Viceroy Los Cabos Review: Worth $510 a Night?

The short version: a very unique, very modern hotel in San José del Cabo, with color-changing rooms, woven “nests” rising out of the water, and even fireworks. The setting is the strong suit, and it’s a great hotel for young couples. The food and service are just OK, but if you’re heading into town most of the time anyway, that matters less.

I stayed at Viceroy Los Cabos for three nights, from August 13 to 16, 2025, in a Partial Ocean View room, right after my stay at Nobu. Full disclosure: I paid for one of the three nights myself. The other two were paid for privately, not by the hotel, so I don’t have the exact amounts, but I imagine they were roughly the same. Nothing was comped.

One more thing to know: since my stay, the Viceroy closed for a resort-wide renovation and reopened in September 2026. The lobby was redone, and the shallow “water mirrors” around the walkways were restored to the architect’s original design. The woven Nido “nest” was rebuilt as a bigger restaurant with a sushi counter and full bar. Two new spots were added: Nodo, an Italian market and restaurant, and Archaea, a hidden speakeasy with no printed menu. So some of the details below, especially the restaurants, may have changed.

Pros

• A cool, romantic room, with a huge enclosed balcony that has its own bed and private tub
• A one-of-a-kind, modern setting, with lights that change color and fireworks on the beach
• In San José del Cabo, so there’s a lot to do nearby
• Not a loud hotel, despite what you might think
• A large, modern gym, and a property that’s great for walking at night
• Complimentary bikes, which adds to the couples atmosphere
• One Michelin Key

Cons

• The food isn’t that memorable
• Service is fine, but not very personal: no welcome gift or card
• The lobby is small and a little dark, and in August it got very hot
• Soundproofing could be better, and we ended up moving rooms
• Far from Cabo San Lucas and from the diving spots

Arriving

The Viceroy is a popular, very photogenic hotel, the kind you’ve probably seen on Instagram, and we wanted to try it because it looks so cool. It’s in San José del Cabo, so it’s more in the city than most Cabo resorts, but not too much. It sits on a main road, though noise wasn’t really an issue. It’s about 20 minutes from the airport.

Like many resort hotels, the lobby is open air, but it’s small, and it feels a little dark. It also isn’t well cooled, and in August it was very hot standing there. Check-in was smooth and the staff were nice enough, but it doesn’t feel super luxurious. Certainly not like Nobu.

The room: 7.5 out of 10

We had a Partial Ocean View room, two of them actually, since we moved partway through. The first was on the first floor, and right outside the enclosed sitting area, with its daybed and a small table, is a water feature. It’s not a pool, just a shallow water area, and with the lights on at night it looks pretty cool.

It’s a unique room, and that’s why I’m rating it higher. You can change the lights to different colors, inside and out: blue, a kind of pinkish color, yellow. Then there’s the balcony. In the second room, higher up, it’s a huge, enclosed space with almost a whole bed in it and its own private tub, and you can open it right up and sit outside. Inside, the shower has two shower heads side by side, so two people can shower at once. Between that and the tub out on the balcony, the whole room leans into the romantic theme.

The room itself isn’t super large, and the bathroom is pretty small. The AC is good, though, and water is provided. But mostly, it’s just a cool room. The only things keeping the score down are the size and the soundproofing, and on the soundproofing, remember this is a hotel for younger couples, closer to the city. It feels like an early-Miami, modern kind of room, and you really feel like you’re on an exotic vacation, especially if you’re coming from somewhere cold.

One minor thing: the soundproofing could be better. We could hear another guest from our first room, and we ended up moving. The hotel handled it without any fuss, and the second room, with the tub and a king bed, was the better one anyway.

The food: 6 out of 10

Full honesty: I ate exactly one thing at the hotel, a salad at Dalia, the main restaurant. It’s right near the lobby, elevated, facing out toward the ocean, and the salad was alright. The woven “nest” in the middle of the pools is Nido, which has since been rebuilt as a sushi bar and late-night spot.

We were in San José del Cabo and wanted more authentic food, so we went out for everything else, breakfast included. If you do the same, the food here matters a lot less, but I can’t tell you much about it either.

The setting: 8 out of 10

The setting is the strongest point of the hotel. The architecture is very modern, and there’s nothing else like it in Cabo. Parts of the hotel light up in different colors, and there are these large, cool woven structures, almost like coconuts, that come out of the water. The big one is Nido, the restaurant.

One night, there were fireworks at the beach, just for fun. It was a surprise, and it was quite special. It really adds to the whole setting. Here’s a bit of it.

The pools and the beach

There are several pools: an adults-only rooftop pool, a fairly small pool in the center surrounded by the water features, and two pools down at the end by the beach. None of them were ever too crowded.

The beach itself isn’t swimmable, because of the strong waves. As a tip, many of the beaches in Cabo aren’t really swimmable, so if swimming in the ocean is the point, check before you book.

It’s a very romantic hotel, especially for young couples, and despite what you might think, it’s not loud. We didn’t try the spa, but the gym is very nice: large and fairly modern. The hotel also lends out bikes for free, which is very nice and adds to the couples atmosphere. The property is also really nice for walking. It’s a big lot, and from the front of the hotel to the beach, you can walk quite a ways. It’s a nice walk, especially at night, when it all feels really cool, modern and hip.

Service: 6 out of 10

The service was fine, but nothing special. The staff were pleasant, if not especially warm, and there wasn’t anything personal: no welcome gift, no welcome card. They did help us move rooms and brought our bags over, which I appreciated. It’s not the kind of hotel where anyone remembers your name. Check-in would also be a nicer experience if the open-air lobby were cooler.

What it cost

All prices here are for one person: the room, plus one person’s share of the food.

The night I paid for was US$377.65 for the room, or US$510.60 with all the taxes and fees. That’s a US$50.79 service charge, US$54.93 VAT, US$15.11 city tax, a US$4 environment fee and US$8.12 in other local fees. So the add-ons are about 35% on top of the room rate, which is worth knowing when you compare prices. I assume the other two nights were about the same. We mostly ate out in San José del Cabo, so add roughly US$75 for one dinner at the hotel over the stay, which works out to about US$535 a night, for one person.

On top of that, I rented a Jeep through National at the airport for about US$1,175. That covered the six days across this stay and my Nobu stay right before it, so about US$195 a day.

Value: 7 out of 10

I think it’s a decent value. It’s a unique hotel, it feels very romantic, and it has a special feel to it. That’s the strong suit. It’s not a hotel for food or service, but the room is very cool, and the whole place feels much more like a real vacation than a lot of hotels. It’s just a beautiful property, and at around $510 a night with taxes, you’re paying less than at Nobu for a more memorable setting.

Vs. Nobu

I stayed at Nobu Hotel Los Cabos right before this, so the comparison was fresh. The Viceroy is livelier, busier and architecturally more unique, and it’s closer to the city. It’s definitely more romantic and more of a couples hotel, and it has one Michelin Key, which Nobu doesn’t. But Nobu’s room is bigger and more luxurious, the food is better (and more expensive), the service is friendlier, and it feels a little more exclusive. If you want a hotel where you stay put and relax, Nobu is probably better, though it’s much more expensive.

What to do nearby

Because you’re in San José del Cabo, there’s a lot to do. You can walk into the centro, though it’s a bit of a walk, and I rented a car for the trip.

• La Lupita Taco & Mezcal: I strongly recommend the tacos here. It’s in San José del Cabo, an easy drive from the hotel.

• Mi Casa: a Cabo classic, with an open kitchen. It’s in Cabo San Lucas, though, about 40 minutes’ drive from the Viceroy.
• The Art Walk: San José del Cabo’s gallery district holds a free art walk on Thursday evenings, from 5 to 9, in the high season from November to June. I was there in August, so I missed it.
• Flora Farms: the well-known farm-to-table spot in the hills, about 15 minutes from the hotel. I didn’t go, but it’s the other place everyone recommends.

One thing to know: the Viceroy is kind of far from Cabo San Lucas itself, and from many of the diving spots. If you want to go diving, it might be better to pick a different hotel. I dove with Dive Cabo out of Cabo San Lucas and had to leave very early for an 8 a.m. start; more in my Cabo diving guide and my Nobu vs. Viceroy guide.

Who it’s for

It’s a great hotel for couples, definitely younger couples. It’s very romantic, and because you’re in the city, there’s a lot to do. A lot of the couples there were taking pictures outside, because it’s so architecturally unique. I wouldn’t say it’s a family hotel, though families could go.

It’s not really a hotel where you stay in and relax all day. For that, Nobu is probably better. And if diving is the point of your trip, pick something closer to Cabo San Lucas.

Tips if you go

• Ask for a room with the private hot tub on the balcony. Not all of them have it, and it makes the room.
• Play with the room lights. You can change them to different colors.
• Open up the balcony. It has its own bed.
• Ask for a king. Our first room had two beds.
• Take pictures outside at night. That’s what everyone’s doing, and there’s nothing else like it.
• The beach isn’t swimmable. Use the pools, and the adults-only rooftop one if you can.
• Borrow the free bikes.
• In summer, don’t linger in the open-air lobby. It isn’t well cooled.
• Eat out in San José del Cabo, and get the tacos at La Lupita.
• Walk the property at night, from the front to the beach. That’s when it looks best.
• Ask about fireworks. They had them one night, just for fun.
• If you want to dive, pick a hotel closer to the diving spots.
• If your room is noisy, ask to move. They moved us without any issue.
• The hotel was renovated in 2026, so check what’s changed, especially the restaurants.

Verdict: 7/10

It’s a very unique and memorable hotel. The room is cool, the setting is beautiful, and it’s a great hotel for couples. You won’t get the most special food or service, but for a lot of people that won’t matter, because they’re out in San José del Cabo most of the time anyway.

Who should skip it: anyone after a quiet, classic luxury resort, since this is really a young couples’ hotel. Also people who come for the food, and divers, who’ll want to be closer to Cabo San Lucas.

Would I stay again? Yes, for the uniqueness, and as a romantic trip.

Deciding between coasts? See Cancún vs Cabo, and my guide to where to stay in Cancún.

FAQ

Is Viceroy Los Cabos worth it?

Yes, for couples who want a unique, romantic, modern hotel and plan to explore San José del Cabo. At around $510 a night with taxes and fees, I think it’s a decent value.

Does Viceroy Los Cabos have a Michelin Key?

Yes, one Key (it’s the lowest-scoring hotel in my Michelin Key ranking). In Los Cabos, that puts it alongside The Cape, while Las Ventanas al Paraíso, One&Only Palmilla, Montage, Chileno Bay, Esperanza, Waldorf Astoria Pedregal and Zadún have two. Nobu doesn’t have one.

Is the beach at Viceroy Los Cabos swimmable?

No, the waves are too strong. Many Cabo beaches aren’t swimmable. The hotel has several pools, including an adults-only rooftop pool, and they were never too crowded.

Is Viceroy Los Cabos adults only?

No, but it skews toward younger couples, and there’s an adults-only rooftop pool.

Is Viceroy Los Cabos loud?

No, despite what you might think. It’s on a main road, but noise wasn’t an issue. The soundproofing between rooms could be better, though.

Viceroy Los Cabos or Nobu Los Cabos?

Viceroy is livelier, more unique and closer to town, with a cooler room. Nobu is quieter, more private and better for relaxing, with a bigger, more luxurious room and friendlier service, but it’s much more expensive.

When is the best time to go?

Probably not August, when I went. It wasn’t rainy, but the heat was a problem. It was very hot, especially in the open-air lobby, which isn’t well cooled. The Art Walk season, November to June, is a better bet.

Is it good for families?

Not really. It’s a hotel for couples, though families could go.

Would you stay again?

Yes, for the uniqueness, and as a romantic trip.