Super cool people at this place, and the rooms are quite nice. Peaceful yet fun with spectacular seaside views and a beautiful restaurant serving great food. I've been visiting La Fonda since I was 16 (I'm 60 now) and have always had a great time. read more

We have been staying at La Fonda for at least 25 years, and it's always a relaxing getaway; so near, but yet so far. You can't beat the location -- right on the cliffs overlooking the beautiful beach and crashing waves. The hotel itself has always been funky, built Ramshackle into the side of the cliff. However, it has gone a bit from quaint and unique to run down and in need of some major renovation and TLC. (Many items not working, like lights, fans, TVs, etc). We did enjoy our stay, and can't beat the price starting at $100 per night (cash). We always love getting some food and drinks on their patio with the stunning ocean views. The food was actually very good this time, even better than some past visits. It would be nice they could make some improvements, though, even if it involves raising the rates a bit. But overall, still a great trip to a bit of a gem in the rough. read more

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Only four stars because it is old and could use some repairs, but...., Room with glass walls overlooking and next to a beautiful beach for $100 per night. Food in restaurant was good and view absolutely stunning. read more

I've been sitting on writing this review for a while...because the rating for this hotel could be drastically different through different peoples eyes. Before coming here I described it to my family as a chill surfer hotel (sight unseen)...that was just my impression. I booked room via email...they informed me that the room has a king bed + a single day bed...and more than enough room for an air mattress. the hotel has 3 units (the rest of the units belong to Dimitry's portion of the great divide). all 3 units are under the restaurant. park right in front of the restaurant. walk in to reception to check in. pay cash $75 weekdays/$100 weekends. American dollars/No tax/no service fees etc... our room wasn't quite ready (we arrived about 1:00 so i didn't expect it to be ready) ... we grabbed a drink and a chips/salsa on the patio of the restaurant. the View is do die for!!! restaurant's restroom was clean and quirky in design. drinks were solid and ran about $5 (more if you upgraded the tequila) chips were made from flour tortilla's....interesting. I mean they were good...but i don't prefer them over corn chips by any means. there was a bus that dropped a group of people off from a cruise ship...part of their excursion was to have lunch here. so ya...while the food was good...definitely catering to a certain type of tourist. They came and told us our room was ready..cool! we paid for our drinks and grabbed our bags from the car. in order to get to the room we needed to go through the restaurant (odd)... we wound down some dark stairs to find our room...the view was spectacular! the room had huge picture windows. we had our own private patio also. the room was very big. the room was built around a tree that was cut off and used as the base for a dining table ( a very tilted table) ,..the patio was also built around a tree that provided shade for the patio. there was a wood burning fireplace that would be super cool in the winter. ceiling fan (didn't work) would have been nice since it was blazing hot! bathroom was also quirky. we took steps up to the sink/toilet and more steps up to the shower. i'll try to post a video of the bathroom! so negative stuff...(these points really depend on the person) --the fan didn't work and all but 2 dim lights didn't work. no i didn't' tell anyone and they probably would have fixed it, but we were only there one night. --the room felt a little haunted (that's just my crazy thoughts)... --compared to the type of hotel we usually stay in...it FELT dirty...but it wasn't...no dust anywhere, sheets were clean, floor was clean. it actually was very clean, just an old place. --no fridge (we grabbed a cheap ice chest and ice from the OXXO up the way) sitting on the balcony and watching the sunset while sipping on margaritas and playing cards with the kids....it was a perfect one night getaway and I will definitely return. Thanks Gary ...we will see you again read more

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This place is an amazingly charming, rustic Mexican paradise! I do have to say: my boyfriend accidentally called the non original La

I've been to Gary's many times. I've even driven down for SD just to have a meal here and come back. If you can experience the brunch here and make it on time it's highly recommended. Amazing tortillas and staff, drinks are cheap ($4) and so is the brunch! I've had the Quail, the whole fish, and the lobster and many other things. A must try! Ps: someone's aunt is making these tortillas by hand and they are a game changer read more

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Im going to try and keep this short... (We stayed in room 21) I just came back from my Memorial Day weekend at La Fonda. It was my first time out of the United States, and I was nervous. My boyfriend has visited Mexico several times, and stayed at La Fonda. After hearing his stories, I decided to try it out. Upon arriving Friday afternoon, Sara greeted us at the checkin counter. The property is beautiful. Google Maps doesn't do it justice from the street. Dmytri was sitting at the bar and was a pleasure. Sara gave us our room key and told us where to go to find out room. When we entered our room, we were impressed with the awesome fireplace and view of the ocean from our bed. As we were unpacking, we noticed ants were crawling near and around the fireplace. We told Sara, and she had her staff come and take care of the issue quickly. I also noticed we only had two pillows on our king bed, and asked for two additional pillows. The staff quickly delivered the pillows, and told us they can bring firewood and light the fireplace if we were interested. We also requested two additional towels since the room only came with two. Each day we received four fresh towels. By our third night sleeping on the mattress, our backs and arms were killing us. The bed was horrible. But who cares when you can watch the dolphins in the morning? But they seriously need a new bed. The food was AMAZING! I have traveled all over the United States and have eaten at some of the top restaurants... this place rocks! I never would have guessed it. The staff and the wonderful owners are beyond welcoming. You truly feel as though you are home. I felt safe, welcomed, and enjoyed my stay. Sunday brunch, that my boyfriend and I call "Drunch," was AWESOME!!!! Endless margaritas and bloody mary's, amazing food from their menu, freshly made tortillas. Yum! We hung out from 10am until around 2 or 3pm. There was no need to leave. Great food, drinks, ocean view, and conversation. Yes, we did have some minor hiccups that were quickly corrected. I will stay here again!! If you are a picky person who expects luxury or some kind of high end something or other, then La Fonda isn't for you. If you are the type of person who enjoys the rustic beauty of Mexico, amazing food, great staff and owners, then come to La Fonda. The place has character. Oh! And the new spa is beautiful. I had my toenail polish fixed and enjoyed my ocean view in the process. Btw to make reservations from the US: 619-374-1374 read more

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A very nice place to go for a Sunday buffet. The free live music is some of the best. Also, the view of the ocean and the atmosphere is amazing. The food is pretty good as well. read more

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We love Lafonda we stayed in room number 23 and I have attached a video it's very charming it's got a beautiful balcony for stargazing and the bed is totally comfortable. Brick-and-mortar with the fireplace as well. The bathroom was a little bit different but I'm not going to complain because the price was great and it is a charming get away. As usual the food is delicious there was a great band one night when we were there lots of yummy lobster and Gary was there to meet and greet all of his guests! In the morning the rooster was there to greet as well and we will be back at least once a month I believe because we love it! Thanks Gary for keeping such a magical place going! read more

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It's just an iconic place to be. We are regular visitors to the restaurant for both breakfast and dinner. Last time we stayed in the rooms and walked the beach in the morning read more

" Needs a Big Time Make Over " My wife and I traveled to Rosarito Mexico last weekend and stayed at the La Fonda Hotel. The room we stayed in was supposed to be the best in the entire Hotel. Room #21 has a lot of steps and goes half way down the hill towards the beach. It has a great private view of the ocean and is romantic, but the room quality was very bad. The room was very dirty and most of the lights did not work. The main windows with the views of the ocean had no curtain, and had no privacy. The windows had so many white paint drops which had been spattered all over the windows when they painted the walls, it was so messy. Some of the other curtains in the room were very old, dirty, and had wire hanging up the rusted curtain rods. There was no Kleenex in the bathroom, no toilet paper hanger, no hand towels or wash clothes, shampoo, conditioner, and the toilet top was so dirty, and was held on the toilet by a rubber band. We also had some bed bugs ! The huge old fashion TV in the room could not be plugged in anywhere and when I asked the owner of the hotel why, he said "none of the TV's on the property work, we have no service ! So I said "Why have them in the rooms". In the restaurant I noticed that all the wall fans over the tables where people eat were all rusty and gross. Some even had plant branches growing from outside the restaurant through the fans into the inside of the restaurant. The band La Fonda had for entertainment at night was AWESOME however ! Probably the best thing about the hotel. The Lobster we had at dinner was very good, but the rest of the food was cold and just OK. The Mexican Flan for dessert was horrible and embarrassing however ! The entire Hotel and Restaurant has a great location and history in Rosarito, but it needs to be updated, refreshed, and revitalized ! Room Tip: Look for a room on street level read more

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Great Sunday brunch! Definitely worth the $16.00. Waiters are very nice and attentive. The food was great such a wide variety. The owner is also very nice and goes around checking on all his customers. read more

The La Fonda hotel and adjoining La Fonda restaurant and bar are awesome. Amazing views, friendly staff, and charming. However they are not for everybody. The rooms are unique but not perfectly clean like you may expect at a Marriott or Hilton. If you are coming to La Fonda and expecting this type of accommodation you are in for a surprise. Not to say that the rooms are dirty, they are not. But you may see bricks not lined up, paint not even, old furniture, TVs that don't work, and maybe a cobweb (they gotta work on that!). But the hotel overall is awesome. The food is amazing! The chips and salsa are BOMB! Actually everything I ate was good. The price of the hotel is reasonable but much more than the average spot around there, and the food is on the expensive side for being in baja. More like American prices, but good quality. The surf right in front is great. read more

We have come here before, while staying in La Mision (nearby housing community) and came here again this year after surfing Alistos, K58. The views are fantastic and if you can get a seat overlooking the beach it's very much worth it. The vibe is a good mix of locals from the La Fonda area and people staying at the hotel. The vibe is super friendly, the Salsa was fantastic (especially the 2nd time) with the chips coming fresh out the frier...the food is good, not amazing, but well done and good value for your money. I heard they also had 3 bands and didn't charge a cover for new years but our plans took us to Porto Nuevo. read more

A Tale of Two Hotels, Part One This part is about Dmytri's Original La Fonda. There are two La Fondas at La Mision, Baja California, but they used to be all the same hotel. We stayed there several times 20-30 years ago, but didn't this time. We just ate breakfast and browsed around the rooms. It's grown bigger, and seems to have lost some of that "Mexican getaway" flavor. The ceviche used to be to die for - not any more. Most of the rooms have decks and sea views, but many of the views appear to include other decks, and wouldn't have the "private paradise" feel that I remember. Rooms are tastefully appointed, and the quality of the construction looked good - not always a given in Mexico! The breakfast was fine, but nothing special. I saw a sign on the front desk saying that credit cards weren't accepted for room payment, which seemed odd, because the restaurant accepted them. It's still a good place, but if you're the kind of person that prefers their hotel to be more Mexican and less American, it's not quite what it was. A Tale of Two Hotels, Part Two (4 stars) Part two is about the "new" La Fonda at La Mision, Baja California, where we stayed for several nights. To explain, as best I understand - La Fonda has been there for decades. It was originally fairly small, but the proprietors owned the land extending to the north, and lived in a house a couple of hundred yards from the hotel. The hotel added on motel-style blocks until they reached the house. About 10 years ago, the owner converted the house into a bar-restaurant, and sold it, plus the adjacent block of rooms. For the last 5 years, the two owners have been locked in lawsuits. The original owner reclaimed the block of rooms, which the new owner is trying to get back (the reviewer who said that there is another hotel between the two La Fondas got his geography slightly wrong). So the "new" hotel currently consists of only the bar-restaurant, and a few rooms underneath. Where to begin? Jose, the General Manager, is fantastic. Nothing is too much trouble. The hotel accepts credit cards for anything, but does add a surcharge if you pay for the rooms that way. The cheapest way to pay is in cash pesos, because the hotel offers a great exchange rate. The food is excellent, except for breakfast, which is somewhat of an afterthought (though it looks as if they do a good brunch on Sundays). It's best to breakfast at one of the two adjacent hotels. The bar-restaurant has superb decks overlooking the ocean, and there's a great band and a lively crowd on weekends. The rooms are huge, larger than the Original La Fonda (OLF), with very private decks. Decor is "Mexican funk" - a mixture of good taste and Micky-Mouse finishing. Room rates are about the same as OLF. They also have a website, in Spanish, through which you can book rooms. OLF still doesn't. Of the two La Fondas, I prefer this one. read more

This review is only for Spacifico, the boutique spa on the grounds of the hotel. The main reason for the 5 stars is due to our experience with Antonio Salceda, the manager of the spa. He is the REAL deal! He has trained his therapists to give wonderful, relaxing massages. (The sound of ocean waves is very peaceful, too.) He also sold us arnica infused massage oil, which is the bomb! Get some if you go! We went one day and ended up going back the next day! Antonio graciously welcomed us a second time even though we were late. We can't wait to go back! read more