One travel trend we see a lot of now is fashion influencers giving the DL on shopping and unique neighbourhoods in cool destinations. Who doesn’t want to escape their hotel and hit up real local hot spots? That’s why we’re debuting our own style jaunt for Cabo San Lucas, Mexico.
Trouble is, you can’t always trust the concierge – or fashionistas who are’t savvy travellers. So here I go, channeling my own inner diva to give you guys a La Comer, one of my favourite destinations.
Sure Cabo is famed for its championship golf courses, uncommon aquatic life and a dizzying array of ocean activities, but it’s also boasts a stylish scene (with a capital S). If that is, you know where to find it. Here’s a look at some of my favourite addresses to suss out on your next visit.
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Where to Shop in Cabo
Leave touristy Cabo San Lucas behind and head down the corridor to San Jose del Cabo. Their historic art district is full of Spanish Colonial character, not to mention quaint shops and galleries featuring the works of Mexico’s leading artists. Expats live for the weekly art tours on Thursday nights.
And with works by Mexico’s most famous artists 20% lower here than in the US or Canada who wouldn’t?
For contemporary paintings and sculpture, head to Corsica Gallery for the works of Diego Rivera’s god son, Augustin Castro Lopez. Or snap up some Manuel Feiguerez, Mexico’s most famous abstract painter. Some galleries also offer artisanal tequila tasting. Forewarned is forearmed!
True shopaholics will want to hit up ex-pat fave Artesano’s. You know you can’t leave Mexico without toting home a margarita pitcher, don’t you?
This massive boutique bulging with treasures is conveniently situated between San Jose and Cabo San Lucas. It’s here you’ll want to stock up on beautiful glass stemware, pewter platters, colourful handicrafts and other unique souvenir items. (I bought a schwack of pretty Christmas decorations for next to nothing.)
Then there’s Flora Farms. Not only is this the spot where Adam Levine wed his Victoria Secret angel, but it’s a salubrious spot for lunch and you guessed it, shopping! Organic produce is picked fresh daily and you can snap up awesome preserves and crafts from local artisans.
My favourite sot for food shopping is La Comer (formerly MEGA) in San Jose. Budget two hours to comb these aisles.
Where celebrities stay in Cabo
Part of the fun of being in Cabo is running into the jet set. Chelsea Handler and her posse of writers and friends are known to dance the night away at Squid Roe in downtown Cabo San Lucas. (I ran into Heather McDonald there on my last trip.)
And we all know Courtney Cox and Jen Anniston bed down at The One&Only Palmilla, ranked as the#1 best resort in Mexico by Condé Nast Traveler for several years.
For more of a funky, boutique feel, try The Cabo Surf Hotel. Reminiscent of a laid-back California beach house, it’s located on one of the top surfing beaches with board rentals available through their surf school.
Naturally, this is where pro surfers get married (and my girlfriend Susan!), and recent celebrity guests include Sarah McLachlan and Annie Leibovitz.
Another hot spot is Hotel El Ganzo. Charlie Sheen made waves when he partied at their 2012 opening with Slash. Ganzo has been quiet of late after getting hit pretty hard by last year’s hurricane, but they’ve just reopened.
Creative types flock here because they’ve got a cool artist in residence program (including musicians and videographers) that lets them use the hotel as their canvas. They’ve also got their own recording studio (what hotel offers that?) which ups the hipster factor.
My girlfriend spotted Sammy Hagar and his family at Habanero’s, a totally chill, traditional Mexican restaurant in San Jose. Naturally I made her take me there, and I adored their savoury chilli relenos and carne asada. (Bonus: their wait staff is awesome with kids.)
Have you ever been to Cabo? Where are your top tips for where eat, stay and play?
Thank you so much for this valuable information
Leaving to Cabo in 2 weeks. I forwarded the info
to our travel buds that we are meeting there!
Perfecto
J
Hope you have a wonderful trip. Where are you staying?
Wish you were giving away a trip to Cabo (never been) but I’ll take a Flair subscription!
Someday soon I hope to be giving away travel! Check back often to see.
Oh boy this is really making me want to go to CABO!
Haven’t been but I love the outlet shopping in Palm Springs. I know it’s not exactly a local kidna influence, but it is super fun. : )
Outlets can be fun!
You’re making me want to go to CABO! Nice! Favourite shopping spot in Palm Springs is the huge Outlet. I know it’s not exactly the local flair you’re searching for it’s pretty awesome.
Despite living on the west coast of the US, I have yet to get to Cabo. I think we’ve visited just about every other tourist mecca of Mexico! Need to remedy this!
Yes, you do!
Beautiful pictures and great coverage. Makes me wish I were heading to Cabo this winter!
One of our neighbours hints at us using her beautiful house in Cabo – though a trip would likely be in the off-season. Now for shopping – you’ve got me on that one. Does Holt Renfrew in Calgary count? or Live Out There for the latest in hip outdoor apparel?
Everything counts! And you should definitely take your neighbour up on the Cabo offer.
My fave place to shop: Bree Street in Cape Town, South Africa. Uber cool indie shops like Skinny la Minx or SAM (South African Market) and great restaurants like Lucky’s Fish’n’Chips and Hard Pressed Cafe. I’ve yet to go to Cabo, but Mexico City has some great spots too. And, yes, I would love a subscription to Flare. Thanks Jody!
Amazing! I only spent a day in Cape Town, but am keen to head back. These will be on my list, especially Lucky’s!
Favorite places to stay… Casa Dorada, Resort at Pedregal (saw Adam Levine and Julianna Ramsic there), and budget friendly Bahia. Favorite places to eat… El Farallon for romance, Gordo Lele for hole in the wall tacos. Shopping is all over town, good silver is at Bling Bling.
Nice one! Thanks, Lauri, I’ll have to check these addresses out.
Headed to Cabo again in January (been 6 times) and can’t wait. Love to stay at Grand Solmar or Playa Grande because we can walk to the marina area downtown to party and shop. There are so many wonderful local places to eat that we never do all inclusive and it’s save money too. We like to ask the bell boys and maids, etc. where to eat and they are always spot on. This is our favorite vaca spot. We’ve seen Sammy, Vin Diesel, and Toby Keith.
Impressive celebrity sightings! Thanks so much for sharing your tips. I’ll have to check out Grand Solmar and Playa Grande.
Oh that crazy pool! I’d love to swim there.
Playa Grande
I haven’t been to Cabo but there is a wonderful leather shop on a side street near Piazza della Signoria where I found a superb leather jacket.
Nice! Where’s Piazza della Signoria?
Love Cabo