Lumbre

Lumbre is the restaurant that brought live-fire cooking into the heart of San José del Cabo’s Art District. It occupies a renovated 1960s warehouse, once the Almacenes Aramburo, a short walk from the galleries of the weekly Art Walk, and its modern-industrial interior is fitted with tables and grills made by local craftspeople.

Chef César Pita, from Querétaro, cooks over flame in an open kitchen equipped with a wood stove, grill and iron-and-brick oven. The concept is Mexican at its core, with global influences, and the restaurant works directly with local fishermen, ranchers and farmers. The Michelin Guide includes Lumbre in its selection and describes it as a place where creativity and originality lead.

The service style is part of the appeal: relaxed and warm in manner, but knowledgeable about every plate, with staff who make a point of remembering returning guests.

What to expect

Michelin’s inspectors highlight grilled bread served with bone-marrow butter in the bone, compressed watermelon, a pasilla chile relleno stuffed with a scallop chorizo and cheese, and pork belly in a dark recaudo negro sauce with a plantain croquette. The menu evolves, but the thread of smoke and char runs through it.

Upstairs, the Lumbre Bar is a separate lounge with its own atmosphere, good for a drink before or after dinner. Pair a meal here with an evening in the surrounding Art District for one of the most rewarding nights out in San José.

Good to know

• Setting: Calle José María Morelos in the Art District of downtown San José del Cabo.
• Service: dinner in the evening; closed Tuesdays.
• Reservations: via OpenTable, WhatsApp or email.
• Facilities: air-conditioned dining room and a parking lot.
• Best time: the evening of the weekly Art Walk, to pair dinner with the surrounding galleries.
• Best for: couples and food lovers looking for chef-driven Mexican cooking in town rather than at a resort.