Letter from The Baja California Penninsula – Los Cabos, Mexico

Hello from two destinations that seamlessly blend into one,

Nestled in the Baja California Peninsula, Mexico Cabo San Lucas has long been known to attract A-listers hailing from its close neighbor, California. Often overlooked is San Jose del Cabo, where surprisingly all the farm-to-table, small luxury and cultural magic is happening. San Jose del Cabo is a mere 20 minutes from the Los Cabos International Airport (SJD) and what was once considered a small, charming Mexican village is experiencing a cultural and gastronomic revival. First stop, Flora Farms, the farm-to-table eatery that got plenty of buzz when Adam Levine and Behati Prinsloo celebrated their nuptials there in 2014. Flora’s, for short, offers visitors a Pinterest-like world complete with 10 acres of organic herbs and vegetables, a modern-day farm house and a small grocery store. Travel for the views and stay for Flora’s Field Kitchen’s wood fire pizzas, homemade sausages and ice cream cart. Flora’s neighbor, Huerta Los Tamarindos is an understated 17-acre orchard putting flavor before fanfare. Think sweet, plump tomatoes and the aroma of basil and lemongrass filling the air with every bite. Sink your teeth on their perfectly cooked lamb and savor their shrimp jicama taco. For a full immersion, sign up for a four-hour cooking class. Then, there’s the cool kid on the block, Acre, a 25-acre farmland turned swanky oasis. Acre offers a restaurant, cocktail bar, event space, locally-sourced design, plenty of Instagrammable spaces and now, your very own Tree House. Come for the Beso de Katrina cocktail (mezcal, hibiscus, pineapple and oregano) and stay the night at one of the 12 tree houses in the making.

Although the countryside might be stealing the show, the town of San Jose is very much alive. Local bar, Mixology Fusion Bar offers creative libations al fresco. Catch Sebas, one of the best bartenders in town, if you can. He has been spotted at the bar but is a bit of a nomad who prepares whimsical concoctions and can even read your cocktail mood. For authentic, home-style fine dining stop by Casa San Jose 23400. The colonial-style house’s kitchen is led by Chef Ulises Gouze who is known for his cuisine without boundaries. On the menu, tuna avocado tartar, duck carnitas, chorizo and scallop taco, prawn aguachile, lamb with epazote and charbroiled octopus.

The older, more sophisticated brother, Cabo San Lucas is also having a transformation of its own, one complete with luxury real estate, private butlers and one-of-a-kind lavish experiences. Once known for its party scene, the town is now attracting a different crowd and dropping big hospitality names like Montage, Rosewood, The Ritz Carlton, Nobu, Four Seasons, Le Blanc and Greg Norman. The latter will be debuting his first real estate endeavor in the luxury community of Rancho San Lucas located in Cabo’s Pacific side late 2018. Other luxury developments in the area include Quivira, Diamante and the spectacular Chileno Bay. Cabo San Lucas has experienced an increase of 884 new hotel rooms in 2017 and expects a total of 4,353 new rooms in the next two years.

Next time you think Cabo, think twice.

Until next time,

Amy