As we continue to put together our guide to visiting the best wineries in Valle de Guadalupe wine country, our list of the best restaurants in the surrounding Baja area just keeps growing and growing. There are so many wonderful places to eat in Valle, and each one offers a little something different.

The more and more we travel here, there has been one Interestingly takeaway: some of our favorite meals have taken place right in our hotel, as was the case with Fuego Cocina del Valle, which is located in the beautiful “The Boutique Hotel & Spa” in Valle De Guadalupe. This restaurant serves relaxed Baja cuisine in an upscale atmosphere, and the views, food, and service couldn’t have been better.

About

The Hotel Boutique & Spa in Valle De Guadalupe is a four-star hotel property, and the restaurant is owned and operated in partnership with Executive Chef and owner Alberto Ayala.

Chef Ayala is a Baja native who strives to create dishes that are made with ingredients entirely sourced from the region. When you dine at Fuego, you can expect to see lots of seasonal items like squash, fresh fish caught daily from the Pacific Ocean, local cheeses, and meats from neighboring ranches. 

The restaurant serves breakfast, lunch and dinner.

The Atmosphere

The atmosphere at this Baja restaurant is exactly what you would expect from a high-end, luxury hotel restaurant. The Main Terrace offers al fresco dining on a covered patio that almost has a tiki bar feel to it. We sat here when we dined for dinner, and it was just perfect.

If you want a more loungy feel, try the Sunset Terrace, which has comfy couches, firepits, and views of surrounding mountains and vineyards. In other words, this is where you might consider sipping a pre-dinner cocktail.

Both the Main Terrace and the Sunset Terrace have live music, another great feature.

Now, let’s talk about the bar area at Fuego: it is absolutely gorgeous! A huge, we’re talking massive, floor-to-ceiling display of wine is built right into the wall next to the bar, and its backlight with soft lighting gives it a gold glow. At night, this scene makes the most beautiful photo backdrop. The chairs here are a soft pink that practically matches the Mexican sunset, and you have the option to either sit at the countertop or at a freestanding table.

The Menu

One of the first things we noticed about the menu here is that Chef Alberto Ayala has crafted a fresh, seasonal menu that is inclusive of all dietary restrictions. What we mean is, there are items for meat lovers, vegetarians, and those trying to avoid dairy – you get the idea. 

Some of the standout dishes include Braised Lamb Tacos, fresh Ceviche, Smoked Tuna Burritos, and Fried Octopus.

It’s also worth noting that the team at this restaurant seems to try and include a few traditional American menu items for tourists who want to stick with breakfast dishes like Buttermilk Pancakes and Continental Breakfast. A thoughtful touch for out-of-towners.

The wine list includes some of our most loved Baja wineries like Magoni, Mount Xanic, and LA Cetto. It’s a bit limited, but we can vouch that these local wineries will please most palates. 

Our Experience

Because we were guests in the hotel, we dined a few times at the restaurant: once in the casual downstairs portion for breakfast and once in the fancier upstairs portion for dinner. Both meals were excellent. Good food, good service, and good ambiance. 

Breakfast included Garden Omelets stuffed with mushrooms, capers, spinach, and olives, covered in a tomato sauce infused with basil from the garden. This was a vibrant dish that was both light and satisfying, thanks to all of the veggies.

For dinner, we enjoyed juicy Marinated Suckling Chicken with mashed beans and roasted kale and a refreshing Heirloom Tomato Salad with citrus vinaigrette, avocado, caramelized goat cheese, and strawberry.

We couldn’t help but indulge in a little dessert when we saw a deliciously chocolatey Belgian Brownie with red velvet crumble, brandy cream, cascabel chili tulip, and artisanal ice cream. To cleanse our palates, we also added a fruit sorbet.

Closing Thoughts

Overall, this restaurant has a nice ambiance, and the food is excellent. We highly recommend dining here if you find yourself in Valle de Guadalupe for a long, leisurely trip that allows you the luxury of visiting a few restaurants in different locales. Our only tip to you would be that if you only have a weekend or a quick getaway trip, then we think you would have a more memorable experience at Emat, Fauna, or Deckman’s.

Having said that, do visit if you are in Baja.