Los Cabos (or Cabo as it is affectionately called by many) encompasses two areas: Cabo San Lucas and San Jose del Cabo. We were lucky enough to spend time in both and they definitely have different vibes! This post focuses on our stay in San Jose del Cabo. There are some really cool spots in San Jose! The downtown is fun and the food was amazing! Read more to find out all the fun things to do and great place to eat in San Jose. If you’re looking for info closer to downtown Cabo San Lucas, click here for the Cabo travel guide.
San Jose Del Cabo
The first half of our vacation was spent in San Jose del Cabo at Cabo Azul Resort.
PHOTO CREDIT: CABO AZUL RESORT
Cabo Azul Resort
Cabo Azul Resort is a 4-star Diamond Resort and was beautiful. Although the resort is a timeshare, I found our two bedroom villa on Expedia, and with the exception of being asked to hear their timeshare presentation at check-in, you would never know it was a timeshare. We politely declined the presentation invitation and were not approached the rest of our stay.
BARELY B TRAVEL TIP: we look for timeshare resorts because most timeshares offer a variety of floorplans with multiple bedrooms and a kitchen, while still offering resort amenities like a resort pool and restaurant. Mom and Dad like their own room! 🙂
Casa Azul has several pools, although our favorite pool was the main pool with the swim-up bar and views of the ocean.
The pool bar was amazing – good drinks and menu. When I saw sushi on the menu, I knew I was going to like Casa Azul! When my husband saw the 2 for 1 Happy Hour every day from 3-5pm, he knew he was going to like it too 🙂
What to Do and Where to Eat Downtown San Jose del Cabo
Art Walk every Thursday
We ventured downtown San Jose to check out the Art Walk that is hosted every Thursday night. San Jose is adorable and tourists and locals mingled in the downtown streets looking at the different art booths and art galleries -it’s a must do on a Thur., although it’s fun to visit any night!
La Casa Natalia
Casa Natalia was just adorable!
PHOTO CREDIT: La Casa Natalia
While you are downtown San Jose, make sure you stop at la Casa Natalia. It looks like nothing from the outside, but inside is an adorable boutique hotel with a fabulous restaurant (Mi Cocina) and bar (Baja Oyster Bar). We didn’t eat here, but if we had another night, we absolutely would have! We did enjoy a craft cocktail and some oyster shooters. Because we liked the cool vibe and great drinks so much, we came back for dessert and it did not disappoint. This spot is a hidden gem.
La Lupita
We ate at La Lupita while we were downtown San Jose. They recently opened a location in Cabo San Lucas, too. I highly recommend this place – really fun atmosphere, crazy variety of pastor tacos, and unique cocktails! The kids loved seeing the homemade tortillas being made right in front of us. As the sun sets, the live music kicks in and the party starts. Make sure you make a reservation, it’s a popular place.
Flora Farms
MUST DO! This restaurant/farm/lodging gem could be it’s own blog post. Bottom line, go check it out, maybe even more than once! We went for brunch and it did not disappoint. The Bloody Mary was the best one I’ve ever had. Everything is farm to table and homemade. My only regret is that we didn’t get to visit for dinner, too. Make a reservation as far in advance as possible!
The Best Bloody Mary Ever
Flora Farms Real Estate
The farm has a private community within the property. You can schedule a 20 minute tour if you are interested in walking the property. We took advantage of this opportunity and it was pretty cool. The homes are completely sustainable and the property is absolutely gorgeous.
Flora Farms Cooking Classes
Another thing we didn’t have time for was a Flora Farms cooking class. Check out the website, they look super fun! The $115 price includes a farm tour (I bet that is so cool!), lunch, and a craft cocktail. I would love to hear a few Mexican cooking tips from the culinary geniuses at Flora! Flora also offers art classes if that more your speed. Either way, classes tend to fill up quickly so plan ahead.
Flora Farms Shops
Whenever your reservation is, make sure you give yourself extra time before or after your reservation to enjoy the property and the shopping. We enjoyed strolling the shops and found unique, artisan souvenirs to bring home. The kids loved the ice cream stand, too!
Travel Tip
If this is your first time to Flora, know that it is in the middle of nowhere. We took an Uber to get there, but on the way home there were drivers waiting to take people back to town.
Agua at The One & Only Palmilla
AGUA BY LARBI (ONE & ONLY PALMILLA RESORT)
The One & Only Palmilla is a luxury resort in San Jose. The restaurant, Agua, came highly recommended, so we made a reservation. It is on the pricey side, but the view are stunning (the restaurant sits at the top of a cliff), the service impeccable, and the food delicious. 5 stars all the way if you feel like splurging. The grounds are gorgeous, so if you have time, arrive early to enjoy the views.
Acre
We did not have time to visit Acre Bar & Restaurant, but it came highly recommended. If you have the time, it sounds pretty amazing! Similar to Flora Farms, arrive early for your reservation so you can explore. The property contains a pool, bocce ball court, ping pong, and an animal sanctuary. The restaurant is award winning and I’m sure it won’t disappoint.
Adios San Jose del Cabo
San Jose del Cabo is the laid back little sister of Cabo San Lucas. While the waves are pretty intense here, the beaches are beautiful and the culinary and art scene are spectacular. As far as Mexican towns go, San Jose is more “American-ized” than many other spots in Mexico. I heard some call it L.A. South. If you’re looking for a good deal, this isn’t the place. But, if you’re looking for great food and chic, trendy atmospheres, San Jose del Cabo is a perfect place!
If you are interested in fun excursions, check out my Cabo guide! We did our excursions when we were staying downtown Cabo, but you could easily do these excursions based out of San Jose.