5 Bites in Santa Rosalía, Mexico

If you're doing a roadtrip down the Baja 1, chances are you're headed to one of the peninsula's best known locations: La Paz, Loreto, or Cabo San Lucas.

We're partial, though, to Santa Rosalía, a coastal town first founded by a French mining company. Don't get us wrong: You're very much in Mexico. But when you're in Santa Rosalía, you get to enjoy a unique blend of Mexican flavors—and weather!—alongside a coastal charm and French twists. Wood structures are more common here than in other parts of Southern Baja, and the prefabricated metal church often attributed to Alexander Gustave Eiffel—yes, THAT Eiffel—is a must visit.

Here we highlight five bites that will satisfy the whole family, whether you're staying a few days or hopping right back on the road.

El Boleo

Panadería El Boleo (Álvaro Obregón 24) is a Santa Rosalía institution. Built in 1901, it still operates with the same ovens that were transported from France to help bring authenticity to the baked flavors of faraway home for employees of its namesake copper mine. Those ovens fire up daily at 5 a.m. and attract customers who line up for the 7 a.m. opening. While you're unlikely to find traditional French pastries now, you can get a variety of empanadas, conchas, and cheese rolls. You can't go wrong with any of the pan dulce options here!

Tacos Calle 6

Located at the intersection of Constitución and, you guessed it, Calle 6, Tacos Calle 6 is a humble taco stand (think: cart and three plastic tables) that serves up brag-worthy seafood tacos starting bright and early in the morning. That's one of the things we love about Baja: Fish and shrimp tacos are breakfast dishes here! For picky eaters, they get the lightly battered fish by itself and eat the tortilla on the side.

El Muelle

I've been eating at El Muelle in downtown Santa Rosalía for 20 years. Located on Constitución right near the entrance to town, it offers up a variety of flavors that range from pizza to steak to ceviche in a setting that has Americana charm. After a late lunch or dinner, you can walk over to the nearby Splash for ice cream or an agua fresca.

Tonka's Grill

If you have a little more time—and a hearty appetite—we recommend Tonka's Grill. A favorite date night spot of locals, it can be a little harder to find for those unfamiliar with the town. Check out the map on Yelp for help. The patio is lovely for enjoying the blanket of stars that cover Southern Baja, and you can find dishes that range from traditional Mexican to burgers and steak.

Hotdogs—Anywhere

The hotdogs in Santa Rosalía are so famous that you can find a Food.com recipe on how to make them at home. Try as we might, we've never been able to replicate the magic that makes these hotdogs so special: Wrapped in bacon and perched atop a steamed, slightly sweet bun, this dogs come topped with the works—jalapeños, buttered onions, mayonnaise, diced tomatoes, and so much more.

They're perfect for a family on the go, especially since you can strip them down to the basics for picky eaters.

Hotdog stands are everywhere in Santa Rosalía, and we're yet to have a bad one. But the stand at the Eiffel church remains the most iconic option.