We don’t need to sell you on Los Cabos – the region’s golden shores, vibrant nightlife and realms of luxurious resorts have been heralding tourists to the tip of Mexico’s Baja Peninsula for decades. But don’t be beguiled by frozen margaritas and all-you-can-eat buffets, because Los Cabos is also home to countless gourmet restaurants, some helmed by the planet’s best chefs.
And we’re not the only ones who think so. Thanks to Michelin bringing its alluded guide to Mexico for the first time in 2024, a fresh scattering of stars across the Baja Peninsula adds another reason why Los Cabos remains utterly irresistible.
From romantic terraces to casual farm-to-table eateries, sophisticated coastal hangouts and even a Michelin-starred all-inclusive resort – these are our picks of the very best restaurants in Los Cabos.
[See also: The Best Luxury Hotels in Los Cabos]
Cocina de Autor translates into English as “signature cuisine,” which typically involves a menu that reflects a chef’s personality; this is exactly the case at Grand Velas’s concept restaurant. Chef Sidney Schutte – who already has two Michelin stars under his belt – has created a playful tasting menu that artfully reflects his time at a wealth of Michelin-starred restaurants around the world.
Further cementing its status as the restaurant for creative fine dining in Los Cabos, Cocina De Autor was awarded its first star in the 2024 Michelin Guide, making it the most distinguished restaurant on the Baja California peninsula.
Each dish has been designed to celebrate fresh local ingredients in an inventive fashion, with combinations such as chocolate and clam, making for intriguing pairings. The accompanying wine pairing is equally ambitious, offering a selection regarded as one of the most diverse in the region.
As the premier offering at the all-inclusive resort Grand Velas Los Cabos, the menu is as sophisticated and exceptional as its impressively stylish setting. The restaurant is awash with atmospheric lighting, striking gold details and Mexican artwork, not to mention the captivating ocean views.
loscabos.grandvelas.com/cocina-de-autor
[See also: The Mexican All-inclusive Resorts with Michelin-starred Restaurants]
Set among the treetop canopies in the Sierra de la Laguna mountains, Acre has long been a must-visit for culinary connoisseurs visiting Los Cabos – promising a vibrant jungle experience that is worth turning your back on the beach. Originally a lone restaurant offering, Acre now encompasses a treehouse hotel, villas and even an animal sanctuary, but it is the restaurant that remains at the heart and soul of Acre.
Perhaps it is unsurprisingly, then, that this boutique property captured the attention of the Michelin inspectors, who couldn’t resist rewarding Acre with a Green Star.
With culinary director Arturo Rvero at the helm, Acre’s menu marries local produce (much of which is sourced on the in-house farm) with global influence; casual, contemporary Mexican cooking punched up with Asian flavors and techniques, and the simple-but-stylish dishes are as gorgeous as the delightful setting.
“Our farm program has been developed to maximize conscious planting and harvesting; every ingredient grown in-house will be used on our menu,” Rivero told Michelin upon receiving that coveted star. “We also source products that help preserve national traditions and support our local community of farmers and fishermen.”
[See also: The Most Luxurious Eco-Friendly Hotels Around the World]
It may be set on a secluded beach on Cabo’s Lands End, but there is no hiding from Manta’s reputation. That’s what you come to expect as one of the many restaurants from Mexico’s most celebrated and esteemed chefs, Enrique Olvera – whose Mexico City’s culinary institution, Pujol, was just awarded two Michelin stars, making it the highest-rated restaurant in the country.
Taking inspiration from the cuisine of Mexico, Peru, Japan and beyond, the food menu at Manta is remarkably diverse. Expect a host of unusual flavor combinations such as sweetcorn ice cream mochi, Korean fried chicken and tempura fish tacos to cochinita served in bao buns. The beverage menu continues to transport diners across the world with Japanese sake offered in addition to the expected mezcals and tequila.
Found inside The Cape, A Thompson Hotel as its flagship restaurant, Manta is a haven of simplicity and minimalism; striking black walls are thrown into contrast by tan leather seating, while the floor-to-ceiling windows showcase what is easily one of the best views in the region.
mantarestaurant.com, thompsonhotels.com/manta
What originally started as an organic farm, Gloria and Patrick Greene have nurtured Flora Farms since the late ‘90s, growing and blossoming into Flora Field’s Kitchen. The sustainable restaurant is now one of Cabo’s most popular and, thanks to the recent Michelin Guide, one of the most recognized, as Flora Field’s Kitchen was awarded a Green Michelin Star and a Bib Gourmand. Produce is sourced from the onsite 25-acre gardens and meats and dairy from the nearby 150-acre ranch – although, for sustainability reasons, don’t expect to see any beef on the menu.
“We raise chickens for eggs and have a butcher program on-site,” Gloria and Patrick Greene told the Michelin Guide. “We continue working to realize efficiencies between the farm, ranch, restaurant, and market. For example, we send our “spent” flowers out to the chickens who love to peck at the drying seed heads; vegetable trimmings go to the pigs and chickens.”
Just like the restaurant’s setting, the menu is cool and laidback – but that no-faff, no-frills attitude doesn’t mean there’s no flavor. Comforting options like Neapolitan flatbreads, punchy gazpacho, and fresh salads. Even the cocktails can’t escape the seed-to-plate mindset and are made with seasonally harvested vegetables. A carrot juice margarita, anyone?
Found at the luxurious Chileno Bay Resort and Residences, Comal restaurant continues the resort’s long-standing reputation for excellence and is continuously regarded as one of the best restaurants in Los Cabos.
The name Comal derives from a traditional cast-iron pan that has been used in Mexican cooking for centuries and is typically passed down through generations. Comal’s menu stays true to the origins of its name, showcasing Latin American-inspired recipes with a contemporary twist. In addition to the main menu, guests can also revel in the live-action Raw Bar, offering up the freshest selection of local fish.
Comal is also considered one of Los Cabos’s most romantic dining spots, but be quick, as the coveted seafront tables with dramatic views across the Sea of Cortez are booked up by loved-up couples far in advance.
[See also: The Chefs with the Most Michelin-Starred Restaurants]
See here for Elite Traveler’s comprehensive list of the world’s finest restaurants