Romance is something of a specialty in Los Cabos, particularly at local hotels and restaurants, where wedding and renewal of vows services are considered essential amenities. In fact, it’s de rigeur for the best restaurants in cape cities Cabo San Lucas and San José del Cabo to complement their delicious food and wine with everything from balladeers and beachfront tables in the sand to Champagne terraces and candlelit views of the Sea of Cortés.
This regional commitment to romance reaches its zenith on Valentine’s Day, when area restaurants strive to outdo each other with special multi-course dinner menus, spectacular views, and live musical performers.
Here are five of our favorite dinner options for Valentine’s Day 2016:
Annually ranked as one of the most romantic restaurants on Earth–most notably by the New York Times–sunset dining with spectacular Land’s End views is par for the course at Sunset da Mona Lisa, which overlooks Playa Monumentos and indeed all of Cabo San Lucas Bay from its majestic perch at Sunset Point. That’s why a wedding coordinator is on call at all times, including this Valentine’s Day, when the restaurant is offering a six-course meal plus live music for $130 U.S. per person. Seatings are at 5, 7 and 9 p.m. For the full experience, start with drinks at the Taittinger Terrace Champagne and Oyster Bar. Call (624) 145-8160 for reservations.

Valentine’s Day offerings at 7 Seas Seafood Grille, the signature restaurant at the boutique Cabo Surf Hotel, include live music and special menu options.
Set seaside at the boutique 22-room Cabo Surf Hotel on Acapulquito Beach, 7 Seas has been bolstering its romance credentials for years with monthly full moon dinners featuring a live jazz ensemble. Much the same recipe, minus the full moon, is in effect for Valentine’s Day: a special menu plus live music, and of course the sound of waves gently lapping the nearby beach. There are three menu choices–A Precious Endive Salad with Walnuts, A Love Poison Fish & Shrimp Muddle with a Damiana infusion, and The Sweetheart with cherry liqueur flavored ice cream and caramelized pear–available singly or as a group for $39 U.S. per person. The fresh fish should be mandatory, since Damiana, a liqueur made from an herb native only to the Baja California peninsula, is famed for its aphrodiacal qualities. For reservations, call (624) 142-2666.

Cornish game hen in Champagen sauce is only part of the special five-course Valentine’s Day menu at Solomon’s Landing.
Best known for its fresh seafood specialties, wine tastings, and privileged location overlooking the luxury yachts in the Cabo San Lucas Marina, Solomon’s Landing will be adding a few more romance-friendly touches for Valentine’s Day. Chef Brian Solomon has crafted a special five-course menu ($42 U.S. per person) with highlights that include Cornish game hen in Champagne sauce, and red velvet cake with vanilla ice cream. The regular menu will also be available, with abundant options for vegans and vegetarians, as well as tradition Mexican and American standards. For reservations, call (624) 143-3050 in México, or (209) 390-4382 in the U.S.
Home to one of the area’s most singular fusion concepts–thanks to the cosmopolitan heritage and career path of executive chef Mariano Takinami–Templo has been a success since it opened early in 2014, on the site formerly occupied by La Fonda. Takinami was born to a Japanese father and an Argentine mother, he married a Brazilian, and he learned much of his craft cooking in Peru and México. All of these elements are evident in his eclectic menu, and in his kitchen, which revolves around a wok and a South American style split-level grill. Templo’s menu for Valentine’s Day weekend features five-courses for $50 U.S. ($796 MXN) per person. For reservations, call (624) 143-6926.
It’s something of a miracle that what was once a parking lot pit stop has evolved over the years into one of the most romantic restaurants in Cabo San Lucas, with an entrance garlanded by vines and flowers. But that’s exactly what has happened at Alcaravea Gourment, thanks to a superb bistro ambiance and the mastery of Mediterranean cuisine showcased nightly by Chef Enrique Gerard. For Valentine’s Day, the chef has crafted a special three course menu, with entrée options that include duck confit in red wine sauce with cranberries. A glass of wine is also included with the special menu, which is moderately priced at $420 pesos (approximately $25 U.S.) per person. For reservatons, call (624) 143-3730.