Things to do in Sonora
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Restaurante Mary’s
Of the mostly touristic eateries along the Old Port waterfront, breezy Mary’s is the one where locals most often eat. It’s right next to the little fish market and famed for its fish, shrimp and scallop tacos.
reviewed
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Voga
For a taste of the hot and wild local crowd that swarms in from Guaymas every weekend, this loud and brash bi-level club, toward the west end of Beltrones, is a must. A small cover charge is sometimes levied on Saturdays.
reviewed
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Mariscos Lolita
Spacious and clean, with orange-shirted waiters moving efficiently about, Lolita’s is always a sound choice for steaks, burritos, enchiladas and breakfasts as well as seafood. It’s 50m off Blvd Juárez toward Playa El Mirador.
reviewed
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Museo de los Seris
The Museo de los Seris, near the northwest end of Kino Nuevo, displays a small but interesting collection of Seri artifacts such as a reed canoe, ironwood carvings, basketry and a traditional pelican-skin costume.
reviewed
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Banco de Sonora
Near the Plaza de los Tres Presidentes are the 19th-century Iglesia de San Fernando and its Plaza 13 de Julio; the Palacio Municipal (built in 1899); and the neoclassical Banco de Sonora, which someone needs to restore in a hurry.
reviewed
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Iglesia de San Fernando
Near the Plaza de los Tres Presidentes are the 19th-century Iglesia de San Fernando and its Plaza 13 de Julio; the Palacio Municipal (built in 1899); and the neoclassical Banco de Sonora, which someone needs to restore in a hurry.
reviewed
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Palacio Municipal
Near the Plaza de los Tres Presidentes are the 19th-century Iglesia de San Fernando and its Plaza 13 de Julio; the Palacio Municipal (built in 1899); and the neoclassical Banco de Sonora, which someone needs to restore in a hurry.
reviewed
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D
Museo de Sonora
Hugging the east side of the Cerro de la Campana, this museum is worth a stroll for its location in a stone-walled, 100-year-old former jail - a museum itself - with interesting exhibits on the history of Sonora housed in former cells.
reviewed
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Sonora Steak
Inside this stately colonial-style home, situated in the hotel zone, Sonora’s famed steaks – 28-day-aged rib-eyes – are weighed tableside (M$67 per 100g), cooked to perfection and served with flour tortillas, grilled onions and jalapeños.
reviewed
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Cenaduría Dõna Lola
With stunning homemade Mexican dishes at startlingly low prices, this family-run locals’ secret is worth the trip to Álamos alone (the enchiladas suizas are the best in the world). If you hear folks refer to Koky’s, they mean here.
reviewed
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La Conquista
Head to the far east end of San Carlos for delicious seafood, pasta and steaks with a European touch, in a palapa-roofed, big-windowed, air-con dining room. La Conquista is professionally run, with excellent service and a relaxed atmosphere.
reviewed
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Verde Olivo
If you have tired of menus full of carne and pescado, there’s relief right here in the middle of beef country. Verde Olivo offers excellent grain veggie burgers, fresh juices and smoothies, and PETA-friendly versions of Mexican classics.
reviewed
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Está Cabral
This large, open-air café occupies the interior of a once-regal building and features nightly Latin folk music from 9pm, usually attracting a fun and eclectic crowd. Mexican specialties on the menu include Sonora’s very own chimichanga (fried burrito).
reviewed
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El Pargo Rojo
Never mind the poorly translated English menu at this festive and welcoming seafooder, this is the place to enjoy delicious fish dishes and hearty Mexican breakfasts in the middle of Kino Nuevo. The camarones rellenos (stuffed shrimp) are a real treat.
reviewed
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Old Jail
The old jail (1900), near the bus station on Calle 15, is also an impressive sight in an otherwise rundown neighborhood. A project is in order to move the now razed Museo Histórico de Guaymas here, though not much progress had been made at time of research.
reviewed
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La Posada
Friendly, family-run, colorfully decorated La Posada has been serving up generous portions of well-prepared Mexican standards for half a century, and it’s still packed every lunchtime. No alcohol, though. It’s just off Obregón, three blocks south of Internacional.
reviewed
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Los Encarbonadas
This excellent asadero bar serves up Sonora's specialty, carne asada, alongside a mouth-watering salsa and condiment cart that flows between tables. The 'order' serves two easy and the frijoles might just be Mexico's best. Highly recommended.
reviewed
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Antojitos Mexicanos
An unassuming, spotlessly clean, all-yellow little place that serves up satisfying and tasty home-style breakfasts, and lunch and dinner favorites like chiles rellenos (stuffed chilies with cheese or meat) and bisteck ranchero (steak with tomato, chili and onion sauce).
reviewed
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La Palapa del Pescador
Whole fried fish, stuffed lobster and other seafood delights are calling at this seaside joint with a palapa-covered patio and a juke box with a mind of its own. It’s also popular for a few cervezas (beers) at night. It’s about 2.5km from the southeast end of the Kino Nuevo strip.
reviewed
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Asadero Don Chuy
More-ish carne asada tacos are served under a wooden roof supported by wooden posts adorned with a few sets of antlers. A mere eight condiment bowls are set on your table and you can pop a couple of norteña (country) tunes on the juke box while you decide how to garnish your tacos.
reviewed
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Museo Costumbrista de Sonora
This well-done museum of Sonoran customs has extensive exhibits (all in Spanish) on the history and traditions of the people of Sonora. Special attention is paid to the influence of mining on Álamos, and the fleeting prosperity it created. There’s also a shop selling some Mayo crafts.
reviewed
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El Panteón
Álamos’ deliciously ancient cemetery is a fascinating jumble of above-ground tombs, elaborate headstones made of pastel-hued crosses and angel statues, and tall palm trees. It began receiving the dead of wealthy families in 1751, when the practice of burying them inside the church was abolished.
reviewed
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Cerro de la Campana
This 'Hill of the Bell' is the most prominent landmark in the area and an easy point of reference night or day. It's named for the legend that striking certain rocks on the hill creates a bell sound. The panoramic view from the top is worth the drive up - though it's a shame about the numerous telecommunication towers.
reviewed
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Siete de Copas/La Tequilera
This bar complex features Siete de Copas, a large, somewhat rowdy modern cantina (imagine a contemporary version of the one in Robert Rodriguez' From Dusk Till Dawn); and La Tequilera, a two-story bar with dueling live music on the open-air roof upstairs and indoors in the bar down below. Both attract the city's young and hip.
reviewed
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Casa del Mar
The Casa del Mar is a visitors center for the 900-island Área de Protección de Flora y Fauna Islas del Golfo de California. It has very informative displays in Spanish and English, and issues permits for visiting the islands (M$40 per person per island per day). It’s two blocks off Avenida Mar de Cortez near the northwest end of Kino Nuevo.
reviewed