14 Best Restaurants in Cabo San Lucas, Los Cabos and the Baja Peninsula

The intoxicating aroma of fresh coffee (and pastries, too!) lures locals and visitors alike into this spacious café just off of Plaza Amelia Wilkes. Claiming (with little backlash) to serve the best organic coffee in town, The Cabo Coffee Company sources their beans from a private grower in the Sierra Madre Mountains of Oaxaca then roasts them fresh daily here in Cabo San Lucas. Every type of drink you're used to ordering at bigger chains---from a classic cappuccino to flavorful frappes---can be found here, too, and chances are you'll like the taste of Cabo Coffee's version better.

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.

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.

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.

If you plan to stay in a resort community to the immediate west of Cabo San Lucas (like Quivira, Diamante, or Rancho San Lucas), then Anica needs to be on your radar. Named after the first indigenous settlement in Baja California Sur, the menu—inspired by ancient tribal cooking techniques—is a delicious blend of traditional and contemporary. Oenophiles will be particularly delighted with the sommelier's top notch local wine tastings and pairings.

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.

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.

At "The Golden Chicken," it's best to order ... well, chicken! You can try it roasted, grilled, fried, or baked, in fajitas, enchiladas, burritos, soup ... a menu worthy of Forrest Gump's narration. Their pork ribs are also quite popular.

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.

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.

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.

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. 

Day or night (and especially at night), this traditional taqueria has you covered for all your taco needs. Asada (beef) and pastor (pork) are the most popular orders here, and even a single taco comes with a giant tray of complimentary salsas and toppings—guac included. This longtime local favorite spot recently added a second seating area to accommodate even more patrons, so don't worry about not being served; despite potential crowds, the service is fast and the tacos are good. 

For a light and healthy breakfast, look no further than this plant-based café. Bright, colorful, and filled with greenery, it's a can't-miss spot for vegetarian and vegan travelers looking for fresh smoothies, açai bowls, and the like.