Perched on a dramatic clifftop in the Corridor between Cabo and San José, Sunset Mona Lisa offers a spectacular setting for a romantic dinner overlooking El Arco and the Pacific. The Italian-inflected menu features excellent fresh pasta, grilled fish, and stunning sunset views that justify the premium prices. Reservations essential.
Sunset Mona Lisa occupies a clifftop terrace at kilometre 5 of the Transpeninsular highway just outside Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur, on a rock shelf that looks straight down the coast to El Arco and out over the point where the Pacific meets the Sea of Cortez. The restaurant is organised around that view: tables are stepped down the cliff on open terraces so that nearly every seat faces west, and the daily service is timed so that the first seatings coincide with sunset. The cooking is northern Italian with a Baja seafood emphasis. Lobster thermidor at roughly $65 is the emblematic order, using local spiny lobster in the classic gratineed preparation; the frutti di mare pasta at about $38 is made with fresh pasta and the day's shellfish; and the chocolate lava cake near $15 is the standard close. Risottos, carpaccio and grilled catch fill out a carte that is competent rather than experimental, and prices sit at the top of the Los Cabos market because the setting, not the kitchen, is what is being sold. The dining room is romantic and comparatively quiet, with candlelight after dark, no loud music, and a crowd heavily weighted toward couples and anniversary dinners. Dress is smart-casual and long trousers are the norm for men in the evening. The wine list is Italian-led with a solid Valle de Guadalupe section and a proper by-the-glass programme. Reservations are essential rather than advisable, and the sunset seatings are the hardest tables in Cabo to obtain: in the December to April high season these should be booked a week or more in advance, and the restaurant asks guests to arrive well before the stated sunset time. Service runs 4PM to 11PM daily. The clifftop location requires a taxi or car from Cabo San Lucas, around ten minutes away, and the approach involves a walk down stepped terraces from the parking area.
Signature dishes
- Lobster Thermidor — $65
- Fresh Pasta Frutti di Mare — $38
- Chocolate Lava Cake — $15
Good to know
- Known for
- Dramatic El Arco sunset views
- Hours
- 4PM-11PM daily
Location
Km 5 Carretera Transpeninsular, Cabo San Lucas, BCS 23410
22.9167, -109.8833 View on map
Highlights
- Stepped clifftop terraces at km 5 of the Transpeninsular with nearly every table facing El Arco and the Pacific.
- Lobster thermidor at roughly $65 using local Baja spiny lobster in the classic gratineed preparation.
- Frutti di mare with fresh pasta at about $38, built on the day's shellfish.
- Sunset seatings timed to the evening light, the hardest tables to book in Cabo San Lucas.
- Italian-led wine list with a substantial Valle de Guadalupe section and a full by-the-glass programme.
Tips for visiting
- Book the sunset seating a week or more ahead from December to April; it is the single most requested table in Cabo San Lucas.
- Arrive at least 30 minutes before the stated sunset time, since seating and ordering take longer than expected.
- Terrace tables on the lower levels have the cleanest view; upper tables sit further back from the cliff edge.
- Service starts at 4PM, and an early booking costs the same as a sunset one while being far easier to obtain.
- A taxi or car is needed from Cabo San Lucas, roughly ten minutes away, and the approach is down stepped terraces from the car park.
- Prices are in US dollars and among the highest in Los Cabos, with dinner running about $90 to $150 per person.
When to visit
The sunset seating is the reason to come, though it books out furthest ahead; a 4PM early table costs the same and is far easier to secure. December to April is high season, and sunset falls earlier in winter, around 6PM.
Accessibility
The restaurant is built into a cliff face and the dining terraces are reached by stepped paths from the parking area, which makes independent wheelchair access difficult. Staff can assist and can seat guests with limited mobility at the upper terrace levels closest to the entrance, which should be arranged when reserving. Lower terraces and the restrooms involve further steps.
Frequently asked questions
How far ahead must a sunset table be booked?
A week or more during the December to April high season. Sunset seatings are the most requested tables in Cabo San Lucas and rarely become available at short notice.
What is the view?
The terraces look west down the coast toward El Arco at Land's End and out over the Pacific, with almost every table oriented to the sunset.
What is the dress code?
Smart-casual. Long trousers are the norm for men in the evening, but no jacket or tie is expected.
How expensive is dinner?
Roughly $90 to $150 per person for three courses before wine, placing it at the top of the Los Cabos market.
Can visitors walk there?
Not practically. It sits at km 5 on the Transpeninsular outside Cabo San Lucas and requires a taxi or car, about ten minutes from town.