Tulum Travel Guide: Where to Eat (and Drink)

If you’ve been tuned in the past few weeks, you know that we’ve been giving you the full scoop on Tulum, Mexico – from transportation to places to visit.

And now we have to tell you about allll the food! We must say, it’s a foodie-mecca. Tulum has some of the best bites we’ve encountered in our various trips to Mexico. There was street food, hole-in-the-wall restaurants, city spots and beach-side resorts… so many options! And the food was amazing in the majority of the spots. Don’t just think tacos (although we had our fair share) – think steak, lobster, ceviche and more!

Check out six great restaurants in Tulum, Mexico that had us at hello.

El Asadero, Av. Satelite Nte. Mz 23 Lt.5 entre Sagitario y, Calle 2 Ote, Centro, 77760 Tulum, Q.R., Mexico (located 2 blks off the main strip)

El Asadero was our first restaurant of the trip and it didn’t disappoint. Great drinks and the food was prepared well. We tried the grilled ribeye and burritos and they were both delicious. The burrito was a huge value because it was enough for two meals and less than $10 USD. The staff was friendly too. They took pictures for our mini-photo shoot after dinner at the swing set across the street.

Sabor de Mar, Calle Júpiter Sur, Tulum Centro, Tulum, Q.R., Mexico

Arguably the best bite of the entire trip happened at Sabor de Mar, a seafood restaurant just off the main strip. The ceviche was super fresh and had just enough citrus and spice! Val considers it the best she’s ever had and she’s had a lot of ceviche. There are also other towers with mixes of tuna and shrimp. Their shrimp tacos are also crispy and chock full of shrimp. Add some guacamole to the order and a coke – pure heaven! Now, we must warn you… they take cash only and they don’t serve alcohol, but that wasn’t an issue at all! Thank us later for recommending this hidden gem.

Tres Galeones, Tulum Centro, Tulum, Quintana Roo, Mexico – Mexican Seafood and Specialties

This was our last night restaurant and it was great. They have a mix of beef and seafood specials that will delight your palate. They offer like three different sauces (varying in heat level and flavor) that are the perfect complement to the food. They also offer delicious cocktails. Forgot what we had, but they were good! Add this place to your list of must-visit spots. It’s located in downtown Tulum.

Rosa Negra, 5, Tulum Beach, Zona Hotelera, 77503 Q.R., Mexico

This restaurant gets mixed reviews with us. We both wanted a nice, fancy dinner option and this fit the bill perfectly. Granted, the beach area is pricier than downtown options (so bring your wallet). We tried similar dishes – grilled lobster tacos and grilled lobster with drawn butter. The grilled lobster was succulent, and with drawn butter was a delicious treat. The grilled lobster tacos were lacking, so don’t order those! The ambiance was still cool. This restaurant takes reservations and works to wow you with service. There are about three people assigned to your table to make sure all your food and drink needs are meet.

Vintage Café – Aldea Zama, Tulum, Q.R., Mexico

In Aldea Zama, this cafe is a must-visit. Friendly owner and staff, great food and coffees and a chill vibe, made this our go-to spot while in Aldea Zama. Whether stopping in for a cold coke, latte or a quick sandwich, we were always greeted with a smile. Love this place!

Los Amigos Beach Tulum, Carr. Tulum-Boca Paila Km 9, Tulum Beach, 5, Q.R., Mexico

If you’re not staying in a beach resort, but want to visit the beach, Los Amigos Beach is a great option! The beach was clean and wait staff at the beach club was friendly and attentive. We had drinks while getting a little bit of sun and surf.

There you have it! Do you have a favorite Tulum restaurant? If so, drop it in the comments!