Mariscos El Toro Güero - Forget the overpriced resort ceviche. This is where locals go for the freshest damn seafood in town. Plastic chairs, paper napkins, and plates stacked with aguachile that actually bite back. If you’re looking for authenticity, it’s here — shrimp that tastes like it was pulled from the water an hour ago.

Playa Empacadora - This isn’t the pristine postcard beach. It’s the local swim spot — gritty, crowded, alive. Fishermen mend their nets on the sand, kids cannonball into the surf, and the smell of grilled fish drifts down from the street. This is where Cabo breathes.

Taller 17 Café - A tucked-away little bakery/coffee shop, where the pan dulce is flaky, the espresso strong, and you don’t feel like you’re on display for tourists. It’s quiet, creative, and a reminder that Cabo isn’t just tequila shots and cruise ships.

El Squid Roe (late night) - Yes, it’s chaotic. Yes, it’s wild. And yes, it’s touristy — but every once in a while you need to plunge headfirst into the madness. Sticky floors, neon lights, live bands, tequila everywhere. Think of it as an anthropological study in human chaos.

Los Tres Gallos - A courtyard hidden behind heavy wooden doors. Hand-painted tiles, open-air kitchen, and the smell of mole simmering away. Try the cochinita pibil or enchiladas suizas — this is Mexican comfort food elevated but not ruined.

San José del Cabo Art Walk (Thursday nights) - A 30-minute drive, but worth every kilometer. Colonial streets filled with galleries, live music, and street tacos sold from carts. You get art, you get food, and you get the kind of atmosphere that feels more local than Cabo proper.

Wirikuta Botanical Cactus Garden - A surreal stretch of desert artistry — thousands of cacti lined up like soldiers, sculptures standing watch, and fire shows some nights. It’s not Disneyland. It’s stranger, quieter, and unexpectedly moving.

La Lupita Taco & Mezcal - End the night with smoky mezcal and duck carnitas tacos. A little hip, sure, but the flavors back it up. If you want to know why mezcal matters, this is the classroom.

Taquería Rossy - The kind of taquería that spoils you forever. Shrimp tacos, fried fish, octopus tostadas — messy, cheap, and unforgettable. The kind of place locals bring their families on Sundays.

Playa Chileno - A quieter beach, no spring-break mayhem, just clean sand and some of the best snorkeling in the area. Bring a mask, dive into the water, and suddenly you’re floating in an aquarium.

Cabo Coffee Company - Not fancy. Not trying to be. Just a neighborhood spot where you can linger with a strong cold brew and feel like you’ve earned your caffeine in the heat.

Cantina Habanero - Not polished, not trendy. Just a local bar with cold beer, karaoke, and the kind of regulars who’ll tell you Cabo’s real stories if you buy them a round.

Flora Farms - Not Cabo exactly — it’s up in the hills. A working organic farm with a restaurant that feels like a dream sequence. Wood-fired pizzas, cocktails laced with herbs grown ten feet from your table, dogs running underfoot. It’s rustic luxury done right.

Cabo Pulmo National Park - Two hours out, but worth it. A marine preserve, one of the last living coral reefs in North America. You’ll feel the difference as soon as you dive in — schools of fish thick as storms, sea turtles, maybe even a reef shark. Raw, unfiltered nature.

Cruise & Snorkeling- Do it at least once while you’re in Cabo. Honestly, daily would be fine as well.

La Osteria - End it with Italian food, Baja-style. Live music in the courtyard, homemade pastas, seafood with a Mediterranean twist. A little elegant, but laid back enough that no one cares if you’re in flip-flops.

Lover’s Beach - Don't let the description fool you. Lover's Beach isn't a quiet, secluded place for couples. It's rather touristy, but it's also one of more unique places to visit thanks to it's natural rock formations and beautiful views. As it sits away from the mainland in the Pacific, you must travel by boat, water-taxi, etc. While the waters are relatively calm on Lover's Beach (facing north), the other side known as Divorce Beach offers dangerous, raging waves. Visit at least once for great photos and a day in the sun.

The Arch of Cabo San Lucas - Cabo's most distinctive image is of the Arch. They sit ajacent to Lover's Beach away from the mainland on the Pacific. Yes, you will again need to travel there by boat. This landmark is also known as Land’s End because if you followed a line south, you would not touch land again until you reached the South Pole.

The Beach (Medano) - It's a fine art to master doing absolutely nothing on a beach! Cabo's beach sceen is special. Cabo's sunshine is strong- take caution and use sunblock. But, along the beach, you can experience a number of watersports or board a glassbottom boat to travel across the pacific. Medano Beach is considered tops in Cabo.

Champagne Terrace at El Farallon - Many of Cabo's finest restaurants sit within their beachfront resports. The Champagne Terrace at El Farallon is one of Cabo's best. This restaurant is located within the Resort at Pedegral on a mountain cliff overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Despite a hefty price tag, you can't beat the views!

Maro Shrimp House - Every beach town needs a bar or restaurant with college sports gear. Maro does the trick in Cabo. Add delicious and inexpensive grilled seafood and meats, your favorite Mexican beer, and a Mariachi band. Why leave?

Fuego - We made friends with the lovely owners and team at Fuego in downtown Cabo. This Argentenian steak house has amazing grilled meats, a nice wine selection and a creative drink menu. It's a must visit when exploring Cabo.

Cabo Wabo Cantina - Cabo Wabo is world famous. Born in the 90's, it remains THE destination for drinks in downtown Cabo. You'll find locals, tourists, and folks of all ages on a daily basis. Cabo Wabo is best described as part bar, part restaurant, part club, all fun.

Downtown Cabo/ Marina - Do yourself a favor- leave the resort. Downtown Cabo has much to offer. Explore local bars, shops, and restaurants. Visit the Marina and charter a boat for prime cruising on the Pacific. Overall, enjoy Cabo beyond the resort to bring your trip to life.