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$$$ | |
This hidden jungle garden with hardwood tables and twinkling candlelight is hard to spot from the road, but once you're here, you won't want to leave. Start your meal with stuffed piquillo peppers or a relleno negro shrimp tostada, and don't miss the sweet-savory pork ribs with organic vanilla, sweet potato, and an apple-cinnamon topper. Vegetarians will appreciate dishes like the stuffed local Mayan pumpkin and beer lovers will enjoy the restaurant's craft beers, produced in-house.
Carretera Tulum-Boca Paila, Km 7.3, Tulum, Quintana Roo, Mexico
Known For
- Vegetarian options
- Duck carnitas
- Beers brewed in house
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No lunch
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$$$ | |
Using only the freshest ingredients—from local fruits and vegetables to seafood right off the pier—the chefs at this jungle-side restaurant work their magic in a comfortable, contemporary setting that feels more Manhattan than Mayan. Ask about the tender roasted duck breast with tequila, chipotle, and honey, or order an addictive, understated bowl of shrimp macaroni and cheese with notes of truffle. The fresh tuna tostada is also a treat. Daiquiris are served strong and fruity and portions are ample, so get ready to loosen your belt. The specials change weekly and the menu changes seasonally, so repeat guests are always in for a treat.
Av. Niños Heroes, Puerto Morelos, Quintana Roo, 77580, Mexico
Known For
- Tuna tostadas
- Hamburgers and chicken wings for lunch
- Duck breast with honey, tequila, and chipotle sauce
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun. No lunch Mon
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$$$ | |
This Playa institution, in a funky jungle garden with fountains, palmettos, and a rambling koi pond, is a favorite breakfast spot. The well-prepared, authentic Mexican selections include multiple styles of chilaquiles, a tart mix of meat, sauce, and egg on a bed of tortillas that will have you skipping lunch. It's popular for lunch and dinner as well.
Calle 38, Playa del Carmen, Quintana Roo, 77710, Mexico
Known For
- Chilaquiles, served spicy or mild
- Good coffee
- Enchiladas with mole
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No dinner Sun
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$$$ | |
Overlooking the town square, La Sirena serves an eclectic mix of dishes ranging from mini sliders and grilled grouper to hearty plates of barbecue pulled pork with shoestring fries. If you like Mediterranean food, opt for Greek specialties prepared by chef Anthony Chalas, who credits his skills to his years spent in Greece. The dip sampler—with homemade hummus and tzatziki—is simple and delicious, as is the Greek salad topped with a block of feta and kalamata olives. The keftedes (Greek meatballs) are outstanding. You can taste the quality here, reflecting Anthony's effort to buy only organic and fresh ingredients. There's live music nightly in high season.
Jose Maria Morelos, Puerto Morelos, Quintana Roo, 77580, Mexico
Known For
- Greek salad
- Greek meatballs
- The dip sampler with homemade hummus and tzatziki
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun
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$$$ | |
This jungle-chic restaurant serves up creative fine-dining fare unlike anything else you'll find in the region. Standout dishes include deconstructed sushi (where the rice comes in foam form and the soy sauce is a cream), burning grouper with Thai veggies (lightly smoked right at your table), and a rich pork belly dish in a tangy Asian-inspired sauce. It's difficult with dishes this good, but leave room for dessert. The chocolate cream, served with rum, dulce de leche, and peanut foam, is the perfect, decadent end to a perfect, decadent meal. This creative fare is served in a romantic jungle setting, with distressed wood floors, exposed stone walls, and ceiling lights that mimic birds' nests. In the background, Eastern music and the sound of water falling complete the ambience. Even the most discriminating foodies won't be disappointed by this hidden gem tucked away on the beach road just before the Sian Ka'an nature reserve.
Carretera Tulum-Boca Paila, Km 10, Tulum, Quintana Roo, Mexico
Known For
- Decadent desserts
- Inventive flavor combinations
- Molecular gastronomy
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No lunch
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Recommended Fodor’s Video
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$$$ | |
Enjoy fresh seafood on the shaded patio of this family-owned restaurant in the heart of town. Try fish prepared al ajo (in a garlicky butter sauce), breaded, grilled, or tikin–xic style (marinated with adobo de achiote and sour oranges). Pelicanos also offers a variety of four-hour excursions that include fishing, snorkeling, then cooking the daily catch at the restaurant.
Av. Rafael Melgar at Av. Tulum, Puerto Morelos, Quintana Roo, 77580, Mexico
Known For
- Fish al ajo (in garlicky butter sauce)
- Catch and cook (and eat) options
- Massive margaritas
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$$$ | |
The name says it all at this New York–inspired restaurant where entrées are grilled on wooden planks or Himalayan salt blocks. The smoky flavors of cedar, maple, hickory, and oak come through in signature dishes like grilled salmon or beef Wellington encased in braided dough. Sides of mashed potatoes and portobello mushrooms are served in mini cast-iron skillets, and flatbreads are topped with goat cheese, figs, and arugula leaves. Cocktails such as the Musty Mojito add smolder to your meal. This is the place to celebrate birthdays, as the entire staff will burst out in song with cake and sparklers.
Calle 16, Playa del Carmen, Quintana Roo, 77710, Mexico
Known For
- Entrées grilled on wooden planks
- Beef Wellington in braided dough
- Grilled salmon
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No lunch
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$$$ | |
There’s more to Agave Azul than those sweeping lagoon and mangrove views. The glass-walled restaurant at the elegant Rosewood Mayakoba is hands down the best place to go for fresh sushi and premium tequila. Housing more than 120 labels of the latter (and 40 of mezcal), it hosts weekly tequila and sushi pairings. In addition to ceviche, sashimi, and maki rolls, the dinner menu here includes Asian-inspired entrées like chicken yakitori, yellow curry, and pad Thai. The coconut flan with strawberry tapioca pearls is the perfect accompaniment to more tequila. Kick off your night by sampling dangerously smooth cocktails infused with fresh cucumber, watermelon, and jalapeños.
Carretera 307, Km 298, Mayakoba, Quintana Roo, 77710, Mexico
Known For
- More than 100 varieties of tequila
- Fresh fish
- Romatic setting
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No lunch
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$$$ | |
The smoky aromas of a South American parillada waft down the street from this Uruguayan barbecue joint. The heaping portions of short ribs, flank steak, and chorizo have developed a cult following up and down the Riviera, and locals swear by the empanadas. Tables are set in a simple stone-walled room and just outside on the street.
Av. Javier Rojo Gomez, Puerto Morelos, Quintana Roo, 77580, Mexico
Known For
- Good steaks
- Creative empanadas
- Friendly staff
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon. No breakfast
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$$$ | |
Playa's most dramatically sited restaurant sits atop a small cenote in a vast jungly garden full of strangler vines and Mayan ruins—right in the middle of Avenida 5. Designed in accordance with Maya building practices, it's a feast for the eyes, with living "green walls" covered with plants, a bar built on a stone wall, and a park in back that makes for a romantic setting at night (bring bug spray). The menu, full of dressed-up Playa standards—fresh fish, pork shank, guacamole—isn't as memorable (though the jicama tacos are worth a try), but it's a worthwhile meal nonetheless.
Av. 5 between Calles 14 and 16, Playa del Carmen, Quintana Roo, 77710, Mexico
Known For
- Exotic jungle setting
- Bottled water filtered from the cenote
- Jicama tacos
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$$$ | |
In the back of the Amansala Resort & Retreat, this shady beachfront restaurant is the place to be for sweeping ocean views and light, healthy lunches. Smoothies are served fruity and not overly sweet, guacamole is fresh and flavorful, and the salsa selection is excellent. Don't miss the amply portioned spicy-sweet Thai curry Buddha Bowl. And if you're craving some beach time after your meal, ask about Amansala's beach club, where MX$374 will get you a spot on one of their sun beds for the day.
Carretera Tulum-Boca Paila, Km 5.5, Tulum, Quintana Roo, 77766, Mexico
Known For
- Meals with a view
- Health-conscious cuisine
- Vegan and vegetarian options
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$$$ | |
The laid-back hub of Puerto Aventuras is a terrace café with a varied menu, including coconut shrimp and chicken with a chimichurri sauce made from red wine, garlic, onion, and fine herbs. If you and local fisherman get lucky, the nightly specials might include fresh-caught fish in garlic sauce. There's live music on Sunday, Wednesday, and Friday in high season.
Centro Comercial Marina, Puerto Aventuras, Quintana Roo, 77580, Mexico
Known For
- All you can eat BBQ ribs
- Fresh-caught fish in garlic sauce
- Live music
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon
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$$$ | |
The cheapest restaurant along Tankah's beachfront serves up fresh, simple, satisfying Mexican food from 8 am to 9 pm every day. Grab a table at the waterfront and order up beef fajitas or fish tacos, topped with a healthy helping of fresh-made salsa and fresh-squeezed lime juice. Margaritas are popular (and strong) here, and on Sunday you can join locals for a popular barbecue on the beachfront. Bring your own meat or order from the restaurant.
Interior Fracc. Tankah, Tulum, Quintana Roo, Mexico
Known For
- Beef and chicken fajitas
- Fish tacos
- Powerful margaritas
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$$$ | |
For the best food you'll find along the beach road (and one of only a few options open for dinner after 10 pm), make your way to Eden Tulum. The creative Uruguayan chef is a seafood lover, so make sure to ask about the catch of the day. If you aren't passionate about seafood, don't worry—dishes like the Nest (a soft-boiled egg on a nest of eggplant), Chicken Mourceaux (boneless chicken wings served on a flavorful, melt-in-your-mouth corn mash), and Chocolate Decadence (with mocha-jalapeño ice cream) are showstoppers in their own right. The open-air dining room has luxurious bed and couch seating around the central pool, where kids and adults can enjoy a predinner dip. Couples will love the candlelit ambience and cocktail aficionados won't want to miss the pre-Hispanic liquors crafted into thoughtful drinks. In high season, Fridays feature live jazz shows and Saturdays are DJ nights.
Carretera Boca Paila, Km 8.7, Tulum, Quintana Roo, Mexico
Known For
- Fresh seafood
- Mayan-inspired cocktails
- Plates decorated with edible flowers
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No lunch
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$$$ | |
Called "Camellito" by locals, this restaurant is famed for having Tulum's freshest seafood—and the jammed parking lot is testament to its enduring popularity. Fish or shrimp tacos are light and fresh, but the full splendor of the place is expressed by its whole grilled or fried fish, served with generous mounds of rice, beans, and plátanos. Come hungry. The lively scene and tropical ambience are a Mexican original.
Avs. Tulum and Luna, Tulum, Quintana Roo, 77780, Mexico
Known For
- Fresh seafood
- Fish or shrimp tacos
- Whole grilled or fried fish
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Wed
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$$$ | |
"The Pier" resembles a Caribbean fish market with its wooden plank floors, whitewashed tables, and pilings strung with rope. A chalkboard features the catch of the day; it's delivered from local fishermen every morning and simply yet flavorfully prepared one of five ways or sold by the gram to go. El Muelle opens at 4 pm, so come before dinner for a strawberry-lemon spritzer and mixed ceviche made Peruvian style with leche de tigre. From that point on, you're hooked, and you'll soon find there isn't a mediocre dish on the menu. This darling, ocean-to-table restaurant is not to be confused with Muelle 3 right around the corner.
Ave. 5 and Calle 32, Playa del Carmen, Quintana Roo, 77710, Mexico
Known For
- Fresh-caught fish
- Large portion sizes
- Grilled octopus
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon. No lunch
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$$$ | |
Very few places in Chetumal offer the kind of dining experience available at this cozy restaurant. Come for the pizza, stay for the cocktails and the live music. If pizza is not your thing, a wide variety of salads, pastas, and steaks, are also available and well-served.
Álvaro Obregón 165, Bacalar, Quintana Roo, 77000, Mexico
Known For
- Specialty pizzas
- Live music
- Original cocktail menu
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$$$ | |
This jungle-side hangout is laid-back, casual, and comfortable, with an open kitchen and airy layout in a large, traditional palapa. Standout dishes include organic-chicken-stuffed jalapeños and organic chicken in red sauce (so tender that it practically falls off the bone). Paying tribute to local blends is the wine list, on which 80% of the bottles are from Mexico. An international crowd of expats and in-the-know vacationers makes for a lively scene, especially at night. For large parties or special events, book ahead.
Carretera Tulum-Boca Paila, Km 5.7, Tulum, Quintana Roo, 77780, Mexico
Known For
- Mexican wines
- Spicy margaritas
- Traditional Mexican dishes
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun. in Apr.–Sept
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$$$ | |
The name means "unexpected," and—thanks to the international dishes created by executive chef Juan Diego Solombrino—this place is truly a surprise. At breakfast, you can order hangover-healing eggs Benedict, Belgian waffles, or old-fashioned French toast; later, Imprevist pulls out all the stops with a hint of molecular gastronomy in the tuna tartare with lime and sake foam, and the chilled beetroot soup with goat cheese croquettes, truffle oil, and thyme cream. Risotto choices include a seafood number with squid ink and shaved fennel. The fish cooked in parchment is unbelievably moist, and the beef fillet with foie gras mousse practically melts in your mouth. Seating is available at sidewalk tables and in an intimate underground dining room.
Av. 1, Playa del Carmen, Quintana Roo, 77710, Mexico
Known For
- Squid ink risotto
- Beef fillet with foie gras mousse
- Sticky date cake
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No lunch Sun.
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$$$ | |
This lagoon shore restaurant serves gourmet Mexican dishes and exotic cocktails to enjoy with the best view in town and live music most days. Go for the al pastor seared tuna as the main course, and don't leave without trying the tribute to cacao as dessert.
Boulevard Costero Norte 1255, Bacalar, Quintana Roo, 77930, Mexico
Known For
- Organic cocktails
- Live music
- Outstanding location
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon. and Tues
