Cancun Restaurant Guide
Cosmopolitan Cuisine For Any Budget
Updated December 2023
Welcome to Cancun
Cancun 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.
Cancun Map
Contents
Where to Eat
The Top Neighborhoods
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.
ZONA HOTELERA
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 Zona Hotelera is called Punta Cancun and has a famously vibrant nightlife with plenty of clubs, late-night eats, and tourist bars.
Budget Options
El Rinconcito de Puebla
$ Mexican, Brewpub, Latin
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. Don’t skip the tacos, nachos, or the 2 for 1 beer special!
Parque de las Palapas
$ Public Market
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!
Restaurante Margely
$ Mexican
For a local, traditional spot, and friendly service visit Restaurante Margely in Centro. 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.
Marakame Brunch Buffet
$$ - $$$, Mexican, Pizza, Seafood
The popular Marakame Brunch Buffet is in a whimsical garden setting with a fun boho vibe in Zona Hotelera. Brunch is less than $10 USD and includes a traditional Mexican breakfast, 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.
Check out our Packing List For Beach Vacation!
Midrange Options
El Fish Fritanga
$$ - $$$, Mexican, Caribbean, Seafood
El Fish Fritanga is a local favorite in the middle of Cancún’s Zona Hotelera next to a lagoon. Seafood is the star of the show here as you can eat delicious fried fish, octopus, and lobster. If you’re not a seafood fan, they also have steak and pasta. Live music only adds to the ambiance at this hidden gem.
Restaurante Käajal
$$ - $$$, Mexican, International, Healthy
You’ll love Restaurante Kaajal, this scrumptious restaurant with a spectacular marina view in Zona Hotelera. Breakfast features an enormous buffet with plenty of options. You can have a relaxing meal on the terrace, enjoying the nice weather and stunning views. Brunch options are all amazing and the coconut shrimp is a must-try.
La Fonda Del Zancudo
$$ - $$$, Vegetarian Friendly, Vegan Options, Gluten Free Options
This romantic Italian fusion restaurant, La Fonda del Zancudo, serves up delicious food in a beautiful garden setting in Centro. Guests can eat tasty pasta, fresh seafood, and mouthwatering empanadas. And don’t forget to wash your meal down with a refreshing cocktail! Between the ambiance, service, and fantastically fresh food you just can’t go wrong at La Fonda del Zancudo.
Captain’s Cove
$$ - $$$, Caribbean, Seafood, Vegetarian Friendly
Captain’s Cove Steak and Seafood Restaurant in Zona Hotelera is as much about the ambiance as it is the food. You can’t beat the views of its waterfront terrace. Often reviewed as one of the best restaurants in Cancun, there are excellent brunches and phenomenal surf and turf dinners. A tempting array of fresh fish, shrimp, lobster, and steak awaits you on the menu.
Irori
$$ - $$$, Japanese, Sushi, Vegetarian Friendly
Staff Favorite – 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. They offer many of the classic sushi rolls but also unique items such as their Caribbean Roll.
High-End Options
Lorenzillo’s
$$$$ Caribbean, Seafood, Soups
If you’re a seafood lover, try Lorenzillo’s in Zona Hotelera. This fine-dining spot has an exclusive lobster farm taken care of by biologists. Their food is as fresh as it gets, and the seaside location offers spectacular views of the water. The lobster is succulent and an absolute must try at Lorenzillo’s!
La Habichuela Cancún
$$$$, Mexican, Caribbean, Seafood
La Habichuela is a longstanding classic eatery in Cancún’s Centro. It serves up a mouthwatering Caribbean-inspired menu in an enchanting Mayan themed garden where the atmosphere alone is worth a visit. One of its most unique must-try dishes is the curried lobster served in a coconut and the made-at-table crepes for dessert.
Casitas Cancun
$$$$, Seafood, Grill, Gluten Free Options
You can dine in style at one of Casita’s private cabana dining rooms or on the terrace at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Zona Hotelera. The menu suits all tastes, serving delicious seafood, steaks, and desserts expertly paired with their extensive wine list. Try the shrimp tacos, BBQ beef short rib, and for dessert key lime pie or tiramisu.
Porfirio’s
$$$$, Mexican, Latin, Contemporary
Staff Favorite – When we want to eat something a bit upscale in Cancun, we visit Porfirio’s in Zona Hotelera. We love how they transform classic Mexican flavors into more modern, haute cuisine. They have a superb selection of wines, tequila, and mezcal to pair with your meal. And the views!
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Please insert a link to their actual website, not to Facebook.
Hey Charles. Thanks for reaching out. Many restaurants in Mexico dont have actual websites, only FB pages. Also, some restaurants have websites that are broken or hacked often. When we find those, we replace them with their FB page instead to protect our guests. Which restaurant are you referring to? I’m happy to check if they have a new site!
My boyfriend and I are looking forwards to checking out Parque de las Palapas. We both love checking out local food trucks, and this place seems similar. Thanks for adding them to your list.
I found this guide while researching places to eat in Cancun. My group and I decided on La Fonda Del Zancudo based on your guide. We all really enjoyed it. We sat outside and it was perfect. The food and the atmosphere were both top-notch.
These all sound delicious! Thank you for this guide. This will be so helpful when my husband and I go there later this summer.
Happy to help! You won’t be disappointed.
I checked out El Rinconcito de Puebla after coming across this site. My whole group enjoyed it. The portions were huge and they had everything from American food to Mexican food.
Glad you liked it!
La Fonda Del Zancudo was a great suggestion, and both my girlfriend and I really enjoyed our meals.
Porfirios was a great suggestion. Thank you for making our dining choices easier. There are too many choices here!
We love all the recommendations you’ve listed. I’ve been to several of these places but will visit the rest when we go back to Cancun later this year.
Awesome recommendations!
Marakame was the best! Than you for the excellent recommendations.