines. Bypass the à la carte options of poke, and shellfish tostadas (although equally delicious), and go straight for the seven-course tasting menu ($100) that makes this place one to brag about. You’ll be shaking your head in amazement with oysters on the half shell, clam ceviche, seared abalone, and tempura oyster tacos. The vineyard view takes it up a notch, with communal tables under market lights, and an open kitchen where you can watch the chef top dishes with steaming chili butter and crunchy pork belly chicharrones. If you know your oysters, you’ll be treated to only the finest species of pai pai, chignon, and kumiai. Bring your phone because this place is definitely Instagram worthy. 

This fabulous coffee roaster has three locations in La Paz, plus locations in Todos Santos and Cabo San Lucas. Named simply after the physical location of their first café (#1240), the brand is now synonymous with fresh coffee, great pastries, cute merch, and a welcoming atmosphere.

While the Waldorf Astoria's other restaurant, El Farallon, tends to gather universal acclaim from Cabo's visitors and residents, we'd like to boldly suggest that dining at Don Manuel's is an even better experience. Open for each meal of the day, the modern Mexican cuisine served is innovative and decadent. The tranquil sound of the rolling waves is well complemented by nightly live music, the exclusivity of the restaurant makes it feel as if both nature and the band are performing just for you. A postconsumption stroll along Pedregal's nearly private beach makes for a perfect dessert.

This cliffside restaurant offers the most spectacular view in Todos Santos—the excellent Mexican cuisine is an added bonus. Sunset is the most popular time to dine, so be sure to make a reservation in advance if you want seating. If you're looking for the perfect place to celebrate a special occasion, like a birthday, anniversary, or simply "la vida," this is it.

Imagine a restaurant where communal tables sit among sunflowers, where rosemary sprigs burn like incense, and where chefs are free to create an experimental menu. That’s Fauna, tucked within the Bruma property and run by prodigy-chef David Castro Hussong, who consistently pours out culinary magic. He’s like a pilot that doesn’t know his destination but ends up taking you to a place you never dreamed existed. Let him take control by going straight to the "Fauna Feast" tasting menu ($110/$165 with wine pairing) that may include abalone with pumpkin seeds, chocolate clams, scallops with eggplant puree, crispy pork with sauerkraut, shredded lamb with chili sauce, charred cabbage bathed in butter, and honey semifreddo that will leave your taste buds dumbfounded. At first glance prices may seem high, but portions are substantial, presentation is impressive, and the contemporary Mexican cuisine will blow your mind.

Ask any Cabo local where you should get dinner, and there's a good chance they'll suggest Los Tres Gallos. Fun, festive, and flavorful, it's a must-try for anyone seeking traditional Mexican cuisine. Set in a courtyard shaded by fruit trees, twinkle lights, and papel picado (colorful tissue paper flags), the menu is crafted from generations-old family recipes of classic heritage dishes such as cochinita pibil (slow-roasted pork) and molcajetes (stone bowls) filled with flank steak, shrimp, chorizo, nopal, and panela cheese.

Tucked away on a quiet street, this Ensenada restaurant is located in an 80-year-old house whose cozy dining room gives a glimpse of the home-turned-restaurant with local artwork and adobe archways piled high with books. Chef Miguel Bahena and Carolina Verdugo have created an innovative Baja fresh menu showcasing oysters with chili butter, squid ink risotto, confit duck with guava mole, and bay scallops with barley. Handmade tortillas are made Sanora style, slightly thicker to soak in the flavors. Weekend brunch draws a crowd, as does the tasting menu available in five- or seven-course pairings.

With sprawling views of vineyards, this restaurant and open-air kitchen is shaded by a thatched palapa and surrounded by acres of farmland where chef Roberto Alcocer gathers ingredients. Beer, wine, vegetables, fruit, cheese, bread, meat, eggs, honey—nearly everything served is from the on-site farm, making this a true farm-to-table experience. Each plate is a work of art, including the deconstructed salad, the sweetbread tacos, the clam chowder mousse, and the catch of the day with edible flowers. The menu changes monthly, but expect to find a celebration of colors and textures from a kitchen that delivers dishes dribbled in squid ink, topped with egg yoke, or whipped into a foam. Three, six, and 10-course tastings are available ($70, $100, $150), which are reasonable considering the quality of the food. The desserts are not overly sweet, allowing you to taste the flavors rather than just the sugar.

What began as an underground supper club is now among the leading restaurants in Rosarito. Inspired by the founders' international travels, the decor reflects their love for Morocco and Bali while the regularly changing menu celebrates the Mediterranean and Mexico in dishes that incorporate 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 (open May–December) 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.

This marina-front restaurant is a hole in the wall that will blow your mind, starting with the six-course menu. The small patio gives a front-row seat to the boardwalk action where locals stroll, sailboats bob, and seagulls squawk at the day’s catch. Reservations are highly recommended, especially since there are just four tables inside. Octopus sashimi, yellowtail tuna, and “Marisquite” (a spin on shrimp cocktail with buttery corn broth) are all as fresh as it gets. The guava mousse looks like whipped cream but tastes like heaven. Note that this cozy eatery on the boardwalk closes at 6:30 pm.

This trendy restaurant and lounge grows most of its vegetables and herbs on its rooftop garden, sourcing any remaining ingredients from its San Jose--based sister restaurant, Flora Farms. Whether you come just for drinks or a full-course meal (both are popular options), every bite and sip will taste impossibly fresh. Seating is dispersed between their dining room, chandelier patio, or rooftop terrace, each space offering a different vibe.

It's quite soothing to sit in this restaurant at the ocean's edge under the shade of a palapa while watching the surfers. For breakfast munch on their machaca con huevos (eggs scrambled with shredded beef) washed down with a fresh-fruit smoothie, but later in the day, grab some blue shrimp tacos or a grilled marinated octopus accompanied by a blueberry mojito. Burgers are piled high with jalapeños and caramelized onions. For something light, try the sashimi with Thai dressing. Drop in to watch the sunset and dine on wild sea bass with lemon butter. With a focus on healthy cuisine, the kitchen uses all local organic ingredients, cooks with olive oil (instead of butter), uses soybean oil for deep-frying, and will not serve marlin, mahimahi, or parrotfish due to commercial overfishing. Your entertainment is simple: a wonderful view that never stops changing.

Despite the rebrand---a restaurant on the other side of the world forced them to change their name (it's Ophelia backward)---you'll find this garden escape is still a favorite among the Ensenada foodie crowd. Here a blending of European, American, and Asian cuisines and a handful of dependable flavors and ingredients---fresh fish, tomatoes, chilies, and cilantro---mix with unexpected ingredients like shiitake mushrooms, pork, and ginger glazes. Top sellers include the seared bluefin tuna, the fried wontons, and the grilled pork chops with a balsamic glaze. Daily specials usually come with regional vegetables and rosemary potatoes. A good stop on the way home after a long day touring Valle de Guadalupe's wineries, this spot highlights many of the region's wines.

It's well known that Las Ventanas is one of the best hotels in Mexico, and the on-site dining likewise does not disappoint. A diverse Mexican menu pays homage to Oaxaca, a southern Mexican state with an extraordinarily rich culinary tradition, and a focus on family recipes. Highlights include duck breast with mole negro, grilled octopus with huitlacoche and peanut sauce, and catch of the day with mole verde accompanied by zucchini blossom. For a social appetizer, start with the "Escamoles con Tuétano," a dish of Mexican caviar served with bone marrow and guacamole. If you haven't already blown through your dinner budget, order the fondant mezcal, guava sorbet, or Oaxacan chocolate. There's live music nightly, and private cooking demonstrations in the Rosewood herb garden (by reservation).

Pull up an equipale barrel chair and savor lunch under the canopy of a 200-year-old oak tree at this open-air restaurant, chef Javier Plascencia's tribute to local producers and the Valle lifestyle. Featured dishes change almost weekly, but you might find duck confit, kanpachi tostadas, lobster tallarines, and rib eye with sweet corn. The intriguing menu has decor to match, starting with the lantern-strewn terrace and cowhide rugs across plank floors. Six- and nine-course tasting menus (available Wednesday–Sunday) have wine pairing options. Note that this outdoor restaurant is only open during summer and fall.

Though the architecture looks a little strange from the street, this five-story rooftop restaurant is sexy as hell. Bring your bathing suit, because select counter seating comes with a private plunge pool, along with a cheeky-chic, golden framed button that instructs you to "Press for Champagne." With expansive ocean views, this is a great spot to take a date or meet up with friends. Food is served from 8 am until 10:30 pm.

This long-loved Pescadero roaster, known to produce some of the area's best gourmet coffee drinks using beans from the Sierra Norte mountains, has finally opened a location in downtown Todos Santos! The owners, committed to giving back to their community, have pledged to donate a significant portion of their profits from the new café to local charities. The original location (Highway 19 at Km 63 in El Pescadero) is still worth a visit on Sunday, when they serve brunch with a farmer's market and live music.

A branch of the established San José del Cabo microbrewery, this rooftop cantina has eight styles of beer on tap plus whichever additional seasonal brews are available—order a sampler to try a taste of each. A menu of classic pub fare is available for dining, with special emphasis on their "famous" beer pizzas; the dough is made daily from spent barley, yeast, and beer. The marlin empanadas are also a great snack or appetizer. Whether you're a beer fan or not, the open-air venue and excellent view make this a place worth stopping by.

At a restaurant known colloquially as "La Pergola" due to its lovely location under one in Baja Club's garden, executive chef Panagiotis Vounos prepares Mediterranean cuisine inspired by his native Greece with a touch of French flair (it's where he received his training and worked before moving to La Paz). When it comes to beverages, however, that's all Mexico: the wine is sourced exclusively from Valle de Guadalupe, and Baja Club was the first establishment to officially collaborate with GUAYCURA Damiana Liqueur to create hyperlocal craft cocktail recipes.

Located right at Playa Punta Lobos, this is a brilliant place to grab an elegant, beachside bite. Recently recognized by Michelin Guide, Benno serves a mix of Mexican and Mediterranean cuisine, with every dish crafted from local ingredients. The sommelier is among the most friendly and knowledgeable in town, providing great pairing recommendations with an emphasis on organic and biodynamic wines. The drive out here (down a barren, unlit dirt road) can feel a little hairy after dark, so while it's a lovely place to see the sunset, plan accordingly.

New-kid-on-the-block Biznaga is one of La Paz's trendiest restaurants, and a top spot for young, cool locals to gather. Its splashy design and solid mixology is garnering even more praise than its bites, but you won't leave disappointed or hungry if you order a selection of starters and tacos for the table.

A few blocks away from downtown Cabo's heavy foot traffic and named after the town's zip code, this is an adorable place to grab breakfast or spend an afternoon co-working. Their slogan is "Coffee made by locals, for locals," and their beans are sourced from the Mexican state of Chiapas and are available for sale to take home with you.

This cute and casual eatery was the first in Todos Santos to open with tourists intentionally in mind, back in 1993. The building is over a century old, and was a house in the late 1800s; the flooring is original from 1933. The chairs and wall decor are colorfully quirky and very Mexican, with the menu mixing traditional cuisine with international favorites.

This trendy, San Francisco--based restaurant decided that Cabo was missing out on quality Asian comfort food, and, honestly, they were right. The clientele is an interesting mix of hip locals and families alike, and it's the perfect spot for a hearty bowl of noodles and a refreshing cocktail, both of which will fuel you up nicely after a long day on the water. However, this place can be loud, so plan accordingly if you want to have a meaningful conversation. 

If you need fuel after a day at the beach, walk across the street at Km 41 to this two-story blue collective where you’ll find everything from poke bowls to craft beer. A tribute to surfing and all-things-local, Colectivo Surf serves produce from local farmers, fish from pangueros (fisherman) along Baja's coast, organic wine from Valle de Guadalupe, and small batch beers from their own brewery. The local gem is the brainchild of humble owner, Noel, a San Diegan who spent the better part of his life paddling into Rosarito’s best breaks. In 2016 the surfing entrepreneur manifested his vision to build a business that would empower the local economy. By using local ingredients, creating jobs, and providing killer cuisine, Noel has impacted an entire community one “order up” at a time. The house mezcal will put hair on your chest, and the 15 beers on tap will keep you on pour-repeat. Ceviche, fish tacos, poke bowls, and ocean-to-table sushi are the perfect postsurf meal. In summer months (June–August), there’s live music Friday–Sunday from 6 to 11 pm.

The go-to place for brunch outside of the big resort restaurants, this European-style café and bakery is the perfect stop for a quick coffee, pastry, or a slice of pizza. Vegetarian and vegan dishes are available, as well as nonalcoholic cocktails. 

Dining at Deckman’s is like stepping into the quintessential Pinterest photo, replete with an open-air kitchen, straw floor, and wooden tables adorned with wildflowers. As if the chirping birds, adobe structure, soft jazz, and vineyard views weren’t enough, you’ll find a revolving menu built around seasonable products from the neighboring Mogor Ranch. Exclusively for Deckman’s are fresh eggs, lamb, olive oil, and all things green that travel 0 kilometers from the farm to your plate. The seven-course tasting menu ($120) may highlight foie gras, oyster tacos, grilled quail, beet gazpacho, and enough veggies to justify that berry pie. Complementing the cuisine are wines from Mogor Badan or artisanal beers from Agua Mala. Don’t expect to see a freezer, plastic bottles, or soft drinks for that matter, since every item is local, organic, unprocessed, and as natural as they come. The best part of the restaurant is Drew Deckman himself, an unpretentious chef and true ambassador for the Slow Food movement. Late diners should arrive early since this romantic spot closes at 8 pm.

Sandwiches are a surprisingly uncommon treat in Mexico, prompting local couple Nicole and Robert Ellingwood to meet the need with their gourmet food truck. Located in the Buenos Aires Food Park along with a few other businesses-on-wheels, you can enjoy your “sando” in their shaded yard (stocked with fun yard games for kids young and old) or easily take it to-go.