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Arca
A stylish hot spot that opened in 2015, Arca is one of the top restaurants for an alfresco evening out. The menu highlights seasonal cuisine like grilled avocado with roasted pumpkin seeds and octopus al pastor with adobo sauce and...
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Batey’s
Identifiable by the lime sorbet–green vintage Volkswagon bug parked outside, Batey's is the best spot in town for cocktails. They specialize in mojitos using raw sugar cane juice made from a handcrank (that is incidentally set in the Beetle's backseat)....
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Casa Banana
Set on the jungle side of the beach road, Casa Banana is an open-air restaurant that serves delicious dishes and snacks throughout the day (breakfast is heavenly) and night. Specialties include the grilled meat, seafood and vegetables that are cooked...
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Casa Jaguar
The sister restaurant of the acclaimed Hartwood, Casa Jaguar serves inspired Mexican dishes like the panucho de mar, sautéed octopus on a tortilla with beans, avocado, habanero aioli and coriander. Main dishes might include a lamb osso buco or the...
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Casa Violeta
A perennial favorite, the restaurant of this cabana hotel is a lovely spot for a late lunch. The small dining room faces the sea, its windows are flung open, inviting in a breeze, and the menu includes delicious thin-crust pizza...
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Cetli
Locals and plugged-in visitors craving authentic Mexican fare, especially incredible mole, head to this laid-back spot in town. The friendly chef and owner is passionate about sourcing the best local ingredients and her menu and the restaurant’s setting is perfect...
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El Camello Jr.
Plastic chairs and tables spill onto the dusty sidewalk in front of this seafood restaurant and shop, where diners sit under whirring ceiling fans, surrounded by colorful murals on the wall depicting sea life. Camello’s ultra-fresh fish tacos, coconut shrimp...
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El Tabano
For authentic Mexican fare with a gourmet twist, head to El Tabano, on the other side of the beach road (where all the beach bungalow hotels are located). The food is delicious and the place popular; reserve a table a...
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Hartwood
Run by two displaced New Yorkers who made the “why not just move here?” vacation dream a reality, Hartwood is Tulum’s de facto hot spot. The open-air restaurant is packed every night, and diners happily wait up to an hour...
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La Zebra
According to one Tulum insider, the restaurant of this beach bungalow hotel serves the best breakfast-brunch in Tulum. Another good tip is to come by on Sunday night when the hotel hosts its weekly Salsa party. Even for families, this...
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Las Estrellas
This restaurant at Cabanas La Luna Hotel (not to be confused with Villa Las Estrellas Hotel) is a casual hip place. The Chef is Danish and pure cool; he appears from the kitchen before service begins and walks you through...
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Mateo’s
Discounting this place due to its gimmicky vibe is a mistake, as Matteo's serves some of the best tacos in Tulum, and is an excellent option for meals, snacks and drinks throughout the day and well into the evening. Set...
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Mezzanine
For the nights when you need a break from Mexican fare, head north along the beach road to the Hotel Mezzanine, which features a delicious Thai restaurant. The chef, who hails from Thailand, consistently creates innovative dishes utilizing local ingredients...
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Oscar Y Lalo
No-frills beachside Oscar Y Lalo, located at the end of a bumpy road about a 15-minute drive outside Tulum, is a great place for seafood, particularly for fresh ceviche.
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Posada Margherita
When locals want an amazing meal, they head to a simple posada on the Tulum beach where delicious Italian food is served on a beachfront terrace. The eight-room hotel is owned by groovy, young Italian, Alessandro Carozzino from Genoa and...
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Que Fresco/Zamas
This open-air restaurant at one of Tulum’s most popular cabana hotels serves ultra-fresh Mexican seafood and strong margaritas. It draws crowds of jovial customers, many of whom are staying at bungalows down the beach.
Tulum

Courtesy Posada Margherita
The restaurants in Tulum are often attached to the small bungalow hotels that line the stretch of white sandy beach between the Tulum Ruins and Sian Kan Biosphere. For lunch, best options include: Posada Margherita or Casa Violeta; best for dinner at the beach are: Hartwood, Hemingway, Las Estrellas or Hechizo and best for dinner in town: Cetli or El Camello Jr. For an abbreviated list of restaurants, read Top Tables Tulum.
Destination
Type of Restaurant
Type of Meal
Editors Pick
Beyond…
Consider combining your trip with one of these destinations.
- Courtesy of Xavier Quetzalcoatl Contreras CastilloRead More
Mexico City
The largest metropolitan area in the western hemisphere, Mexico City, while remaining deeply-rooted in tradition, is in the midst of a modern renaissance. Visitors to the capital will experience its dynamism: ancient ruins juxtapose with modern architecture, age-old flavors pervade...
- Courtesy of EsenciaRead More
Riviera Maya
The Riviera Maya, a gorgeous coastline of white sand beaches, turquoise Caribbean seas, exhilarating eco-adventures and Maya ruins, begins south of Cancun and ends at the chic beach enclave Tulum. It’s also one of the fastest-growing resort areas in Mexico.