By Juan Pablo Sebastián
In 2026, the Azteca Restaurant at Hotel Rosarito will celebrate its 102nd anniversary with a full renovation and restoration of its historic facilities, featuring a theme inspired by Aztec culture.
Hugo Antonio Torres Ramírez, chairman of the board of Hotel Rosarito, expressed pride in being part of the new chapter of this iconic establishment, a long-standing symbol of Rosarito’s culinary identity.
“In 2026, we’ll be celebrating the 102nd anniversary of the Azteca Restaurant at Hotel Rosarito, and for this milestone we’ll carry out a distinctive remodel with more Mexican flair and décor inspired by Aztec culture,” he said.
He recalled that the Azteca Restaurant was founded alongside Hotel Rosarito in 1924, when makeshift food stands were set up to serve visitors staying in the hotel’s original ten rooms—tourists who came to fish, hunt, or enjoy other activities typical of that era.
By the late 1920s, the restaurant’s first building was constructed, originally accommodating about 80 guests. In the 1930s, Manuel Barbachano decided to expand the space.
The restaurant saw its greatest period of growth under the management of Hugo Eduardo Torres Chabert in 1978.
“The largest expansion happened under my father, Hugo Torres, in 1978. Back in the 1930s, when Manuel Barbachano expanded the Azteca Restaurant, the Salón Mexicano was also built. For major events, both venues were used together and could hold up to 1,000 people. It was the largest event hall in Baja California at the time, combining the Azteca Restaurant and the Salón Mexicano,” he explained.
Today, both halls still feature décor from the era in which they were built, but by 2026 they will be restored with Aztec-inspired themes.
“It is the oldest restaurant in Playas de Rosarito, and for 2026 we want to restore it with Aztec cultural elements. We also want to update the Maya Hall with a Maya landscape. Back then, Manuel Barbachano—who built that entire historic area of the hotel—was of Yucatecan heritage and held deep affection for Yucatán. Maya culture was very important to him. These two spaces are the most historic and emblematic at Hotel Rosarito, and on New Year’s Eve, both are opened together,” he added.