Tulum is a quiet paradise less than two hours south of the heavily saturated resort towns of Cancun and Riviera Maya. The boutique beachfront hotels and shops, cenotes, Mayan ruins, and gorgeous beachfront all make this place a worthy vacation destination, but it’s the food scene here that really sets Tulum apart from the rest.
There are hundreds of amazing restaurants lined along the beachfront and in the central town of Tulum. You can find anything from adorable little café huts, to restaurants designed and run by 3 Michelin star chefs. The food scene here is extremely diverse, covering cuisines like homemade Italian, Indian, Mediterranean, Vegan, and of course Mexican!
In two trips to Tulum I managed to tackle close to 25 delectable restaurants, craft cocktail bars, and adorable boutique cafes. Check out the list below for my top ten restaurant picks in Tulum (in no particular order)!
Casa Jaguar
This is without a doubt one of the prettiest restaurants I have ever laid eyes on. Located in the jungle, palm trees and vines snake perfectly around hand-made wooden tables and chairs, offering natural privacy and an intimate setting. Natural dirt floors and candles as the only light source at night help craft an ambiance not easily duplicated. Reservations are highly recommended so check out their website here to place one before you go.
Tip: Thursday’s are the hot night here as they host jungle parties weekly. Head here for some dinner before enjoying the incredible underground dance music, craft cocktails, and good vibes!
Hartwood
If you want local, organically sourced, environmentally friendly food, this is it. Every single detail of this restaurant is crafted with self-sustainability at the forefront. The restaurant is run entirely on natural energy from solar panels, everything is cooked on an open fire wood-burning oven and grill, and everything is recyclable and compostable leaving their room footprint meter AT ZERO.
“HARTWOOD’S MENU CHANGES DAILY BASED ON THE SEA AND LAND THAT OFFER US NEW HARVESTS EACH DAY.”
Anything you eat here is hand-collected, farmed, and sourced daily from local Mayan farmland and the sea in the surrounding areas. Sadly, after two visits to Tulum, I still have yet to get my timing right for this place. This is my number one priority when I return and I highly recommend you make it yours. If you eat only one meal in Tulum, it should be here.
Tip: This place is only open Wednesday to Sunday for dinner service. They accept walk-ins but you will need to arrive hours before the 5pm opening time to stand in line with your whole party for a table. Reservations can be made in advance by email one month prior. Information for making reservations can be found on their website here.
Wild
If you want fresh seafood or amazing vegetarian and vegan options, look no further. This Mediterranean style wood-fire oven and grill restaurant will take you into the heart of the jungle and send your taste buds on a wild ride. The open-air lounge-style jungle concept is incredibly refreshing. The rustic style architecture and artistic flow help make this place truly one of a kind. The craft cocktails are most definitely something to indulge in here and as usual in Tulum, everything is house-made.
Tip: Reservations aren’t as necessary here but can be made on their website . Their menu is also available to view online as they do not change their dishes daily. If you are lucky you might be around to catch one of their unique one-off jungle parties under the stars!
Gitano
Though this hip spot is more popularly known as a late night Mezcal bar with tapas style dining, the food here is definitely worth checking out. The tacos here are all to die for as is just about everything else on the menu. This is the perfect spot to head to if you are with a larger group. The setting is intimate but encourages more of an open-air social vibe with bigger dining tables and an open dance floor.
They offer a private “jungle room” dining space for larger parties or special events and you can rent out the entire restaurant for bigger weddings, rehearsal dinners, etc. This place is absolutely STUNNING and total goals for throwing an out of this world party that’s sure to be the talk of all your friends and family for years to come.
Tip: Head here for some cocktails after dinner for live music on Sundays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, and enjoy dinner and dancing on Fridays and Saturdays. This place opens at 6pm and reservations for dinner are most definitely recommended. More info available on their website here!
Mateo’s
If you want the best fish tacos in town or just a good old-fashioned juicy cheeseburger and fries, Mateo’s is the place to go. This place is good for a hearty brunch or lunch before a long day of activities and turns into a live-music venue at night. They have a sunset viewing rooftop lounge that boasts incredible views and there is seating on every level as well as pool tables in the back bar. This is a great space to bring a group of friends or the whole family for some good eats and authentic Mexican style vibes.
Tip: This restaurant accepts walk ins daily but for the busier season I recommend heading over to make a reservation in person for the same day or later in the week to be safe. The website does not currently accept reservations but has the menu posted and contact information available for any questions.
Kitchen Table
This place takes the one of the top rated spots on Trip Advisor out of all the restaurants in Tulum and for good reason. Similar to Hartwood, they use a locally sourced and self-sustaining concept for all their operations. The food here is caught and sourced fresh daily and there is no refrigeration or gas stove units. The chef-owner, Inacio Lamas, brings his Portuguese background to the table infusing the food with techniques he has picked up from working in multiple 5-star and Michelin rated restaurants around the world.
Tip: Reservations can be made same day by phone or online up to a week in advance and are strongly recommended. The only times available for reservations are 6pm or 9pm and the largest size they will take is for a party of 8. We walked in with just 2 and didn’t have an issue getting in during the slower season.
Ziggy’s
If you are thinking about your feet in the sand and a drink in your hand this is the number one spot to be. This beachfront restaurant and bar is the perfect spot to chill for drinks and go for a dip during the day or come and enjoy a nice dinner for one of the fun theme nights they have every night of the week. I usually go here for drinks but I did have some of the food here and it was nothing short of amazing. Everything here is done right and the service is friendly and accommodating. This is one of my favorite places to come hang with a group of friends; I’ve never had a bad time here!
Tip: The beach club is open daily from 9am to sunset and is FCFS. The restaurant is open daily from 7am to 10pm and reservations are not necessary but can be made on their website online.
Burrito Amor
This walk up spot is a little off the beaten path towards the end of town past the bus station, but it is well worth the trek. Burrito Amor cranks out the best burritos I have ever had anywhere in this entire world. The outsides are flattop griddled until crispy while the insides mesh perfectly together on every bite. There are a plethora of different sauces in squeeze bottles at each table to jazz up the flavors, creating a unique taste variety with every bite. If you are renting a scooter, the shop is just down the way making this the perfect spot to grab an energy-boosting lunch before speeding off for the day!
Tip: This is walk-up only without a website so make sure to ask around to verify it is open before heading over! It’s a little bit out of the way so don’t make the same mistake I did by heading over before checking if it is open!
Raw Love
If I could eat here every day, I would die happy. Wether or not you are a vegan, vegetarian, pescitarian, or carnivore, Raw Love will blow your socks off. This incredibly fresh, flavorful, farm-to-table restaurant has some of the best raw food I have ever had. Their Pad Thai (made raw and vegan) is to die for, the acai bowls come straight from heaven, and the juices and local kombucha will keep you hydrated for days.
This place knows how to make healthy food look and taste absolutely divine. The restaurant itself is set up in the sand with hammocks, tree stump stools and tables, and fun rope swings scattered about. If you had a little too much to drink the night before, I highly recommend making a stop here to relax and refresh before starting your day!
Tip: Order ANYTHING off the menu. There is no such thing as a bad dish here.
Tata Tulum
This place is a hotel but has an attached beachfront restaurant worth checking out. The TaTa hotel itself is really nice, but the tableside guacamole/feet-in-the-sand concept is the star of the show here. They roast warm peppers and mix them in creating a flavor bursting combination of hot and cold that tickle the senses. The breakfast here is also worth checking out. We dined here several times throughout our stay and never once had a disappointing meal.
Tip: Everything is caught fresh day-of but the menu doesn’t change so don’t be offended if something isn’t available – it just means they weren’t able to source it for the day!
Honorable Mention: Matcha Mama
This place doesn’t serve food, which is why this spot didn’t make the list, but it does serve some of the BEST Matcha drinks around. Apart from the drinks this is by far one of the most Instagram-able places in all of Mexico. Cute swings, white ship-lap woodwork, drinks that quench your thirst just by looking at them…what more could you need! This is a bit far down the beach road, so I recommend taking a bike ride and checking out some of the adorable boutique shops along the way!
