‘Cabo’, as it’s commonly known, is as good a place as any to begin exploring the beautiful, colourful country that is Mexico. Its long list of luxury offerings is enough to satisfy even the most discerning traveller (ahem, you), and so without further ado, here is where to stay, eat and drink in Cabo.
Stay & Play
Grand Velas
A stay at Grand Velas Los Cabos is quite the Cabo experience. From the fifth-floor lobby to suites, pools, restaurants and even the fitness centre, you’ll experience breathtaking ocean vistas and an impressive display of architecture and Mexican art.
With no less than seven all-inclusive gourmet restaurants to choose from, you can indulge in fresh epicurean delights by acclaimed international chefs each night of the week. Choose from French, Italian or Mexican fare at Piaf, Lucca or Frida, but for the most gourmet of experiences opt for the 10-course tasting menu at two Michelin-star Cocina de Autor.
Montage
Perched upon Cabo’s premier beachfront and set within the renowned master-planned community of Twin Dolphin, Montage Los Cabos features 122 expansive guestrooms, suites and casas along with 52 Montage Residences. Montage Los Cabos’ location, with 39 acres on the pristine and gentle waters of Santa Maria Bay, has spectacular views and features remarkable walk-in access to the finest swimming, snorkelling and diving in the region. The resort includes three pools and Montage’s signature, immersive children’s program, Paintbox.
In addition, Montage Los Cabos features two dining venues where travellers can enjoy the region’s abundant seafood and innovative use of fresh, local ingredients. The resort offers its guests highly-personalised, authentic experiences, including wellness programs and treatments at the signature Spa Montage, as well as an array of fitness offerings including biking and hiking trails and the Fred Couples Signature Golf Course.
Las Ventanas
Las Ventanas al Paraíso, A Rosewood Resort, has long been admired for its architecture and design. The architectural style is typical of Mexico, and the resort’s unique landscaping incorporates the region’s native plants like cacti, succulents and other desert plants. Designed to be in harmony with the local environment, Las Ventanas nestles into the natural slope and contours of the land and the external colour scheme mirrors the white of the surrounding sand and ocean surf.
This desert beach hideaway is frequented by a host of celebrities including the Kardashians and Justin Bieber, who even left his guitar hero guitar at the Ty Warner mansion for guests to use, Las Ventanas is a top choice for an uber-luxury holiday in Cabo.
The Cape
The Cape is one of the most luxurious and exclusive hotels in Los Cabos. Overlooking El Arco and blending traditional Mexican, Southern Californian and contemporary resort design, The resort boasts the only rooftop lounge in all of Cabo, as well as two pool decks, glorious vistas from the suites, and exceptional dining.
This property easily has the best view of the famous arch of Cabo San Lucas, and it is close enough to Cabo San Lucas to soak up some of the area’s buzzing energy, while maintaining an air of elusive sophistication.
One & Only Palmilla
This hotel was opened in 1956, and had hosted the likes of Lucille Ball, John Wayne and former US President Dwight Eisenhower, before undergoing a number of multi-million dollar refurbishment to ensure it remained at the cutting edge of luxury. Located close to the laid-back tropical paradise of San Jose del Cabo, this resort is home to a world-class spa and immaculate views, as well as a specially designed golf course.
Esperanza
Tucked between two natural bluffs, the private beach at the Esperanza is one of the most scenic in all of Cabo. This resort combines a vibrant nightlife and impressive culinary offering with relaxing spas and luxury accommodation.
Esperanza was recently featured on Travel & Leisure’s Top 100 Hotels in the World, and offers an incomparable natural setting on 17 lush acres. The resort is designed for guests seeking a private vacation retreat with all the comforts of home and access to world-class dining and an award-winning Cabo Spa and Fitness program. Don’t be surprised if you bump into a celeb or two – the resort is known to be a favourite of Gwyneth Paltrow’s, among others.
Eat & Drink
Manta at the Cape
We already mentioned The Cape as a top luxury resort in Los Cabos, and its restaurant, Manta at The Cape is equally impressive. Overlooking the dramatic coastline of the tip of the Baja California Peninsula where the Sea of Cortes meets the Pacific Ocean, the restaurant offers fantastic views of the iconic arch.
As for the menu, the name says it all. ‘Manta’ is a nod to the diverse marine life that inhabit the azure waters nearby, while also being a play on the Spanish term for ‘blanket’, thanks to the restaurant’s warm, comforting creations. With a focus on seafood, the menu takes inspiration from cuisines from across the globe and is helmed by Head Chef Enrique Olvera, one of Mexico’s most renowned culinary masters (who also owns Mexico City’s Pujol).
Acre
Tucked in the foothills of San Jose del Cabo is Acre, a lush sanctuary set on 25 acres of abundant greenery where an environmental focus meets an unmistakeable free spirit.
Featuring elegant treehouses, organic farms, private event spaces and an award-winning bar and restaurant, connection and celebration are at the heart of this much-loved establishment.
The bar and restaurant is headed by Chef Kevin Luzande, whose food is a marriage of global influences and local ingredients that change with the seasons. Acre’s innovative cocktail program features award-winning concoctions elevated by produce grown just beyond the confines of the bar, in another call on the surrounding environment.
Flora Farms is a ten-acre organic farm in the foothills of the Sierra de la Laguna Mountains in San Jose del Cabo. At the restaurant, Flora’s Field Kitchen, the food ethos centres on creating healthy family meals with a sense of place, using farm fresh ingredients. All bread is baked on-site, the produce comes straight from the property’s grounds, and meats served at Flora’s Field Kitchen come from the nearby 150-acre ranch where animals are humanely raised on diets that do not include hormones or antibiotics. Needless to say this restaurant is a must-visit for sustainable-focused diners.
Arbol
The new Arbol Restaurant in the ultra-luxe Las Ventanas melds Asian and Baja Mexican flavours, resulting in a menu that is as eclectic as it is delicious. In true Baja style seafood and shellfish take centre stage, but Arbol adds flavoursome curries, fresh sushi and sashimi to the mix, along with delicately created wagyu beef dishes, creating a truly diverse and exciting menu.
Adding to the overall experience at Arbo is the beautiful – and unique – interior design, with flame-filled woks and simmering tandoor ovens surrounded by pared-back Cabo-inspired furnishings. For a delight of the drink variety, make sure to sample liberally from the cocktail menu, which features some reinvented along with a bunch of original, creative tipples.
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