San José del Cabo is really the cultural heart of the Los Cabos area. Walking down the main drag of San José del Cabo’s art district on a Thursday night, you feel the true spirit of San José del Cabo. Artists come out to display their work beneath twinkle lights in the main square, as tourists and locals browse with a takeaway Baja Brewing Co. beer in hand. While you’re in the square on a Thursday night, you can stop in on the downtown restaurants, like Mi Cocina or La Revolución. But you can also venture to the rest of San José’s dining scene—either inland for a more rustic-farm style experience or at the luxury hotels on the coast for al fresco dining with a view. Throughout San José del Cabo, whether downtown, farther inland, or on the coast, you’ll find the eclectic, playful, and chic culture that makes their culinary scene—and the entire city—so enticing. To capture the flavor of San José del Cabo, these are the restaurants to try:
Flora Farms
There’s something deeply satisfying about eating a meal that you know was grown 50 yards away. At Flora Farms, you can walk the stunning grounds perusing the food you’re about to eat. The menu is seasonal and constantly changing, but it’s always fresh, local, organic, and delicious. Flora Farms is known for their wood-fired pizzas and exquisite cocktails—we recommend the farm julep, a rum concoction with farm-fresh mint and watermelon. And make sure you save room for dessert—Flora Farms has house-made sorbet and ice cream crafted from milk from the ranch and eggs from the farm’s chickens. Visiting Flora has become a crucial element of visiting San José del Cabo, so be sure to bring some of their homemade bitters back for your friends, which you can buy at Flora’s farm store.
estiatorio Milos
On the undiscovered beaches of Baja California’s East Cape, estiatorio Milos at Four Seasons Resort Los Cabos at Costa Palmas embraces Mexico’s copious natural resources. Featuring dayboat seafood from the Sea of Cortez, guests can hand-select their catch to be either grilled with lemon and olive oil, or baked with sea salt and herbs in the open-air kitchen. estiatorio Milos also has a raw bar offering guests fresh whole-fish sashimi and tartares. Beyond bringing the Sea of Cortez seafood to the forefront of the Cabo dining scene, estiatorio Milos is weaving Greek culture in as well. The house-made tzatziki and Kefalograviera cheese pay homage to chef Spiliadis’ unconventional culinary beginnings in Greece. And their cocktail program marries the best of Greece and Mexico with top-shelf mezcal, tequila, ouzo and mastiha for libations like their Greek mojito.
Mi Cocina, Casa Natalia
Casa Natalia is worth checking out for the architecture alone—it’s a lovely little oasis in the heart of San José del Cabo, replete with gorgeous tile work and inviting fire pits. While you might come for the boutique hotel atmosphere, you’ll stay for their elevated Mexican comfort food and fresh Baja raw bar at Mi Cocina. The outdoor courtyard is the perfect place for a romantic evening filled with a few of Casa Natalia’s truly legendary margaritas (not-so-surprising pro tip: order them with mezcal). After raw bar appetizers, you’ll move onto Casa Natalia’s tacos—the tortillas are freshly pressed and grilled right in front of you on their specialty stove.
Mezcal at Montage Los Cabos
Executive chef Xavier Salomon leads the dining scene at Montage Los Cabos, curating cuisine that showcases local seafood and fresh Mexican ingredients. Montage Los Cabos’ signature restaurant, Mezcal is a modern take on the traditional Mexican kitchen, fusing the area’s ancestral roots with the vibrant cultural atmosphere of Los Cabos. Most recently, Mezcal is doing a high-end tasting menu with wine pairings that invites guests to embark on a journey through the best of Mexico’s food markets. The menu focuses on local specialties found in each region of Mexico and incorporates fresh market ingredients.
La Revolución Comedor de Baja California
Right in downtown, almost kitty-corner to Mi Cocina, is local favorite La Revolución Comedor. The atmosphere of the arts district really carries into La Revolución. From the lively staff to the mod artwork on the walls, the enticing vibe and decor are just the beginning. Their appetizer game is strong, and the cocktails are stronger. Start with their signature cocktail, La Revolución, with mezcal and chile poblano liquer, a tostada, and a pulpo-chicharron (octopus and crispy pig skin) taco.
Manta
At The Cape, a Thompson Hotel, Manta is a beautifully designed 114-seat restaurant that feels effortlessly inline with the atmosphere of the chic hotel, from accents like the hand-carved wooden doors and the enticing wine wall, to the expansive ocean-side terrace. Manta’s beverage program highlights small-batch tequilas and other aged Mexican spirits—and while there are Californian and European wines, they also have excellent Mexican-made wines and local craft beers. As for culinary offerings, they’re making homemade tortillas and sourcing local fish daily, and their exhibition-style kitchen has both teppanyaki and robata grills for a more immersive dining experience. Manta even has an intimate private dining room with a fireplace that can seat up to 20 guests.
Los Tamarindos
An organic farm and restaurant, Los Tamarindos stands by Flora Farms in really solidifying San José del Cabo’s commitment to rustic-chic farm dining. About a mile inland from the Sea of Cortez, Los Tamarindos’ restaurant is in a refurbished 19th-century farmhouse. They use their own harvested vegetables and herbs in their small plates-centric menu. Be sure to try their ceviche of the day and signature Los Tamarindos salad. And for the vegetarian crowd, the menu options are plentiful, from their vegetarian chile relleno to the chickpea and turmeric hummus.
