Looking for the best farm to table food in Los Cabos? The region has a new wave of amazing culinary experiences for those looking to get a taste of the real flavors of Los Cabos. Centered around the region of San Jose del Cabo, these amazing venues are not only incredible places to visit for their stunning grounds and service, but for the unique combination of local ingredients and creative dishes.
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What is Farm to Table food?
There are several interpretations of the farm to table movement. The term “farm to table” refers to the practice of sourcing ingredients for a meal directly from a farm rather than through a retailer, wholesaler, or middleman. “Farm-fresh” and “locally sourced” imply the same thing.
The term “farm-to-table” is being used more and more, which emphasizes how important the link is between a farm and a restaurant. Some eateries skip the middleman and negotiate prices and terms with farmers in order to get their ingredients directly. Farmers benefit from getting a higher price for their produce at the market, and consumers like being able to choose how their food is handled and cooked.
Overall, it is a way to get fresher food that can also be more sustainable (by reducing long shipping or importing procedures).
Restaurants on Farms
Farm-to-table, in its purest form, refers to a dining experience in which guests are welcomed to a table set up on the actual farm where the food is grown. The food is either prepared and served by a chef or cook, or even made by the guests themselves.
This post on farm to table food in Los Cabos focuses on venues that offer dining experiences on the actual farm where all or most of the food is grown.
However, there are other great restaurants in the area that offer farm fresh food, which will also receive a mention.
Farm to Table food in Los Cabos
Los Cabos is located on the southern tip of the Baja Peninsula and, in general, has a very dry and rocky landscape, which does not necessarily associate well with fertile farmlands.
This is true for the most part; however, there is an area in Los Cabos, in the San Jose area, that is blessed with natural, underground wells and soil. It is a desert oasis that’s not only a great place to visit but a great place to eat, thanks to its abundance of farmland, palm trees, and mountain backdrops.
Los Cabos vs. “Cabo”
When most people think of “Cabo”, they think of Cabo San Lucas. Home to a bustling beachfront lined with hotels and luxury boats. However, there is another side to Los Cabos (the area in which Cabo San Lucas is actually located).
This side is quieter and significantly more naturally “green” in the landscape.
San Jose del Cabo
San Jose del Cabo, Los Cabos, is a town with a Spanish colonial vibe and a fascinating history going back to the 1700s; it’s very different from its more vibrant sister city, Cabo San Lucas, which is situated 25 miles to the south.
If you’re looking for a more authentic, local food experience, San Jose has some incredible venues to try. In this article, we explore some of the best through our own experience.
Farm to Table Restaurants in Los Cabos
This section focuses on the farm to table venues that are located on actual farm properties themselves. These are locations that you can visit, eat at, and walk around to see the actual farm areas.
Flora Farms Los Cabos
Flora Farms is the first farm to table in Los Cabos. With an impressive 30+ year history, they started by regenerating the soil. They do everything in a natural way, which makes it all the more interesting. Planting crops like sunflowers and green beans helps add minerals to the soil naturally over time. And by avoiding chemical fertilizers, they’ve managed to create a wide range of organic crops.
Aside from being a working farm, the property is in a beautiful place, in a valley surrounded by mountains with beautiful views.
The Property
Flora Farms is much more than a farm. It is a community of high-quality, artistic boutiques and event spaces.
It is a beautiful space with plenty of interesting areas to wander around for hours. Some of the shops on site include:
- Grocery – where you can buy produce direct from the farm itself
- Fragrance studio – which has handmade soaps and essential oils
- Wine shop – with a local and international selection
- Jewelry – the area is historically famous for their silver
- Homeware – locally made crafts
- Clothing boutiques – handmade boutique items
There are also accommodation options for those who wish to stay. The high-end cottages have access to farm produce straight from the grounds.
The Farm
The farm does not use pesticides or chemicals and prides itself on ‘companion planting’. This lets the good qualities of different plants work together to keep things stable and last a long time.
There are over 200 different types of plants and a harvesting season that lasts 8–10 months per year.
Farmers cover the soil with hay or straw to keep water from evaporating and to keep weeds from growing. There is also a bee area (not for public access) with over 30 hives that pollinate the crops.
Flora Farms also owns another farm (150 acres) that is closer to the airport. This is where they keep the animals and livestock.
The Food
The seasonal menu offers guests a range of local delicacies with a modern twist. On our trip, we had vegetarian tamales that were made using hand-ground, farm-produced white corn. The addition of fresh cilantro to the tamale base gave it a real freshness that we hadn’t experienced before.
Be sure to try the orange, carrot, and ginger tequila cocktail too. It comes complete with a whole baby carrot garnish and a wooden reed straw.
You can tell that this place has been making great, fresh food for a long time, as everything came out well-presented and bursting with flavor.
The Staff
We took part in the cooking class and farm tour, which are highly recommended. The staff that ran the class and tour were very knowledgeable, engaging, and seriously proud of the produce that they have been a part of growing. For visitors who didn’t know much or any Spanish, the staff spoke English well and made our trip a lot of fun.
Arce Resort Restaurant
Acre Resort is a chic desert oasis. This is a truly remarkable property and one you have to visit when exploring Los Cabos. From the thick, palm forest to the architectural details of the walkway and restaurant itself, it is an impressive place to dine.
The Property
A winding path leads from the entrance to the grand restaurant entrance, which is set in a lush, tropical garden. You’ll be greeted by a pleasant soundtrack and a smiling hostess as you make your way to the seating area, which is decorated with string lights and hand-crafted design elements.
There is also accommodation on the property. These include treehouse-style rooms and 2-3 bedroom villas.
The Farm
Originally a mango orchid (which is still there today and acts as part of the event space), the farm has grown significantly to produce an array of short and long crops.
We were able to do the farm tour with the head chef, Jesus. He took us on a journey through the orchard, greenhouse, and even the kitchen itself.
Meeting the farmers along the way was one of the highlights, as they are all very proud of their work and happy to highlight and showcase the produce.
The Food
We were blown away by the flavors and presentation of the farm-to-table food at Acre Resort. From the elegant Mezcal cocktails with fresh spiced peppers to the freshly made bread and zucchini papardelle, there’s something for everyone. Everything had a photogenic quality, which fit well with the restaurant’s ambiance.
Acre also does lunch and breakfast for those who want to check out the property during the day (highly recommended). Again, beautifully presented, fresh food is the star of the show.
The menu is seasonal, and, up to 85% of the produce comes directly from the farm itself.
The Staff
There is a large staff team on the property. And everyone we met, from the farmers to the animal caretakers (there is also an animal sanctuary on the property) to the kitchen staff, were all passionate about making guests feel welcome.
Tamarindos
Tamarindos is located in the same valley area as the other two restaurants mentioned above. Another must-see on your farm-to-table food tour of Los Cabos. It’s the original (1888) farmhouse with the outdoor dining and rooftop view that makes this place unique.
With a focus on local and regional details (handmade crockery, chairs, and artwork), it gives the place a real sense of connection. You can’t help but get absorbed in the intricate craftsmanship, which is a perfect segway to the farm to table meal.
The Property
Located on 9 acres of farmland with mountain backdrops, palm trees, and fairy lights, the property is a living, breathing slice of paradise.
We loved the old brick building and thatched roof, the open-air feel, and the views from the restaurant itself.
A tour of the property took us to one of the event spaces, which was holding a traditional dance ceremony (though they have all different kinds of events here).
The Farm
All restaurant produce (apart from meat) comes from the farm itself, which can be viewed from the restaurant area. So, you can literally see where your food came from.
The Food
We had a fresh tomato salad, vegetarian pasta, grilled lettuce Caesar salad (which actually originated in Mexico), mango pie, and avocado chocolate mousse for dessert. All of which were presented beautifully on handmade rustic plates.
You can really tell that the ingredients are fresh and have been handled to bring out the best flavor profiles.
The Staff
All of the staff at Tamarindos live nearby, and many are related, which adds to the warm, family-style feel of the place. They were all knowledgeable and were great at giving us recommendations for the wine (which they only serve Mexican-made).
Good Vegetarian food options in Los Cabos
There are plenty of options for vegetarian food in Los Cabos. Here are a couple of good ones based on the food, the setting, and the general vibe.
Semillon
Semillon is located in Puerto Raiz, only a few minutes drive from the center of the old town of San Jose, Semillon has a super impressive entrance. It feels like you’re walking into a magical, forest music festival.
The restaurant is designed to have an indoor/outdoor feel, and the features of the overhanging ‘nest’ style ceilings are made from a local reed (which looks like bamboo).
Though produce does not come directly from the property itself, they do have a local farm supplier.
A great vegetarian dish to try is cauliflower hummus with caramelized pumpkin seeds. It’s a perfectly creamy, spicy combo to go with your glass of Mexican wine.
The property is 32 acres and is also used for large-scale events.
Sur Beach Club
Sur Beach Club is located on the busy beach of Cabo San Lucas (Medano Beach), this stylish beach club is an unlikely spot for a great vegetarian meal. But it has added a few great dishes to its menu to keep up with the rapidly growing culinary interests of tourists to the region.
Their signature cocktail comes with fresh cucumber and watermelon, which tastes amazing, but it was the vegetarian ceviche that really grabbed our attention. Made using locally grown mushrooms, fresh herbs, and spices, this dish not only looked amazing but was incredibly fresh and tasty!
Cooking Classes at Farm to table Restaurants Los Cabos
The farm to table venues in Los Cabos all offer farm tours and cooking classes. If you have time and are interested in fresh food and a great day in a beautiful setting, it is a highly recommended activity to try.
We took part in the Flora Farms cooking class and tour. Here we made vegetarian tamales, which turned out amazing. It’s about a four-hour experience, which makes for a great half-day excursion.
To learn more about the farm-to-table cooking class experience, check out the “things to do in Los Cabos” link.
Getting to Farm to Table Restaurants in Los Cabos
The Los Cabos farm to table restaurants mentioned in this post are located just outside of the San Jose area, and all can be reached by car. It should be noted that the access for cars is down dirt roads with little to no street lighting. This should be kept in mind for those driving themselves. Taxi drop off and pickups are also available, and if you are looking for a reliable transport service, Transcabo is a great private and shuttle service in the area.
Other things to do is San Jose Del Cabo
The area is full of great cultural and natural experiences, from surfing lessons to city walking tours and more. Check out other great things to do in San Jose Del Cabo with recommendations on places, and companies to choose from!
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Sponsorship Notice
For full transparency, our trip was part of a paid press trip with the Los Cabos Tourism Board. However, the views and opinions in this article are our own. We truly enjoy the San Jose del Cabo area and highly recommend it for travelers that are looking for a relaxed, beautiful, and interesting culinary vacation.
