Rocky Point Malecon: Visit downtown Puerto Peñasco -

BY JARED DILLINGHAM

TRAVEL GUIDE: THE ROCKY POINT MALECON

Rocky Point’s malecon refers to the main downtown area of Puerto Peñasco. It consists of a line of bars, restaurants, stores, markets and more along the waterfront.

The malecon has a rowdy reputation, but don’t let that keep you away. It’s safe, colorful, and full of good food and beautiful views of the Sea of Cortez!

Resorts & Rentals Near the Malecon

I have a whole blog full of information and photos of Rocky Point’s Resorts.

Select dates to see prices for rentals in Rocky Point.

Keep in mind: Many condos in the resorts on the beach rent as VRBOs:

Markets on the Malecon

The malecon in downtown Rocky Point is home to several fish markets. Their inventory changes with the seasons, but you’ll always find great options to buy here and take back to your resort or rental home to grill up!

The guys at Marco’s are really nice and friendly. They’ll always have a bag of freshly-caught shrimp on ice to take home!

The fish markets on the malecon will also have oysters and other kinds of fish to choose from, depending on what the boats are bringing in. Again, it’s all fresh-caught, on ice, and they’ll clean it and filet the fish for you right on the spot.

Shopping on Rocky Point’s Malecon

Shopping on the malecon in Puerto Peñasco is pretty underwhelming if you’re looking for something other than typical souvenirs, shirts, hats, and beach towels.

Souvenir Shops

Rocky Point’s touristy shops line up along the malecon. The vendors aren’t overly pushy, and they have a sense of humor as you walk through, yelling things like, “Come check out this junk you don’t need!”

If you’re looking for a gift, or if you forgot something you’ll need for the beach, the malecon is a good place to pick them up.

Curios Sofia

Just off the malecon is a big shop I’d recommend stopping into, if you’re looking for something more authentically made in Mexico.

Curios Sofia is a big Mexican pottery, craft and decor shop, which you can find a few blocks north of the malecon.

You’ll walk through a maze of handmade products on several floors of Curios Sofia.

I’m too awkward to haggle over prices, but that’s apparently the name of the game here. You can always ask for a lower price, if you’d like. They’re very friendly, and might agree to it.

In m y case I paid $60 for this giant pot for my mom, which I thought was more than fair! It’d cost double that much in Phoenix!

You can click here for the location of Curios Sofia in Rocky Point.

Rocky Point Gallery

Another shopping option off the malecon is the Rocky Point Gallery. It’s open 11-6 daily, and features a variety of local artwork.

It’s just a block north, and you can click here for a map to the exact location.

Puerto Peñasco Restaurants on the Malecon

You’ll find tourist traps, multi-story bars, authentic kitchens, and seafood options along this convenient and (at times) rowdy stretch in Rocky Point.

Boo Bar

We love Boo Bar because of its connection to Arizona! The walls are lined with all kinds of Arizona license plates, ASU swag, and other “State 48” decor. It’s a longtime favorite of Rocky Point regulars.

Boo Bar is famously “right above the fish market” along the malecon. It’s made of a couple of floors of bar/restaurant space, plus a patio area overlooking the Sea of Cortez.

The view is perfect from updaters. You can pull a chair or stool up and sip your drinks as you stare into the bright blue waters of the sea, or watch the sunset in the evening.

Or you can park yourself in one of the swings hanging above the main bar!

Boo Bar has a food menu (with desserts) along with the beers and margaritas you’d expect.

The sea breezes are nice at Boo Bar, which is open until midnight on Fridays and Saturdays.

Boo Bar Menu & Hours

Click here for Boo Bar’s menu
Sunday thru Thursday: 10:00am – 11:00pm
Friday & Saturday: 10:00am – 12:00am

Tortilleria Hernandez

The tortilleria isn’t advertised, and I really just stumbled upon it by accident. Maybe it’s more well-known by locals?

Either way, it’s a hole-in-the-wall, where a family churns out amazing tortillas which you can buy by the bag.

Their streetside kitchen is a block north of the malecon. You can take the tortillas and other products home as soon as they’re cool! The tortillas sell in packs of 10 for $3.00.

Tortilleria Hernandez doesn’t come up on Google Maps, but here’s the closest match to its location: Expendio Malecon:

El Oktopus, Rocky Point

You get what you’d expect (and more) from a place called El Oktopus on the malecon! They serve pretty much a full octopus on a platter for $30.

The tentacles are surrounded by patatas bravas.

Octopus is incorporated into several of the menu options at El Oktopus. The seafood is all fresh from the Sea of Cortez. El Oktopus also serves a mix of Mexican and American favorites.

Even though the restaurant doesn’t back up to the sea itself, you can still enjoy your dinner with a view from the second floor patio.

El Oktopus Info & Hours

Check the El Oktopus Facebook page for photos of the food (and the Octopus Platter!)
Daily: 11:00am – 10:00pm
Happy Hour: 3:00pm – 5:00pm
Call for information: +52 638 388 5570

The Point

The Point is one of the most eye-catching spots on the malecon in Rocky Point! It’s the only restaurant built on stilts over the sea.

The Point is a colorful three-story restaurant, with patios that wrap around.

The chef’s special at The Point is a flounder-shrimp meal, but they also serve non-seafood items, including highly-recommended burritos!

Here’s a photo from a drone, showing The Point, standing out from the rest of the malecon over the water:

The Point Hours

The Point doesn’t have a menu posted online, but if they add one I’ll post it.
Sunday thru Thursday: 9:00am – 10:00pm
Friday & Saturday: 9:00am – 11:00pm
Call for reservations & information: +52 638 388 0779

Sites to See on Rocky Point’s Malecon

the Puerto Peñasco Sign

The traditional big-block letter sign for Puerto Peñasco is on the south end of the malecon, up a flight of steps from a plaza.

While you’re there, you can check out some of the historical statues and plaques about Rocky Point, and the plaza itself.

This was the site of a tense border governors conference in 2007, as Rocky Point was really becoming much more of a tourist destination and new resorts were going up.

The governors of border states in Mexico and the United States met to discuss border security and other issues. They included then-governors Janet Napolitano of Arizona and Arnold Schwarzenegger of California.

The governors of California, Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas mostly focused on their concerns of illegal immigration and drug trafficking.

The Mexican governors focused on stopping weapons from flowing south from the US into Mexico. They also tried to convince the Americans that a border fence would do more harm than good.

Their efforts failed, and the United States began construction on a new 370-mile stretch of fence. Schwarzenegger stood with the Mexicans on that front, opposing the expiation of a fence.

Beaches Near The Rocky Point Malecon

Most of the nice, sandy beaches are a short drive from downtown Rocky Point and the malecon.

Manny’s Beach Club

Manny’s Beach Club is a longtime establishment on the shores of Rocky Point. Its prime location is on Playa Mirador, which is just southeast of the Malecon.

Manny’s has grown over the years, and now includes a bar, a hotel, a stage, and the beach.

You can see from the drone how clear the water is right off the sandy beach in front of Manny’s:

playa mirador Rocky Point is home to manny's beach club

Over the years, Manny’s has been known by several different names. It actually closed for a while, but reopened as “new and improved and expanded” in 2018.

The expansion included the hotel, cabanas, and an infinity-edge pool.

Make no mistake: Manny’s is definitely a beach *club. It gets crowded when they bring in DJs and bands, especially during Spring Break.

At the same time, Manny’s can also be very family-friendly during the day. If you check their social media, they often advertise crafts and other activities for kids.

Manny’s Beach Club Info & Hours

Check Manny’s Facebook page for more information
Monday through Thursday: 8:00am – 11:00pm
Friday thru Sunday: 8:00am – midnight

Wrap: Beyond Rocky Point’s Malecon

While the malecon may be a hub for Rocky Point, you likely won’t spend all of your time there on a visit. It’s great for bar-hopping and dinner, but there’s much more to explore on a visit to Puerto Peñasco.

Among My Favorites:

Wrecked at the Reef This iconic Rocky Point establishment has a welcoming staff and crowd, on the sandy beach north and west of the malecon. Day or night, you can sip margaritas in the sand, enjoy the sea views, and listen to live music. Click here for a full separate blog about Wrecked at the Reef.
Pane e Vino Try the unexpectedly good Italian food at this restaurant at the top of Whale Hill.
CEDO This international environmental research group has a visitor center nearby, which is interesting for adults and kids.
Las Conchas This is one of Rocky Point’s best beaches, daytime, at sunset, or at low tide when you can find pretty shells.