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…
Must-see restaurants in Yucatán Peninsula
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Cancún
Dazzling contemporary elegance and impeccable service characterize Tempo, but it’s the nine-course tasting menu of elaborate gourmet Basque cuisine with a…
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Cancún
Up to 30 courses of surprising molecular cuisine. The dining experience at contemporary restaurant Benazuza incorporates traditional Mexican-inspired…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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Mérida
With influences from Oaxaca, which like the Yucatán is known for its extraordinary regional cuisine, Apoala reinvents popular dishes such as enmoladas …
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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Chetumal
Yucatecan snacks such as panuchos (fried tortillas topped with beans, chicken and pickled onion) and salbutes (puffed deep-fried tortillas filled with…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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,…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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Cancún
Stunning, renowned Harry’s serves house-aged steaks, plus superfresh fish and a famous cotton-candy treat. The architecture’s impressive too, with outdoor…
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Puerto Morelos
OK, so it's not right on the beach, but the sand floor, palapa roof, fan-cooled dining area and fresh fish sure make you feel like you're there. Start…
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Cancún
One of Cancún’s most beautiful restaurants, Fred’s House features warm contemporary style and tropical gardens by Nichupté Lagoon. At this seafood eatery,…
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Isla Holbox
This quaint cafe is so tiny you just might miss it if you’re strolling too fast by the main square. La Tortilleria specializes in Spanish-style omelettes …
