Meagan Drillinger
Los
Cabos packs a punch for travelers looking for fine dining, superlative spas,
all-night nightlife and laid-back beach living. But while visitors are sipping
Mexican wines, stumbling home from Cabo Wabo or zipping around the Arch of Cabo
San Lucas in a speedboat, what are the locals doing? Where do residents of Cabo
San Lucas and San Jose del Cabo like to unwind after a long day? We chatted
with several residents to find out.
Where
to Eat
There
are a variety of authentic neighborhood spots that locals tend to flock to.
For the best fish tacos, head to Tacos Gardenias in Cabo San Lucas. Photo Credit: Lee Coursey
Mariscos
Torito is a
popular seafood hot spot in Cabo San Lucas, where the locals are ordering the
fresh catch of the day prepared in the Sinaloan style of Mexican cooking
(cooked with lime juice, serrano peppers, tomatoes and onions). For the best fish tacos, as far as the locals are
concerned, Gardenias is the most popular. Beyond seafood, wonderful
and traditional Mexican cuisine is served up at Restaurant Campestre. At Mariscos Las Tres Islas, seafood gets
crazy casual but no less delicious. In fact, Tres Islas often comes up as one
of the best dining spots in all of Cabo San Lucas. Among other cheap and
delicious eats are Los Claros, a taqueria known for its seafood tacos, and Los
Paisas, tucked near the high-octane Squid Row and Mandala clubs. Tip: Try the
taco al pastor at Los Paisas.
In
San Jose del Cabo, locals dive into the best seafood at El Toro Guero, where
portions are large and food is fresh. Also in San Jose, locals love La Osteria,
a restaurant and bar with regular live music.
For
a different type of dining experience, beloved by locals with a little extra
money to burn, consider Acre, a 25-acre piece of farmland
next to San Jose. This restaurant and cocktail bar is entirely sustainable and
focuses on global cuisine with local ingredients.
Where
to Play
On
days off, residents of Los Cabos like to get out and experience the same
awesome scenery that brings thousands of tourists to the region every year.
East
Cape comprises the entire eastern side of the Baja peninsula from Punta
Pescadero to San Jose del Cabo. The area is renowned for its white, sandy
beaches and is home to some of the world’s best diving, sport fishing,
windsurfing and kiteboarding. Here is where locals flock to play in the water, since
it is more difficult to do in Cabo San Lucas and San Jose del Cabo, where
waters tend to be a bit more rough.
Surfers
flock to Cerritos beach, one of the best beaches in Los Cabos for catching
waves. Though not technically in Cabo San Lucas or San Jose del Cabo (the beach
is closer to Todos Santos), this is where residents flock when it’s time to
catch a few rays or test their surfing skills.
Where
to Party
It’s
rare to find a resident knocking back shots with the rest of the cruise
passengers at the hottest club du jour. Still, there are two noteworthy places
where Los Cabos locals go to let loose. The most popular is Nowhere Bar, and the second
is La Vaquita,
which will be familiar to anyone who has ever strolled the Malecon in Puerto
Vallarta: the club has a second location there.