Food has a unique power to evoke memories. The smells and tastes connect to some of our most deeply held emotions, including comfort, nostalgia, excitement, and love. Food is also one of the most easily accessible ways to get to know a place when traveling. Equity Estates invites you to immerse yourself in the unique flavors of your vacation, one destination at a time.
- Destination: Los Cabos
- Number of restaurants: 600+
- Famous for: Fresh seafood and authentic coastal Mexican Cuisine
Located on the southern tip of Mexico’s beautiful Baja Peninsula, Los Cabos is a one-of-a-kind destination, encompassing Cabo San Lucas to the south, the quaint historic town of San José del Cabo to the north, and a 20-mile stretch of coastline boasting private resorts, golf courses, restaurants, beach communities, and natural attractions in between.
For food lovers, it’s a culinary paradise known for bountiful produce and fresh seafood, thanks to the region’s surprisingly rich fertile farmland and its unique location on both the Sea of Cortes and the Pacific Ocean.
Three regional favorites
Fresh-caught seafood, local fruits and vegetables, and authentic Mexican flavors and cooking techniques are key to the delicious cuisine you’ll find in Los Cabos.
Here are a few of the not-to-be-missed specialties that are worth seeking out when vacationing there (as well as some of the best places to find them):
Fish Tacos is the classic go-to meal in Los Cabos. Often made with freshly caught mahi-mahi or marlin, they come grilled and seasoned or battered and fried, served with creamy sauces (like chipotle mayo), shredded cabbage and salsa fresca on warm corn tortillas. Some restaurants also offer grilled or fried shrimp tacos or mixed shrimp and fish tacos, so there are a number of options to choose from if you want to enjoy this iconic Baja staple.
It’s difficult to narrow down the best fish tacos in Los Cabos to one place since the dish is found on just about every menu and can be prepared and served in so many different ways. One of our favorites (and one of the area’s most popular) spots though is Los Cabos Fish Tacos at the Cabo San Lucas Marina. Their singularly focused menu is based entirely on local, seasonal catches so every order is fresh and perfectly prepared with handmade tortillas made from a traditional recipe. The result is a superb fried or grilled (your choice) fish taco with fresh salsa, slaw, guacamole and other toppings.
While the name may conjure images of sweet dessert, Chocolate Clams are actually a mildly flavored shellfish found in the sandy waters of the Sea of Cortes and along the Pacific coast of the Baja Peninsula. Their meaty, tender flesh makes them particularly delicious, and they are typically served in ceviche, steamed with chiles and garlic, or roasted (sometimes right on the beach where they’re harvested) and served with a squeeze of lime.
The beautiful clifftop restaurant, Agua, at One&Only Palmilla offers chocolate clams as a starter — deliciously cooked with a zesty traditional rasurada sauce — and as part of its sharable (and decadent) seafood tower.
Güemes Tamales are a traditional dish of Cabo, found at street food stands as well as restaurants. Made with seasoned pork and chicken, this tamale variation also contains raisins and olives (an abundant crop in Baja) in a unique corn dough that uses both lard and olive oil. To add to the distinct flavor, Güemes tamales are usually wrapped and steamed in banana leaves instead of cornhusk. The result is a savory and slightly sweet warm bundle of deliciousness.
It’s possible to find this Los Cabos specialty alongside regular chicken or beef tamales at many local restaurants, but the best, most authentic, way to enjoy them is by picking them up from the tamale street vendors you’ll find in downtown Cabo San Lucas or on the plaza in San Jose del Cabo.
Fine Dining in Los Cabos
From farm-to-fork ingredients showcasing the Baja Peninsula’s rich agriculture, perfectly prepared fresh seafood, and time-honored recipes and traditions of the region, Los Cabos is a feast for the senses. Over the years, the beauty and flavors of the area have invited local chefs and those from around the world to set up shop and put their own spin on Baja cuisine.
Today, Los Cabos is home to a wonderfully diverse food scene that features high-end, modern restaurants alongside the small, no-frills family-run eateries, casual taquerias, and beachside cafes.
For fine dining, it’s hard to beat Seared at One&Only Palmilla. From the elegant yet cozy vibe of the indoor dining room and lovely ocean views from the outdoor patio to the meticulously crafted dishes and extensive wine list, dinner at Seared is an experience to remember. Chef Dario Seco’s menu is a showcase of premiere, seasonal ingredients — dry-aged cuts of beef, just-caught seafood, and local vegetables — woodfire-grilled to perfection. For a truly decadent meal, start with the tuna tartare, creamy burrata with heirloom tomatoes and pesto, or the grilled octopus with piquillo coulis appetizer. Then savor one of the restaurant’s signature entrees — grilled totoaba, Wagyu rib eye, or the pork tomahawk — accompanied by the perfect glass (or bottle) of wine recommended by the restaurant’s expert sommeliers.
Perched atop the striking cliffs overlooking the private beaches at Esperanza, Cocina del Mar, features a stunning lantern-lit, open-air bar and dining room, oceanfront terraced patios, and a delightful sea-to-table menu that changes depending on season and catch. It’s the ideal spot for a relaxed lunch, romantic dinner, or special occasion celebration. Bluefin tuna crudo, green ceviche, Baja lobster, and the sauteed prawns — all beautifully plated — create an unforgettable meal. And with white-capped waves meeting the rocks below and blue sea stretching out beyond, the views are as incredible as the food.
Combining Baja ingredients with Asian influences and flavors, Arbol at Rosewood’s Las Ventanas al Paraiso offers an elevated coastal cuisine that’s not to be missed. The creative menu features an array of innovative dishes that are a perfect match for the restaurant’s stunning, rosy-glowed dining spaces. The dim sum goong thod (deep-fried prawn and pork belly dumpling), Kerala lobster curry, wok-seared Wagyu, and charred octopus with yuzu-eel sauce are all excellent choices. And the variety of sushi, sashimi, seafood platters, and tandoori options that are presented only add to Arbol’s unique fusion fine dining experience.
Private chef experiences
In addition to all of the incredible restaurants found nearby, every stay in an Equity Estates home comes with access to unforgettable private chef experiences, as well as a fully-stocked kitchen with your choice of food and beverages. In Los Cabos, Chef Enrique Burgoin is available for family dinners, brunch and lunch, taco parties, and special occasion celebrations.
Born and raised in Los Cabos, Chef Enrique has been preparing incredible meals for Equity Estates Investors for almost three years. He knows the ins-and-outs of traditional Baja cuisine, but works with guests to personalize to their preferences and adds his own creative touch to every menu.
One of the most popular in-house dining experiences in Los Cabos is the Welcome Amenity buffet featuring antojitos — tacos, quesadillas, tostadas, ceviche, and more — to start the vacation. Chef’s four-course Tequila Pairing Dinner and the in-house lunchtime cooking class are also favorites. He can also come in and cook any fish that guests catch during their stay, prepared however they choose.
Your Destination Manager and the local Equity Estates Cabo team will handle all of the arrangements for your private chef experience. Dining preferences and details will be confirmed and relayed to the chef service team in advance.
So, before, during, and after the meal you can sit back and relax with drinks and appetizers while your personal chef preps, cooks, serves, and cleans up.
Investors rave about the in-home private meals in their Equity Estates residences, with many recommending starting the trip with a private chef dinner so that you can enjoy the leftovers during the rest of your stay.
About the local Equity Estates home:
Equity Estates has five stunning homes in Los Cabos.
The spacious two-story, Spanish-style Playa Palmilla I villa, in the gated community of Villas del Mar at Palmilla, between Cabo San Lucas and San José del Cabo, features breathtaking Sea of Cortez views and a standalone casita and gated courtyard.
The four-bedroom, four-bath luxurious Playa Palmilla II and Playa Palmilla III residences are nestled mountainside with mesmerizing views of the Sea of Cortez, one-level indoor/outdoor living space, and access to community amenities.
The gorgeous, six-bedroom Puerto Los Cabos I vacation home is set within the stunning 2,000-acre master-planned Puerto Los Cabos resort community and offers panoramic ocean and golf course views just 15 minutes from San Jose’s historic downtown.
The five-bedroom Puerto Los Cabos II home within the Puerto Los Cabos resort community, is nestled on one of the highest hillsides and features breathtaking views, 13,000-square-feet of indoor/outdoor living space, and private, covered terraces.
Travel with Equity Estates for a unique and memorable experience. If you would like more information about investing with Equity Estates, please reach out to our Investor Relations team at 404.445.8501 or click to schedule a call.
