Barefoot Elegance

Fine dining and Los Cabos’  signature relaxed
style make for a perfect pairing
By Sandra  A.  Berry

 

On one of our first visits to Los Cabos many years ago, my husband and I happened upon a restaurant that offered to serve us dinner on the beach. I mean literally, at a table in the sand. Removing our shoes, we carefully followed the server to a table situated as close to the water as possible without getting wet. The white-clothed table and chairs glistened in the moonlight with a blown-glass globe and its flickering flame. An almost-full moon was slowly rising, casting a shimmering glow over the water, while slow rolling waves caressed the shoreline just in front of us. What followed was a suburb meal, unobtrusive service, and a bottle of chilled Champagne.

Today there are fewer restaurants with beach access than there were back then, but Los Cabos’ signature relaxed vibe—what we call barefoot elegance—continues to thrive.

You’re in Los Cabos, and you’ve been living in your swimsuit, shorts, and flip-flops. You’ve eaten a variety of tacos and explored the many types of margaritas served here. Tonight, you want something different: someplace romantic with candlelight, exotic cocktails, stimulating conversation, and an eclectic menu. You want to wear that new ensemble that is casual yet elegant. Word to the wise: Most fine dining restaurants in Los Cabos expect you to show up in more than ripped jeans and sweats. Though Cabo may be considered a T-shirt town, it also boasts a nice selection of fine dining restaurants, where you can feel sophisticated, comfortable yet polished. The reason for this is that some eateries of a certain caliber wish for their guests to experience what they have created. They want to take you out of your ordinary life and for a couple of hours allow you to be a part of an exceptional culinary happening.

Right this way. Your table’s waiting.

Welcome to De Cortez Restaurant (www.decortezrestau rant.com), located in the Sheraton Grand Los Cabos Hacienda del Mar. This multiple-award-winning oceanfront restaurant is as close to the sea as you can get, especially when seated along the low wall in an intimate setting with nothing but sand stretching to the water’s edge. On any given evening, the waves may be crashing in front of you, or as smooth as a glass tabletop. Candlelight, live music, indescribable service, and good food are De Cortez’s ingredients for elegant dining mixed to perfection. Executive chef Manuel De Luca is at work lovingly designing your plate while the sommelier creates a perfect wine pairing. Those seeking romance, look no further.

For 20 years, Pitahayas Restaurant (www.pitahayas.com) has been the place to celebrate a special occasion, especially with its magnificent palapa, multiple terraces leading to the beach, La Cava Santiago, Pitayita’s Bar, full moon celebrations, and luxurious atmosphere. Who could ask for anything more elegant and romantic? Executive chef Volker Romeike has been with the restaurant since its opening and knows what it takes to keep his customers coming back year after year for special occasions or simply an excellent meal in elegant surroundings. His menu—a blend of Asian, Hawaiian, and Mexican—works, and works wonders. The establishment has won numerous awards, including the Wine Spectator Award of Elegance.

You have to admit that Champagne exudes romance. The owners of Sunset Mona Lisa (www.sunsetmonalisa.com) realized this marvel and created Taittinger Terrace, which specializes in the golden bubbly and offers an intriguing menu of oysters and other delectable canapés. This is a great way to start a romantic evening. The view from any of its many terraces is absolutely spectacular, and it’s easy to believe the stories told of at least one marriage proposal a night and 100 weddings a year at this fantasy-like location. Michelin-trained chef Paulo della Corte brings all the flavors of the Mediterranean in uniquely styled dishes; he specializes in Italian seafood.

The Resort at Pedregal (www.theresortatpedregal.com), where a tunnel was dug through a mountain to get to the seashore, offers cliffside dining at El Farallon where 10-foot waves crash on the retaining wall to the delight of diners who are enjoying fresh market-to-table seafood served family style on El Farallon’s Champagne terrace.

There are still a few upscale restaurants that offer dining right on the sand. One is in the oldest resort landmark in Cabo San Lucas: Hacienda Beach Club. It is home to Cocina & Cantina (www.haciendacocina.com), where your dining options include indoor, on the terrace, a palapa bar, or a table in the sand where, when a cruise ship is in the bay, it appears to be docked on the sand right in front of you.

Wanting to capitalize on beachfront dining, the Bahia Hotel & Beach House, which includes Bar Esquina, took a fading beachfront property, totally revamped it, and named it SUR Beach House Los Cabos (www.bahiacabo .com). Here is you can actually put your toes in the sand, sit on lounge chairs under a sea of white umbrellas, and dine on an eclectic menu of Mexican, Asian, and Peruvian influences.

When the mood strikes and you want to put on that pretty sundress or long skirt and shawl (sometimes needed in mid-summer in the evening) and your date wants to show off his new guayabera, make your reservation at any of these restaurants and be prepared to enjoy elegance Cabo style.