Long considered one of the finest sportfishing destinations on planet Earth, Los Cabos has spent much
of the past two decades burnishing its romance credentials, adding to its already spectacular ocean, desert and mountain vistas with rose petal strewn accommodations, pampering couples-centric spa treatments, and silverware set tables for two on the shores of the moon-dappled Sea of Cortés.
As one might expect, this regional commitment to romance reaches its zenith each year on Valentine’s Day, when the finest hotels in cape cities Cabo San Lucas and San José del Cabo compete to see who can offer the most luxurious amenities at the lowest rates, and area restaurants joust for the services of the most elegant balladeers.
The ne plus ultra of this annual “arms (emb)race” is Sunset da Mona Lisa, a restaurant whose romantic elements are so overwhelming that they were obliged to hire an onsite coordinator just to deal with the inevitable wedding proposals.
Perched virtually atop the Sea of Cortés at Sunset Point, Mona Lisa’s tables look across the famed Monuments surf break to the 30-million-year-old granite monuments at Land’s End, the terminus of the nearly 800-mile Baja California peninsula. Every evening, those with the forethought to acquire a reservation for the sunset seating are treated to an explosive and unforgettable burst of color as the sun sinks beyond Cabo’s fabled Arch and the distant Pacific Ocean horizon.
The jaw-dropping sunset views propelled Mona Lisa to the top of Los Cabos’ list of Valentine’s Day destinations, but the restaurant has never been one to rest on its laurels. It built its golden romantic reputation by layering extra upon extra, from candlelit ambiance and a Taittinger Champagne Terrace with bubbly and Beluga caviar to mouthwateringly delicious Italian specialties and fresh local seafood focused fare from Michelin–star trained Chef Paollo Della Corte. The Tartufo Nero (seasonal black truffles) alone are enough to inspire a proposal, especially when served in a savory Tagliatelle with homemade pasta and exquisitely aged Parmiggiano cheese.
This year, Sunset da Mona Lisa is featuring a VIP version of its usual Valentine’s Day spectacular: a welcoming cocktail plus a six-course tasting menu, live music, special gifts from the Chef, and of course an unforgettable sunset and after dark fireworks display. There are three scheduled seatings, at 4:30, 6:30 and 8:30 p.m. To make reservations, call (624) 145-8160.
Tickets are $145 per person. The experience itself? Priceless.
Photo courtesy of Sunset da Mona Lisa.
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