Hautter

1. Baja Brewing Company - New Cabo San Lucas Location

Baja Brewing Company in Cabo San Lucas

Los Cabos' beloved San José del Cabo microbrewery now has a second location in Cabo San Lucas, on the top floor of the Cabo Villas resort right on Médano Beach. Beer lovers with a yen for top-notch pub grub can now enjoy their favorite BBC brew in a slightly different environment, a stone's throw from other popular Médano haunts. The panoramic view of Land's End (above) is unmatched by any other restaurant in the area, and the bar, complete with flat panel televisions is perfect for beer and sports lovers, but the overall ambiance is essentially the same as their original San José location: a relaxed but serious homage to global beer lovers who aren't at home in the world with only Mexico's light domestic drafts as company. Enjoy regular live music on weekend nights and a fun bar scene. The main difference is there's no brewery equipment on site, and the penthouse-style views attract a slightly different crowd. Misters have been rigged all around the perimeter, cooling off guests as they come and go on hot days—a very cool perk. Valet parking is available at Cabo Villas' main entrance; walk inside premises and take elevator to the 6th floor, then walk one quick flight of stairs to the penthouse deck of BBC. Open daily 12 pm to 1 am and serving breakfast soon. Call 624.143.9199 ext. 2026, visit www.bajabrewingcompany.com, email info@bajabrewingcompany.com.

2. María Corona

María Corona in Cabo San Lucas

María Corona, a new Baja Cantina Group restaurant in the heart of downtown Cabo San Lucas, is homestyle Mexican cooking at its finest, from Grandma's traditional, many-layered earthy mole and local favorite camarones a la diabla to more exotic selections, like fresh fish cooked in papillote or Mexican-style cured beef “jerky.” In their very polished, very traditional new space, you can be transported to a Mexican kitchen without doing the work yourself. Service is good, especially the tableside guacamole, made in a genuine lava-stone molcajete by a waiter. The restaurant also features live music, an open kitchen and a beautiful thatched palapa roof. The restaurant's focus is on centuries-old homestyle Mexican cooking in combination with top-notch, tourist-oriented fine dining service. Also recommended: the delicious, tangy, fork-tender cochinita pibil. María Corona is in the urban area of downtown Cabo, on 16 de Septiembre street, which runs parallel to Marina Blvd. between Morelos and Leona Vicario, one block up from Plaza Puerto Paraíso. Call 624.143.0123 for reservations.

3. Los Cabos Winery

Los Cabos Winery in Cabo San Lucas

Los Cabos already has its own brewery—and, this season, it now has a proper wine bar and its own winery, too. Oenophiles and novices alike can enjoy the newly-opened Los Cabos Winery, nestled a few blocks from the downtown Cabo fray, includes its own temperature and humidity-controlled caves (above) and bottling/labeling facilities. The concept offers a little something for everyone: a Wine Club membership for more serious aficionados, wine tastings, a lounge area for friendly food and drink, and a retail shop, too. They will also provide services, such as helping you import your wines and store them in their cellar bins—an attractive option for Cabo regulars particular about their vintage, or in advance of a special event at a private villa. Visit www.loscaboswinery.net, email info@loscaboswinery.net or call 624.143.8088. The winery is open Thursday to Saturday from 7 pm to 11 pm for wine and tapas; call for more information about the retail and other services. Located in downtown San Lucas on Calle Francisco Villa, #2518 between 12 de Octubre and Alvaro Obregon streets.

4. Jimmy's Place

Jimmy's Place is a brand-new tapas, dinner and bar joint by the same Jimmy of Baja Jimmy brand. You'll find it inside the mall, in the recently-refurbished Señor Greenberg's, where Jimmy's takes advantage of the new decor and ample marina views at the location to create a more adult atmosphere. The emphasis is on upscale California cuisine; a tapas menu includes cheese tasting plates and filet mignon carpaccio, and the dinner menu stars USDA Prime Beef (although seared scallops with bacon are equally delicious). Jimmy's prides itself on a well-curated wine list to accompany its fresh and often organic cuisine. Parents with children, fear not: picky eaters can order from Greenberg's menu while Mom and Dad dig into a more sophisticated meal. At Plaza Puerto Paraíso, inside Sr. Greenberg's (also accessible by Marina Cabo San Lucas). Call 624.144.3805 for information about private events or reservations, or email bajajimmyincabo@yahoo.com. Hours are 12 pm to 12 am every day, but Jimmy's specializes in private events, so hours are extended by customer request.

5. Salon Smadar

The enterprising owner of Casa Shalom (the excellent neighboring Mediterranean restaurant, recently remodeled in rich blacks and golds) is expanding her operations to include a salon that focuses not just on hair and nails but full body treatments.

Royale Los Cabos in Cabo San Lucas

The Israeli owner, for whom the salon is named, is experienced in the services she practices, and also sells Dead Sea products that you may have spotted in town, so the salon seems like a logical next step. Treat yourself to a spa day in her newly-outfitted salon, and then head next door for a taste of Casa Shalom's rich hummus. Salon hours are 12 pm to 10 pm Monday to Friday and 6 pm to 12 am Saturday. Call 624.144.4581 or email smadarina@gmail.com for information or appointments.

6. Royale Los Cabos - Bingo Race & Sports Book

A slick, downtown option for casual gamblers looking for a casino-like atmosphere during a night on the town in Cabo San Lucas, the new Royale brings a little Vegas to Cabo. There are nightly themed promotions, beautiful women, strong drinks and a free buffet daily. Royale is the undulating white building near Nick San on the main road, in front of Plaza Nautica and within walking distance of many downtown points of interest, hotels, and the Marina Cabo San Lucas. Open Monday to Sunday with free customer parking. Drop in and try your luck! Call 624.105.0918 for more information.

7. DOC Wine Bar

DOC Wine Bar in Cabo San Lucas

Owners Pietro Gioco (who opened Amarone's with friends) and partner/head chef Emanuele Olivero of DOC Wine Bar have successfully evoked the ambience of a tiny European café. With its diminutive size, hand-lettered menu and tiny wooden seats overlooking Amelia Wilkes Plaza, DOC Wine Bar's small stature next to the ever-popular Mi Casa restaurant belies its grand ambition. The food is outstanding and all cooked to order. Although the recipes are Italian (not Italian American), many ingredients are sourced right here in Mexico, including a delectable cheese from the San Marcos area of Ensenada that, as our waiter noted, anyone would have sworn was French.

The delicious food is accompanied by a selective and exciting wine list, half of which is composed of prime Baja Norte appellations (such as L.A. Cetto). Wines by glass and bottle. Menu changes daily, but everything we tried was delicious, from baby clams on spaghetti to a cream sauce with speck (a cured ham) and asparagus over pasta. Open 1:30 pm to 11 pm (or so) Monday to Saturday. Call 624.143.8500 for reservations or visit www.docwinebarcabo.com.

8. La Choya Burgers

La Choya Burgers in San José del Cabo

La Choya (a coy reference to both the cactus known as la cholla and the slang Mexican term for a local cabeño) is a surprisingly great new burger joint opened by a local long boarder who happens to be very good on the grill. In a beautifully landscaped lot, with lights dangling from the trees overhead and carefully-manicured cacti dotting the premises, it's a great spot for outdoor noshing. The fresh burgers (or carne asada, chicken and hot dogs) and delicious seasoned wedge fries are all made-to-order. The Oceanica burger is our favorite, with bacon and grilled onion. And vegetarians can rejoice: the homemade veggie burger might be the best we have ever tried, chock-full of veggies, ground nuts and cilantro. La Choya Burgers is located on an open lot off of Comonfort, adjacent to the El Encanto Inn, a stone's throw from Baja Brewing Company in downtown San José del Cabo. They are open every day except Monday from 5 pm to 11 pm. Call ahead to place a takeout order at 624.172.6307.

9. La Pampa - New location

The well-regarded Cabo San Lucas steakhouse, which specializes in Argentinian-style steaks, now has a new outpost right in the middle of San José's Art District. The funky space suits the restaurant's stylish vibe, and the juicy steak (especially paired with an Argentinian wine) is as delicious as ever. La Pampa is on Morelos Street in downtown San José, steps from Old Villano's door and about a block before Baja Brewing Company, between Zaragoza and Obregon streets. Call 624.142.0457 for reservations.

10. Old Villano

Mezcal is now becoming a sought-after sipping spirit, and San José's Old Villano is lasering in on the beverage's unique properties by offering many brands and varieties and schooling its patrons in the proper method of consumption. (Dip lime wedge in salt infused with worm and chiles, suck, quickly sip on mezcal, to taste all three flavors in the mouth before swallowing.) But that's a small part of Villano's charm: the fresh seafood and simple, elegant food is the real surprise. The house specialty is especially decadent, lobster and fresh shrimp in mezcal butter, but equally good are items from the simple but exacting bar menu: calamari, a delectable and freshly-prepared shrimp ceviche, and more. Enjoy the fresh food and unusual mezcal cocktails in the remodeled ex-Terrace Cafe space in San José del Cabo's bustling art district. The upstairs terrace is great, offering views over the town, a breeze, and even a peek at the ocean. On the corner of Zaragoza and Morelos. Call 624.146.9361 for reservations. Live music/entertainment Wednesday through Saturday. Opens daily at 2 pm and closes midnight (later on weekends), but closed Sundays.

11. Molly's

Molly's in San José del Cabo

Billed as a “munchies bar and restaurant,” Molly's is the second eatery from Zipper's proprietor and surf apparel and board rental guru colloquially known as Big Tony. The view from Molly's is directly onto San José del Cabo's newly-renovated Plaza Mijares. Charming high colonial-style windows open out onto the cobblestoned plaza with views to the fountain. Munch on fish tacos, a 1/2 pound burger with cheese and other pub-grub items with a bucket of cold beers, then head upstairs to shop the Big Tony surfwear line for a new bikini—Molly's occupies the ground floor of the Big Tony Surf Shop, but the renovation makes the airy space seem like a whole new venue. Old Baja pictures, off road trophies and local art dot the walls in quaint disarray. Open daily 8 am to 11 pm. Call 624.142.0744 for reservations.