Cancun Restaurant Guide
Laura Schulthies
Laura Schulthies
Daniel Mode
Daniel ModeCancun is a famous resort town on the Caribbean Sea with stunning beaches, pristine turquoise waters, and exciting nightlife. Beyond being an electrifying destination to visit, you can find a wide range of wonderful bites to eat in Cancun as well. Even if you’re staying at one of Cancun’s all inclusive resorts, venturing out to sample local cuisine is a must. If you’re looking for a culinary adventure in Cancun, check out our guide to some of the best Cancun restaurant choices to visit this year.
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Where to Eat
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CENTRO
Centro or Downtown Cancun is where locals live and is your best stop for budget accommodations and local cuisine. Find a more charmingly authentic Mexico experience in Centro where you’ll find very diverse entertainment options. Visit Mayan Ruins or watch bullfighting in awe. The restaurant scene in Centro is a can’t miss experience.
HOTEL ZONE
The Hotel Zone (Zona Hotelera) is where most of the large all-inclusive and luxury chain hotels are located. This is a perfect place if you just want to relax and eat at oceanfront restaurants. The northern part of the Hotel Zone is called Punta Cancun and has a famously vibrant nightlife with plenty of clubs, late-night eats, and tourist bars.
Budget Restaurants
El Rinconcito de Puebla
El Rinconcito de Puebla in Centro is great if you want to fill up without emptying your wallet. This spot has a wide range of menu items and great service. You’ll find food ranging from traditional Mexican classics like chilaquiles to pasta and hamburgers. The signature molcajete, loaded with shrimp, arrachera, chorizo, cheese, and nopales, is a must-try. Don’t skip the tacos, nachos, or the 2 for 1 beer special either!
Parque de las Palapas
A favorite place to grab delicious local treats is the Parque de las Palapas in Centro. At night the park is filled with food stands selling all types of local cuisine. Try some marquesitas (a local classic, like sweet cheese, stuffed waffle roll), elote, and tacos at this park. Don’t skip the large burritos or churros either! Cash is recommended as many vendors don’t accept cards.
Restaurante Margely
For a local, traditional spot, and friendly service visit Restaurante Margely in Centro. Located inside the famous Mercado 28 flea market, this restaurant has various traditional Mexican dishes, including a Desayuno Cancun (Cancún breakfast) and chile rellenos. The menu is extensive and meals here are simple, classic, and delicious! Don’t miss out on the ceviche, steak tacos, and empanadas. Cash only.
Marakame Brunch Buffet
The popular Marakame Brunch Buffet is in a whimsical garden setting with a fun boho vibe in the Centro. This spot feels like dining in a treehouse. Brunch is around $20 USD and includes a traditional Mexican breakfast, artisanal bread, Mimosas, orange juice, and coffee. A la carte items include Mexican and international fare. Try traditional brunch fares such as french toast and omelet or huevos rancheros and chilaquiles. Don’t miss the 2×1 pizza deal on Wednesdays!
El Oasis Mariscos
El Oasis Marisco specializes in vibrant seafood dishes in a cozy atmosphere that gives guests an authentic taste of the island lifestyle right in Cancun Centro. Make sure to try one of their famous cocktails created by a certified mixologist. There are a variety of ceviches to choose from on the menu, but the empanadas are the star of the show. Try the lobster tacos or El Oasis Mariscos signature specials like the grilled octopus and coconut shrimp. Their unique fish market cart lets you select fresh seafood to be weighed and cooked to your preference.
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Midrange Restaurants
Restaurante Käajal
You’ll love Restaurante Kaajal, this scrumptious restaurant with a spectacular marina view in the Hotel Zone. Inside the Renaissance Cancun Resort & Marina, you’ll find a breakfast that features an enormous buffet with plenty of options. You can have a relaxing meal on the terrace, enjoying the nice weather and stunning Puerto Cancun lagoon views. Brunch options are all amazing and the coconut shrimp and chilaquiles are must-tries.
El Fish Fritanga
El Fish Fritanga is a local favorite in the middle of Cancún’s Hotel Zone next to a lagoon. Seafood is the star of the show here as you can eat delicious fried fish (sold by the gram), octopus, and lobster. If you’re not a seafood fan, they also have steak and pasta. Don’t miss the “World Famous Pescadillas” and Governor Tacos. Live music only adds to the ambiance at this palapa-roofed spot with sand floors and stunning lagoon views. Perfect for catching the sunset!
NAVÍOS
Located on a beautiful dock overlooking Nichupte Lagoon, NAVIOS is the perfect place to dine on delicious cuisine as you take in the Caribbean sunset. This Mexican seafood fusion eatery offers dishes that feature the extraordinary flavors of regional ingredients to create an unforgettable gastronomic experience. Try the Fresh Tuna Tataki or the Green Ceviche for starters. Local favorites include Grilled Octopus, Navios Special Lobster, and Sea Conch Carpaccio. Make sure to leave room for the decadent Flan and Lime Pie. Live music on Thursdays and Saturdays at sunset makes for an unforgettable evening.
La Fonda Del Zancudo
This romantic Italian fusion restaurant, La Fonda del Zancudo, serves up delicious food in a beautiful garden setting in Centro. Known as one of the most romantic restaurants in Cancún, guests can eat in an enchanting walled patio adorned with fairy lights and lush vegetation. Try the tasty pasta, mouthwatering empanadas, and their highly-rated Jamón Serrano pizza. And don’t forget to wash your meal down with one of their exceptional margaritas! Between the ambiance, service, and fantastically fresh artisanal food you just can’t go wrong at La Fonda del Zancudo.
Irori
If you want something that is both familiar and unique, visit Irori in Centro. We loved that this place had high-quality sushi but with a Mexican twist using local ingredients. They offer many of the classic sushi rolls as well as over 40 unique varieties including their Exotic Roll, Dragon Roll, and Soft Shell Crab Roll. Don’t miss the crispy Baby Squid and Tori appetizer.
High-End Restaurants
Restaurante Careyes
Restaurante Careyes offers a memorable fine dining experience with stunning views. The restaurant serves Mexican-French fusion cuisine at The Pyramid at Grand Oasis in Cancun’s Hotel Zone. This is the place for a romantic evening out with its sophisticated, upscale dining experiences made for date night. Try the rib eye steak and seared tuna steak, both cooked to perfection. Restaurante Careyes also offers an impressive wine list featuring selections from around the world.
Lorenzillo’s
If you’re a seafood lover, try Lorenzillo’s in the Hotel Zone. This iconic Cancun institution offers food as fresh as it gets. Built entirely over the waters of Laguna Nichupté under the largest palapa in the Americas, the seaside location offers spectacular views of the water. The lobster, especially the Lobster Thermidor, is succulent and an absolute must try at Lorenzillo’s! You can choose from 19 different lobster preparations. Reservations are recommended.
Ilios Greek Estiatorio Cancun
Be transported from Cancun to Mykonos at this authentic Greek restaurant in the Hotel Zone. Enjoy the vibrant ambiance, stunning decor, and the open-air feel of Ilios Greek Estiatoria overlooking Nichupté Lagoon. Try the meze selection, which features classics like hummus, tzatziki, spanakopita, and dolmathes. For your entree, the roasted lamb is a crowd favorite, but you can also choose from a selection of fresh seafood including grilled branzino and octopus. Try the baklava with molecular ice cream prepared tableside, and thank us later! Don’t miss the Greek fire show on the terrace.
Casitas Cancun
You can dine in style at one of Casita’s private beachside cabana dining rooms or on the oceanfront terrace at the Kempinski Hotel Cancún in the Hotel Zone. The menu suits all tastes, serving delicious seafood, USDA Prime steaks, and desserts expertly paired with their extensive wine list. Try the shrimp tacos, a la talla, rib eye with bone marrow, and locally-caught lobster. Live saxophone entertainment sets the mood for a memorable romantic evening. Private cabana reservations available.
Porfirio’s
When we want to eat something a bit upscale in Cancun, we visit Porfirio’s in the Hotel Zone. We love how they transform classic Mexican flavors into more modern, haute cuisine. Their oven-baked short rib is a crowd favorite, and the famous churros cart with four dipping sauces is the perfect ending to any meal. They have a superb selection of wines, tequila, and mezcal to pair with your meal. Don’t miss their signature Josefina mezcal margarita, and the views over Nichupté Lagoon at sunset!
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