Valle De Guadalupe has a very exciting dining scene. This could be the reason I have been here over a dozen times. With every year, new restaurants are popping up left and right so I’ll keep this blog updated with each visit. If you love to dine and try locally sourced food then you’re going to love this list of the best restaurants in Valle De Guadalupe.
Where Is Valle De Guadalupe?
Valle De Guadalupe is just two hours South of the San Diego/Mexico border making it a popular tourist destination for Southern California. Valle De Guadalupe also sees a lot of Mexican tourism since it is the largest wine valley in Mexico.
How To Get To Valle De Guadalupe
Road trip From San Diego
The most common way to visit Valle De Guadalupe is by driving down through the busy San Ysidro Border. This is what I have been doing dozens of times and from my experience, it has been perfectly safe. If you plan on driving down, make sure to check with your insurance if you are covered in Mexico. Another option to stay protected is by purchasing insurance by the day or week through BajaBound.
San Ysidro is the busiest border crossing in the world. The wait to get back to the states when driving can be anywhere between 2-8 hours. The best days and times to cross are early in the mornings on weekends or between rush hour during the week. If you have Global Entry or SENTRI, you have access to the faster lanes which only takes 10-30 minutes to cross. There are helpful resources online so you can check the wait times for the 3 border crossings nearest San Diego: San Ysidro, Otay Mesa, and Tecate.
Hire A Driver
To simplify your trip, you can hire a driver to either pick you up from San Diego or Tijuana to take you to all the attractions in Valle De Guadalupe. This is a great option for groups so you can have multiple people to split the cost of this service. Check Rates Here.
Take The ABC Bus
Another option is to take the ABC bus from Tijuana to Ensenada. You will still need a driver to pick you up and drive you around Valle De Guadalupe but this saves you a lot of money since they will not need to pick you up 2 hours away.
Where To Stay in Valle De Guadalupe
There are TONS of boutique hotels to choose from in Valle De Guadalupe. I’ve written the Ultimate Valle De Guadalupe guide with a list of the best hotels in the area and tips for visiting.
The Best Restaurants in Valle De Guadalupe
Animalón
One of top Chef Javier Placencia’s restaurants and also a place we keep going back to. The atmosphere, drinks, and food in Animalón are always 10/10. They have a very romantic set up under an oak tree during the dry season and have a covered dining area in the winter months. The menu changes often but I highly recommend doing the price fix menu so you can try as many dishes as possible.
Once Pueblos
This Michoacan inspired restaurant should be at the top of your dining list in Valle De Guadalupe. They have a beautiful outdoor patio and each dish is prepared well. Some of our favorites here are the Tamal and carnitas.
La Cocina de Doña Esthela
This is a restaurant that you absolutely can’t miss. La Cocina de Doña Esthela won the best breakfast in the world in 2015 and it lives up to the hype. Her restaurant is located in a ranch and gets busy FAST. If you want to avoid waiting a few hours to get seated, make sure to get there as soon as it opens at 8am. Some of our favorite dishes here are the elote pancakes, machaca, and borrego tatemado.
Primitivo
A unique dining experience under a 200 year old oak tree. Primitivo prides themselves on sustainability so they source all protein locally and do their best to consume all parts of the animal. Each course is good for 2 people and they prepare each dish with different ways and parts of the meat you choose. Some of the options during our visit were yellowtail, beef, and duck.
Bruma Wine Garden
If you’re looking for a wine bar in a beautiful setting with delicious food, then look no further than Bruma Wine Garden. It’s the perfect place to get drinks and apps. Some of the dishes we tried were the ceviche and birria pizza (which is a must!).