Marea at the Montage.
My favorite meal of the entire trip, and the reason I tell clients to eat around in Los Cabos.
By Brandi Harris · Travel · Los Cabos, MexicoThe setting
Marea by Day is a Mediterranean-inspired, beachfront restaurant at Montage Los Cabos. It looks out over Santa María Bay and the Sea of Cortez, with shaded patio seating and poolside tables. There’s also cabana dining. The views are incredible, the vibe is great, and the service was even better.
What we ate
Smoked bluefish tuna crudo. A great opening.
Hummus platter. Simple and well done.
A clam dish. It tasted like deconstructed sushi. It was so good.
Carne asada taco. I liked this one more. It tasted more distinctive.
Shrimp taco. Excellent, but something I’ve had before.
Raspberry and lemon dessert. Amazing. Presentation: 10 out of 10.
If you like seafood, the menu leans that way, with salads, tacos, ceviche, and a raw bar, plus artisanal cocktails.
You don’t have to be a guest
Marea welcomes outside visitors, and that’s the heart of the Cabo dine-around idea. You can stay at Solaz, eat at Marea, and be back for a spa appointment.
A correction to what I said on camera: the daytime restaurant, Marea by Day, serves breakfast and lunch, and the Montage lists a separate evening venue, Marea by Night. I ate lunch, and I’d choose lunch. The views are the point.
The catch: it’s busy
Marea felt super busy and overwhelmingly crowded, even though the options were great. I was told even dinner stays crowded because the food is that good. I still think it’s worth a visit. To make it easier:
Reserve ahead. You can book through OpenTable or by phone.
Go off-peak. Think early lunch or a late one.
Ask for a table with a view. When you book.
Allow time. My group had a tight turnaround afterward, and I wished I’d had more room.
About the Montage
I’d call the Montage my second-favorite property of the five. It’s on Santa María Bay, about 20 minutes from downtown Cabo San Lucas and roughly 35 minutes from the airport. The bay is one of the few truly swimmable beaches in the region, with calm water. That’s a rare advantage in a destination known for strong currents. The resort has 122 rooms, suites, and casas, and four restaurants: Mezcal (contemporary Mexican, and Michelin-recommended), Marea, Talay (Thai street food), and a sushi bar. It has a serene, residential feel instead of a party vibe.
I’d send couples who want tranquility, families who prefer refined entertainment, and travelers who value privacy and style there. My preference stays with Solaz, but I wouldn’t talk anyone out of the Montage.
If you want to eat around, here’s my short list
Fair warning: I’ve only eaten at Marea, so these come from research and not from my own table. Treat them as places to ask me about, not as endorsements.
Mezcal, at the Montage. Contemporary Mexican cuisine and mezcal-based cocktails. It’s in Michelin’s Recommended category, so it’s a good dinner pairing with a Marea lunch.
Talay, at the Montage. Thai street food, if you want a change from Mexican and Mediterranean.
The Montage sushi bar. Intimate and al fresco.
Manta, at The Cape. Chef Enrique Olvera’s restaurant, which I’d want to try next time since I toured The Cape but didn’t eat there.
Flora Farms. A farm-to-table spot in the San José del Cabo area that Michelin has recognized for sustainability.
“Your base holds your room, your spa, and your quiet. The rest of the trip is a menu.”
How to build the day
A day I’d plan for a Solaz guest: a slow Cascabel breakfast, a mid-morning drive to the Montage, a late lunch at Marea with a view, a swim in the bay if the flags allow, and back to Solaz for the spa and Al Pairo. That’s resort-hopping done right.
— Bee