Located on Mexico‘s Yucatán Peninsula, Cancún is a beautiful city surrounded by the turquoise seas of the Caribbean. Here’s our guide to the best restaurants in the eclectic seaside city.
Restaurant Tempo provides guests with a Basque-inspired dining experience led by food expert and chef Martin Berasategui. Innovative and delicious dishes are available here, such as the white tuna with seaweed cream and the grilled lamb and Gruyere sandwich. The wonderful dining experience is enhanced both by the crystal blue ocean surrounding diners, and the exquisite presentation of the food on flawless white china.
Peter’s Restaurante has been providing Cancún with an interesting blend of international flavors. In addition to authentic Mexican food, guests can also select meals inspired by Italian and French cuisines. This restaurant exudes a casual, welcoming atmopshere which is popular with locals and tourists alike. The Bouqinete, a local fish, is a speciality and popular choice at Peter’s, along with dishes like ravioli. The starters here are delicious, but don’t get too full on the first courses. Dessert is a must; make room for the frozen chocolate and passionfruit pie.
La Dolce Vita prides itself on serving sensational combinations of pasta, seafood and wine on one delectable Italian menu. Located in downtown Cancún, this restaurant has been serving residents and tourists of the area since 1983. Guests can choose from homemade pastas like linguini with crab meat, or spaghetti with amatricciana, a mild Italian sausage. The warm ambiance and fresh food are a draw for many looking to dine with friends at the end of a day by the idyllic blue coast.
Puerto Madero is an unmissable Argentinian grilling experience. Satisfy your ‘surf and turf’ cravings here with an array of tasty seafood and steak options, including lobster and New York ribeyes. There are also less conventional choices such as grilled Alaskan black cod. Various ceviche and cocktail dishes, using shrimp and octopus, serve as great starters here at Puerto Madero. The sweet dessert wines are perfect to conclude your meal.
Just as the name indicates, Vegan Planet is a haven for conscientious eaters and advertises a menu free from all animal products, artificial preservatives and colorings. This affordable restaurant offers healthy Tex-Mex cuisine options, along with ‘Flavors of the World,’ a menu including vegan pita and yakimeshi. Vegan Planet also features a raw menu, with fusion items like burritos wrapped in nori or seaweed. Despite the commitment to healthy eating here, the quality of dessert is not compromised. A top pick is the raw chocolate and chantilly cream.
If you’re in Cancún and want to eat delicious, traditional Mexican food without breaking the bank, then look no further than Pik Nik. Here guests can experience an alternative picnic, featuring dishes such as deliciously tangy shrimp ceviché and mixed seafood platters, all set in a colorfully decorated outside dining area. Even better, customers don’t have to wait until the afternoon for a picnic; breakfast options like chilaquiles burritos and fruit cocktails make it a meal option even in the early morning.
La Habichuela takes inspiration from the Caribbean to craft its menu items. The variety of seafood and meat plates here make it an establishment able to please many. Grilled cuts of local fish, Caribbean lobster tails and jumbo shrimp cooked in sauces are some of the top and tasty picks from the menu. Popular Latin dishes such as chicken in mole sauce are also available. The cozy restaurant also offers the option to dine in the pretty garden, designed in a style heavily influenced by Mayan culture.
Tucked down a small side street in the beautiful Plaza Bonita is El Callejon. ‘The Alley,’ as it translates to English, is the perfect blend of Mexican and American snack foods in one establishment. When guests are finished at the bar, where they can order classic salt-rimmed margaritas, cold beer or even fruity smoothies, they can enjoy a range of delicious dishes. These range from hamburgers to tacos. This place is perfect for breakfast, lunch, dinner or even just for drinks. The open-air establishment of El Callejon has something tasty to serve whatever the occasion.
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Life is a fiesta when you step into MexTreme, Cancún. The goal of this restaurant is to intensify the flavors of Mexican cuisine and provide a tantalizing dining experience. With a warm and lively atmosphere, MexTreme is a great place to tuck into a wealth of spicy and traditional dishes. These include sizzling fajitas, fresh tortillas and enchiladas. As this restaurant sits within walking distance of many hotels in Cancún, it serves as a great place to get together for a night with friends.
Specializing in the preparation of fish, including pescadillas, or whiting, a cod-like fish, El Fish Fritanga is a seaside restaurant in the hotel zone offering exceptional seafood. Guests can order almost any fish they can think of, prepared in a variety of ways. Options include stuffed crab, aguachiles or oysters on the half shell. El Fish Fritanga house specials are unmissable, particularly the seafood risotto and surf and turf skewers. Finish a meal with stuffed plantains, one of the consistent and tasty dessert options on offer. Or, try the daily dessert special.
