Pirate lore surrounds Los Cabos. Listen long enough and you are sure to hear stories of Spanish galleons, sunken ships, and coves favored as hiding spots for stolen treasure. But venture over to TripAdvisor, and all the mentions of hidden treasure appear to be in reference to Enrique Diaz’s cozy Alcaravea Gourmet, a downtown Cabo San Lucas café dedicated to the bold flavors of Mediterranean cuisine.
Since opening with a capacity of only 15, Alcaravea has grown to accommodate a cozy 60. But what’s grown exponentially larger is its reputation. Online travel sites are filled with reviewer comments like “Hands Down Best Place in Cabo” and “Been Here, done it, and will do it again.” We can understand their enthusiasm after having sampled dishes like the Alcaravea mushrooms (the mushrooms are sautéed with white wine, extra-virgin olive oil, Parmesan cheese, Marsala wine, sage, basil, and oregano, then baked), Sea Earth carpaccio salad (thinly sliced fish, salmon, and beef are served with arugula and Parmesan), and the carbonara prepared with freshly made pasta.
Avenida 16 de Septiembre and Ignacio Zaragoza, Cabo San Lucas, (624) 143-3730. Mon.–Sat. noon–11 p.m. All major cards and vouchers accepted. $$–$$$ A.A.