There is a wonderfully nostalgic vibe that envelops Lorenzillo’s, the live lobster house on the Cabo San Lucas Marina. But don’t you dare write the nautical-themed restaurant as a mere throwback, a vestige of days gone by. This place is an institution. Chef José Santiago has crafted a robust menu worthy of the finest captain’s table (a scene invoked by the interior’s caramel-colored wood paneling and repurposed ship pieces). There are several preparations of lobster. You can never go wrong with Thermidor, but be brave and try one of the less-traditional sauces. Appetizers include crab legs, soft-shelled crab, a Caesar salad made tableside, and even abalone carpaccio. But I’m partial to the exceptional oyster sampler (featuring the chef’s favorite preparations), especially when enjoyed in the downstairs, more relaxed Oyster Bar. The cantilevered deck is in the heart of the marina and ideal for people watching. Boulevard Lázaro Cárdenas,Cabo San Lucas Marina, Cabo San Lucas, (624) 105-0212, www.lorenzillos.com.mx. Restaurant: Daily noon–11 p.m. Oyster Bar: Daily 11 a.m.–11 p.m. All major credit cards and vouchers accepted. $$–$$$$ A.A.
The Cabo San Lucas dining scene is brimming with options. There are so many quality restaurants, in fact, that new additions can easily feel redundant. Such was never the case, though, with Los Barriles, a Mexican-Asian fusion eatery that introduced Korean barbecue to Cabo San Lucas. The menu also features traditional and fusion dishes from Thailand, Vietnam, and Japan. Highlights include the Cevichimi Barril Style appetizer, a generous helping of thinly sliced tuna in a lemon soy sauce with fresh serrano chiles, onions, and avocado. The superb Hot Pot Thai Seafood features shrimp, scallops, and calamari prepared in a coconut milk and a ginger garlic lemongrass broth. The decadent VIP Combination for Two includes such choices as filet mignon, lobster tail, shrimp, octopus, and sea bass. Los Barriles has wood furnishings, evocative murals, and a romantically lit dining area festooned with lanterns and strung lights. Its staff is smart and friendly—each guest is greeted by the ringing of a bell and applause from fellow diners—and offers detail-oriented service: Servers prepare soups, salads, and Korean barbecue tableside. Two-for-one margaritas are a big draw at the beautiful old L-shaped bar (8 a.m.–5 p.m. daily), and a mariachi band strolls through the restaurant on weekends. Calle Miguel Hidalgo, Cabo San Lucas, (624) 143-1619, www.los barrilesrestaurantbar.com. Daily 8 a.m.–11 p.m. MasterCard, Visa, and vouchers accepted. $–$$$ C.S.
If there is a better queso fundido in all of Los Cabos, I am yet to find it. The traditional melted cheese appetizer is here made with three cheeses flamed table side in a volcanic rock, then doused with tequila and served alongside handmade tortillas. The queso fundido is a decadent start to a meal that is guaranteed to please on multiple levels. The restaurant’s name translates to “the desires,” and its menu is like a manifestation of its name. The Tikin Xic is a Yucatecan-style fish fillet with achiote sauce wrapped in a banana leaf. The Aztec Huarache steak is a finely cut fillet with green chilaquiles and salsa on cactus leaves. And the jericalla is a Jalisco-style dessert that falls somewhere in between between crème brûlée and flan. Looking for a less decadent option? The nopales (cactus) salad with tomato, cilantro, olives, serrano chile, and panela cheese is a wonderful, light alternative. Marina Golden Zone, Cabo San Lucas Marina, Cabo San Lucas, (624) 145-6011, www.mari nagoldenzone.com. Daily 7 a.m.–11 p.m. All major credit cards and vouchers accepted. $–$$$ A.A.
Toss your travel guides and TripAdvisor printouts. Your Los Cabos itinerary is incomplete if it does not include a visit to Madeira Bistro, a Brazilian steakhouse that wows with its rodízio-style skewers of meat and unbeatable prices. For just $22 U.S., you are treated to all-you-can-eat dinners that start with wonderfully garlicky bread, whipped mashed potatoes, rice, purple cabbage slaw, and chicken wings. Servers walk table to table with skewers of top sirloin, rib eyes, barbecued ribs, chorizo sausage, arrachera, and New York steak. Save room for the sweet and crispy fried banana dessert. Even sweeter news: Madeira participates in the Los Cabos Magazine Prepaid Voucher Program, which are often available for 50 percent off. That means the decadent all-you-can-eat dinner is but $11 U.S. Intersection of Calle Vicente Guerrero and Francisco I. Madero (a half block from Cabo Wabo), Cabo San Lucas, (624) 143-0273. Daily 9 a.m.–2 p.m., 4 p.m.–11 p.m. MasterCard, Visa, and vouchers accepted. $$–$$$ A.A.
This sports bar and restaurant on the Cabo San Lucas Marina was recently awarded the prestigious Distintivo M, a sought-after government certification identifying model, modern businesses with consistently superior quality control. There is no doubt Mango Cantina is one of the best spots on the marina for sports lovers, especially given the 17 HD TVs and one 180-inch screen constantly playing international games and events (don’t miss a single NFL, NHL, boxing, MLB, UFC, NASCAR, or NBA game). It’s also a top stop for traditional Mexican fare and fresh local seafood; the sports-themed menu loaded with delicious options. Start with raw Knockout Shrimp or a Nascar Salad, sample Heisman Tacos, Touchdown and Super Bowl burgers, and Yankees Chicken, or dig into a collection of combo platters that allow you to mix and match comfort food favorites like Angus flank steak, barbecue baby back ribs, chicken breast, shrimp, and fish filets. The Hole in One lobster is also a popular choice, served with butter, baked potato, and vegetables. Sweet meal cappers include a selection of cakes, ice creams, and homemade brownies. The Cabo San Lucas Marina location overlooks Puerto Paraiso, Luxury Avenue, and the fishing fleet, and its kitchen is always prepared to cook up the hard-fought catches of visiting anglers in a variety of tasty styles. Gourmet espresso coffee drinks are also available, and Mango Cantina offers daily two-for-one beer specials. Open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Cabo San Lucas Marina, Cabo San Lucas, (624) 143-3012, www.mangocantina.com. Mon–Fri. 8 a.m.–11 p.m., Sat.–Sun. 8 a.m.–midnight. AmEx, MasterCard, Visa, and vouchers accepted. $–$$$ C.S.
An enviable location on Médano Beach. A bar that opens before many travelers even wakw up. And a menu that could please the pickiest eater. What’s not to love about Mango Deck? Whatever you’re in the mood for, Mango Deck has it: from fresh seafood and sushi to traditional Mexican dishes and grilled specialties like the delicious barbecued baby back ribs. Despite all the lunch and dinner delights, morning is still my favorite time to visit Mango Deck. The Cabo San Lucas Bay comes to life with pangas, yachts, and kayaks, and Médano Beach is a sea of lounge chairs and colorful umbrellas. This is the perfect place to start your day. Stop in for Sunday’s all-you-can-eat buffet brunch, or drop in daily for hearty fare like steak and eggs and the renowned Mexican hangover cure: chilaquiles. My go-to is the Two, Two, Two, which I like to call the “Noah’s Ark.” You get two eggs any way you like them, two strips of bacon, two breakfast sausages, and a choice of two pancakes or two slices of French toast. Fresh fruit is also included, and if you need an extra energy burst, skip the coffee and try one of Mango Deck’s fresh-squeezed juices or smoothies. Mango Deck, Médano Beach, Cabo San Lucas, (624) 143-0901, www.mangodeckcabo.com. Daily 8 a.m.–11 p.m. AmEx, MasterCard, Visa, and vouchers accepted. $–$$$ C.S.
