This hotel is a mystical portal into San José del Cabo
Everybody has a different idea about what Cabo is, and nobody is right. At least, that's what I thought until I stayed at Viceroy Los Cabos, the kind of property that's so tuned-in it completely exceeds the reputation of its destination. Growing up on the west coast—and especially, going to college in Los Angeles—I always heard about Cabo as a place to binge drink, party, and generally let loose. The "rich kids" at my school would go for spring break every year, spending an ungodly amount of money to travel to a different beach and do exactly what they already did in Malibu.
When I finally went myself, in party mode for a friend's 30th birthday, the heat and the drinking were both a little too intense for me. So was our orange-y resort. I didn't plan to go back. The next time I went, it was for work, to review an all-inclusive hotel set farther back from the crowds, and geared more toward a family stay. This place didn't speak to me on a personal level either, but it helped me see the beauty of swimming in a pool, drink in hand, looking out at the Baja coast.
Cut to the Viceroy, and that's basically their whole setup, plus several fine dining restaurants on-site, labyrinthine walkways to and from the beach, and a luxurious, subterranean spa. Designed by Mexican architect Miguel Angel Aragonés, the upper area of the property is set back from the ocean, but a series of shallow, decorative pools make it feel like the ocean is all around you. I won't sugarcoat it, this place runs expensive, but even as someone who stays at upwards of a hundred hotels a year, it's one I still think about all the time. For a splurge, a special occasion, a chance for renewal, or just to flex on 'em, here's a breakdown of staying at this architectural gem.
You Are Here
P.º Malecon San Jose Lote 8, Zona Hotelera, 23405 San José del Cabo, B.C.S., Mexico
I don't know if I've ever stayed somewhere that centered the visual and emotional experience in such a deliberate way. The espejos de agua or "water mirrors" make the white buildings and gorgeous light reflect all around. It feels like the light is following you. Built in layers, the property's paths wind in and around in a way that makes every area feel private, but an influx of helpful staff present at all times means there's zero chance of isolation. I felt safe here, like I was part of a hive. The architectural weirdness/brilliance continues with a series of organically-designed "nests" that house food and beverage options, standing in stark contrast to the pools of water and the white buildings. They look like glowing balls of yarn from the outside, but are also strangely cozy inside. Located on the San José del Cabo side of things, which is a separate town from the larger, more raucous Cabo San Lucas, it's a also slightly shorter ride from the airport and in a much quieter area.
Size Matters
Who needs a bed? Get the suite for a room-sized shower, get the King room for a balcony soaking tub
You might think the prices for this resort are high, until you step foot into one of the rooms. Then, they start to seem totally worth it. The rooms are sexy as hell. The white theme continues indoors with white marble, white bedding, mostly white furniture with light wood accents, and electronically-operated white shades that separate the guest from the bluest blues—the water mirrors, the ocean, the sky. The contrast between the white and the blue is so satisfying! Obviously, it's a perfect setting for photos, and influencers and celebrities love to come here. I doubt there's a bad room in the lot, but I'm going to recommend an Ocean View King. I stayed in an Ocean View Junior Suite (hosted), and the extra space is useful as it includes a full couch and seating area, plus dining table—but I spent 90% of my time out by the pools anyway, so it wasn't totally necessary. My junior suite had dual shower heads in a shower as big as most bathrooms, and a soaking tub, but some of the King rooms come with a soaking tub on the balcony... and that almost seems better? They also have plenty of Double Queen options if you're traveling with a friend. And if you're truly intent on splurging, look into the suites, villas, and casitas—they're stunning, but do get very costly.
Picture Perfect
Baja mystic
Mexican modernist sounded too straightforward for how magical this place feels, coastal chic too standard. Baja mystic feels right. Let's just say you know when you're walking in and out of a landscape designed by a genius. It's like being inside the Guggenheim, but instead of looking at paintings, the goal is to eat crudo, drink mezcal, and swim. The beauty of the actual buildings and grounds is, to me, the strongest reason to book here. The second is the food, which I'll get to further down.
Wants & Needs
Maybe bring your own shampoo, and skip the in-room bottles for rooftop cocktails at Cielomar
The toiletries and in-room amenities here are from the brand ROIL, who have a hotel collection, and specifically have a long-standing partnership with Viceroy. These products weren't for me, but I know lots of people love them. Their name is based on combining "a little bit of royalty with a touch of oil" which... ?? But they do use all natural ingredients, an ethos I can get behind. As the name suggests, founder Amanda George (a celebrity hairstylist) is very into using natural oils, and some recurring ingredients in the products include cold-pressed rosehip oil, coconut oil, amla oil (or Indian gooseberry), and sandalwood. I will give points that it's custom products that are very high-end, I just don't think I like quite this much oil, personally, and I think the name itself is off-putting. The rooms also included products from Natura Bisse, a family-run Spanish brand who focus more on spa products, which I liked a little better. And, all in-room products were full-size, which is nice. As for mini-bar, there was definitely stuff in the room, I think mostly alcohol, but I didn't really clock it—the restaurants and bars here are too good to fuck around with packaged goods.
Water Me
Five pools, an ocean, the soaking circuit in the spa, and endless water mirrors
Most people come to Mexico for the pools or the ocean, and Viceroy doesn't disappoint. They have an oceanfront pool that's split into three parts, so technically functions as two pools, and a hot tub, and two pools further up, one that's designated as the "main pool" and one as the "family pool." There's also an adults-only rooftop pool. The hotel is mostly adults, but it isn't adults only, so note that. Plenty of room categories here have their own plunge pools, so if privacy is really a concern, book into one of those, or just grin and bear it if a kid starts splashing. Mostly, it wasn't an issue. They don't recommend going in the ocean at this part of the coast due to a rip tide and a steep drop off, though technically you're allowed to... I didn't go in beyond my ankles. If you do get a spa treatment, exploring the 11,000+ square foot facilities is half the fun, and includes a steam room, sauna, vitality pool, hot tub, ice fountain and cold plunge pool.
Libations
Five distinct restaurants, a nightly bar, and in-room dining means never running out of F&B options
The most incredible part of the hotel, aside from the design, is the food and beverage programming. Across five (!) on-site restaurants, there wasn't a single thing amiss, and I'd put any of these concepts up against standalone restaurants in LA. Seriously, it's all phenomenal. There's the all-day Casero restaurant, serving homestyle mesa for breakfast and lunch, Cielomar rooftop, a hearth-focused restaurant with woodfired pizzas and fresh grilled seafood and meats (plus lots of tequila and mezcal), the newcomer Dalia, an outdoor garden restaurant with Mediterranean dishes, Nido, which serves fresh seafood in a robatayaki style (aka tableside Japanese grill), and Nidito, the poolside bar with daily snacks and tacos starting at 10 AM. (Nido and Nidito are located in the "nests.") On top of that there's also Otro bar open nightly, located near the lobby and next to Casero, and in-room dining, which takes classics from most of these menus and offers them a la carte. Even if this place was ugly, I'd still come for the food. The fact that it's one of the most beautiful hotels in the world? Well that just makes it twice as welcoming.
Book your stay at Viceroy Los Cabos right here.
Related Reading:
This Cabo Hotel Is an Architectural Dream Worth the Flight (Inside Hook)
Review: Cabo’s Rancho San Lucas Feels Like a Gated Community in Paradise (Inside Hook)
The Best Hotel Views In The World, If You Want To Up The Ante On Your Next Getaway (The Zoe Report)
Links
Listening to: Samia — Honey
One woman sings with striking honesty about her darkest thoughts, and delivers a few bright pop hymns as relief ("Honey," "Dream Song")
Putting on my skin: The Things We Do Liquid Lift Sleeping Mask ($62)
Hyaluronic acid and oats make this gel-like overnight mask gentle yet effective, aloe vera makes it sharp and minty
Drinking: Casa Del Agua Sparkling Water
Tried this Mexican water brand at Rancho Pescadero in Todos Santos and loved it. Shipping it here is impossibly expensive, look for it there.
Photos courtesy of Viceroy Los Cabos