TIJUANA TRAVEL GUIDE

What to Do in Tijuana

Many people simply wander from the border up the designated tourist walkway lined striped blankets and other souvenirs and then cruise Avenida Revolución, alternately shopping and fighting off the touts. But for the even slightly ambitious, there’s a lot more than shopping to do in Tijuana.

En route to Avenida Revolución from the border, the Museo de Cera (Wax Museum, Calle Primera 8281, tel. 664/ 688-2478) is of interest mainly to lovers of kitsch, but at less than $2 a ticket, the price is certainly right. More enlightening is the cultural center, CECUT (Paseo de los Héroes at Av. Independencia, tel. 664/687-4973, www.cecut.gob.mx. Its IMAX theater shows daily nature- and culture-oriented films in English and Spanish. Within the cultural center, the excellent Museo de las Californias has many interactive exhibits as well as dioramas, artifacts, art and historical documents detailing Baja California history.

LA Cetto Winery (Calle Canón Johnson 8151, off Constitución, tel. 664/685-3031) offers a simple tour of its premises and a tasting of four or more vintages. Their vineyards in the Guadalupe Valley are far more expansive, but the TJ branch is convenient, and the shop sells wine and signature items. Beer lovers can take a look at the stainless steel vats of Cervecería Tijuana (Blvd. Fundadores 2591, tel. 664/638-8662) from the adjacent pub.

Where to Eat - Click here for price key

Avenida Revolución, the main tourist drag, is lined with restaurants catering to the gringos and other foreigners who routinely wander across “la linea” (the border). There is no shortage of medium-priced eateries with English-speaking waiters, laminated menus, and plenty of attitude. For something a cut above, consider the following suggestions.

Cien Años ($$$--$$$ Av. José María Velasco 1407, tel 664/634-3039) is an elegant yet accessible (price-wise and friendly-wise) restaurant serving upscale Mexican dishes.

Buenos Aires ($$$ Av. Gen. Rodolfo Sánchez Taboada at Calle 9, Zona Río, tel. 664/684-7332) serves good grilled meats and other Argentine specialties. In nearby Plaza Fiesta, La Taberna Espanola ($--$$ 1001 Paseo de los Héroes, Zona Río, tel. 664/684-7562) can be crowded and sometimes smoky, but it a lively place for a snack of Spanish tapas or something light.

El Portrero ($$ Blvd. Salinas 4700, tel. 664/686-3826), looks from the outside like a goofy, giant Mexi sombrero, but actually has delicious food and caters to local businesspeople and lawyers.

For a casual meal we suggest Sanborn’s ($$ Av. Revolución at Calle 8a, AKA Calle Hidalgo, 664/688-1462), a Mexican chain coffee shop and excellent variety store selling pastries, chocolate, and CDs of the current ranchero singing sensation.