Restaurant in Todos Santos, Mexico
Michelin-noted dining at a price that holds up.
Benno is the strongest case for a special occasion dinner in Todos Santos: a Michelin Plate recipient in 2024 and 2025, Chef Jonathan Benno brings serious fine dining credentials to an Italian-Mexican format at the $$$ price point, undercutting most of its local competition by a full price tier. Book two to three weeks ahead during peak winter season.
Benno is the right call for couples or small groups planning a dinner that feels like the reason you came to Todos Santos in the first place. If you are marking an anniversary, a birthday, or simply want one meal on a Baja trip that earns its price tag, this is where to spend it. Chef Jonathan Benno brings a formal culinary pedigree to a town that has plenty of good food but very few restaurants operating at this register. The leading time to go is during the cooler months, roughly November through March, when Baja California Sur's weather is at its most agreeable and the town fills with the kind of travellers who plan ahead. Book a table in that window and you are getting the full version of what Benno does.
Todos Santos sits on the Pacific coast of Baja California Sur, about an hour north of Los Cabos, and it has spent years developing a reputation as a place where serious food, art, and slower travel coexist. Benno is not incidental to that reputation — it is one of the restaurants that makes it credible. In a town where most dining options skew casual or lean heavily on surf-and-tacos familiarity, a Michelin Plate recipient operating at the $$$ price point with an Italian-Mexican format occupies a genuinely different position.
That Italian-Mexican combination is not a gimmick if you understand Jonathan Benno's background. He trained and worked at the highest levels of American fine dining , his time at restaurants like Le Bernardin in New York City and Per Se gave him a technical foundation that most chefs cooking in a town this size simply do not have. Bringing that training to Todos Santos, and threading it through both Italian and Mexican culinary references, produces something that is harder to replicate than it sounds. Michelin agreed, awarding a Plate in both 2024 and 2025 , a signal of consistent quality, not a one-year anomaly. For context on what Michelin recognition means in Mexico, you can look at peers like Pujol in Mexico City, Le Chique in Puerto Morelos, or KOLI Cocina de Origen in Monterrey , all operating in larger, more competitive markets. Benno earning that same recognition in Todos Santos, population under 10,000, says something about the level of intent here.
The address places the restaurant on México 19, the main highway corridor that runs through the area. This is not a hidden courtyard or a boutique hotel dining room , it is a destination you drive to, which means you need to plan around it rather than stumble in. That also means walk-ins are possible but not a reliable strategy, particularly during high season when tables at this price point fill several days out.
At $$$, Benno sits below the $$$$ ceiling charged by several of its Todos Santos peers, including DŪM, Oystera, and TENOCH by Paradero Todos Santos. For a special occasion dinner, that relative value matters. You are getting Michelin-recognised cooking at a lower price point than much of the local competition , which is not a common combination anywhere, and is particularly rare in a town that has seen restaurant prices climb steadily with its tourism profile.
A Google rating of 4.9 across 35 reviews is a small sample, but the consistency of that score suggests the experience is reliable rather than occasionally brilliant. For a celebration dinner, reliability matters as much as ceiling quality , you want confidence that the kitchen is delivering, not hoping you land on a good night.
For those planning broader Baja dining, the region has a strong restaurant scene beyond Todos Santos. Animalón in Valle de Guadalupe, Lunario in El Porvenir, and Olivea Farm to Table in Ensenada are all worth knowing about if you are moving through the peninsula. And if you want to benchmark against fine dining at a different scale entirely, Lazy Bear in San Francisco is a useful reference point for what chef-driven tasting formats can do in the US West Coast market Benno's clientele often travels from.
Book at least one to two weeks ahead during shoulder season, and three or more weeks out during peak winter travel (December through February). Benno is not impossible to get into, but it is not a same-day decision at this level. The venue's phone and website are not listed in current databases, so your leading approach is to check directly through reservation platforms or contact through whatever booking channel the restaurant currently uses , your hotel concierge in Todos Santos will almost certainly know the current method.
The $$$ price point suggests a dinner where a couple can expect to spend meaningfully without hitting the ceiling of Baja's most expensive rooms. Dress expectations are not formally documented, but smart casual is a safe assumption for a Michelin Plate venue of this type.
For a full picture of what to do around your dinner, see our full Todos Santos restaurants guide, our Todos Santos hotels guide, our bars guide, our wineries guide, and our experiences guide for the area. For wider Mexico context, HA' in Playa del Carmen and Levadura de Olla in Oaxaca round out a picture of what serious regional cooking looks like across the country.
| Venue | Cuisine | Price | Awards | Booking Difficulty | Leading For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Benno | Italian, Mexican | $$$ | Michelin Plate ×2 | Moderate | Special occasion, couples |
| DŪM | Mexican | $$$$ | , | Moderate–High | Immersive Mexican dining |
| Oystera | Seafood | $$$$ | , | Moderate | Seafood-focused meals |
| TENOCH by Paradero | Mexican | $$$$ | , | Moderate–High | Hotel dining experience |
Yes, at the $$$ price point it is the most credentialled restaurant in Todos Santos relative to what you pay. Two consecutive Michelin Plates (2024 and 2025) and a 4.9 Google rating confirm that the kitchen delivers consistently. Compared to DŪM, Oystera, and TENOCH , all $$$$ , Benno gives you Michelin-recognised quality at a lower spend. The value case is strong for anyone who was already planning a higher-end dinner.
No specific dietary restriction policies are documented in current venue data. Given the Italian-Mexican format and the level of kitchen sophistication implied by Michelin recognition, the team is likely accustomed to accommodating common restrictions , but contact the restaurant directly before arrival to confirm. The phone and website are not publicly listed in current databases; your hotel concierge is the fastest route to reaching them.
Group capacity information is not available in current data. For groups larger than four, contact the restaurant well in advance , small, chef-driven venues at this price point often have limited large-table configurations. If group dining flexibility is a priority, TENOCH by Paradero Todos Santos, which operates within a hotel property, may offer more structural options.
One to two weeks minimum during shoulder season (April–October), and three or more weeks during peak winter travel (November–March). Benno holds a Michelin Plate and sits at the leading of Todos Santos dining in terms of recognition, which means demand during high season is real. Do not treat this as a walk-in option if you are visiting during the busy winter months.
The main alternatives at the leading of the market are DŪM for an immersive Mexican format, Oystera if seafood is your focus, and TENOCH by Paradero Todos Santos for a hotel-anchored experience. All three are $$$$, which makes Benno the stronger value play if you want Michelin-level quality. If the Italian-Mexican format does not appeal and you want pure regional Mexican cooking, DŪM is the most direct comparison.
It is one of the better choices for a special occasion dinner in Baja California Sur outside of Los Cabos. The Michelin Plate credentials, $$$ price positioning (high-end without being the most expensive option in town), and consistent 4.9 guest rating make it a reliable choice when the meal needs to deliver. For a couple's anniversary or a birthday dinner in Todos Santos, this is where to book.
No tasting menu format is confirmed in current venue data. Given Jonathan Benno's fine dining background and the Italian-Mexican format, a structured menu is plausible, but do not assume it exists , confirm with the restaurant directly. If a tasting format is available, the Michelin recognition across two years suggests it would meet the standard you would expect from that format.
Specific dishes are not documented in available data, and Pearl does not fabricate menu items. What the Michelin Plate and chef background do confirm is that the kitchen operates at a level where the menu is built with intention. Ask the server what the kitchen is focusing on that evening , at a restaurant of this type, the answer will point you toward what is performing leading.
| Venue | Price | Value |
|---|---|---|
| Benno | $$$ | — |
| DŪM | $$$$ | — |
| Oystera | $$$$ | — |
| TENOCH by Paradero Todos Santos | $$$$ | — |
Comparing your options in Todos Santos for this tier.
At $$$, Benno sits at a price point most couples can justify for a destination dinner in Todos Santos without hitting the $$$$-ceiling charged by TENOCH by Paradero or DŪM. Two consecutive Michelin Plates (2024 and 2025) confirm the kitchen is cooking at a level above the average Todos Santos option. If Italian technique applied to Mexican ingredients is your format, the value holds. If you want a straight-up Mexican-focused menu, Oystera is a sharper fit at a potentially lower outlay.
The venue database does not document specific dietary accommodation policies for Benno. Given the Italian-Mexican format and $$$ positioning, it is reasonable to call ahead with specific requirements before booking rather than assuming flexibility. No phone number is currently listed in Pearl's records, so reaching out via the restaurant directly on arrival in Todos Santos, or through your accommodation concierge, is the practical route.
Group capacity details are not available in Pearl's current records for Benno. For parties of four or more at the $$$ tier, TENOCH by Paradero Todos Santos is documented as having more structured group-dining infrastructure. If Benno is your preference, contact the restaurant as early as possible — small Todos Santos restaurants frequently have limited seatings and tighter group maximums than their Cabo counterparts.
Book one to two weeks out during shoulder season; three or more weeks ahead if you are travelling December through February, when Los Cabos-adjacent demand spills into Todos Santos noticeably. Benno's Michelin recognition means it draws diners who are specifically looking for it, so leaving a same-week booking to chance during peak winter travel is a risk not worth taking.
DŪM and TENOCH by Paradero Todos Santos both operate at $$$$ and pitch a more formal, resort-adjacent experience. Oystera is the closest alternative at the same general tier if you want a seafood-led rather than Italian-inflected menu. For the Italian-Mexican combination specifically, Benno has no direct like-for-like competitor in Todos Santos, which is part of what makes it worth booking if that format appeals to you.
Yes, for couples or small groups who want a dinner that reflects where they are without tipping into full resort-formality, Benno at $$$ with back-to-back Michelin Plate recognition is a sound pick. It is the kind of meal that feels intentional without requiring a $$$$ budget or a hotel dining room setting. If the occasion demands a private room or a more theatrical production, TENOCH by Paradero Todos Santos is the upgrade to consider.
Tasting menu availability and format are not documented in Pearl's current records for Benno. Given Chef Jonathan Benno's background and the Michelin Plate recognition, a structured multi-course format would not be out of place here — but confirming directly with the restaurant before you arrive is necessary if a tasting menu is central to your booking decision.
Keep this venue in your Pearl passport, rate it after you visit, and track it alongside every other place you collect.
