The signature moments at Mango Deck come during spring break when crowds of suntanned students pack the beach in front of the cantina, drinking beer and cheering on sex positions contests as a Pancho Villa lookalike named Big Johnson patrols the perimeter, occasionally pulling shot glasses from crisscrossed bandoliers.
Mango Deck's reputation as the party central bar on the beach owes a lot to the annual spring break craziness that envelops Cabo San Lucas, and let's be honest, the reputation is certainly well-deserved. But Mango Deck is more than just a seaside cantina that caters to college students. The privileged Medano Beach property also boasts a well-regarded restaurant, and a beach club that rents out snorkeling and other aquatic equipment, from stand-up paddle boards and banana boats to wave runners and tandem kayaks.
Romantic sunset dinners are among Mango Deck's many facets — Photo courtesy of Mango Deck
The restaurant is open all day and well into the night, and showcases a varied menu that includes Mexican and American comfort food favorites, fresh seafood and sushi, and BBQ baby back ribs from the beachside grill. Mango Deck is the rare spot that is actually a little crazier during the day. But even at its craziest, you'll still see families eating on the shaded deck, or arranging water-based rentals from the beach club. As the sun goes down, couples often gather to sip tropical cocktails and watch the sun set over Land's End.
Like Cabo Wabo and El Squid Roe, Mango Deck is one of the few Cabo San Lucas cantinas that not only consistently draws first-time and return visitors, but is also perennially popular with seasonal and full-time residents. It seems just about everybody likes a good time, particularly when the recipe includes sun, sand, surf, suds and seafood.
And if you want to relive your college days, just wave at the guy that looks like Pancho Villa.
