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Brad A. Johnson

Food & Travel

Brad A Johnson
  • Blog
  • About
  • Photography
    • Food Photography
    • Travel Photography
    • Restaurant Photography
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Hotel Review: The Cape, Los Cabos, Mexico

  • May 31, 2021
  • Brad A. Johnson
The Cape Hotel opened several years ago at the southern edge of the tourist corridor that connects Cabo San Lucas on the south with San Jose del Cabo to the north. This is where the Pacific merges with the Sea of Cortés, and it’s this cape (cabo in Spanish) at the bottom of the Baja Peninsula where you’ll find the region’s iconic El Arco, or arch. 
You can see the arch from The Cape, although it’s just a blip on the horizon. If you rent one of the bigger suites, however, the balconies come with telescopes. Or if you want to see the arch up-close, you’ll need to hire a boat.
The beach in front of The Cape Hotel in Los Cabos, Mexico (Photo by Brad A. Johnson)
The Cape Hotel in Los Cabos, Mexico (Photo by Brad A. Johnson)
The Rooftop at The Cape Hotel in Los Cabos, Mexico (Photo by Brad A. Johnson)

Although it is a public beach, the stretch of sand just below The Cape feels private. There’s a rare surf break directly in front of the hotel that’s best left to the experts who know how to navigate the rocks. This is otherwise not a swimmable beach, as is most often the case in Los Cabos.

The 161-room Cape was the first Mexican outpost of Thompson Hotels (followed soon after by the rebranding of the former Viceroy in Zihuatanejo). While Los Cabos can be notoriously expensive, the mid-luxury Cape comes in toward the middle. Built by architect Javier Sànchez (who also built Grupo Habita’s Condesa DF in Mexico City), the core structure rises seven stories above the beach, with a gated entrance and sprawling open-air lobby on the second level. Two adjacent buildings house the brand’s private residences, which can occasionally be rented through the hotel when available. The design throughout is very masculine, a uniquely Mexican aesthetic that pulls together heavy leather and hand-carved wood, mixing Latin American mid-century furniture with all the modern comforts one expects from a luxury resort. 

The open-air lobby at The Cape Hotel in Los Cabos, Mexico (Photo by Brad A. Johnson)
King deluxe room at The Cape Hotel in Los Cabos, Mexico (Photo by Brad A. Johnson)
Bathroom of a deluxe king room at The Cape Hotel in Los Cabos, Mexico (Photo by Brad A. Johnson)
The swim-up bar at The Cape Hotel in Los Cabos, Mexico (Photo by Brad A. Johnson)
The beach in front of The Cape Hotel in Los Cabos (Photo by Brad A. Johnson)
Balcony of a king deluxe room at The Cape Hotel in Los Cabos, Mexico (Photo by Brad A. Johnson)
The Cape Hotel in Los Cabos, Mexico (Photo by Brad A. Johnson)
The Cape Hotel in Los Cabos, Mexico (Photo by Brad A. Johnson)

Sadly I didn’t get a chance to visit the spa on the lower level because I over-scheduled my dining agenda (more on that in another post). But the gym is nice. And there are two swimming pools. One, with a swim-up bar and infinity edge, is the heartbeat of the hotel, packed with the see-and-be-seen crowd throughout the day. The other, tucked into the rocks at the base of the cliff, is more secluded and zen. 

My partner and I stayed in a Deluxe King, a large mid-tier room that comes with a gorgeous copper-wrapped bathtub, cozy sitting area and surprisingly large balcony. The balcony features a small dining table and chairs as well as a very sexy day-bed swing. As is common for many Thompson properties, darkness plays a starring role in the theme. Many walls and surfaces throughout are painted black, including sections of the lobby, many of the balconies and inside the signature restaurant, Manta.

Manta is an outpost of Mexico City-based celebrity chef Enrique Olvera, of Pujol fame. As with any of Olvera’s restaurants, you wouldn’t know one of the world’s most famous chefs was involved unless you already knew that before booking a table. The renowned chef’s name is nowhere to be seen. However, you immediately feel his presence upon entering because the service at Manta is impeccable — polished and confident yet unnervingly casual, very similar to Pujol. The menu pays homage to Cabo’s long-standing tradition of blending Mexican food with California’s vintage Asian influences. Is it fusion? Well, yes. And it is absolutely superb. (More on this in another post coming soon.) 

Enrique Olvera’s Manta restaurant at The Cape Hotel in Los Cabos, Mexico (Photo by Brad A. Johnson)
Enrique Olvera’s Manta restaurant at The Cape Hotel in Los Cabos, Mexico (Photo by Brad A. Johnson)
Sunset from the Rooftop at The Cape Hotel in Los Cabos, Mexico (Photo by Brad A. Johnson)
Soft-shell crab tacos at The Cape Hotel’s Rooftop bar in Los Cabos, Mexico (Photo by Brad A. Johnson)
Braised pork belly at The Cape Hotel’s Rooftop bar in Los Cabos, Mexico (Photo by Brad A. Johnson)
Duck confit potstickers at The Cape Hotel’s Rooftop bar in Los Cabos, Mexico (Photo by Brad A. Johnson)
Cocktails at The Cape Hotel in Los Cabos, Mexico (Photo by Brad A. Johnson)
Tuna tacos at The Cape Hotel’s Rooftop bar in Los Cabos, Mexico (Photo by Brad A. Johnson)
The bar at The Cape Hotel in Los Cabos, Mexico (Photo by Brad A. Johnson)
Ceviche at the Sunken Bar in the lobby of The Cape Hotel in Los Cabos, Mexico (Photo by Brad A. Johnson)
Amaranth pancakes at The Ledge, at The Cape Hotel in Los Cabos, Mexico (Photo by Brad A. Johnson)
Avocado toast at The Cape Hotel in Los Cabos, Mexico (Photo by Brad A. Johnson)
Fish tacos at The Ledge, The Cape Hotel in Los Cabos, Mexico (Photo by Brad A. Johnson)
Shrimp aguachile at The Ledge, at The Cape Hotel in Los Cabos, Mexico (Photo by Brad A. Johnson)
Kampachi alla talla at The Ledge, at The Cape Hotel in Los Cabos, Mexico (Photo by Brad A. Johnson)

The hotel’s two other restaurants are also very good. The Rooftop restaurant, open from 6 pm onward, is essentially a nightclub where a deejay weaves a tapestry of beats that builds and crescendos in-sync with the sunset. The views from the top are spectacular, not just the sunsets but also the lights of Cabo San Lucas twinkling in the distance. To eat there is excellent braised pork belly with eel sauce (trust me on that) and ethereal soft-shell crab tacos. 

The Ledge serves breakfast, lunch and dinner, a mix of Mexican and American fare. At breakfast don’t miss the pancakes, which are dusted with toasted amaranth, or the chile-braised short ribs with mole and poached eggs. Meanwhile lunch and dinner standouts include classic Baja fish tacos plus an incredible adobo-roasted kampachi a la talla. The chef tells me he’s in the midst of completely revamping the lunch menu. The plan is to move deeper into Mexican cuisine, making it more local, less touristy, which sounds like a really good plan to me. 

Bottom line: The Cape is a fun, sexy, beautiful mid-luxury hotel — and a bargain by Cabo standards. Plus the food throughout is really, really good. 

Rates from about $400 if you plan several weeks in advance, although last-minute rates can easily encroach on $1,000. Carretera Transpeninsular Km 5, Los Cabos, Mexico; Tel. +52-624-163-0000; thompsonhotels.com

NOTE ABOUT TRAVELING DURING COVID: Tourism in Los Cabos is open to international travelers. However, COVID-19 is still a huge concern. You can monitor the local virus situation here. All things considered, Los Cabos feels safe. The local government mandates that all individuals continue to wear masks throughout the destination at all times when interacting with others who are not members of their household except for certain instances, such as when eating, drinking, swimming, etc. From what I witnessed, most hotels take the mitigation protocols very seriously, with strict social distancing, touchless menus, enhanced cleaning, etc. Note that U.S. and Canadian citizens are required to present a negative COVID-19 result within 48 hours prior to returning home, which you’ll need to show at the airport in order to get on the plane. All hotels in Los Cabos offer convenient testing on-site (a system that also allows them to routinely test their own staff). #getvaccinated and #stopthespread 

The Cape Hotel in Los Cabos, Mexico (Photo by Brad A. Johnson)
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For more travel inspiration and photos, I invite you to follow me and join the conversation on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

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Brad A. Johnson

Brad A. Johnson is a writer and photographer specializing in food and travel. His work has been honored by the Lowell Thomas Travel Journalism Awards, James Beard Awards, World Food Media Awards, Food Photographer of the Year Awards, Society of Features Journalism Awards and others. Based in Southern California, Brad currently serves as Editorial Director of the new luxury consumer travel magazine of the Global Travel Collection (launching Spring 2023).

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Hey, OC. FYI in case you missed it, @ryegoods has opened a new location on Red Hill in Tustin, just down the street from Flight/Mess Hall. Same incredible breads and pastries as the original on the peninsula. No lines here, plus a huge seating area. #sourdough #pastries #coffee #orangecounty 322 9
One more post from our lovely stay at @fstokyo. Delicious lunch at @maisonmarunouchi, the casual sibling to @sezannetokyo. Excellent all around. And clearly popular with Tokyo's ladies who lunch: the clientele during our visit, almost entirely women. Quite the see-and-be-seen crowd. 57 1
I’m not sure which I liked better about the @fstokyo, the valet greeter and escort from the train station, the view of the trains from our room, or the super comfy pajamas. Excellent service all around. #Tokyo #Japan #hoteljunkie 79 3
I think @sezannetokyo ⁠has a #footfetish, and I’m ok with that. Truly fantastic lunch. Impeccable service. ⁠ 63 1
We had a really fun "Lost in Translation" moment at @meatman_roppongi. Google Translate failed hilariously. Delicious meat/fat overload anyway. Great staff, charming hospitality. Lots of sake. Thank you, @fstokyo for securing the reservation! #Tokyo #Roppongi #sake 76 1
Well, that was interesting.  A toast to 2022. And looking forward to ‘23. Cheers, and safe travels to all. 81 1
Brad A. Johnson
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Writer. Photographer. Traveler. Restaurant Critic.

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