I’m completely in love with Valle de Guadalupe. It’s a wine region with deep roots and finding its stride in crafting truly great wines. There are always new gems to be discovered, which makes exploring it feel like a treasure hunt. What consistently stands out though, is the food. I’ve had some of the best meals of my life here and that’s what keeps pulling me back.
When I first visited seven years ago, the Valle felt like a secret. It was just beginning to be uncovered by wine enthusiasts. I was enchanted by the dirt roads that led to stunning tasting rooms and open-air restaurants. On my initial visits, I felt the wines were still finding their balance. “Interesting and good” were the words I often used.
Fast forward to now, with a visit to the Valle as part of my annual trips away. I come armed with a list of “want to return to’s” and must tries. With the introduction of Michelin to the area, restaurants are trying to upping their game. Each year, there are many new additions to their food & wine scene.
I’m lucky to have a wonderful circle of friends who continue to steer me toward the Valle’s most memorable places. And because I know I’m fortunate to have those who share with me, I’m happy to share my list of favourite places to eat and drink in Valle de Guadalupe.
Breakfast / Brunch & leaning into Lunch
When I come to the Valle, I want to enjoy my mornings lounging at my hotel (something I rarely do). But there’s little to do in the Valle and the morning and most hotels include hearty breakfasts. This is needed to set a base before your day of wine tasting ahead.
My 2 favorite stays in the Valle have been at Contemplacion andHotel Los Amantes. I love both for their small boutique feel, great design and delicious breakfasts.
Contemplacion gets my vote for their beautiful private cabins with windows that open up directly to views to the Valle. I also love that they deliver breakfast to the room for extra moments of serenity to start the day.
Hotel Las Amantes is my choice when traveling with friends for its fun vibes, and rooms surrounding the pool. Their breakfast selection in the restaurant is varied and flavorful.
Dona Esthela is mentioned in most guides as a “must visit”. It was even ranked as the best breakfast in the world. The machaca and legendary corn pancakes are undeniably delicious. I just don’t believe this justifies the long waits to be seated and served. Maybe I just don’t value breakfast enough to dedicate a few hours of my day to it.
If I’m closer to the south end of the Valle, my choice for breakfast is Parador Mercedes. Their focus on local, seasonal ingredients are served in a relaxed environment. I love their creative Baja-spin on classic breakfast dishes.
If I’m heading deep into the Valle, my recent new love is Bruma Wine Garden. Their wonderfully relaxed indoor space is surrounded by olive trees and vineyards. It’s my pick for a morning of mimosas paired with a pastry from their bakery. I love their breakfast favourites, including scrambled eggs with sea urchin and a lechon croissant. I’ve marked it for my next trip for a late afternoon or dinner to try their wood fired pizzas.
Lunch – leaning into Dinner
This is where the Valle shines. I look forward to more than just wine tasting. I anticipate sitting for long lunches in beautiful spaces. I enjoy sampling wines of the region and eating fresh seafood. I also savor wonderful vegetables from the region.
Finca Altozano is Javier Placencia’s casual open-air restaurant situated on a ranch that also houses Animalón. Chef Placencia was one of the first to develop Baja-Med cuisine which showcases fresh local seafood combined with Mediterranean flavours. Their menu is huge, with bigger plates that would lend better to sharing for dinner. For lunch, my focus is on their mariscos paired with a lovely salad.
Conchas de Piedra is an open-air seafood bar by Chef Drew Deckman with a stunning view of the valley. Everything on their seafood-focused menu is stunning. I love their freshly shucked Baja oysters and shellfish (abalone if they have it). I pair this with a glass (or bottle )of their own Espuma de Piedra rosé, a fruity and extremely quaffable sparkling wine.
Fauna is the reason why I fell in love with the food of the Valle 6 years ago. Chef David Castro Hussong and pastry chef Maribel Aldaco Silva (his wife) run their restaurant at Bruma winery. They offer an ever-changing menu that blends local ingredients, bold Baja flavors and global technique. Rather than opt for their overly ambitious tasting menu, I order á la carte. This way, I still sample a variety of dishes but all to my choosing.
Deckman’s En El Mogor is a beautiful outdoor dining space, shaded by giant trees. At center stage is a a giant open-air live fire kitchen. While the raw seafood is incredible, I like to focus on anything coming off the grill. Be forewarned that the portions are quite generous, so go hungry. Deckman’s is open from lunch to early dinner, but my favourite time to dine there is during golden hour.
Villa Torél is another outdoor gem tucked within the Santo Tomas winery. With Baja-flavors and European influences, I enjoy the pastas and rices accompanied with roasted meats and vegetables from their wood fired grill.
Olivea is a charming indoor Mediterranean-inspired (tasting menu only) restaurant that is truly farm to table. A meal at Olivea begins with a walk around their gardens to see what’s in season growing. The produce from the garden is presented on the table again in natural their state before each course is served.
Lunario is my favourite restaurant in the Valle. The space is lovely and the greenhouse-like dining space allow you to enjoy the colours of the sky changing as you journey through an incredible multi-course meal. On my 2nd visit, I experienced the same feeling as the first in that “the menu read like a love letter to the season and each course delivered surprise and delight”. With a menu that changes with the seasons, Lunario is a restaurant I’ll visit over and over again.
Chef Sheyla Alvarado crafts inventive Baja-Mediterranean dishes using seasonal, locally sourced ingredients that feels both elegant and deeply connected to the land.
Some Wineries to Check Out
Montefiori is one of my favorite wineries in the Valle. I love their well-balanced elegant Italian style wines. I brought a bottle home on my last trip which I opened recently and was impressed at how well it aged.
Many of my friends are leaning towards natural wines, which is why many of the wineries I visit in the Valle focus on natural. I’m still a fan of traditional wines for their consistent & predictable flavour profiles, so I enjoy sneaking Montefiori into my mix.
Vena Cava is one of Valle de Guadalupe’s most distinctive and experimental wineries. While they make traditional wines, it’s also popular for its natural-leaning, low-intervention approach. The striking architecture made from reclaimed fishing boats as you enter and then realize you’re tasting under, makes this a fun stop, that’s truly representative of the Valle.
Bruma winery attached to Fauna restaurant is one of the most stunning I’ve been to. The winery is built around a central tree whose roots spill through the ceiling of the underground cellar. The tasting of their expressive small batch wines is polished yet relaxed .
Finca La Carrodilla is an eco-focused winery known for its organic vineyards, biodynamic practices and peaceful farm-meets-vineyard setting. The tasting room sits above the vines, offering beautiful panoramic views of the valley. While the wines are low intervention, their wines are structured and well-balanced.
Lechuza is a small, family-run winery known for its warmth and genuinely personal hospitality. While their outdoor tasting room patio sits beside the busy highway, their experience feels you’ve been invited into their home. Lechuza’s hand-crafted wines are clean, elegant and approachable. Their wine, like their tasting room, is not flashy, but rather thoughtful and delicious.
Pijoan is a low-key winery in Valle de Guadalupe known for its warm atmosphere. As you enter the property, you’re greeted by many friendly rescue dogs, which adds to the relaxed experience. Their line-up of wines includes both conventional and natural, making it an ideal place to taste if you’re with those of differing preferences.
Hilo Negro‘s modern concrete & glass tasting room is polished and their tastings informative. Their wines are smooth and structured and I’ve enjoyed many bottles of their wines paired with dinners.
Cava Dragón is a small boutique winery known their limited-production wines. It’s one of those spots that feels slightly off the tourist trail. The service is welcoming and it’s hard not to want to spend the afternoon on their patio just relaxing with friends (which is what I’ve done).
Casta de Vinos is a charming and friendly family-run winery. The wines are wonderful and approachable. If you’re lucky, you’ll be taken down into their cave underground to check out their process. This is the least commercial winery I’ve visited and loved it for that.
Last but definitely not least is Bloodlust, a cool wine bar in the middle of the Valle. The indoor tasting space is a funky clay building that looks like a garlic but actually is supposed to be representative of droplets. During the day it’s the perfect spot to sip outdoor from producers in the Valle that don’t have tasting rooms. If you’re hungry, they have wonderful small plates for snacking. In the evening, it turns moody and one of the few places in the Valle to come for a pre/post dinner cocktail. No trip to the Valle is complete for me without at least one stop at Bloodlust.
Places I visit in this post:
Call Me a Food Lover... 