Must-see restaurants in Riviera Maya

  • 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…

  • 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…

  • 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…

  • 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…

  • 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…

  • 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…

  • 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…

  • 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…

  • El Pesquero

    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…

  • Axiote

    Playa del Carmen

    Putting a gourmet twist on tacos, tostadas and Mexican regional dishes, Axiote's diverse menu features creative treats like fish tacos with a sausage…

  • Puro Corazón

    Tulum

    Reasonably priced (by Zona Hotelera standards), this inviting spot serves excellent house-made cocktails that can be enjoyed immensely at sunset on the…

  • Posada Margherita

    Tulum

    This hotel's beachside restaurant is candlelit at night, making it a beautiful, romantic place to dine. The fantastic food, including pasta, is made fresh…

  • La Gloria de Don Pepe

    Tulum

    With its 'A meal without wine is called breakfast' sign, this spot tickles the taste buds with delicious tapas plates and fine seafood paella. And wine –…

  • El Asadero

    Tulum

    Somewhat pricey but worth it, this spot has grilled arrachera (flank steak) served with sides of potato, nopal (cactus paddle) and sausage, which pairs…

  • Mangata

    Puerto Morelos

    If you like eggs Benedict you're gonna love the 'Mangata Benedictin' (poached eggs with slow-cooked roast beef smothered in a rich hollandaise sauce)…

  • La Famiglia

    Playa del Carmen

    Pay a visit to the family and enjoy superb wood-fired pizza and handmade pasta, ravioli and gnocchi. Playa is a magnet for Italian restaurants, but this…

  • Ferron's Jerk Chicken

    Playa del Carmen

    Venture out to the seldom-visited side of Playa for some fine Jamaican jerk chicken and a cool reggae vibe. Combo meals include sweet-and-spicy grilled…

  • La Cueva del Pescador

    Akumal

    Near the town's entrance, this popular foreigners' hangout does good grilled fish dishes and shrimp tacos in a casual atmosphere with outdoor seating…

  • Chamicos

    Riviera Maya

    Fresh-caught fish and seafood done up in simple preparations right on the beach. You may not have white linen and fine china, but you can't ask for a…

  • Acqua e Farina da Mario

    Tulum

    A taste of real Italy on the streets of central Tulum. This cafe is cramped (luckily there are some alfresco tables outside) but somehow Mario makes it…

  • La Eufemia

    Tulum

    Odd for a casual beachside taco joint, there's valet parking at La Eufemia, where you can gorge on great cheap food (think 'In your face, pricey Zona…

  • Antojitos la Chiapaneca

    Tulum

    A good, cheap option to get your taco fix. You'll often have to wait for a table at this popular spot, or simply belly up to the counter. In addition to…

  • El Merkadito Seafood & Beach Club

    Puerto Morelos

    The Little Market is a beachfront restaurant near the town square that greets guests with vibrant ocean views in a relaxed open-air setting. Seafood…

  • Babe’s

    Playa del Carmen

    Babe’s serves some excellent Asian food, including a yummy home-style tom kha gai (chicken and coconut-milk soup) brimming with veggies. Vietnamese shrimp…

  • Kaxapa Factory

    Playa del Carmen

    The specialty at this Venezuelan restaurant on the park is arepas (delicious corn flatbread stuffed with your choice of shredded beef, chicken or beans…

  • Restaurant La Pirámide

    Cobá

    At the end of the town's main drag, by the lake, this restaurant is pretty touristy but does decent Yucatecan fare like cochinita or pollo pibil (achiote…

  • Sabor de Mar

    Tulum

    This unassuming Sinaloa-style seafood joint gets praise for its torres (seafood tostada 'towers' piled high with tuna, shrimp or fish) and house…

  • Asere Ke Bola

    Playa del Carmen

    If you're pinching pesos, hit this mornings-only, Cuban-owned corner spot and try the tasty torta de lechón, a crunchy roast pork sandwich sprinkled with…

  • Los Aguachiles

    Tulum

    If you skipped this outfit while in Playa del Carmen or Cancún, here's another chance. Fish tacos and tuna tostadas go down oh-so-nicely with a michelada …

  • El Camello Jr

    Tulum

    Immensely popular with locals, this roadside eatery guarantees fresh fish and seafood. Regulars don't even need to look at the menu – it's all about the…

  • Le Bistro

    Tulum

    Simple, elegantly prepared French food at excellent prices. Seafood features heavily on the menu but there are steaks, chicken and tasty baguettes to…

  • Los Aguachiles

    Playa del Carmen

    Done up in Mexican cantina style yet with one big difference: the menu – consisting of tacos, tostadas and the like – was designed by a chef. The artfully…

  • El Nicho

    Puerto Morelos

    Puerto Morelos' most popular breakfast spot, El Nicho serves organic egg dishes, eggs Benedict, chilaquiles (fried tortilla strips in salsa) with chicken…

  • El Pirata

    Puerto Morelos

    Known for its varied menu, locally grown organic produce and casual atmosphere, this place north of the plaza does everything from tacos and classic…

  • Chile Picante

    Cobá

    Located at Hotel Maya, Chile Picante does everything from vegetarian omelettes with chaya (Mexican tree spinach) and fresh fruit plates to panuchos …

  • Club Náutico Tarraya

    Playa del Carmen

    One of the few restaurants in Playa del Carmen that dates from the 1960s. It continues to offer good seafood at decent prices in a casual place on the…

  • Barracuda

    Tulum

    A very popular seafood eatery at the south end of the center, known for its parillada de mariscos, a large platter (for three people) with grilled fish,…

  • La Nave

    Tulum

    This open-air Italian joint is perpetually packed. There are delicious pasta dishes, such as shrimp or lobster ravioli, brick-oven pizzas, and an…

  • Le Café d’Amancia

    Puerto Morelos

    Right on the plaza, this is a spotlessly clean place with pleasing ambience. It serves bagels, sandwiches, pies, good strong coffee, and fruit and veggie…