Ensenada - Favorite NON Tourist places -- Or where Locals might also go?

[RSS from SF]

Ensenada, Baja California: Favorite NON Tourist places -- Or interesting or good places where Locals might also go?

 

I'll be on a port stop in Ensenada on Saturday 12/31/05 from 9:00am to 6:00pm*.

 

(Haven't been here before, nor elsewhere in Baja except for a childhood Tijuana visit -- although I have been elsewhere in Mexico.)

 

 

I'm on a hunt for:

1. NON Tourist spots -- where Locals might go and yet be also interesting or good to visit for us.

2. Maybe Tourist Spots -- but where a Local feels comfortable enough to be a tourist, too!

 

Do you have any favorite non-touristy spots you like to go here -- or maybe a spot you like to go where you don't "just" feel like a tourist?

 

Eating places, Locals' stores or shopping areas, Places to walk and explore, and/or just spots to Hang Out in are especially welcome.

 

 

Thanks in advance for your suggestions!

 

 

P.S.

FYI, this also has been posted in the Ports of Call > Mexican Riviera sub-board.

(http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=261529)

 

*For those of you familiar with the 3-day Baja itinerary, I'm actually on Paradise this time. Monarch is there the same day, but from 8:00am to 5:00pm.

[Ericknow32]

I am afraid to tell you, you will not find much luck. Enenada is not the best port of call. But here on the west-coast it's what we got. Other people may know more then me but it's all pretty-much a tourist city and I don't think you can get away from that.

[fireguy091]

the only thing Ensenada has going for it it junk shopping and a party at "Papa's and Beers"

[Leafpeeper]

We enjoyed doing the tour of the Blow Hole in Ensenada. It was an inexpensive tour with fantastic viewing of cliff divers. We had considered doing the movie studio tour. If you just want to stay close, you could stroll the pier area near the ship. We enjoyed watching the harbor seals in Ensenada.

[RSS from SF]

Thanks everybody for the replies. If anybody else has more ideas, please pipe in!

 

Other people may know more then me but it's all pretty-much a tourist city and I don't think you can get away from that.

Thanks for posting Eric. Since I really would be a tourist anyway, I would be happy to go places that the average cruiser doesn't go to, or where I know that not everyone around me is playing tourist. I did manage to find a few leads, especially through VirtualTourist and TripAdvisor. I'll post my findings in a followup post.

 

Fireguy091:

I've heard that Papas and Beer is definitely a place where Locals hang out with the tourists, especially at night. I'd rather go there sometime when a cruise ship isn't docked, which of course ain't gonna happen this time since I'm a cruiser too. Someday I may get to do that -- drive down and stop on my way further south. (My goddaughter's family lives in La Paz.)

 

Annatomie:

Thanks for the tip on the church; I definitely plan to visit there. I'll keep an eye out for the Fish Taco stand too, which I might have room for if I don't overdo my visit to the Mercado Negro (the fish market) where I earlier plan to gorge on fish tacos and cocteles (seafood cocktails). Also thanks for the article on the wineries. If I decide to stay just in town, I'll at least plan to visit Bodega Santo Tomas.

 

Leafpeeper:

I know it's La Bufadora is a place to go at least once, so I'll likely get myself there -- but probably by taking a taxi rather than a tour so I can get around elsewhere. I know the new Ensenada Costco is on the way, and I might just stop there out of curiosity -- also because I might find some good local/regional books at a great price (just like I find at my local one -- but of course for SF/California instead.)

I definitely will be walking on the waterfront along the El Malecon to enjoy the new walkway as well as visiting the Fish Market.

[RSS from SF]

Here's some links/information that I found elsewhere, that you might find helpful too:

 

VirtualTourist - ENSENADA Travel Guide

Especially the following categories:

Off the Beaten Path in Ensenada

Local Customs in Ensenada

Things To Do in Ensenada

 

Trip Advisor's Ensenada Forum

 

VirtualTourist: MarcMalano's Ensenada Page -- lives in Ensenada and has many tips, plus an Ensenada expert at TripAdvisor.com

 

VirtualTourist: Stephen-KarenConn's Ensenada Page -- begins with introductory article "Ensenada, Mexico: More than just a Tourist Town"

Excerpt: "The city has a tourist face, but also a more authentic local side to be discovered. The surrounding area offers abundant opportunities for exploration of natural wonders as well as historic and cultural interests.

...It's a shame that many Americans seem to think of Ensenada as only a party town - a place for young Americans to come and get drunk. For the informed visitor this charming city by the bay has so much more to to offer. We share just a few highlights from our own trip here. We will have to return to the area to explore more of the national parks, wine country, pueblos, missions, museums, hiking trails and much more that we did not have time to see on our most recent visit."

 

Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church

 

El Malecon -- "El Malecon is a new boardwalk along the downtown waterfront from Azueta to Av. Castillo. This is a very popular spot for both locals and tourists to promenade."

 

Out of the Tourist Zone -- Walk up Calle Segunda for the view of the city

 

Restaurant "El Taco de Huitzilopochtli", a Locals' restaurant -- "They serve food from the Aztec region of Mexico, including this fantastic barbequed meat. It is so homey feeling and I promise there will not be an American for miles."

 

Riviera del Pacifico -- "The Social, Civic and Cultural Center of Ensenada occupies the former Riviera del Pacifico, once a gambling casino and hotel. ...It said that Al Capone's money built the casino, and it was a favored gathering place for wealthy Americans and Mexicans during the Prohibition era. ...We enjoyed exploring the magnificent old structure, and were glad to tip a custodian who proudly gave us a "free" tour"

[RSS from SF]

FYI, I followed up with a more specific inquiry on the TripAdvisor Ensenada forum.

 

So far, there has been a recommendation for Mahi Mahi Restaurant, which sounds like a good bet for tourists as well as locals.

 

The link for the post follows. On my reply regarding the above restaurant, I also found and posted the link for a passenger discount coupon website.

(I don't know if all the coupons are still valid because there's no expiration, but it's something to pursue. The Mahi Mahi coupon is for a free caesar salad on weekdays.)

• http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g150770-i329-k370883-Locals_favorite_or_recommended_Fish_Market_Tacos_Cocteles_Supermarket_Pan_Dulce-Ensenada_Baja_California.html

[Cauvet]

I spent a week in Ensenada a couple of years ago and lived with a family and took Spanish classes. One night they took us out to show us where the locals go. First stop was Hussongs. This once was THE place to go before Papas and Beer. As a matter of fact, I remember going on a cruise to Ensenada in about 1994 and we went to Papas and it was as dead as a doornail, but Hussoungs was jumping. There is a restaurant at the end of the main drag and I never can remember it's name(La Paloma or La Palapas). It is on the left about a block past Papas and Beer. It has really festive colored tables and chairs. The cocteles are to die for and we always add a couple of different fish tacos to go with them. Margaritas are good too. They have a good soup called Seven Mares which may also be good cause it isn't too warm in Ensenada that time of the year. There is also a little coffee shop on a side street a couple of blocks down towards the shopping area that they too us to where locals hang out. There is also a very good fish restaurant in the shopping area (can't remember the name) that all the locals go to. It isn't fancy, but clean, good and inexpensive. Lobster season is now so you may want to try Baja Lobster when you go. When I was there last May, lobster was about $16 for a dinner and that wasn't the season. The fish market is quite impressive and there are lots of little restaurants in it. Choose one without too many flies.

 

We live in SD and used to go to Ensenada often just as a getaway, but since 9/11, it is so hard to cross the border that we only go when we take one of the shorty cruises.

[RSS from SF]

Thanks for the recommendations Cauvet! There's a Tacos La Palapa one one end of Miramar near or at the Fish Market -- perhaps that's the first restaurant: http://www.ensenada.com/tacoslapalapa/.

There's part of a menu online too (doesn't show the fantastic Siete Mares on that portion, unless that's perhaps translated as the Mix Sea Food soup there): http://www.ensenada.com/tacoslapalapa/menu.html.

 

I'll keep my eyes open for the other places, too.

 

Much appreciated for the tips, -R-

[CruisinDawn]

Thanks for all the info!! I too was on the hunt for something different and off the beaten path. Brovo Cruise Critic folk.

 

BonVoyage

Dawna

[RSS from SF]

There is a restaurant at the end of the main drag and I never can remember it's name(La Paloma or La Palapas). It is on the left about a block past Papas and Beer. .... They have a good soup called Seven Mares which may also be good cause it isn't too warm in Ensenada that time of the year. ....

There's a Tacos La Palapa one one end of Miramar near or at the Fish Market -- perhaps that's the first restaurant

Cauvet,

I think I found another restaurant that is more likely to be the place you were describing. It's at the end of the street (Avenida Lopez Mateos) at Avenida Ryerson:

 

El Palmar Restaurant & Bar: http://www.ensenada.com/elpalmar/

Here's the menu, which has the 7 Mares soup: http://www.ensenada.com/elpalmar/menu.html

 

In 2004's Ensenada International Seafood Fair, the restaurant was awarded 1st place in the "Cold Shellfish/Combination" category:

http://www.ensenadagazette.com/seafood04.html

 

NOTE: The above link also lists other restaurants and their awards.

 

(See the following for a link to the 2005 awards, which only mentions some of the winners and doesn't list all the awards/restaurants:

http://www.ensenadagazette.com/seafood05.html)

[RSS from SF]

If you find yourself south of downtown on Reforma (on the way to/from La Bufadora), there's been some buzz on the mega supermarket COMERCIAL MEXICANA, which apparently just opened up yesterday 12/14/05 -- across the street from the new COSTCO.

 

If I end up that way, I plan to check out both:

 

Comercial Mexicana "impressive even to U.S. standards"; see posts from Dec 13, 2005:

http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g150770-i329-k370883-Locals_favorite_or_recommended_Fish_Market_Tacos_Cocteles_Supermarket_Pan_Dulce-Ensenada_Baja_California.html

Comercial Mexicana post:

http://forums.bajanomad.com/viewthread.php?tid=14609

Costco post:

http://forums.bajanomad.com/viewthread.php?tid=13319