Baja California

Set on a protected cove with gorgeous reefs and warm pristine water, this resort is luxe and deeply restorative—and so is their spa. There is only one facial on the menu, and that’s because the master aestheticians personalize everything to your skin’s needs. After a consultation, there’s cleansing, exfoliating, masks, and serums to get your skin silky-smooth and seriously radiant. The best part is the lymphatic-drainage massage that leaves you firm, sculpted, and walking out in a trance.

SEARED, the One&Only Palmilla steakhouse run by Michelin-starred chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten, is where you go if your dream dinner phrase is “Wagyu beef.” The place has fifteen different cuts of the finest meat, vegetable sides best described as “crazy” (in a wonderful way), and views of the Sea of Cortez that will take your breath away. The resort is a quick taxi over from town if you’re staying in San José del Cabo. And while you’re there, take advantage: A post-dinner walk on the winding resort grounds makes a great dessert. (But still: Order dessert.)

The drive up the long, winding dirt track to Flora Farms can be discombobulating. You’ll repeatedly look at your GPS, wondering whether this really is the right road. It is. And the bumpy drive is worth it. First, order the bloody Mary—a masterpiece of a drink in which the garnishes could make up a meal. Then indulge in one of their sticky buns, with crunchy caramelized walnuts, and afterward, walk over to El Wine Bar y Café. The small space is impeccably kitted out. Aside from their wide selection of Mexican and Napa Valley wines (there are dozens of options by the glass), their coffee is easily the smoothest cup in Los Cabos. We couldn’t help but purchase a few bags of beans to take home, plus a few of their delicate cups to sip from.

El Merkado was a new (and very welcome) discovery for us on a recent trip to Cabo. The large, warehouse-style building just off the Transpeninsular Highway looked so rustic, so out of place amidst all the resorts, we had to pull in for a closer peek. Inside, we found an assortment of restaurants, including Italian (the pizza and pasta dough is made fresh daily) and Mexican, plus a salad bar, burger joint, and everything in between. Toward the end of the building is a little shop selling beautiful stemware, enamel dinnerware (we couldn't resist a set of red-rimmed ceramic espresso cups), and cocktail-making accoutrements. For a casual meal, El Merkado nails it.

Taller 17 is the last thing you’d expect in an artsy Mexican town but the first thing you’ll want. This delightful spot, which is reminiscent of a West Village cafe, serves strong cold brew and pour-overs. The pastries—buttery scones, flaky fruit pies, chewy-crispy cookies—are as fresh as can be, and the housemade kombucha is the most refreshing (and healthy) way to offset last night’s mezcal.

A resident recommended this all-day spot to us for breakfast. A few moments down the Topete road outside town, La Esquina spreads its shady seating (and reliable Wi-Fi) across a plant-packed courtyard. The fresh OJ surpassed any we have ever had, and the breakfast burritos, spicy chilaquiles, and omelets were the perfect start to our day. They also have sandwiches on whole-grain toast, oatmeal, and smoothies packed with organic fruit and veggies grown on the property. Spend a slow morning working through the breakfast menu and people-watching from a cool corner before stopping by the farm stand next door.

It’s a boutique hotel, but La Bohemia feels more like you’re staying in someone’s home. (And technically you are: The lovely owners live here.) This eclectic, leafy hideaway attracts people from all over the world who come to Todos Santos to walk the nearby art markets, explore the beaches, and just be here. The vibe at La Bohemia fits with the town and the name—it’s incredibly relaxed and communal. A small yard with colorful swing chaises is situated next to a bar and pool. The rooms are small and simple but thoughtfully decorated with local art. And the staff here could easily become your second family. They are so helpful, so friendly, and so very good at that fresh homemade breakfast every morning.

Cafelix is the spot for an iced coffee. They use their own Mexican beans, which are beautifully packaged and available to buy, and are somehow both smooth and complex. The space is small (and easy to miss, despite being on Todos Santos’s main drag, Calle Benito Juarez), but thanks to reliable Wi-Fi, posting up for a morning with your laptop and working through a few cups of their velvety brew is entirely acceptable.

Built for a sugar baron in the late 1800s, the Todos Santos Boutique Hotel is styled like a hacienda and has atmosphere in spades. Flagstone floors, mahogany furniture, delicate Mexican tiling, and frescoed walls surround an internal two-story courtyard. This is where the action happens. The lower level has a small pool and fairytale restaurant La Copa Bar, with its twinkling lights and wrought iron seating. The upper level—punctuated with palm trees and a very welcome breeze—holds eight guest rooms. Each one has a sturdy sleigh bed, antique wardrobes, and dressing tables plus pretty and functional Mexican tiled bathrooms. The mixologist at the bar is (in our humble opinion) the best in town. While you wait for your spicy mezcal concoction, take in the display of glass bottles of homemade distillations, like pear, orange, and nutmeg liqueur, plus the incredible array of dried chiles for garnish stacked on the bar.

Do not leave Todos Santos without driving fifteen minutes south through El Pescadero to Cerritos Beach. The water is bathtub clear, scrupulously clean, and most importantly, swimmable (not all that common here). Just take note of the current. The view is: desert meets Pacific. And that’s basically it. There are a few beach bars on the dusty road in (Barracuda Cantina gets our vote), a smattering of surfers who also offer lessons, maybe someone selling stunning woven blankets you won’t find in any store, and that’s it. Enjoy.