Kaluú Upscale Mexican & Lounge

**What makes this different:** While La Puerta cycles through personalities from brunch to nightclub and The Waves keeps it casual-surfy, Kaluú commits fully to the upscale lane—this is date-night Mexican with a DJ, not a taco counter with ambitions. The space leans elegant from the jump: modern decor, lounge seating, cocktails engineered for Instagram. It's the spot when you want Baja-inspired food but also want to look good eating it.

The kitchen takes border flavors seriously without the usual Gaslamp shortcuts. Octopus tacos show up with genuinely tender octopus, not the rubbery disaster most places serve. Rockfish tostadas arrive with a spicy sauce reviewers compare to Lao gan ma—specific enough to suggest someone's actually thinking in the kitchen. The chipotle hummus gets called out repeatedly as the move for starting the night, which tracks for a place that's half-lounge, half-restaurant.

Fair warning: portions run smaller than the family-style joints down the block, and the vibe shifts hard as the night goes—sports bar energy early, full nightclub mode late. The Guava Chi Chi is the drink that shows up in photos. Service pace can drag when they're slammed, and you'll pay Gaslamp premiums (expect $150+ for two with drinks). But if you want Mexican food that works for a group dinner before hitting the bars, or a special occasion that doesn't feel like every other taco spot in the Quarter, Kaluú delivers on the upscale promise. Just make a reservation—this isn't a walk-in kind of place.