Cabo Wabo Cantina: Party Like a Rockstar

Cabo is definitely known as a resort city with a distinctive party atmosphere.  In fact, some new travelers may associate the name Cabo with another type of party atmosphere, namely Sammy Hagar.  It seems that that Cabo and Sammy seem to compliment each other's rocking styles and with good reason.  What's the story behind this association? 

The Cabo Wabo Cantina is one of the premier attractions in all of Cabo San Lucas.  Tourists of the Cabo Wabo Cantina may already know that contemporary legend Sammy Hagar, a singer and guitarist of Van Halen, Montrose and the Waboritas, owns the establishment.  In the year 1990, Hagar pioneered the then-uncool idea of starting a nightclub and restaurant in Cabo.  Though a celebrity-endorsed nightclub in Cabo was untested at the time, the risk paid off handsomely for Hagar and his fellow investors, all band mates of Van Halen.  Eventually, Hagar bought out his other members and retained full control of the Cabo Wabo Cantina. 

If you are a rock and roll fan then you may actually recognize the Cabo Wabo Cantina from the 1999 music video "Mas Tequila" from the Red Voodoo album.  The video was filmed from Cabo Wabo Cantina and undoubtedly mas tequila was passed around during the creative process.  Knowing that Hagar is making a name for himself in business is all well and good, but what does the Cabo Wabo Cantina have to offer Hagar fans?  How about the chance to see Hagar perform live and in person?  Sammy Hagar is known to play at the club, particularly during his yearly Autumn Birthday Bash with his new band the Waboritas.  Because of Hagar's many contacts in the business, patrons of Cabo Wabo Cantina may be treated to some surprise musical guests.

While Sammy Hagar has gone onto other business projects, such as opening Cabo Wabos in Lake Tahoe and St. Louis, and starting a line of Cabo Wabo Tequila that will soon be marketed globally, the original Cabo Wabo Cantina has always maintained the highest level of service.  What is it like to experience a night in this rock and roll party atmosphere?  The Cabo Wabo Cantina is one part restaurant, one part concert hall and one part rowdy nightclub.  The Cabo Wabo Cantina has grown beyond just a bar...it has become a landmark of Cabo San Lucas culture.

Hagar later admitted that the Cabo Wabo Cantina was a bold experiment, considering that the city was fairly small for such an elaborate nightclub in the year 1990. When he first arrived in Cabo in the 80's, it had only one hotel and was primarily known as a fishing village.  (Not even a telephone or local newspaper could be found!)  Now in 2008, the nightclub and restaurant is one of the premier attractions in all of Mexico and has been featured on various media shows and magazines. As for the origin of the name Cabo Wabo? Named after a local resident who had one too many tequilas one night—and helped to make history.