Lunario

Ensenada

The shining star of sustainability in Valle de Guadelupe

Set into the verdant heart of Baja California’s Valle de Guadalupe, Lunario blends culinary innovation with environmental stewardship, looking to the agricultural traditions of Mexico’s Ensenada and the restaurant’s very terroir to form the core of its culinary programme.

Known for its farm-to-table ethos and unwavering commitment to challenging the boundaries of what is considered sustainable sourcing, Lunario has become a glowing example of how gastronomy can celebrate nature, while still looking to preserve it, all in the same mouthful.

Lunario’s admirable preoccupation with sustainability begins with its sourcing. The restaurant partners with local farmers, fishermen and artisans who adhere to ethical and eco-friendly practices. Almost everything served at Lunario comes from the local area: be from its partner farm, Finca la Carrodilla, that supplies 90% of its vegetables, or fresh fish from the Pacific, both harvested less than 15 kilometres away.

Perhaps the most radical example of its insistence on local sourcing is the lack of beef on the menu. Chef Sheyla Alvarado realised that by eliminating beef as an option – which had previously been sourced from more than 1,000 kilometres away – it would bring the restaurant’s sourcing radius to within 50 kilometres.

Continuing the ‘no beef’ theme, the Lunario culinary team has introduced a fully vegan menu alongside its omnivorous and vegetarian options.

Beyond the menus, which are flexible and adapted to what the restaurant has in stock, with any leftovers preserved and jarred for sale, a zero-waste philosophy permeates the kitchen. Chefs creatively repurpose byproducts into new dishes, use vegetable scraps to make ferments and shrubs, or compost materials to enrich the soil of nearby farms.

The drinks list gets the same hyper-local treatment, with a wine menu composed entirely of regional labels and a beverage offering that is 100% Mexican, with 95% of it coming from within Baja California. Beyond the plate and glass, Lunario’s approach to sustainability extends to its community engagement. The restaurant hosts educational workshops on regenerative farming and responsible fishing, as well as working with local charitable institutions to address homelessness among women in the area.

For its unwavering dedication to championing the region and efforts to preserve the natural landscape, agriculture and environment of Valle de Guadalupe, Lunario Restaurant has earned the Sustainable Restaurant Award as part of Latin America’s 50 Best Restaurants 2024.  

Contact