If you live in SoCal, I promise that you are missing out if you haven’t been to Valle de Guadalupe. The culinary experiences in this wine country are some of the most fantastic in the world – ranging from Michelin star chefs to incredible local stops. There are even a few of restaurants in Valle de Guadalupe that are my favorite restaurants I’ve ever dined!
While there’s many things to do in this area (aka all of the wineries), the food scene deserves its own post. Check out the best restaurants in Valle de Guadalupe, including fine dining and local spots below!
Looking for more Valle de Guadalupe reccos? Checking out my Valle de Guadalupe Travel Guide, or my detailed 4-day Itinerary for Valle, including wineries + stops along the way. Or if you’re truly just here for the wine, check out my post on the Best Wineries in Valle de Guadalupe.
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My Favorite Restaurants in Valle de guadalupe
Fine Dining
For the high-end restaurants in the region, please make sure to get a reservation in advance!! A lot of these top restaurants in the area book up well in advance, so I highly suggest making reservations 2-3 weeks out, if possible.
Deckman’s
Deckman’s is a highly-rated, sustainable restaurant in Valle. Dinner here is absolute perfection. If you can, try to arrive prior to sunset and sit outside to catch the gorgeous view of sun setting over the valley & vineyards.
The property itself is wonderful. If you sit inside, you’re right next to Michelin star chef, Drew Deckman, and his grill – which is a magical experience to watch. And, the cute finca dogs may even stop by your table to say hi – they do a lot of lounging around the area.
All the fish and seafood are sourced from the Baja Peninsula (even the salt is local!) – it’s so extremely fresh and you can tell the difference. Everything I’ve ever had here has been impeccable.
The tasting menu, which is $1400 MX pp (~$68 USD) is an easy way to try out the hits of the menu (and not very expensive considering all you are trying). Or you can order a-la-carte, as well!
Start the dinner off with shots of Mezcal, which come out with orange slices topped with “sal de gusano”, salt mixed with ground chiles and dried, ground larvae from the agave plants. Sounds odd, but don’t know it! It’s the PERFECT chaser, and my current favorite way to drink Mezcal.
Things to try: Oysters, Fish Crudo, Charcuterie Plate, Quail (big specialty of theirs), Short Rib, Bone Marrow
Note: Their menu changes based on seasonal ingredients, but you can always check the current menu online!
Animalon
Animalon is a truly magical location, with open air seating under an old oak tree. The setting is intimate and cozy, and if you get chilly in the evening, they’ll always supply you with a blanket. This place is known as one of the top restaurants in Latin America, and from the moment you sit down, you’ll understand why.
Like many top restaurants in Valle, you can choose to order the tasting menu, which comes as either 6x courses ($150 pp) or 9x courses ($220 pp), or order a-la-carte. It’s one of the priciest tasting menus in the region, but extremely worth your while. But, if the price point is too high, you can curate your own order and still have an incredible experience.
Service and presentation really sets this place apart from other restaurants, but that’s not a diss to their food, which is also incredible! You’ll be having an explosion of flavors in your mouth with every dish.
Stay after dinner to check out the farm, right on the property, where you can watch goats run around.
Fauna
Wow, is this place is a stunner. From the moment you enter Fauna, you can tell it’s a special place. You drive up and immediately spot the “dead” tree coming up out of a reflective pool and descend down a dirt path into the entrance of their indoor/outdoor restaurant. The ambiance radiates a warm, rustic feel with a bustling atmosphere of smiling, laughing patrons.
There are some communal tables, but you can wait out to be seated at one of the solo tables in the open-air for more of an intimate touch.
While you’re waiting for your table, pop into the bar around the corner. The vibe is incredible – the entire place is filled with young, trendy people sipping their drinks in wide brimmed hats. If you can’t get a reservation, this area alone is worth making the visit for.
Once you get seated for dinner, you’re in for a treat. Every time I dine here, we’ve always opted for the tasting menu. At $65 pp, it’s extremely reasonably priced for the 8-courses you are served. The courses are a revolving number of dishes ranging from veggies, seafood, meats, including oysters and scallops to start, plus 2 desserts. Even the broccoli is bursting with incredible flavor. Out of all the tasting menu experiences I’ve tried in Valle, the amount of food served here is above and beyond – you will not be leaving unsatisfied, so prepare for a full belly.
While their wine list is great (of course, we’re in Valle after all!), I’ve always chosen cocktails here. Their whiskey sour is stunning.
This place is a MUST in Valle, and always tops my list of my favorite moment of a trip here.
Bar Bura / Cuatros Cuatros
Is this place expensive? Yes. Is it a bit of a tourist trap? Maybe. But that shouldn’t stop you from hitting this place for a sunset dinner. Bar Bura at Cuatros Cuatros is one of those places you could spend hours at just enjoying the spectacular view.
Make a reservation in advance for their gold seating – right at the edge of the restaurant platform, overlooking the Pacific Ocean, and you will not be disappointed.
Once you arrive, you have to check in to take the bus to the restaurant. It is $5 per person, but you also get a beer to take with you on the drive. This fee is tacked on to your pre-payment for the reservation, so no need to bring cash.
The food is so-so, but the drinks are great, and you really are here for the atmosphere. There’s no better way to end the day watching the sunset at this magical place. And, the bathrooms in this place have an incredible view of the ocean – it’s just stunning from every angle. You’ll be snapping photos nonstop and gasping at the view all dinner.
Local Spots
Sometimes, after a long day of drinking wine, you don’t feel like going to a nice dinner and just want some fresh, yummy tacos. Here are my reccos!
Taco Stand (Rosarito) – Mariscos La Alegria
Everyone and their mother will likely recommend going to Tacos El Yaqui in Rosarito on your drive down the coast to Valle, but opt for a lesser known taco stand down south, Mariscos La Alegria. It’s a hole in the whole, family owned joint, with the largest and most incredible fish tacos.
Everything is made to order, and while the ladies at the counter do not speak English, they can whip you up some incredible food (even if you just point at the menu). Take some time and practice your Spanish here!
The tacos come out fresh as can be, and you can add your own toppings with the fixings they supply. You have to try a fish taco, but the shrimp tacos are just as tasty, too. And, they range from $1-2 per taco…incredible.
Eat outside on the outdoor patio, or pop in at one of the tables inside.
Taco Stand (Valle) – Taqueria El Buen Sazon
Off of Calle Principal, one of the main roads in town, we found a taco joint with some really incredible reviews and decided to give it a shot, and we were SO happy to.
You can pop in on the bar seating, or grab a table, and order off their long list of different meats and seafood to add to your taco. Your order will be made right in front of you and come with all the possible accruements you’d like to top it off with – pico, onion, cilantro, and limes.
The birria tacos are a homerun – delicious traditional birria that melts in your mouth. We also had some fish tacos, a wonderful staple, and don’t forget about some horchata!
Note: this is a cash only restaurant, so make sure to have some pesos on you. The tacos are quite cheap ranging from 20-35 pesos (only $1-2 each!!). Since this is more a local spot, try to brush up on your Spanish before ordering, but you should be able to handle the menu and ordering with just your basics!
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