Rocky Point restaurants have undergone a transformation. In years past, you could find great shrimp or Mexican dishes, but not much more. Nowadays in Rocky Point, restaurants offer southern fried chicken, artisanal beers, paninis, pizza, strudel, and many other tasty surprises to enjoy on your next vacation. We like these places best: not only do they serve great food, but they’ve also been around a while and have lots of fans.
Like any coastal town, Rocky Point cuisine emphasizes fresh seafood. Eat like a local with these authentic dishes:
Other non-seafood dishes you may enjoy include:
Here are a few of our favorite Rocky Point restaurants:
Depending on who you ask, you might hear that gangster Al Capone had a connection to Puerto Penasco, back in the days before air conditioning and legal booze. The legend lives on at Capone’s, a two-story bar-restaurant that would not be out of place on Chicago’s north side. The pizza is, as expected, Chicago-style, and there is also seafood and more. Sit on the patio and you are bound to run into someone you know.
Up on the black rocks of Whale Hill, overlooking the Malecon, you will find the Casa del Capitan. In a town famous for its sunsets, this place puts you in the perfect spot to take a great photo. All of the Mexican dishes you would expect to see are on the menu. They have margaritas in big goblets, too.
This is a lively little place at the entrance to the Princesa Resort. Presenting a mix of Mexican and gringo favorites like nachos or cheeseburgers, it also offers house originals like Mama’s Blueberry Bacon Pancakes, Sting Ray Tacos, or bacon-wrapped onion rings with sriracha. Colin’s has the distinction of offering the largest selection of beers in all of northern Mexico! This includes many Mexican micro-brews you won’t find anywhere else. Colin’s offers live music and has bottomless mimosas on Sundays.
Out at the very end of the beach past all of the resorts, you will find Mare Blu. Italian cuisine with fresh ingredients and seafood — like crab-stuffed ravioli and manicotti — is served for dinner. Try the salmon piccata, salmon sautéed in white wine and butter with capers. There’s live music on the weekends, and it’s located right on Sandy Beach next to Wrecked at the Reef.
The first big hotel in Puerto Penasco was the Hotel Lluvia del Mar, at the end of the Malecon. Sitting above the ocean in the hotel’s courtyard is Restaurant Maria Bonita. A longtime local favorite, a plate of sliced fruit always precedes breakfast at Maria Bonita. There are no surprises on this menu, just Mexican food presented at its best. Machaca and eggs or empanadas stuffed with chorizo, cream cheese, and onions for breakfast are highly recommended.
There is now a wine bar among Rocky Point restaurants. With rustic wood, candles, and works by local artists, El Tapeo feels like it could be in northern California’s Napa Valley. Along with the wine, you will find tapas. These are little plates of appetizers typical of Spain, with lots of olives, cheeses, and crusty bread. On Thursdays, they offer paella and live music. It’s located at the Playa Bonita Resort.
Though they’re not open for dinner, Kaffee Haus brings a touch of German quality to the Rocky Point restauarant scene, and is always bustling for breakfast and lunch – for good reason! Homemade bread, pastries (try the strudel!) and great daily specials compete with an outstanding European-style regular menu. You will find waffles, huevos rancheros, and espresso drinks for breakfast. For lunch, try the cobb salad or the very large and delicious hamburger topped with blue cheese and grilled onions.
Real Mexican food is found here, including mole, enchiladas, chile rellenos, and tortillas made by hand. There’s lots of pretty Mexican tile and Vicente Fernandez on the stereo. Have the pie de guayaba, cheesecake with a layer of tart fruit underneath.
Max’s is like a cozy neighborhood bistro. From the same family that owns the Sonoran Grill, Max’s has a large menu. Some standouts are the Reuben sandwich, lox and bagels, breakfast burritos, and Bloody Marys. It’s across from the Hotel Penasco del Sol.
No list of Rocky Point, Mexico, restaurants would be complete without a look at the strip of places to eat that is sometimes called the Fish Market. Drive into the Old Port and you will pass by souvenir shops and stalls full of the day’s catch on ice. Buy a kilo of shrimp to grill back at the condo, or head upstairs to one of the many restaurants offering the freshest of seafood. Flavios, Lucky’s, and Don Julio’s are a few of the most well-liked eateries in this area.
Right inside the Sonoran Spa Resort and open to the public, Sonoran Grill has long been a reliable favorite among Puerto Penasco restaurants. Their menu has been built through years of giving customers what they want. The prime rib dinner special on Fridays is a standout. Other favorites include the Shrimp Sampler with homemade dipping sauce, Spicy Chipotle Shrimp Tacos, Flounder Piccata, and Blackened Cajun Salmon.
At the end of the Malecon’s big plaza is The Satisfied Frog. For many years a landmark in Cave Creek, Arizona, The Satisfied Frog now makes its home among the restaurants of Puerto Penasco. There are large portions and lots of favorites that visitors from the U.S. will appreciate, like wood-fired pizza, fried chicken with mashed potatoes and coleslaw, and pulled pork sandwiches.
A tiny little place with a few seats, Zumwich is mostly about takeout. Grab one of their paninis, and have them juice some carrots, pineapple, beets, or whatever you like for the healthiest of lunches.
“La Propina,” or tips, are welcome in Mexico, as in the United States. Wait staff in Rocky Point restaurants are paid below minimum wage, so tipping 15% of the total bill (including tax) is customary.
You can always tip more if your service was exceptional. Tips can reach as high as 25% when special requests are made, “to go” containers are requested, or if your party dallies at the table a particularly long time.
If you are enjoying Happy Hour specials, be sure to tip based on the full price. If you are at the bar, $1-2 pesos per drink is fair gratuity.
If you plan to use a credit card, be sure to ask in advance if a cash tip is necessary. When tipping, use Mexican currency or US bills whenever possible, as US coins have no real value in Mexico.
Be sure to contact Sea Side Reservations to find a place to stay near the best Rocky Point restaurants. With more than 15 years of property management experience, we’ve developed a renowned reputation for our five-star customer service. We can set you up with fully furnished beachfront accommodations in Rocky Point, so you can enjoy the sugary sands and magnificent Sea of Cortez views right outside your doorstep. Email or call us to learn more.