Los Barriles/San Jose

[9lives]

I'm going to be there next month. Any dining suggestions..1 week in LB few days in downtown San Jose; staying near the center of town.

Prefer locals, casual type places to high end.

Please no recs for Cabo, I'll be there later and pretty familiar with places there.

Thx.

[Mariana in Baja]

El Chilar in San Jose is excellent. Also the restaurant across from Encanto behind the furniture/furnishings store Paulina's - I think maybe it is Voila but that doesn't sound quite right. But it is really really good food and somewhat more interesting than other places. If you plan to come to Todos Santos let me know and I will give you some suggestions.

[9lives]

Thx Mariana. We're staying at Encanto so that should be easy.

I don't think we'll hit Todos this trip, but I've taken your suggestions in 3 previous trips. Love Todos but we want to explore the East Cape area this time..and my older parents are flying in from the East coast/US. so I may want to keep the driving down. We've had a wonderful time renting a home in the Las Brisas area...and have had some great meals; both out or at home.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/61246842...

[Mariana in Baja]

Pleased to hear I was of some help. I don't know the east cape well but you might google the Baja Pony Express which is the east cape of my Baja Western Onion for ideas. BTW I live in Las Brisas - where do you stay? I see you made it to Peace and Loaf - now gone.

[9lives]

Too bad about Peace and Love. We enjoyed going there. We've rented this house several times...http://www.mexonline.com/lasb... short walk from P & L..short drive to town. Looks like Elena is still the rental agent. Her husband Erik used to own Los Adobes when it was good..:)

For shorter stays we've stayed at Las Bouganvilleas Guest House. I think you sent us to the bookstore where we borrowed a dog during our stay..:)

I'd recommend either if you have more guests than you have room for.

[Mariana in Baja]

Las Bougainvilleas is no longer a guest house - private residence - but that is where I stayed for several years before buying my home and moving here. Elena is a friend of mine - Erik is her former husband.
The original owners of Peace and Loaf are back - great breads Saturday and Wednesday morning from 9:00 til noon - across from El Sol II.
Back to the East Cape - if you go through El Triunfo there is a new cafe opened by the former owner of the TS Cafe - have heard good reports.

[glbtrtr]

Also looking for something in San Jose Del Cabo but we will be there only on a short cruise excursion trip and looking for something around the main plaza. Thanks.

[9lives]

I may be mistaken but I think the large cruise ships anchor off of Cabo San Lucas. A smaller private boat could probably get into San Jose. The towns are about 20 miles apart..large marina in Cabo, don't know about the facilities in San Jose.

In Cabo, right on the marina and a short walk from where the tenders take you is Solomon's Landing. Sort of like a "Cheer's" on the marina with surprisingly good food. If you want to get more adventurous, there are a few stands behind the fish dock.

If you want to walk a little and like seafood, I'd recomment Mariscos Mazatlan..it's across from the big Shopping plaza, movie theater, Ruth's Chris..a few blocks inland. It's always our first stop. I love the pescado zarandeado..whole red snapper butterflied and grilled; sold by the lb/kilo. 1 Kilo serves 2. Any shrimp dish is going to be great too.

In Cabo, if you don't care much about good food, there are a few bars on Medano Beach..2x1 drinks from 8AM on..It's a side of Cabo I don't personally care for(maybe once every other year with a big group) but if you want to get wild and crazy, it's the place to go. Drinking games start about PM..:) Easiest thing is to take a water taxi from where you're dropped off.