Cabo: Checking Out the #1 Rated Restaurant

Medano Beach is the party beach in San Lucas, loaded with a bunch of hotels that pump up the festive feelings as opposed to the natural, tranquil side of Los Cabos (Nikki Beach, for example). I found many of the bars along the beach to be less than authentic, and a walk along this area will no doubt result in numerous propositions: Jet skis, boat rides, sunglasses, hats, jewelry, whatever. It sort of goes with the territory, I guess.

Those touristic causalities aside, it truly is a beautiful beach, and I'd definitely recommend checking it out if only for that reason. And if you do want to do any watersports, you'll find a bunch of competing companies on Medano Beach, so haggle away (Medano Beach and the harbor area are the two places where you can bargain for services, whatever they may be).

I wasn't there to shop (although I did buy a pair of sunglasses for $10.... they saw me coming, squinting eyes and all), I was there to check out a restaurant I had heard good things about: The Hacienda Cocina y Cantina, located in the Hacienda Beach Club on the far south end of Medano Beach, within walking distance from the rest of the hotels on that strip and from downtown San Lucas.

It's the number one rated restaurant in San Lucas on TripAdvisor as of this posting, and it's not hard to see why. I would definitely recommend paying a visit when you're in town, even if it's only for a drink to check out the view (see photo). Ceviche and fish tacos was the direction I went, leaning back in the comfortable chairs and enjoying the shade of the small, circular hut that looks out over the ocean and the beach activity to the north. You can see the hills that line the channel, leading out towards the arch.

Some places with great views tend to offer mediocre food - they don't need a great menu to attract business - but I was happy to see that Cocina y Cantina lives up to all aspects of the hype. Good food, good views. Be sure to try the churros for dessert, and take a walk down Medano after to burn them off.

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