6 Best Restaurants in Manzanillo, Mexico

Café Costeño

$ | Las Brisas

A serene tropical garden lies behind the unremarkable facade of this coffee bar on the busy road into Las Brisas hotel zone. The long list of caffeinated options are Big American franchise quality at about half the price. It opens at 8 am for breakfast; the offerings range from the healthy (fruit-granola-yogurt combos) to the hearty (chilaquiles). Come back later for the desserts, which include the good (carrot cake), the bad (ice cream), and the wicked (tres leches cake). You can score a beer, too.

Av. Lázaro Cárdenas 1613, Manzanillo, Colima, 28210, Mexico
314-333–9460
Restaurants Details
Rate Includes: No credit cards, No lunch Mon., Reservations not accepted

El Bigotes 1

$$ | Zona Hotelera

Waitresses in funky, meter maid–style hats serve good seafood to canned music and the rhythm of nearby waves at this unpretentious restaurant. The crowd is a mix of locals and visitors, all of whom are particularly keen on stopping by to enjoy the sunset. Specialties include amazingly fresh seafood dishes like the Jalisco favorite pescado sarandeado (barbecued fish), camarón mustache (butterflied shrimp breaded in shredded coconut), and gigantic portions of ceviche. When in doubt, ask for half portions; servers are also flexible about substituting french fries or beans for rice. A smaller branch, El Bigotes 2 (Puesta del Sol 3, Tel. 334/334–0831), in the Playa Azul district, has the same great food but fewer specials.

Blvd. Miguel de la Madrid 3157, Manzanillo, Colima, 28869, Mexico
314-334–0831
Restaurants Details
Rate Includes: Credit cards accepted

Juanito's

$ | Olas Altas

Juanito's has had American owners for four decades, and the evidence is obvious everywhere from the menu (which includes burgers, milk shakes, fries, barbecued ribs, and fried chicken) to the quick service to the U.S. sporting events on the big-screen TV. But the place has been enthusiastically embraced by the locals, who crowd in every morning for breakfast and stay late into the evening to watch telenovelas (Mexican soaps) when there's no game on. The menu features a full range of Mexican food, too, and there are Internet computers for your use. A smaller branch in a modern building near the port (Blvd. Miguel de la Madrid 426,Tel.314/114–0318) dishes up the same great food.

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Legazpi

$$$$ | Península de Santiago

Maroon-and-white-stripe cushions adorn dark-wood chairs and banquettes, brass lamps hold thick white candles, and wide windows afford dramatic bay views. The menu is Italian, with an emphasis on Mediterranean dishes. Check out the cozy bar, where there's a mural depicting the history of Manzanillo. Prices are high here; you're paying as much for the dining room's personality as you are the food.

Av. De los Riscos and Av. Vista Hermosa, Manzanillo, Colima, 28869, Mexico
314-331–0101
Restaurants Details
Rate Includes: Credit cards accepted, No lunch

Restaurante La Pérgola

$$ | Zona Hotelera

The German chef at this little restaurant with tiled floors and beamed ceilings does exceptionally well with Mediterranean cuisine. The pastas are made fresh, and the pizzas are tasty—especially the cuatro queso pie made with Gouda, mozzarella, Parmesan, and goat cheese. A complete selection of Italian, Chilean, Mexican, and German wines rounds out the offerings.

Toscana

$$ | Zona Hotelera

Service is consistently friendly and fast at this longtime Manzanillo favorite. Specialties on the eclectic menu include seafood shish kebab served with rice and steamed vegetables, a three-lettuce salad with goat cheese, and a Caesar salad. For dessert, try the tiramisu. Most of the tables sit on the simple outdoor terrace overlooking the beach. People start using the dance floor nightly after 8:30.