To delve into the ever-expanding universe of fine dining in Mexico is to know Chef Jose Luis Hinostroza, and to love him. From some of the world’s most famous kitchens (Noma, anyone?) and back to his roots again, Hinostroza has quickly made a name for himself, snapping up some seriously prestigious culinary awards in the process.
Now, Hinostroza is bringing his unique culinary vision to Los Cabos, overhauling the culinary experience at the perpetually cool Hotel El Ganzo. But foodie fans of the acclaimed chef’s cuisine shouldn’t expect a replica of recent menus or a “greatest hits” collection from his restaurants—far from it. Instead, Hinostroza is debuting a whole new concept tailored to this trendsetting destination and Baja California itself.
Meet The Chef
Raised on both sides of the U.S.-Mexico border, Hinostroza honed his skills in Michelin-starred kitchens like Alinea in Chicago and Noma in Copenhagen. However, it was in his homecoming that his passion for Mexican regional cuisine began to come to life on the plate. Igniting the culinary scene in Tulum, Hinostroza debuted ARCA, his own critically-acclaimed restaurant known for its open-fire cooking techniques that has earned it a spots on the lists of the top 100 restaurants and the top 100 bars in the world by The World’s 50 Best.
Even a decade after its debut, ARCA is still setting trends and shifting the landscape of fine dining in Mexico and beyond. Its fame helped Hinostroza launch additional projects across the country, including street food-inspired Mestixa, also in Tulum. Most recently, he partnered with Mira Earth Studios, a design-driven boutique hotel in Mexico’s budding wine region of Valle de Guadalupe, to introduce another culinary concept, heavily influenced by “the cycle of the vineyard and the soil,” he says.
Baja California Bound
Now, he takes on one of Mexico’s most beloved regional cuisines at his new culinary venture at Hotel El Ganzo in Los Cabos. “I’m excited to show how deeply rooted this project is in the local identity of Baja California Sur while still carrying a personal identity,” says Hinostroza. “For me, it’s not just a menu—it’s a reflection of place: the sea, the desert, the markets, and the people who make this region unique.”
Los Cabos sits at the meeting point of the Pacific Ocean and the Sea of Cortez, once called “the world’s aquarium” by famed oceanographer Jacques Cousteau for its rich marine life, so it’s no surprise that seafood anchors the menu. “Raw preparations [on the menu] like crudos, aguachiles and ceviches really excite me,” explains Hinostroza, calling them “a dialogue between Japanese precision and Baja’s pristine seafood.”
The addition of street food-inspired dishes makes the menu accessible even to those with little experience diving into Mexican cuisine’s more artful preparations. “These are dishes that feel casual but are crafted with the same care as any fine dining plate,” says Hinostroza.
“[Chef Jose Luis’] food is soulful, skillful, and a little rebellious, and his authentic approach to local cuisine is unmatched, says David Rodriguez, Partner of Hotel El Ganzo. “We’re thrilled to introduce this collaboration and help bring his newest restaurant to life.”
At Home in Hotel El Ganzo
There’s no better place for it than Hotel El Ganzo. If Los Cabos is best known for its oversized beachfront resorts, fit for a fly-and-flop vacation style designed for disconnection, Hotel El Ganzo its antithesis in all the best ways. This boutique property sits waterfront, overlooking the entrance to the marina in San José del Cabo, a more artsy, authentic answer to the excesses of Cabo San Lucas. It’s a property whose independent spirit feels ripe to redefine the region.
El Ganzo got its start not as a hotel, but as an artists’ residency space and recording studio with rooms to rent, as imagined by Pablo Sanchez Navarro in 2012. Since its debut, it has morphed into so much more while still staying true to its artistic roots. Today, the artist-in-residency and recording studio programs continue in full force, while the property’s oversized concert grounds welcome live music and events on a regular basis.
That gives the property a creative essence that draws in the coolest crowd in Los Cabos, just the type of adventurous spirits looking for an elevated culinary experience. “El Ganzo has always been about more than hospitality—it’s about culture, community and creativity,” says Hinostroza. “That’s exactly where my head and heart are right now: building projects that leave a cultural mark as much as a culinary one.”
Now, the 69-key property features a private beach and swim club as well as a bathhouse, spa, and space for regular wellness gatherings, like morning yoga classes. It just debuted upgrades to rooms including new paint, fixtures and furnishings, with a focus on locally-produced pieces that support Mexican artisans. The property’s artist-in-residence program has also generated immersive art pieces in 80% of the properties rooms, with more soon to come. Meanwhile, the rooftop bar and dining space offers probably the prettiest sunset spot in the area, complete with a glass-encased infinity pool.
Back to Baja
Though the menu is uniquely Hinostroza’s own, it fits firmly into the larger culinary conversation happening in Baja California Sur. Foodies will know that starting from Los Cabos and stretching up the peninsula, farm-to-table culinary experiences have exploded within the past decade. Now-famous destinations like Acre and Flora Farms found their stride by locating restaurants in their gardens, drawing on a richness of local ingredients that flourish despite their desert surrounds.
Hotel El Ganzo was the first B-corp hotel in Latin America, so its no surprise that environmental sustainability sits at the cornerstone of its culinary evolution, too. Hinostroza has sourced ingredients for his menus from local farms like nearby Punta Lobos and Agricole, ensuring freshness and supporting small businesses in the process.
Available at Hotel El Ganzo’s rooftop and beach club dining venues, Hinostroza’s new menus are already worth traveling for. Still, they’re just the start of his full-fledged culinary takeover at the property.
Need another reason to book a return trip to Baja? Next year, Hinostroza and Hotel El Ganzo are set to debut a brand new restaurant on the property, located just steps from the sea. Like ARCA, it will feature a fire-based outdoor kitchen, perfect for imbuing foods with the bold flavors this traditional technique is known for. In a play on its Los Cabos location at the junction of sea and desert sands, expect just as much seafood, served on ice.