Discover the vibrant flavors of Mexico’s Baja California Sur tip with our ultimate dining guide to restaurants in Cabo San Lucas. From fresh Baja-style fish tacos to world-class wine pairings, we explore the best of the local culinary scene.
Come for the Baja tacos, stay for the freshest seafood and culturally rich Mexican cuisine.
When we first visited Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, Alain and I ate about 15 tacos each in the span of 5 days. We feasted on pristine, fresh aguachile. And we indulged in rich, comforting seafood risotto.
Cabo San Lucas is a culinary playground where the desert meets the sea. Tacos are not just tacos here; they are a deep, flavorful expression of the Sea of Cortez’s bounty and the Los Cabos region’s history.
Traveling here means diving into a world where the morning’s catch becomes your evening feast. Where the warm Pacific breeze carries the scent of wood-fired grills and fresh, zesty lime.
The energy of Cabo San Lucas is infectious. It’s so easy to get swept up in the soul of traditional Mexican kitchens with the sophistication of international gastronomy with each and every bite.
We ate so well during our time in the Los Cabos region. And I’m thrilled to bring you this dining guide full of our favorite restaurants in Cabo San Lucas.
PS: we save our absolutely favorite Cabo dining experience for the end, so be sure not to miss it! It was one of the most divine dining experiences and one not to be missed if you visit Cabo San Lucas!
Table of Contents
- About restaurants in Cabo San Lucas
- Traveling to Cabo San Lucas?
- Top must-order dishes in Cabo San Lucas restaurants
- Metate
- Mother Flower
- La Lupita
- Casa Martin
- SUR Beach House
- The Office
- Cocina del Mar
- Make a reservation for Cocina del Mar
- San Jose del Cabo Restaurants
- Cabo San Lucas dining FAQs
- 🍷 🥂 Local wines to try in Cabo
- Book your next trip to Cabo San Lucas!
- Traveling to Cabo San Lucas?
- More CITY/COUNTRY travel articles
About restaurants in Cabo San Lucas
What makes dining here unique is that chefs here have incredible access to both the Sea of Cortez and the Pacific Ocean. Plus, they can source locally grown produce from the fertile soils of nearby San Jose del Cabo.
You can find yourself at a humble plastic table on a dusty side street enjoying the best taco of your life. Then hours later, you’re perched on a cliffside terrace watching whales breach as you enjoy a multi-course tasting menu.
It is this effortless balance of “barefoot luxury” and authentic, deep-rooted flavor that keeps foodies (like us!) coming back year after year. And if you haven’t yet visited, you need to book that trip ASAP!
Whether you are craving a traditional Baja taco a spicy aguachile or a sophisticated steak, Cabo delivers a full sensory experience that celebrates the very best of Mexico’s northern peninsula.
Marlynn’s Tip
Traveling to Cabo San Lucas?
Don’t forget to read our full Cabo travel guide, with the Best Things to Do in Cabo San Lucas as well as our top travel tips for the Los Cabos region.
Top must-order dishes in Cabo San Lucas restaurants
While in Cabo San Lucas, there are two main local dishes you absolutely must try during your trip.
Baja-style fish tacos: These are the local gold standard. Look for crispy, beer-battered white fish nestled in warm corn tortillas. We were told authentic Baja tacos are always made with corn tortillas – never flour tortillas. They are usually topped with shredded cabbage, pico de gallo, and a generous drizzle of creamy chipotle sauce. We ate so many of these during our week in Cabo! Our favorites were at Mother Flower and Metate.
Smoked Marlin: As the “Marlin Capital of the World,” Cabo excels at this. The fish is typically shredded and smoked, served in tostadas or as a savory pâté with crackers and spicy salsa. We had a Marlin taco during our food tour with Juan More Taco, and it was so delicious!
Metate
Metate Cabo
Av. Crispin Ceseña S/N, El Tezal
Cabo San Lucas, 23454, Mexico
About Metate: This Michelin Bib Gourmand recipient is a gem located in a slightly off-the-beaten track along the tourist corridor. Dining here offers an authentic journey into Mexican heritage through traditional wood-fired cooking and handmade tortillas. The rustic, open-air setting is anchored by large trees adorned with outdoor string lights and colorful, cultural decor throughout. This creates a truly magical atmosphere for enjoying what we experienced to be one of the best dining experiences in Cabo.
What to order: We loved the Baja Taco. You get two battered fish tacos with tortilla ash tempura, purple cabbage slaw, creamy avocado, and cilantro. One of the best fish tacos I’ve ever had.
For my main course, I got the Sea-Flavored Risotto, which featured a tamale filled with shrimp and grasshoppers in green sauce, served over traditional mushroom risotto. It was topped with huge, beautiful marinated and grilled shrimp. Rich, comforting, and absolutely delicious.
Alain enjoyed the Picanha for his main course. This is a grilled picanha steak accompanied by huitlacoche croquettes with amaranth-crusted potato, grilled asparagus, and garlic puree.
For dessert, we enjoyed the Paricutin Cake. This was a chocolate volcano with blue corn ice cream, almond crumble and spiced meringue.
We absolutely loved the atmosphere, the delicious food, the creative cocktails, and the wonderful service at Metato. We highly recommend making a reservation for dinner here. And if you are celebrating your birthday here, Metate sends out a special fireworks candle along with your dessert!
For the latest menu, information, and to make reservations, visit the Metate restaurant website. We spent approximately $190 USD for an appetizer, dinner, dessert, and three drinks.
Mother Flower
Mother Flower
Vicente Guerrero y Francisco I. Madero, Centro
23450 Cabo San Lucas, B.C.S., Mexico
The best tacos we ate during our trip to Cabo San Lucas came from Mother Flower.
This cozy downtown Cabo eatery is conveniently located in the center of town. It’s open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
We started with the house cocktail, known as the Tropical Motherflower. Made with tequila reposado, lime, ginger syrup, and passionfruit-mango, this was truly one of the tastiest cocktails Alain and I enjoyed in Cabo.
Then we ordered one of each of the tacos, plus two of the Baja Fish Tacos (because we each wanted our own!).
The Carne Asada, Pork Carnitas, and Pollo Asada each can with guacamole, cheese, onion, and cilantro. The pork can with a salsa verde, whereas the other two can with árbol salsa.
Then we had the star of the meal: the seafood tacos. The Baja Fish tacos came with white sauce árbol salsa, shredded cabbage, and pico de gallo. Th Shrimp tacos were coated with a savory dry rub and served with chipotle sauce and pico de gallo. These were both AMAZING. So fresh, with big, bright flavors. I am still dreaming about these tacos!
Mother Flower is a casual eatery with incredibly affordable prices. Tacos were just $90 MXN each, which is just about $5 USD each. We spent approximately $95 USD for six tacos and three cocktails.
For the latest menu, information, or to make reservations, visit the Mother Flower website. Note: I had trouble with their online reservation system and made reservations via WhatsApp at +52 624 210 8876.
La Lupita
La Lupita
Aquarium, Av. del Pescador and, El Medano Ejidal, El Medano
23479 Cabo San Lucas, BCS
About La Lupita: This lively downtown favorite is the ultimate destination for taco lovers seeking inventive fillings and an extensive mezcal collection. The energetic backyard patio and live music make it a must-visit for a fun, authentic night out with friends.
What to order: all the tacos!
During our dinner here, we started with the Wagyu Tostadas (2 Pcs).
Then for our main course, we ordered one of each of these tacos:
- Santo Pastor
- Camarón Enchipotlado
- Taco Güero
- Pork Belly
For the latest menu, information, and to make reservations, visit the La Lupita website. We spent approximately $115 USD for an appetizer, all the tacos, and three drinks.
Casa Martin
Casa Martin
Lienzo Charro S/N Manzana 232 Lote 8
23470 Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur Mexico
Tucked away in a lush, romantic garden courtyard, this family-owned gem specializes in high-end Mexican fusion and incredible farm-to-table freshness.
It is a peaceful escape from the bustling marina. Here, you can enjoy signature dishes like seafood-stuffed chile rellenos and artisanal cocktails while dining under the stars.
Alain and I fell in love with Casa Martin’s aguachile. It was so fresh, vibrant, and delicious.
For our main courses, we had the lobster risotto and the pappardelle. Two very hearty dishes, so if you’re looking for a substantial dinner, this is where to go.
For the latest menu, information, and to make reservations, visit the Casa Martin website. We spent approximately $190 USD for dinner, dessert, and three drinks.
SUR Beach House
SUR Beach House
Cormoranes s/n, entre pelícanos y acuario, El Medano Ejidal, El Medano
23453 Cabo San Lucas, B.C.S., Mexico
About SUR Beach House dining: Located right on the sand of Medano Beach, this stylish retreat offers a sophisticated take on the classic Baja beach club experience. You can enjoy fresh sushi and grilled seafood while watching the waves, all within a trendy and super relaxed atmosphere.
We booked a beach table at SUR Beach House, which costs $100 USD per person. That includes an unlimited stay and goes toward your food and beverage bill.
Alain and I stayed for almost 4 hours, and didn’t even use up our entire $200 credit. If you book a beach table, you are allowed to stay as long as you want. So theoretically, it could be a great way to spend an entire beach day!
In addition to breakfast, lunch, and dinner options, your beach table stay also includes access to water activities, such as kayaking. And, of course, there’s the less crowded swimmable beach right at your feet just steps away from your cozy beach chairs.
During our time here, we ordered the Crispy Shrimp and Lobster Rolls for lunch. I ordered the Miol Frizz, a Prosecco and Aperol cocktail similar to an Aperol Spritz. Alain enjoyed a couple of classic Margaritas. And I also enjoyed a glass of their rosé.
For the latest menu, information, and to make reservations, visit the SUR Beach House website.
The Office
The Office
Playa El Medano S/N, El Medano Ejidal, El Medano
23450 Cabo San Lucas, B.C.S., Mexico
If you’re looking for a lively, high energy, beachfront vibe, check out The Office. This casual dining spot is the beachfront sister restaurant to Edith’s, one of Cabo’s longtime popular tourist restaurants located down the street.
This colorful spot is always hoppin’, so make reservations in advance. We were able to snag seats at the bar for a couple of margaritas (since it was National Margarita Day!), but the wait wasn’t too long if we had wanted to dine here at a table.
The Office is a great spot for cocktails, casual breakfast, lunch, or dinner, and people watching. It’s located on Medano Beach, right off the main streets in downtown Cabo San Lucas, making it a great spot for a quick drink or a family-friendly meal.
For more information or to make reservations, visit The Office at the Beach website.
Cocina del Mar
Cocina del Mar
Carretera Transpeninsular Km 7
23410 Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur
Mexico
About Cocina del Mar: We saved the best for last! Perched dramatically on the cliffs at Esperanza, this fine dining restaurant provides some of the most stunning ocean views in all of Los Cabos.
And, it offers one of the most beautifully orchestrated and deliciously prepared dining experiences that you can find in Cabo San Lucas.
Alain and I enjoyed my birthday dinner at Cocina del Mar, and in all of my decades of writing about food, wine, and restaurants around the world, I can tell you that this was one of my favorite dining experiences of my life.
The menu at Cocina del Mar focuses on the “bounty of the sea.” Fitting, as you are feasting on exquisitely prepared, fresh seafood while gazing across rolling sea waters. The Blue Fin Tuna was an exceptional starter dish, substantial enough to share but not too filling.
For our main courses, we enjoyed the Catch of the Day and the Red Snapper. Both fish dishes were executed with the highest quality precision. They were flavorful, texturally interesting, creative, yet so comforting and satisfying all at once.
For dinner, we enjoyed a chocolate cake with pistachio quenelle ice cream. And, of course, a fun fireworks candle and dessert while our wonderful waiter softly sang Happy Birthday to me.
The finishing touch that set this dinner apart from all the rest? Fireworks right from the beach beside us that lit up the night sky at 7:45pm. I’ll never forget this deliciously magical evening, and I cannot wait to go back to Cocina del Mar.
Fireworks are typically every Wednesday night at 7:45pm. We booked our dinner at 6:30pm, which timed perfectly with the fireworks as we were enjoying our dessert.
For the latest menu, information, and to make reservations, visit the Cocina del Mar website. Plan to spend between $250-$550 USD for dinner and wine/cocktails for two people.
Marlynn’s Tip
Make a reservation for Cocina del Mar
If you’re heading to Cabo, don’t hesitate: book your dinner reservation at Cocina del Mar right away. The restaurant books up weeks (and sometimes months) in advance.
San Jose del Cabo Restaurants
We also spent a day in San Jose del Cabo. This city with a similar name often gets confused with Cabo San Lucas. It is a different city, located approximately 30 minutes east of Cabo San Lucas.
You can read this separate blog post to learn all about our San Jose del Cabo travels and the two San Jose del Cabo restaurants we enjoyed.
Cabo San Lucas dining FAQs
If you are traveling during the busier tourist seasons, from November through April, and you are dining at a popular restaurant, you will most likely need to make a reservation in advance. The most popular, fine dining restaurants often book up weeks in advance, so it’s usually never too early to make your reservation. For casual eateries, you can usually walk in without a reservation.
Tipping is recommended in Cabo. For average service, a tip of 10-15% MXN (Mexican pesos) is usually recommended. For excellent service, consider tipping 15-20%. While you may be able to tip in American dollars, it is usually better to tip in Mexican Pesos.
The vibe in Cabo is “resort casual.” For most lunches and casual dinners, sundresses, linen shorts, and polo shirts are perfect. However, if you are heading to one of the city’s premier cliffside establishments, men should opt for a collared shirt and closed-toe shoes, as some top-tier spots do have a more formal dress code.
Cabo has evolved into a luxury destination, and prices in the main tourist corridor and marina often rival those in major U.S. cities like Los Angeles or New York. Expect to pay $15–$25 for a mid-range lunch and $50–$100+ per person for fine dining. However, if you venture just a few blocks inland, you can still find incredible local spots where a feast of tacos and beer costs less than $15.
Spanish is the official language in Cabo San Lucas, however English is widely spoken, especially in the tourist areas. Once you get into the more residential parts of this region, you may find more Spanish speakers who do not speak English.
November through April is known as the dry season in Mexico. We find that January through March is an ideal time to visit, with temperatures generally in the 70°-80° F range. The rainy season is May through October. Try to avoid traveling during hurricane season in Mexico, July through September.
🍷 🥂 Local wines to try in Cabo
Here, you’re in the gateway to Mexico’s premier wine country. Most restaurants proudly feature labels from the Valle de Guadalupe in northern Baja. This Mediterranean-style climate produces bold, high-quality Nebbiolos, Tempranillos, and crisp Sauvignon Blancs that pair beautifully with the local seafood.
Book your next trip to Cabo San Lucas!
Traveling to Cabo San Lucas?
Don’t forget to read our full Cabo travel guide, with the Best Things to Do in Cabo San Lucas as well as our top travel tips for the Los Cabos region.
If you visit, please be sure to let them know that you read about it on Urban Bliss Life! And if you snap some pics, tag us @UrbanBlissLife and #UrbanBlissLife on Instagram, TikTok, Twitter, and Facebook.
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