Must-see restaurants in Yucatán Peninsula

  • Hartwood

    Tulum

    Assuming you can get in (it accepts walk-ins and online reservations made one month in advance), this sweet 'n' simple nouvelle-cuisine restaurant down on…

  • Tempo

    Cancún

    Dazzling contemporary elegance and impeccable service characterize Tempo, but it’s the nine-course tasting menu of elaborate gourmet Basque cuisine with a…

  • Benazuza

    Cancún

    Up to 30 courses of surprising molecular cuisine. The dining experience at contemporary restaurant Benazuza incorporates traditional Mexican-inspired…

  • Nixtamal

    Laguna Bacalar

    The slooow-food experience here pushes your patience to the limit, but grill-master Rodrigo Estrada makes it well worth the wait. Exquisite dishes such as…

  • Javi's Cantina

    Isla Mujeres

    More like a restaurant than a cantina, but Javi's does have happy hour and live music. The menu consists of seafood, choice beef cuts, chicken and various…

  • Taquería Honorio

    Tulum

    It began as a street stall and became such a hit that it's now a taco place with a proper roof overhead. Most folks go here for the cochinita (pulled pork…

  • Passion

    Playa del Carmen

    With a French-Basque-inspired menu created by Michelin-starred-chef Martin Berastegui, this is unquestionably one of Playa's finest restaurants. Diners…

  • La Terraza Amarilla de San Fernando

    Mérida

    With mouthwatering cheap eats well worth detouring for, La Terraza Amarilla is a gem: you choose between four styles of mains (tacos, tortas etc) and one…

  • La María Cocina Peninsula

    Campeche

    Despite not looking much different from any of the other Mexicana-heavy old-town restaurants replete with sombreros, national flags and Yucatecan art, one…

  • Apoala

    Mérida

    With influences from Oaxaca, which like the Yucatán is known for its extraordinary regional cuisine, Apoala reinvents popular dishes such as enmoladas …

  • Ix Cat Ik

    Valladolid

    Take a cab to reach this superb place, your best opportunity to eat Maya cooking in Valladolid. Its knowledgeable English-speaking staff will help you…

  • Le Jardin

    Isla Holbox

    Very tasty French pastries and morning breakfast selections make this a welcome spot if you're craving something other than Mexican morning food. Coffee…

  • Il Giglio

    Ciudad del Carmen

    In a classic, old-time, elegant building that used to be a pirate's house, this truly Italian restaurant with checkered floor tiles has a reputation for…

  • Kinta

    Isla Cozumel

    Putting a gourmet twist on Mexican classics, this chic bistro is one of the best restaurants on the island. The Midnight Pork Ribs are a tried-and-true…

  • Peter's Restaurante

    Cancún

    Peter’s Restaurante has a homey charm and some of the best cooking in the city. Dutch chef Peter Houben has blended European, Mexican and international…

  • Lonchería La Costa

    Chetumal

    Yucatecan snacks such as panuchos (fried tortillas topped with beans, chicken and pickled onion) and salbutes (puffed deep-fried tortillas filled with…

  • Turtle Bay Café & Bakery

    Akumal

    A popular breakfast spot, this appealing cafe slings a wide variety of gringo comfort food ranging from breakfast burritos to eggs Benedict. The lunch and…

  • Oliva Enoteca

    Mérida

    This contemporary restaurant with black-and-white tiled floors, Edison light bulbs, designer chairs and an open kitchen is a magnet for the local smart…

  • Ku'uk

    Mérida

    The stunning historic home, at the end of Paseo Montejo, sets the scene for what's to come: a high-end, gourmet meal that will end up setting a very high…

  • Lara & Luca

    Playa del Carmen

    'Okay, but first, coffee' is the motto here, and they sure do coffee well. They do everything well, actually: from tasty fruit-and-yogurt bowls to green…

  • El Chapulím

    Isla Holbox

    El Chapulím has no menu and the kitchen closes when the food runs out – usually before 9pm – so come here aware of the quirks involved. Food is excellent,…

  • La Cueva del Chango

    Playa del Carmen

    The 'Monkey's Cave,' known for its fresh and natural ingredients, has seating in a jungly palapa setting or a verdant garden out back. Service is friendly…

  • Nohoch Kay

    Mahahual

    Nohoch Kay, aka the Big Fish, definitely lives up to its name. Don't miss this beachfront Mexican-owned restaurant, where they prepare succulent whole…

  • Al Chimichurri

    Puerto Morelos

    You definitely can't go wrong with the fresh pasta and wood-fired pizza here, but this Uruguayan grill is best known for its steaks. The star cuts are a…

  • SOCO Mérida

    Mérida

    This hip, friendly bakery and breakfast joint has an open kitchen, a stylish bar counter for single diners and a great jazz and blues soundtrack. You'll…

  • Chez Céline

    Playa del Carmen

    Good, healthy breakfasts (some vegan!) and a range of yummy baked goods are what keeps this French-run bakery-cafe busy. Savory croissants with smoked…

  • El Mirador

    Yucatán State & the Maya Heartland

    El Mirador means lookout in Spanish and, yes, you get an awesome view of Ticul and beyond from this large palapa restaurant. But it's the tasty Yucatecan…

  • Kinich

    Izamal

    Kinich showcases fresh, handmade Yucatecan cuisine at its finest. The papadzules kinich – rolled tortillas stuffed with diced egg and topped with pumpkin…

  • Yerbabuena del Sisal

    Valladolid

    Wonderfully healthy dishes are served in this gorgeous open-sided space with a peaceful garden right on Parque Sisal. Tortilla chips and three delectable…

  • Pola

    Mérida

    You'd head to this place even if were you in the Arctic, it's that good. Get your tongue around full-cream, 100% natural gelati with some of the quirkiest…

  • Río Bec Dreams Restaurant

    Campeche State

    This wonderful open-air restaurant, set amid tropical plants, has the best homemade food in the area. The wide variety of main dishes includes roasted…

  • Mandarina

    Isla Holbox

    Mandarina restaurant boasts the best location for dining with an ocean view, filled with warm lighting and rustic wood furnishings right on the Holbox…

  • Crab House

    Cancún

    Offering a lovely view of the lagoon that complements the seafood, the long menu here includes many shrimp and fish-fillet dishes. Stone crab is the…

  • Lola Valentina

    Isla Mujeres

    Overlooking the quieter north side of the restaurant strip, Lola does popular Mexican fusion with dishes like coconut shrimp, plus several vegan, gluten…

  • John Gray's Kitchen

    Puerto Morelos

    One block west and two blocks north of the plaza, this ‘kitchen’ turns out some truly fabulous food. The chef's specialty, though not listed on the…

  • La Playita

    Laguna Bacalar

    A sign outside reads, 'Eat, drink and swim' – and that about sums it up. Fish and seafood dishes are tasty, albeit on the smallish side, but the mezcal…

  • El Abuelo

    Chetumal

    Overlooking the azure waters of Laguna Milagros, about 15km west of Chetumal, this open-air seafood restaurant draws deserving praise for its fried whole…

  • Lonchería El Pocito

    Cancún

    For authentic Yucatecan home-cooking, locals often recommend this fan-cooled palapa restaurant and it's easy to take an instant liking to the place. The…

  • Mayan Beach Garden

    Mahahual

    About 30km north of Mahahual, this off-grid inn and restaurant makes notably fresh seafood dishes such as mixed ceviche and fish fillet in raspberry…

  • Taquería El Almendro

    Chetumal

    Choose from more than a dozen Yucatecan-style guisados (home-style dishes) prepared as tacos and tortas (sandwiches) at this fan-cooled breakfast joint…