Bars

Todos Santos has a number of options for grabbing a few drinks and enjoying the company of your hosts or fellow travelers, but places shut down around “Baja midnight,” or 10 P.M., so if you want to carry on later than that, you’ll need to move the party back to your own place.

In the historic Todos Santos Inn, La Copa Bar (Legaspi 33, tel. 612/145-0040, 3–11 P.M. daily) is a classy venue with romantic appeal. The entrance is on Calle Topete.

The bar in the Hotel California’s uniquely decorated La Coronela (Juárez btw Morelos/Márquez de León, tel. 612/145-0525), frequented by local expats as well as the hotel’s guests, is a fun place to have a few drinks. Stop in for live music on Saturday evenings.

On Thursday, Friday, or Saturday night, head over to Mario’s Bar (Calle La Cachora, tel. 612/145-0099, 5–10 P.M. Thurs.–Sat.) at the Hotelito for cocktails, wine, sushi, satay, and Indian curry, served by the town’s best-known surf instructor.

Theater

The restored Teatro Márquez de León (Legaspi at Márquez de León, no tel.) hosts music and dance performances, often during the annual October town fiesta. Before the La Paz city theater was built, Todos Santos had the only true theater in the state.

Festivals and Events

Fiesta Todos Santos takes place in October each year, around the feast day of the Virgen del Pilar (October 12). This four-day extravaganza begins on the second Saturday of the month and involves dances, sports competitions, horse races, theater performances, and amusement-park rides. Most of these events center around the town plaza.

The Christmas holidays are especially festive in Todos Santos, where for 12 days beginning on the Día de Guadalupe (December 12), local residents hold nightly candlelight processions to the Iglesia Nuestra Señora del Pilar. The season culminates in a midnight Mass worship service on Christmas Eve.

In late January or early February, the government-funded Todos Santos Art Festival takes place with sculptures, paintings, ceramics, and other visual works by local artists. Performing arts groups also arrive from out of town to participate in the event. Then in early March, the Todos Santos Latin Film Festival comes to town.

Also once a year, usually in February or March, historic homes in Todos Santos open to the public. Check El Calendario (www.todossantos-baja.com) for more information.