Mexico's craft beer capital — 30+ breweries, legendary cantinas, mezcal bars, and 130+ years of drinking history
Historic Cantina — Est. 1892, Birthplace of the Margarita
The oldest cantina in Mexico, opened in 1892 by German immigrant Johann Hussong. Claims to be the birthplace of the margarita — in October 1941, bartender Don Carlos Orozco mixed tequila, damiana liqueur, and lime, serving it to Margarita Henkel, daughter of a German ambassador. Sawdust floors, no TV, live bolero music. 130+ years of tradition barely changed.
📍 Av. Ruiz 113, Zona Centro, 22800 Ensenada
🥃 Must-Order: The Original Hussong's Margarita. Period.
💰 Price: $ ($3-8 drinks)
🕒 Daily, typically 10 AM - midnight
Historic Bar — Inside a 1930s Prohibition-Era Casino
Historic bar inside the Riviera del Pacifico, a gorgeous 1930s-era former casino built during Prohibition. Also claims to be where the margarita was invented (a rival claim to Hussong's). Beautiful Art Deco architecture. Even if you don't drink, the building is worth visiting.
📍 Inside Riviera del Pacifico, Blvd. Costero, Zona Centro, Ensenada
🥃 Must-Order: A margarita, naturally. Enjoy the architecture.
💰 Price: $-$$ ($5-12 drinks)
Award-Winning Craft Brewery — Best Brewery in Mexico (2015)
Founded April 2012, quickly named "Best Brewery in Mexico" at the 2015 Copa Cerveza. Wide rotating lineup of craft beers. Downtown taproom on Blvd. Costero with production facility in El Sauzal. The first stop on any Ensenada beer crawl.
📍 Blvd. Costero 248, Col. Zona Centro, 22760 Ensenada
🍺 Must-Try: Perro del Mar pale ale, Veraniega, beer flight of current taps
💰 Price: $-$$ ($5-15 beers, $8-18 food)
🕒 Tue-Sat 6 PM - 12 AM / Closed Sun & Mon
OG Craft Brewery — World Beer Cup Winner, Ocean Views
Founded 2005, one of Mexico's original craft breweries. Ocean-themed branding (agua mala means "jellyfish" in Mexican Spanish). Won Silver Medal at the 2014 World Beer Cup. Taproom built from recycled shipping containers in El Sauzal, overlooking the Pacific Ocean.
📍 Carretera Tijuana-Ensenada Km 104, Col. El Sauzal, 22760 Ensenada
🍺 Must-Try: Astillero IPA (World Beer Cup Silver), Sirena Blonde, any seasonal
💰 Price: $-$$ ($4-12 beers)
🕒 Mon-Thu 12 PM - 12 AM (hours may vary)
Brewpub — Harbor Views, Live Music, Family-Friendly
Founded 2016 by Collin Corrigan. Two-story brewpub with harbor views, live music stage, full kitchen, and even a children's playground. Open 7 days a week — rare for Ensenada. Technically precise German and American-style brews with a rotating seasonal lineup.
📍 Carretera Transpeninsular 107+240, 22870 Ensenada
🍺 Must-Try: Beer flight, any seasonal brew
💰 Price: $-$$ ($5-15 beers, $8-20 food)
🕒 Daily 12 PM - 12 AM
Small-Batch Experimental — Boundary-Pushing Brews
Small-batch experimental brewery on the Transpeninsular highway. Creative, boundary-pushing brews that change constantly. Ask what's new — they're always experimenting with unusual ingredients and techniques.
📍 Carr. Transpeninsular 27, Ensenada
🍺 Must-Try: Ask what's new — the menu changes constantly
💰 Price: $-$$ ($4-10 beers)
Tijuana Craft Beer — Bold Labels, Bold Flavors
Tijuana-based brewery with bold labels and bolder flavors, widely available in Ensenada bars and restaurants. Part of the cross-border craft beer culture that connects San Diego, Tijuana, and Ensenada into one of the world's great beer regions.
📍 Available at bars and restaurants throughout Ensenada
🍺 Must-Try: Ask for what's on tap — flavors range from IPAs to stouts
💰 Price: $-$$ ($4-10 per beer)
Hazy IPAs & Fruited Sours — New Wave Craft
Newer entry to the Ensenada craft beer scene with a focus on hazy IPAs and fruited sours. Part of the new wave pushing Ensenada's beer culture beyond traditional styles into juicy, tropical, experimental territory.
📍 Ensenada
🍺 Must-Try: Hazy IPA, any fruited sour
💰 Price: $-$$ ($4-10 per beer)
Mezcal Bar — Moody Vibe, Curated Selection
Moody mezcal bar with high ceilings, neon lighting, and a curated mezcal selection. Located in the revitalized Plaza Santo Tomas area. Ask the bartender for a tasting — they'll guide you through smoky, floral, and earthy varieties.
📍 Miramar 666, Zona Centro, Ensenada (near the Santo Tomas bodega)
🥃 Must-Order: Mezcal tasting flight — let the bartender guide you
💰 Price: $$ ($6-15 drinks)
🕒 Wed-Sat 6 PM - approximately midnight
Craft Cocktails — Unusual Ingredients, Skilled Bartenders
Craft cocktail bar featuring unusual ingredients like huacatay (black mint), rose water, and local botanicals. The bartenders are creative and skilled — order any signature cocktail and let them work their magic.
📍 Downtown Ensenada
🥃 Must-Order: Any signature cocktail — trust the bartender
💰 Price: $$ ($8-15 drinks)
Wine Tasting Room — Historic Baja Winery
One of Baja California's oldest and most historic wineries, with a tasting room right in downtown Ensenada. Sample wines from the Valle de Guadalupe region without making the 30-minute drive. A great introduction to Baja's wine scene, located in the revitalized Plaza Santo Tomas area.
📍 Plaza Santo Tomas, downtown Ensenada
🍷 Must-Order: Wine tasting flight of Valle de Guadalupe wines
💰 Price: $-$$ ($5-15 tastings)
Party Venue — Ensenada's Biggest Party Bar
Ensenada's most well-known party venue, popular with tourists and younger crowds. Open-air atmosphere with music, dancing, and a lively energy. Not a craft cocktail bar — this is where you go to let loose with cheap drinks and loud music.
📍 Av. Ruiz, Zona Centro, Ensenada
🍺 Must-Order: Whatever's coldest
💰 Price: $ ($3-8 drinks)