15 Best Bars in Cabo San Lucas, Los Cabos and the Baja Peninsula

A chilled-out alternative to Cabo Wabo, you can listen to excellent live music play on an outdoor stage designed to look like a mound of sand. Sports games are also frequently broadcast. For a bite to accompany a beverage, try the sushi.

Easily the most famous bar in Los Cabos (if not Mexico as a whole), Cabo Wabo is worth a visit for the novelty alone. There's live music every afternoon and evening, and if you're lucky, you might just witness a jam session from owner Sammy Hagar and some of his legendary musician friends, who stop by a few times a year. The club's zany design—high cavernous ceilings, zebra stripes, and psychedelic neon patterns—are as fun as ever, even if the venue is now past its prime. (The energetic crowds once featured on MTV are largely a thing of the past, save for Hagar's annual Birthday Bash, which sells out instantly.) There's a steep markup on the menu's prices, but the house Cabo Wabo Tequila still merits a taste. Grabbing a bottle or a T-shirt from the on-site souvenir shop is a must for any Van Halen fan.

Popular among the trendy, local crowd, this three-story bar around the corner from Médano serves up some of the very best cocktails in town, handcrafted with fresh ingredients. Thirsty patrons spill out into the street on weekend evenings, but will happily clear the way for you to order a drink.

One of the coziest places to relax on Playa El Médano is on an umbrella-covered daybed at Corazón. Attentive waiters are quick to deliver your food and drink orders, and a rope around the perimeters keeps outside vendors from disturbing your peace. It gets crowded, so reserve a space in advance and arrive early to guarantee the best experience.

The epitome of Cabo San Lucas nightlife, this original and iconic three-story dance club has changed very little since its opening three decades ago, but remains as popular as ever. Revelers of all ages can be found lined outside for admission on any given night, despite a hefty cover charge and the neighboring clubs remaining empty. It's known to get wild, and that's the main draw for most---either to participate in the madness, or to people watch with amusement. At virtually every breakfast buffet in town, you'll hear someone remarking about "what happened last night at El Squid Roe."

A unique sports bar concept—unique for Cabo San Lucas, anyway—this Red Sox--themed bar features live sporting events (from every sport) on close to a dozen TVs. Owner Ignacio “Nacho” Padilla Rivas grew up in Aguascalientes, Mexico, but is a die-hard fan of the Boston team and has furnished this funky little hole-in-the-wall with a replica Green Monster scoreboard and memorabilia galore.

Cheap drinks are the name of the game at Happy Ending, whether you're looking for an early evening pregame or a last call nightcap. They're known for housing an impressive number of beer pong tables as well as an all-hours deal of two beers and two shots for just $5. (The house tequila is unspeakably foul, however, so maybe opt for just the beer.)

If you belong to the 50 and over crowd who likes to rock out, you'll have a riot of a time at Jungle Bar. This outdoor spot is always packed, thanks to its low prices and live music. It can take forever to get your drinks, though, so take advantage of their two-for-one deals and order several at once.

Mango Deck is "spring break" personified, from the costumed employees pouring shots directly into partygoers' mouths to the "booty shaking" competitions held on a stage in the sand (and livestreamed to their website). It's unquestionably Cabo's most popular beachfront venue, whose music you can hear blasting from every direction. As it's also a restaurant, children are inexplicably allowed and occasionally present, but we strongly recommend limiting your party to consenting adults only.

This marina-facing hole-in-the-wall turns into a powerhouse party destination, filled to the brim with tourists and locals alike. Expect a loud but well-curated playlist of music and a hopping dance floor.

Slim's calls itself "the world's smallest bar," and you'll be lucky to get a seat at this kitschy four-seat space that plays honky-tonk music and serves $3 beers and tequila shots. Signed dollar bills line the walls and ceiling, and a buzzing, standing crowd loiters out the door and onto the Boulevard Marina sidewalk each evening, vibing off its energy.

Although Taboo does have a handful of lounge chairs on the sand, the real party is at the beachfront pool, where a DJ spins music that gets everyone dancing. It's a place best enjoyed with a group of friends, as those in rented cabanas and ordering bottle service are given preferential treatment. Beyond food and drinks, you can also request a hookah to enjoy amid the sea breeze.

It would be easy to pass by this nonchalant sidewalk bar without a second thought, but you'd be remiss: virtually everything (the quality of the drinks, live music, general energy) is better than you'd expect. The crowd is quite diverse in terms of age and nationality, but everyone there is ready to have a good time. Bonus points if you hit the dance floor!

This tiny, cash-only palapa bar has a diehard fan following, many of whom will wear its branded merch around town and abroad. Stop by for margaritas made with fresh-squeezed juice and conversation with the friendly owners and regulars. Pace yourself, though, as these drinks have been known to pack a punch!

Though it's around the corner from the clubbing scene, the vibe at Vas Que Vuelas couldn't be more different. Come by to enjoy an artisanal cocktail or pour of small-batch mezcal; they've got the largest selection in town. Like the drinks, the food is also inspired by Oaxaca; order a tlayuda for a great late-night snack.