14 Best Restaurants in Los Cabos, Mexico

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.

It's quite soothing to sit in this restaurant at Cabo Surf Hotel, 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. Later in the day, grab some fish tacos or a Mediterranean tuna wrap with a blueberry mojito. Burgers are piled high with jalapeños and caramelized onions. For something light, try the crab cakes on a bed of tomato chutney with arugula. Drop in to watch the sunset and dine on fresh fish with a flavorful mango sauce. 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.

Ideally located along Cabo San Lucas's busy marina walkway, Alexander's is where Switzerland meets México. Pull up a chair at one of the sidewalk tables and start with a meat-and-cheese fondue, a treat for which Swiss chef and owner Alex Brulhart is known. You could finish with the chateaubriand for two in a rosemary demi-glace, or the filet mignon and lobster surf and turf combo—but it's the flambéed tequila shrimp and sake lobster that draw wonder and awe.

A branch of the established San José del Cabo microbrewery, the beers are brewed in San José, meaning what you get here is "20 minutes fresh." No quibbles with the system; the eight house brews and seasonal additions are a flavorful change from the ubiquitous Tecate. The location of this outpost on the rooftop of the Cabos Villas resort on Médano Beach, however, ups the ante with a semi-open-air venue and view of the ocean.

A dark, wood-paneled restaurant with leather booths, Mexican antiques, and a large central fireplace, this is one of Rosarito's oldest eateries, and the best in town for atmosphere. Diners unimpressed with newer, fancier places come here for grilled venison, lamb, and quail from the owner's farm in the Baja wine country. Made-to-order tortillas, salsa, and margaritas are remarkably fresh. Farm-grown mangos, strawberries, and melons are infused into simple syrups for cocktails. They serve organic vegetables, have a delicious flan, and offer wine tastings in their small damp cellar. Ask for a table on the back patio where potted plants and a waterfall make a pleasant setting in the charming greenhouse.

For a good steak in a rustic atmosphere accented by wood tables and leather stools, head to La Casa Country. Serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner with sports games playing on oversize TVs in the background, La Casa is the spot for toothsome carne at reasonable prices, and a wide variety of Mexican fare. The establishment is set against the bustling backdrop of the marina's many boats.

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 guava cheesecake or the chocolate ganache pudding. If you come by for lunch, you’ll likely see a hot air balloon or helicopter landing on the lawn right in front of your table. This is one of the most prestigious forms of arrival for weekend wine tasters coming from San Diego.

At this outdoor restaurant at Casa Natalia boutique hotel, fire bowls glow on the dining terrace, which is surrounded by palm trees and gentle waterfalls, blending the four elements: earth, wind, fire, and water. Tables are spaced far enough apart so that you don't have to share your whispered sweet nothings with neighbors. The kitchen serves catch-of-the-day with ginger lemongrass salsa, and sizzling fajitas on jalapeño tortillas. For something exceptional, try the free-range "chicken chocolate" with caramelized apples and a dark chocolate pepper salsa. The seafood-infused risotto is always a hit. A generous wine list pairs well with the menu, while the hotel's adjoining martini bar offers more colorful drink selections. Breakfast and lunch are available only to guests of the hotel, while dinner is open to everyone.

Owner Juan Calderoni has an enormous collection of tequilas, and an extensive knowledge of the stuff. His restaurant is something of a tequila museum, with a colorful array of hundreds of the world's top tequilas—many no longer available—displayed behind the bar. Sample one or two of the nearly 300 labels available, and you'll appreciate the rainbow-colored Oaxacan tablecloths, murals, painted chairs, and streamers even more than you did when you first arrived. Hungry, too? Try fresh local seafood and regional specialties like tortilla soup, chiles rellenos, or grilled pork shank in salsa borracha. For larger appetites, the Pancho's combo, which includes steak, quesadilla, chile relleno, and a chicken enchilada, is the way to go. Pancho's offers special and private tequila tastings, which will give you a greater appreciation of this piquant liquor from Jalisco.

Set under a soaring palapa overlooking the rollicking surf, this restaurant above the beach in the Hacienda del Mar Los Cabos blends Asian and Polynesian ingredients with local products for a menu that showcases well-executed Pacific Rim fusion. Seafood-heavy dishes are the specialty. Try the blackened catch of the day accompanied with mango-papaya relish, or the famous coconut shrimp with lilikoi horseradish sauce and chipotle cilantro cream. For an impressive presentation and fresh flavor, the yellowfin tuna comes with cajun spice, guajillo, seaweed salad, and mango relish. Also on offer is one of the largest wine selections in all of Mexico with nearly 3,000 bottles, as well as private dining in the wine cellar for 10 people.

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. Entrées feature lobster, shrimp, and Sonoran cuts of meat. There's live piano music nightly from 7 to 10 pm.

Chef and owner Brian Solomon runs one of the most popular restaurants on the Cabo San Lucas Marina, supplementing great seaside views with first-class service and an enormous range of quality food and beverage. 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. For dinner, start with a traditional tortilla soup, enjoy a Caesar salad prepared table-side, then try the fresh catch of the day prepared in your choice of the restaurant's seven signature styles. Live music is featured on Saturday night, and visiting oenophiles should ask about monthly food and wine–pairing events.