The Finer Things
Craft beer, mezcal, Cuban cigars, and Baja wine lounges — 14 venues across three cities where the drinks are world-class and the prices are half what you would pay stateside.
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The first time I sat in a Tijuana cigar lounge with a Cuban Montecristo in one hand and a pour of Oaxacan mezcal in the other, I realized Baja offers an experience you literally cannot have anywhere in the United States. Add 30+ craft breweries producing world-class beer at half the price and a wine region 90 minutes from San Diego, and you have the best drinking destination on the West Coast. We have been exploring these spots for years, and we keep finding new favorites.
— Scott
Craft Beer
5 venuesCerveceria Wendlandt
Ensenada
Baja's most acclaimed craft brewery. Their Perro del Mar IPA and Veraniega wheat are flagships. Taproom with ocean views and tacos. The brewery that started Baja's craft beer revolution.
Border Psycho Brewery
Tijuana
Bold labels, bolder beers. Their stouts and barrel-aged specials are outstanding. Taproom in Zona Rio with a punk rock attitude. One of TJ's most popular breweries.
Cerveceria Insurgente
Tijuana
One of Mexico's largest craft operations. The Lupulosa IPA and La Lupulosa Doble are essential. Multiple taproom locations in TJ. Often credited alongside Wendlandt for launching the movement.
Norte Brewing Co
Tijuana
Neighborhood brewery with a loyal local following. Rotating taps, chill atmosphere. Great introduction to TJ's brewing scene without the tourist crowds.
Agua Mala
Ensenada
Coastal brewery known for their session ales and lagers. Light, crisp, perfect for Ensenada's seafood scene. Their taproom near the harbor is a sunset spot.
Mezcal & Spirits
3 venuesLa Mezcalera
Tijuana
Tijuana's premier mezcal bar with 100+ labels from Oaxaca, Guerrero, and Durango. The staff walks you through flavor profiles. Order a flight to compare espadin, tobala, and cuishe varieties.
Teorema Cerveceria
Tijuana
Half brewery, half cocktail bar. Their mezcal cocktails are inventive and their house beers are excellent. Zona Rio location with a great patio.
Hussong's Cantina
Ensenada
Mexico's oldest cantina (est. 1892). Claims to be the birthplace of the margarita. The recipe here is simple — tequila, lime, Cointreau, salt. Sawdust floors, mariachi bands, zero pretense.
Wine Bars & Lounges
3 venuesBar Bura
Valle de Guadalupe
Open-air wine bar with infinity pool overlooking the valley. The most photographed spot in Valle. Reserve a daybed for sunset. Wines by the glass from local producers.
La Querencia
Ensenada
Downtown Ensenada wine and tapas bar featuring exclusively Baja wines. Cozy, candlelit, perfect for a pre-dinner glass. The staff knows every producer in the valley.
Vinicola Tres Valles
Ensenada
Urban winery and tasting room in downtown Ensenada. No need to drive to the valley — taste Baja wines steps from your hotel.
Cigars
3 venuesCuban Cigar Shops (TJ & Ensenada)
Tijuana / Ensenada
Cuban cigars are legal and readily available in Mexico. Cohiba, Montecristo, Romeo y Julieta — all the brands impossible to buy in the US. Buy from established shops with proper humidors (not street vendors) to avoid counterfeits.
Cigar Lounges
Tijuana
Several cigar lounges in Zona Rio pair Cuban smokes with mezcal or whiskey. The combination of a legally purchased Cuban cigar with an Oaxacan mezcal is a uniquely Baja-Mexico experience.
Duty-Free Cigars
Border shops
Duty-free shops at the border crossings sell boxed Cubans at competitive prices. Legal to bring back to the US (if purchased in Mexico, not Cuba). $800 total goods exemption per person.
- TJ craft beer crawl route: Start at Border Psycho in Zona Rio, walk to Norte Brewing, and finish at Insurgente. All three are within 15 minutes of each other on foot. Budget 2-3 hours and take an Uber back to the border.
- Mezcal ordering tip: Ask for "mezcal joven" (young/unaged) for the purest expression of the agave. Avoid "mixto" which is blended with other spirits. A flight of three varieties ($15-25) is the best way to learn your palate.
- Cigar authenticity: Buy only from shops with proper walk-in humidors and factory-sealed boxes with the official Habanos holographic seal. Street vendors and beach sellers almost always sell counterfeits. If the price seems too good to be true, it is.
- Bringing alcohol home: The 1-liter duty-free limit is per person, but the duty on excess bottles is only about $2.50 each. Bringing 2-3 extra bottles of Valle wine is still a great deal compared to US retail — just declare them honestly.
- Wine bar strategy: Hit La Querencia in Ensenada for education — the staff will walk you through Baja wine regions and grape varieties. Save Bar Bura in Valle de Guadalupe for the experience — sunset, pool, views.
- Best drinking neighborhood: Tijuana's Zona Rio for craft beer (5+ breweries walkable), Ensenada's downtown for wine bars and Hussong's. Valle de Guadalupe is wine-only and requires a car or driver.
- Designated driver: Uber and taxis in Tijuana and Ensenada are cheap ($3-8 for most rides) and safe. Use them freely. If you are doing Valle de Guadalupe, hire a driver for the day ($80-120) so everyone can taste.
Frequently Asked Questions About Drinking in Baja
Can I bring Cuban cigars back to the US from Mexico?
Yes. Cuban cigars purchased in Mexico (not directly from Cuba) are legal to bring back to the United States. They fall under your $800 personal goods exemption per trip. Buy from reputable shops with sealed boxes and the official Habanos holographic seal to ensure authenticity.
How much alcohol can I bring across the border?
One liter per person duty-free (must be 21+). You can bring more than 1 liter — anything beyond that incurs approximately $2.50 per bottle in duty. Even with the duty, Mexican prices on wine and spirits are typically 30-50% less than US retail. The duty-free shops on the Mexican side of the border have the best selection.
Is Tijuana's craft beer scene really that good?
Yes. Tijuana has 30+ craft breweries and has been Mexico's craft beer capital since around 2010. The quality rivals any US craft beer city. The advantage: beers are $4-7 per pour instead of $8-12. Start with Insurgente, Border Psycho, and Norte in Zona Rio — they are all within walking distance of each other.
What is the difference between mezcal and tequila?
Tequila is a type of mezcal made only from blue agave in specific regions (primarily Jalisco). Mezcal can be made from 30+ agave varieties and is typically produced in Oaxaca using traditional methods including pit-roasting the agave, which gives it that distinctive smoky flavor. Think of it like bourbon vs whiskey — all tequila is mezcal, but not all mezcal is tequila.
Are the wine bars in Ensenada worth it vs going to Valle de Guadalupe?
They serve different purposes. Ensenada wine bars like La Querencia and Vinicola Tres Valles are perfect for an evening glass without the 30-minute drive to the valley. Valle de Guadalupe is a full-day experience — winery visits, outdoor restaurants, vineyard views. If you only have one evening, hit an Ensenada wine bar. If you have a full day, drive to Valle.
What is the best bar for a group in Baja?
For craft beer: Border Psycho Brewery in TJ has the space and energy for groups. For mezcal: La Mezcalera in TJ can accommodate groups and the flight experience is a great shared activity. For wine: Bar Bura in Valle if you can reserve daybeds. For the classic experience: Hussong's Cantina in Ensenada — it has been hosting groups since 1892.
Plan Your Baja Night Out
Tell our trip planner what you are into — craft beer, mezcal, wine, cigars, or all of the above — and it will build a venue-by-venue itinerary with walking routes and Uber estimates.
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