Is Casa Bonita Worth the Hype?
Popularized from the famous, or infamous, TV show South Park, Casa Bonita draws in visitors from not only across the state, but across the country.
If you’re not familiar, Casa Bonita is a Mexican restaurant which is most known for indoor cliff diving performances. The restaurant also features an arcade, various shows, and live music.
It’s more than just a restaurant, it's an experience.
It’s a controversial topic, however, among locals on whether or not it’s actually worth it. Personally, I think it’s amazing and look forward to going back.
Find out why and decide for yourself whether or not it’s really worth it.
The Dining Experience
If you’re wanting to have the best Mexican food of your life, you probably shouldn’t go to Casa Bonita. That being said, the restaurant recently updated their menu and I didn’t think it was terrible.
I think Casa Bonita gets a bad rap because historically their food has been considered not great. But under the new ownership, the menu has improved.
The salsa, in particular, I thought was delicious and unique. And you can’t complain about unlimited sopapillas and honey for dessert.
Again, it’s nothing special, but you go to Casa Bonita for the experience, not necessarily the dinner.
When you make your reservation online, you have the option to choose either standard seating or premium seating.
Standard seating is $39.99 per person, which is basically your ticket into Casa Bonita and includes your meal, chips and salsa, sopapillas, and a soft drink. With standard seating, you will be dining in the themed dining areas like the Mines or Rose Garden - this is NOT on the main floor.
If you want to be seated on the main floor where you can watch the cliff diving performances while you eat, you should purchase a ticket for premium seating which is $44.99 per person. Note that any alcoholic drinks are not included in either ticket option.
My partner and I purchased standard seating and dined in the mines area, which was basically just a cave.
It was cool, although I wish I had purchased the premium seating so I could be in the middle of all the action.
Entertainment & Attractions
After you’ve finished dinner, you’re free to wander around the restaurant and visit all the attractions and experience the true wonder of Casa Bonita.
Casa Bonita offers entertainment for both adults and kids, making it a great destination for families.
You can expect regular cliff diving performances, a magic show, a puppet show, and a live mariachi band.
Other fun activities include the arcade, a mini haunted maze, face painting, and a caricaturist.
There’s also a bar that is centrally located where you can purchase a drink at any time during your visit.
I honestly just had fun walking around and appreciating the effort that went into designing the place.
There’s definitely an energy here that makes you feel like a kid in a candy shop.
So Is It Worth It?
Personally, I loved it and definitely think it is worth visiting at least once.
I’ve never experienced anything like Casa Bonita before and I’m so glad I checked it off my Colorado bucket list.
It will be pricier than a regular Mexican restaurant, especially if you’re paying for premium seating and additional beverages, but it’s not just any restaurant. It’s Casa Bonita!
Be sure to make the most of your visit and watch all the shows and play the games.
Thanks for reading! I hope you get the chance to visit Casa Bonita and experience the craziness for yourself.
