The Cape, a Thompson Hotel

A 10-minute drive outside of Cabo San Lucas, the 160-room Cape offers a unique combination of contemporary Mexican design, stellar service and a pulsing, young scene.

• The enormous whale in the lobby made entirely out of driftwood found after Hurricane Odile
• Each room’s hand-painted ceramic tiles by Mexican ceramist Jose Noe Suro
• Relaxing and listening to waves crash while enjoying the cozy rooftop bar and terrace

The Cape, the first hotel built in Cabo after the destruction of Hurricane Odile in September 2014, has breathed new life into the area, offering a buzzy scene, a restaurant helmed by a renowned chef and high-touch service.

Each of the 160 rooms, suites and multi-bedroom villas offers direct views of the sea and famous Arch rock formation via an outdoor terrace or balcony furnished with chairs and swinging couch. While the general aesthetic of the property leans toward industrial chic, with unfinished cement walls, a huge multi-use lobby and open air corridors, room interiors are surprisingly warm and traditional. Each has a wooden plank wall, la eather headboard, an open plan configuration, a copper bathtub and hand-painted tiles by renowned Mexican ceramist Jose Noe Suro. The Panoramic corner suites (there is one on each floor of the main hotel building) offer two walls of windows overlooking the Gulf and the Arch, as well as a telescope for nighttime constellation viewing. The two smaller buildings next to the main building have one-, two- and three-bedroom villas, some with rooftop decks and plunge pools.

Most of the wood throughout the hotel was sourced locally and the black clay lining the walls of the corridors was brought up from Oaxaca. The enormous lobby space pays homage to the hotel’s post-Odile beginnings with a huge whale (Cabo has incredible whale watching between December – March) made entirely out of driftwood found after the hurricane. The oversize outdoor lobby is meant to bring the sea in and the many nooks and tucked away corners, including the buzzy sunken lobby bar and pool table, allow guests to utilize the space day and night. Dining options include the Glass Box, a glass structure where guests can enjoy cocktails and light bites with a direct view of surfers right in front of the property, Ledge, a casual spot for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and the rooftop bar, which has a circular bar and cozy couches to sink into late at night and listen to the waves crash against the rocks below. Dinner is served in Manta, the main restaurant with an open kitchen offering fusion Pacific Rim cuisine created by famed chef Enrique Olvera.

After a day of activities on the water, guests can relax in one the five treatment rooms at the spa or break a sweat in the workout room with a view. As with most beaches in Cabo, the stretch of sand in front of the property is a bit rocky and as it is a popular surf spot, it's best for strong swimmers. There are two pools as well, including one that directly overlooks the beach. Service is not sacrificed for the scene and all staff, from valets to bellmen and waiters, is attentive.

Although there is no minimum age requirement, the hotel is pretty buzzy and lends itself to younger couples that want a scene and to be in the middle of things. With rates currently on the lower end, the property also offers a viable value option amidst the more pricey luxury alternatives. Families who want a kid’s club and a more family friendly vibe should consider One & Only Palmilla while couples who prefer something a bit quieter should look into Las Ventanas al Paraiso, or Resort at Pedregal.