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$ | Fracc. La Toscana |
Basic Foodie is that cool bakery we all wish we had in our neighborhood, as its artisan bakery has no equal in town, and the rest of its menu caters to organic-minded, vegan, and gluten-free customers. A modern design and laidback atmosphere (plus a reliable Wi-Fi connection), mean the place has become a magnet for hipsters, digital nomads, and the like.
Avenida 25, Playa del Carmen, Quintana Roo, 77710, Mexico
Known For
- Wide variety of handmade bread
- Vegetarian molletes (baguette w/beans Mexican style)
- Organic smoothies
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No dinner
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$$ | |
Céline's fresh-baked breads and pastries bring honor to France, especially exquisite desserts like the classic lemon tart and bold passion-fruit crème brûlée. Classic bistro fare—including quiche Lorraine and flavorful croque madames—make for a light lunch comme il faut. For a light, sweet breakfast or snack, don't miss the parfait with chia and red fruit coulis. Street-side tables on 5th Avenue are great for people-watching. Chez Céline stays open until 11 pm daily, and there's free Wi-Fi for patrons.
Av. 5 at Calle 34, Playa del Carmen, Quintana Roo, 77710, Mexico
Known For
- French bistro-style croques
- Pastries and sweets to eat in or take away
- Quiche Lorraine
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$$$ | |
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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$$$ | |
This Playa institution, in a funky jungle garden with fountains, palmettos, and a rambling koi pond, is a favorite breakfast spot. The well-prepared, authentic Mexican selections include multiple styles of chilaquiles, a tart mix of meat, sauce, and egg on a bed of tortillas that will have you skipping lunch. It's popular for lunch and dinner as well.
Calle 38, Playa del Carmen, Quintana Roo, 77710, Mexico
Known For
- Chilaquiles, served spicy or mild
- Good coffee
- Enchiladas with mole
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No dinner Sun
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$$$ | |
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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$$$ | |
Enjoy fresh seafood on the shaded patio of this family-owned restaurant in the heart of town. Try fish prepared al ajo (in a garlicky butter sauce), breaded, grilled, or tikin–xic style (marinated with adobo de achiote and sour oranges). Pelicanos also offers a variety of four-hour excursions that include fishing, snorkeling, then cooking the daily catch at the restaurant.
Av. Rafael Melgar at Av. Tulum, Puerto Morelos, Quintana Roo, 77580, Mexico
Known For
- Fish al ajo (in garlicky butter sauce)
- Catch and cook (and eat) options
- Massive margaritas
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$$$ | |
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 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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$$$ | |
This jungle-side hangout is laid-back, casual, and comfortable, with an open kitchen and airy layout in a large, traditional palapa. Standout dishes include organic-chicken-stuffed jalapeños and organic chicken in red sauce (so tender that it practically falls off the bone). Paying tribute to local blends is the wine list, on which 80% of the bottles are from Mexico. An international crowd of expats and in-the-know vacationers makes for a lively scene, especially at night. For large parties or special events, book ahead.
Carretera Tulum-Boca Paila, Km 5.7, Tulum, Quintana Roo, 77780, Mexico
Known For
- Mexican wines
- Spicy margaritas
- Traditional Mexican dishes
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun. in Apr.–Sept
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$$ | |
Fernando's friendly, homey restaurant—which serves as a sort of visitors bureau—seems to change locations often but remains a Mahahual institution. The affordable menu features Mexican and Yucatecan specialties with a generous splash of gringo. Should you be in the market for a margarita, don't be shy; as the name suggests, this is the place for expert guidance on all things agave. You can even buy a bottle of Fernando's homemade tequila to go. If the indoor party scene isn't lively enough for you, head to the outside tables, where cruise passengers are known to do shots.
Plaza Martillo between Calles Coronado and Martillo, Mahahual, Quintana Roo, 77900, Mexico
Known For
- Homemade tequila
- Yucatecan specialties
- Good margaritas
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon.
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$$$ | |
The name means "unexpected," and—thanks to the international dishes created by executive chef Juan Diego Solombrino—this place is truly a surprise. At breakfast, you can order hangover-healing eggs Benedict, Belgian waffles, or old-fashioned French toast; later, Imprevist pulls out all the stops with a hint of molecular gastronomy in the tuna tartare with lime and sake foam, and the chilled beetroot soup with goat cheese croquettes, truffle oil, and thyme cream. Risotto choices include a seafood number with squid ink and shaved fennel. The fish cooked in parchment is unbelievably moist, and the beef fillet with foie gras mousse practically melts in your mouth. Seating is available at sidewalk tables and in an intimate underground dining room.
Av. 1, Playa del Carmen, Quintana Roo, 77710, Mexico
Known For
- Squid ink risotto
- Beef fillet with foie gras mousse
- Sticky date cake
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No lunch Sun.
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$ | |
Rub shoulders with cab drivers, local government officials, and expat regulars over coffee at Tulum's favorite family-owned and -run coffee shop, where espresso drinks are made with 100% Mexican-grown coffee from places like Oaxaca and Veracruz. Upstairs you'll find a small bakery, out back a quiet jungle garden, and up front a relaxed beachy bar space, all serving up coffee, baked goods, and Mexican dishes like mollete—spiced toast over black-bean puree with pico de gallo (pro tip: add a fried egg for something special). Eco-friendliness is important here and the plumbing is a composting system.
Centauro Sur MZ05 LT11, Tulum, Quintana Roo, Mexico
Known For
- Espresso drinks made with Mexican coffee
- Carrot cake muffins
- Homemade baked goods
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$$ | |
You can't get any closer to the ruins than this two-story restaurant in a palapa setting with Mexican blankets draped over wooden tables. Some of the more traditional selections include fish prepared Yucatán style, chicken in banana leaves, and cochinita pibil.
Cobá, Quintana Roo, 77740, Mexico
Known For
- Yucatán-style fish
- Cochinita pibil
- Fresh salads
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No dinner
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$$$ | |
With driftwood tables overlooking Half Moon Bay, swings at the lively bar, and salsa music keeping things moving, this might be the perfect beach restaurant. The usual Mexican fare—quesadillas, empanadas, burritos, and fish tacos with handmade tortillas—is perfectly fine, but the food isn't the point. It's all about the location. Directly on the beach, this place takes full advantage with two big upstairs terraces that provide sweeping views of the water. Lounge chairs are scattered on the sand for customers' use, and there's a small pool to keep the kids busy while you have another margarita. Climb the ladder to the two-seater tower table, 15 feet above the sand, where your drinks are delivered in a bucket on a rope.
Akumal, Quintana Roo, 77729, Mexico
Known For
- Incredible beachfront location
- Sweeping waterfront views
- A two-seater tower table above the sand
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$$$ | Fracc. La Toscana |
If you want to try authentic Mexican and pre-Hispanic cuisine, La Perla Pixan is the place for you with its wide variety of traditional specialties such as pozole (and its vegetarian option), barbacoa, enchiladas, tlayudas, and more. Look for the weekend brunch buffet, and the extraordinary variety of mezcal cocktails. At night, live music and pre-Hispanic shows make La Perla one of the favorite spots of locals, expats, and visitors alike.
Calle 38, Playa del Carmen, Quintana Roo, 77710, Mexico
Known For
- Pre-Hispanic cuisine
- Mezcal cocktails
- Vegetarian pozole (traditional Mexican stew)
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon
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$ | |
This colorful hangout on the corner of the main plaza is the best place in town to watch the world go by (or take advantage of free Wi-Fi) while lingering over coffee and a pastry. Most items are organic, and the fruit smoothies are delicious. Come prepared to practice your Spanish; the staff doesn't speak much English.
Av. Tulum at Av. Rojo Gomez, Puerto Morelos, Quintana Roo, 77580, Mexico
Known For
- Organic fruit smoothies
- Good coffee
- Tasty Mexican breakfasts
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon
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$$$ | Zona Hotelera |
People come from up and down the Riviera for the zingy flavors of this southern Thai restaurant. Popular dishes include pad Thai, drunken noodles, and money bags (crispy fried wonton wrappers filled with a Thai shrimp mix). Overseeing the menu is Thai chef Dim Geefay, a well-known teacher and TV cooking personality. Recipes start with basil, chile, mint, and lemongrass, which are homegrown from seeds brought over from Thailand. The spiciness of the soups and curries (created with house-made coconut milk) are rated as "Tourist," "Expatriate," and "Truly Thai." Health-conscious diners will also appreciate a range of salads and the mildly sweet flavor of the Chaya green juice.
Carretera Tulum–Boca Paila, Km 1.5, Tulum, Quintana Roo, 77780, Mexico
Known For
- Pad Thai with chicken or shrimp
- Fresh fruit and salads
- Thai whole fish with mango salad
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$$ | |
Authentic chilaquiles, excellent, colorful fruit and veggie smoothies, and eggs Benedict (with the only real hollandaise you'll find in town) are just a few of the staples you'll find on the menu at Paloma's—a hacienda-style garden restaurant that specializes in brunch. The clean, simple restaurant interior opens onto a spacious, relaxed terrace dotted with white metal tables and chairs overlooking a large pool and sprawling garden. Brunch is the specialty here, but light lunch and dinner fare—including ceviche and quesadillas—are also on the ever-evolving menu. And if you need a place to stay in town, the connected hotel is a colorful, charming, budget-friendly spot.
Av. Tulum Mz. 39 Lt. 1, Tulum, Quintana Roo, Mexico
Known For
- Authentic chilaquiles
- Eggs Benedict
- Colorful smoothies
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$$ | |
Abutting the plaza at the beach, Pangea has it all: breakfast, lunch, and dinner served on an umbrella-shaded terrace overlooking the sea, plus live music and entertainment until late. Daily menus—all prepared with organic ingredients and without preservatives—may include grilled fresh tuna, vegetarian lasagna, or shrimp kebabs, and there's fresh ginger-lemongrass tea and pancakes for breakfast. Evening menus are themed according to the show: expect Middle Eastern food for belly-dancing night and Spanish tapas for flamenco. The owners came from Mexico City in the early 1990s and are a great source for tourist tips and local gossip.
Av. Morelos at the water, Puerto Morelos, Quintana Roo, 77580, Mexico
Known For
- Fresh fish
- Themed menus
- Ginger-lemongrass tea
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun
