Travel Guides

The Ultimate Luxury Travel Guide to San José Del Cabo and Cabo San Lucas

In recent years, Los Cabos has transformed from a tourist trap into a luxury paradise full of incredible hotels with heartfelt service, gourmet restaurants, and well-planned activities that immerse you in local culture and nature. Our guide picks the best of the best.

 | 
The Sea of Cortez curves around the Baja Peninsula

At the tip of Mexico’s Baja Peninsula, where the desert meets the sea, you’ll find a picturesque 20-mile stretch of coastline between Cabo San Lucas and San José del Cabo that has near-perfect weather year-round, glamorous resorts, beautiful beaches, and a growing artisanal food scene. 

It seems as if every luxury brand that wasn’t already in the area has opened or acquired a property in the past few years, inciting competition and raising the standards of service and amenities across the board. We’ve narrowed down our guide to Los Cabos to include only the top hotels and restaurants, so you can easily plan your next trip.

The Best Luxury Hotels in Los Cabos

Las Ventanas al Paraíso, a Rosewood Resort

Las Ventanas al Paraiso is part of the international Rosewood Hotel group

Las Ventanas al Paraíso, a Rosewood Resort sits on the coast between San José del Cabo and Cabo San Lucas. With its exquisite beachfront setting overlooking the Sea of Cortez, this desert oasis offers more than just views. The hotel is decorated in warm, earthy shades and pops of vibrant color throughout. Las Ventanas offers several options of suites and villas, some with Jacuzzis, rooftop terraces, and private pools. In addition to the stunning accommodations, the service is especially impressive — each suite has a personal butler available 24-hours-a-day.

Four Elements Spa is inspired by ancient indigenous healers and uses the elements of earth, air, fire, and water to create relaxing and therapeutic treatments. For a truly special treatment, book the holistic twilight ceremony — it is a beautiful and one-of-a-kind experience. Candlelight, sage, and smoke fill the room, while music from crystal sound healing bowls plays meditative melodies. The 30-minute ceremony helps to cleanse your energy in preparation for a 90-minute massage of your choice. It is a truly unforgettable spa experience.

Arbol at Las Ventanas al Paraíso looks like an enchanted forest when the sun sets

For a phenomenal culinary journey, head to Arbol for dinner. The restaurant is beautifully designed, with trees in the middle of the bar area, sultry red lighting, and innovative indoor-outdoor spaces. Chef Anand uses local ingredients alongside exotic spices from India and the Far East to create Indian tandoor, Asian wok, and raw seafood dishes.

Another highlight of Las Ventanas al Paraíso is its Tequila & Ceviche Bar. It features over 150 of Mexico’s finest tequilas served with Mexican-Japanese fusion cuisine. Not sure which tequila to choose? Sign up for an exclusive Tequila Sign Class with the hotel’s resident tequila masters. They’ll use a blind-tasting method to help you discover your tequila preferences.

One&Only Palmilla

One&Only Palmilla’s outdoor pool offers a gorgeous view of the sunset

While luxury hotels in Los Cabos can all vie for the top amenities, One&Only Palmilla has one that money just can’t buy: a swimmable beach. (Most beaches are closed to swimming due to dangerous undercurrents.) The resort spans 55 acres and is utterly secluded — it feels as if it occupies its own island. The 174 guest rooms, each with stunning views, comes with One&Only’s signature butler service. The impressive private beachfront Villa Cortez is the epitome of luxury and the hotel’s top stay. It has four bedrooms, a gym and spa, an infinity pool, an outdoor hot tub, and a 12-person movie theater. In addition, the resort comes with a dedicated team of attentive butlers.

One&Only Palmilla has an incredible spa and four gorgeous restaurants and bars, so you don’t have to leave the property during your stay. The 20,000-square-foot spa features shaman-led traditional ancient Mexican healing rituals and Temazcal steam baths inspired by the Mayo tribe. In the private treatment villas, guests can receive wellness therapies and facial and body treatments using natural ingredients. 

For fine dining, book a table at Seared from chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten. The restaurant serves sensational premium Kobe beef, Wagyu A5, and only the freshest seafood. Save room for the brown butter carrot cake with cream cheese frosting and sour cream sorbet. One&Only Palmilla also has a fabulous Mexican restaurant, Agua, which has stunning views from its perch atop a cliff overlooking the ocean. Breeze offers al fresco dining all day and is perfect for breakfast. Suviche takes its name from sushi and ceviche and appropriately offers an inspired menu that brings a Mexican flair to Japanese cuisine.

Waldorf Astoria Los Cabos Pedregal 

Built into a mountain — you’re chauffeured through a man-made tunnel to get to the hotel — the Waldorf Astoria Los Cabos Pedregal resort is spectacular. Upon arrival, you’re greeted with welcome glasses of champagne in the gorgeous lobby. The service is superb and even offers personal assistants. There are several room options for stays, including private getaway villas, casitas, and private homes

The Waldorf Astoria Spa sits in front of the hotel pool and overlooks the ocean. The spa has wonderful hydrotherapy options, including calming cascading waterfalls that flow into a private spa pool you’re welcome to swim in before or between treatments. The treatments are inspired by the moon and sea, using the four phases of the moon cycle as a guide. The spa also uses Mexican folk-healing practices, known as curanderismo, which incorporate rituals, natural herbs, and traditional healing methods to aid in your relaxation and recovery. 

El Farallon at Pedregal has one of the best views in all of Los Cabos. Start your evening at the Champagne Terrace for sunset, where the knowledgeable team of experts will teach you about various Champagnes. Most important, you get to enjoy a Champagne flight of over 15 different types. Afterward, make your way to the restaurant, where Chef Gustavo Pinet will take good care of you. The menu changes seasonally and always showcases incredible catches of the day, various cuts of quality meat, a soup of the day, and family-style sides. El Farallon is an unforgettable dining experience that ignites all of the senses — seeing the light reflecting on the water, hearing the waves crashing against the cliffs, and tasting the beautiful sea-to-table food.

Zadún, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve

The Zadún Pool is the perfect place to recharge

Located on the coast of San José Del Cabo, Zadún is an enchanting desert haven by Ritz-Carlton Reserve. Reserve properties are notable as the hotel brand’s most prestigious designation. The design has traditional Mexican influences with beautiful textiles and art from Mexican artists and craftspeople decorating the spaces. All suites, villas, and private residences come with large, heated plunge pools, ensuring a more private stay.

El Barrio’s Frida mural

El Barrio at Zadún is an authentic Mexican restaurant designed by skillful artisans who decorated it with vibrant colors and detailed murals. It serves some of the best tacos al pastor in all of Los Cabos. Not to mention, the dessert menu offers a pretty unforgettable sticky toffee pudding with Mexican whiskey salted caramel. For an elegant fine-dining experience, Humo pays tribute to the Latin-American grilling techniques for a fine dining experience in a romantic, dimly lit, indoor-outdoor restaurant. Catch views of the sunset while eating dishes like whole lobster and bone-marrow-sautéed potatoes. In addition, an experienced sommelier can take you through a guided tasting tour of Mexico’s wine regions.

The hotel’s spa, Spa Alkemia, is a transformative experience that incorporates peaceful healing methods with nature and tradition. Signature treatments use all-natural ingredients found in nature and help heal the body, mind, and soul connection. We suggest the Tamarindo Body Scrub and the Zadún Massage, using essential oils to ease tension from the body. You can also add LED light therapy to any massage to aid in relief for any aches and pains.

Four Seasons Resort Los Cabos at Costa Palmas

The Four Seasons Guest Room has an immaculate bathroom

Located in Costa Palmas on Cabo’s East Cape — on 1,000 acres of newly developed land — Four Seasons is a quiet, earthy, desert sanctuary. It is away from the busy western coastline and located on a swimmable beach, a rarity in Los Cabos. The hotel has a modern design with tranquil neutral tones, plenty of greenery, and the Sea of Cortez as its background. 

The Oasis Spa is sensational. Each treatment uses local healing materials from the earth. There are 10 freestanding treatment rooms, a spa plunge pool, and warming beds. It also has an herb garden, and some of its herbs are used in spa treatments. The menu has a range of dazzling treatments that will leave you feeling rejuvenated and glowing. For instance, the Oasis Intensive Sculpting Facial is a cupping massage that leaves you looking years younger. 

There are five restaurants within the hotel, all of which use local ingredients from land and sea. Many of these ingredients come from the 18 acres of organic farmland owned and operated by the resort, as well as the local fishermens’ daily catch. Go to Ginger’s for local coffee and fresh pastries, as well as fresh-pressed juices and smoothies. El Puesto is excellent for a light lunch of ceviche and a big bowl of guacamole. If you’re relaxing by the pool, Casa de Brasa has some killer grilled shrimp tacos.

Estiatorio Milos at The Four Seasons has incredible Greek fare

Limón is a farm-to-table beachside restaurant surrounded by gorgeous lemon trees. Menu highlights include the fresh homemade pasta and the bone-in tenderloin with chipotle oil and shishito peppers. Don’t leave without trying one of the incredible craft cocktails. For example, the citrusy Limon Drop cocktail, made with homemade limoncello, is a must-try. Lastly, chef Costas Spiliardes brings his famous Greek restaurant, Estiatorio Milos, to Los Cabos. Dine on whole grilled fish, Greek salads, and traditional spreads served with homemade pita.

The Best Restaurants in Los Cabos

Manta

The black miso fish taco at Manta is mouthwatering

Celebrated chef Enrique Olvera runs Manta at the Cape, a Thompson Hotel, a dimly lit, sultry restaurant overlooking the coast. The decor is moody, avant-garde, and sets the tone for a romantic night out. The eclectic menu combines classic Mexican cuisine with Japanese Izakaya. It features incredible fare like a roasted sweet potato with almond mole, black miso fish tacos, and Wagyu yakitori. In addition, it has a fantastic dessert menu. The chocolate sponge cake with peanut ice cream, tamarind, and a cacao cracker is out of this world, as is the restaurant’s take on mochi — a sweet corn ice-cream flavor.

Sur Beach House

Open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner — you could end up staying all day at Sur Beach House. And that’s how it was designed: to feel as though it’s your beach house. Sink your toes into the warm sand while diving into some fresh Baja oysters, grilled octopus with tahini, and a side of truffle fries. Pair it with a local Cerveza or the passion fruit habanero margarita (if you can take the heat). The atmosphere is relaxing, but not boring thanks to the resident DJ who spins spirited, beachy tunes.

Nobu Restaurant

The restaurant at Nobu Los Cabos is equisite

Nobu is a widely celebrated chef and dining at one of his restaurants is always a fabulous experience. Nobu Los Cabos is no exception. The decor is classic Nobu: modern, glass interiors with warm wood and neutral tones. But this location offers something different: fabulous views overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Order some of our favorites like the miso black cod, lobster tacos, albacore sashimi with crispy onions, or the truffle scallops. The service is impeccable and the staff always makes you feel like royalty. You’re in Mexico, so you have no excuse not to drink tequila. The mezcal passion and the masushi cocktails are crowd favorites, but the bartender makes a mean off-menu spicy margarita upon request.

Comal

Comal is a Cabo dinner staple

Chileno Bay, an Auberge Resort, is located on the Sea of Cortez side of Los Cabos, tucked into the cove. The resort’s restaurant, Comal, is led by Chef Mucharraz, who learned how to cook in his mother’s traditional Mexican kitchen when he was 15 years old. He later trained under famed chef Thomas Keller at the French Laundry in California before coming home to Mexico. Mucharraz is skillful and innovative, blending French cooking with classic Mexican cuisine. 

The striking view of the bay, cozy couch seating, and beautiful lantern lighting creates a magical ambiance. While the dishes change according to season, you can expect fresh ceviches and crudos, as well as unconventional dishes like braised short rib with a cacao broth. Its sides are also pretty spectacular. Be sure to order the fried plantain with browned butter and crème fraîche, along with the Mexican street corn.

Cielomar 

Cielomar at the Viceroy hotel is a romantic, rooftop restaurant

The rooftop at the Viceroy hotel is home to Cielomar, a spectacular restaurant with a panoramic view of the beach and magical sunsets. The décor is beach-chic with neutrals and whites contrasted with sleek woods. It has several seating options, including an intimate bar, couches with individual firepits, and dining room tables. 

The menu is quite diverse and designed to be ordered as family-style shared plates. It offers unexpected dishes like charred corn ravioli with clams in a spicy tomato mint sauce and a beef tongue gnocchi. If you’re partial to the classics, you can never go wrong with a margarita pizza. In addition, the signature craft cocktails are almost too pretty to drink.

Flora Farms 

Sitting on 25 acres, Flora Farms is an organic, working farm in the foothills of the Sierra de la Laguna Mountains in San Jose Del Cabo that is a destination for the glitterati. Though well-known for its incredible restaurant, it offers so much more than that.  

Flora Farms also offers cooking classes and has its own farm spa. It’s family-friendly, and kids will love to walk around and see all of the animals. With so many things to do — including a chic coffee shop and a range of luxury shopping (James Perse, Selfe Edge, etc) — it’s easy to forget the reason you’re at the farm in the first place: to eat. 

Everything at the main restaurant, the farm bar, and the farm grocery store is, indeed, farm-fresh, harvested just steps away. The kitchen uses freshly harvested ingredients, sometimes picked moments before being served. The restaurant boasts an incredible farm-to-table menu that changes according to season. But, it always includes classics like its Neapolitan-style pizzas cooked to perfection in a wood-fired oven. After a memorable meal, be sure to grab dessert from Flora’s famous ice-cream cart, where all of the house-made ice-creams are made with milk from the ranch.

Acre 

Chef Luis at Acre Baja is a passionate and skilled culinary artisan

Adjacent to Flora Farms, Acre Baja is home to a cutting-edge restaurant situated among the lushly adorned tree-houses. The design is reason enough to visit, but the food and cocktails will make the experience unforgettable. While you can come any time of day for a delicious meal, we suggest sunset drinks and dinner for the full experience. Menu highlights include the half-roasted organic chicken with rainbow carrots, grilled octopus, and the butternut squash tortellini. As for cocktails, the Paloma, made with Casa Dragones tequila, is a great choice, as well as the Perla De La Baja, a mix of mezcal and reposado tequila, pineapple, lime, and passion fruit.

The Best Things to Do in Los Cabos

Horses on the beach outside of the Solaz hotel in Los Cabos

Cabo has a myriad of outdoor-adventure activities to choose from. For adrenaline junkies, ATVing through the sand dunes of Los Cabos will definitely get your blood pumping. There’s no better way to see the sunset than on horseback. Several companies can take you horseback riding on the beach, though you can almost always find horses conveniently right outside the luxury Solaz hotel on the beach, waiting for you. If you want to get out on the water, Yachts Cabo offers a large fleet of luxury boats of all sizes.

Another great activity for the family or a group of friends is a cooking class at Los Tamarindos — a farm-to-table restaurant in San Jose Del Cabo. It offers a private cooking class for $150 per person. The hands-on class is an immersive experience in an exquisite setting. It begins in the fields of the lush property, where you’ll pick fresh vegetables and herbs with one of the restaurant’s chefs. Once you’ve hand-picked and learned about your ingredients and the farm, you will head to an outdoor terrace kitchen surrounded by a bounty of fruits and vegetables to start cooking. Afterward, you’ll sit down as a group and enjoy the delicious authentic Mexican meal. 

Tequila is the spirit of Mexico, so it would be a sin to leave Mexico without taking part in a traditional tequila tasting. Not only do you get to try copious amounts of some of the finest tequilas in the world, but you get a chance to learn about the history, traditions, and the process of making tequila. If you want a primer, be sure to read our guides to tequila and mezcal.

Each product on our site is independently selected by our editors. We may earn a small commission on items you purchase using our links at no extra cost to you.