Food in Tulum combines the best of Mexican flavors and international cuisine. I found amazing fusions between traditional spices and wood-fired pizzas, black beans and everyday breakfast items, spicy salsa and a Mediterranean octopus. I created this list to help you figure out which are the best restaurants in Tulum, where to eat at a fair price, and whether you should make any preparations beforehand. You will find that Latin American culture tends to forego the formalities involved in table reservations, but highly popular restaurants must still do so given their traffic.
On to the list:
Posada Margherita
Incredibly photogenic and full of personality, Posada Margherita is an oddity in the middle of so many tacos and tortillas. It is primarily an Italian restaurant, but there’s something about its flair that feels extremely local to Tulum. If you’re anything like me, you’ll love its casual vintage feel, the tiny candle workshops upon entering, the wild vegetation carefully grown along the sides.
Posada Margherita in Tulum
The entrance
La Eufemia
I’ll admit that I found La Eufemia 100% by accident. I’ll also admit that this is exactly how I’ve found some of the best restaurants I’ve been to in my life. La Eufemia is where you’ll have cheap flavorful tacos to the sound of upbeat beach music, surrounded by a lively crowd. There’s a hut where you can sit at a table or you can go the beach route and sit directly in front of the ocean. Either way, this casual spot deserves a visit — at least once. One quick fun fact before you go: La Eufemia is actually the name of the place’s beloved dog, and she’s just telling me everything about it in the photo below. We’re BFFs now.
Eufemia the dog
Juanita Diavola
You’ll find this incredible brick oven place right next to Posada Margherita, as a part of hotel Coco Tulum. Since I stayed at the hotel, I thought it couldn’t hurt to try what had already been ranked as one of the best pizzas in Tulum. It didn’t disappoint! Crunchy crust, fresh ingredients (including local seafood!), and live music on the weekends? You had me at crunchy, but everything else is also stellar.
Pizza and live music at Juanita Diavola
Mur Mur
Go straight to the bar. What a mysterious and totally charming ambiance! They’ve elevated that genuine patio feel with fancy drinks and carefully curated music. Mur Mur is where I found a bartender that finally explained to me what it was about Tulum that made it magical. Flavors are there, and you can’t leave without trying the octopus or a drink of premium Mezcal — grasshoppers (chapulines) included! Fun fact: Chapulín, the word Mexicans use for certain insects in the cricket family, is where the world-famous “Chapulín Colorado” got its superhero name. Chapulín Colorado is a fictional character created by Roberto Gómez Bolaños (Chespirito), undoubtedly the most famous Mexican comedian of all time.
Octopus at Mur Mur in Tulum
Ziggy’s
Breakfast is served. This is where you start the day with more than just a sunny side up. Even a “simple” meal of fried eggs is turned into a fascinating fusion by adding a mix of tomatoes, tortilla, and spices. Ziggy Beach, which is mainly a hotel, also offers lunch, dinner, and drinks open to non-guests. Check out their menu and get a taste for the type of surprises you’re in for.
Breakfast at Ziggy’s
Gitano
Ambiance is everything in this bespoke tropical gem. Succulents, candles, and palm trees surrounding you, there’s very little a place can do to disappoint you. Gitano offers an amazing selection of Mezcals, cocktails, and small bites. You can´t go wrong with the fire-roasted tomato flatbread and the Shrimp al Pil-Pil tacos. For a detailed explanation of Mexican taco types, check out this guide.
A night at Gitano in Tulum
Others
Coco Beach Bar: A hip resto-bar inside the Coco Tulum hotel. Great seafood and cocktails for a quick afternoon meal watching the sunset. Swings are a plus.
What is it about beachside food that makes it taste SO much better?
Hartwood: Call before you go. I cannot overstate this. There is virtually no chance of getting in unless you make a reservation with enough time. Considered by many as one of the best restaurants in Tulum, Hartwood features Mayan flavors cooked in a wood-burning oven and grill.
