Get FREE email communications from Fodor's Travel, covering must-see travel destinations, expert trip planning advice, and travel inspiration to fuel your passion.
Large breakfast and brunch buffets are among the most popular meals in the Zona Hotelera, with prices ranging from MX$165 to MX$338 per person. Most local restaurants open for lunch around 2 pm and generally stay open until midnight. When choosing one, be aware that those lining avenidas Tulum and Yaxchilán are often noisy and crowded, and gas fumes make it hard to enjoy meals alfresco. Many of the finer options are on Avenida Bonampak. Eateries in the Parque de las Palapas, just off Avenida Tulum, serve expertly prepared Mexican food. Deeper into the city center, you can find fresh seafood and traditional fare at Mercado Veintiocho (Market 28). Dress is casual in Cancún, but many restaurants do not allow bare feet, short shorts, or bathing suits. Even at the fanciest places, suggested attire is "resort elegant," meaning long pants, collared shirts, and closed shoes for gentlemen. For women, a dress or skirt and blouse with chichi sandals or heels will suffice. Upscale resorts in the Zona Hotelera typically purify their tap water; however, ask in advance whether it's safe to drink.
This adorable downtown café with an outdoor garden is a local favorite for breakfast. It serves an extensive selection of coffees alongside yummy pancakes, crepes, bagels, waffles, and paninis. Sweet tooths will love the frappés and homemade desserts.
The main draw at one of Cancún's first restaurants is the setting—namely, in a replica of a 17th-century hacienda, complete with a courtyard fountain, flowering garden, and strolling mariachi band. The traditional menu includes tortilla soup, tasty chicken fajitas, and rib-eye steaks. This is a popular place for large groups, so it can get boisterous—especially once guests begin sampling some of the 110 types of tequila. There's live mariachi music from Tuesday to Saturday from 7 to 10:30 pm. Sunday brunch is served from 9 to 2.
One of the few vegan restaurants in Cancún is popular with locals thanks to its wide variety of juices, smoothies, and fruit bowls. Its menu also features excellent vegan versions of traditional Mexican breakfasts such as enchiladas, chilaquiles, and burritos. For lunch, you can enjoy a portobello burger or a No Meat Lover's pizza.
