We have made a careful selection of the best restaurants in Cancun and the Riviera Maya. Although hotels here are known for their exquisite cuisine, you should not miss the opportunity of dining out during your stay. The gourmet fare offered in the following restaurants will be a real treat for you and your guests.

Cancun

Blue Bayou.
The Blue Bayou offers one of Cancun's most romantic dining experiences in an exotic atmosphere surrounded by waterfalls and tropical gardens. Delight to the unique, delicious variety of dishes, including its famous Cajun and Creole specialties. Live classical and soft jazz music provide the background to this singular ambience. Enjoy Cancun's most frequently awarded culinary experience and discover the service and quality that have made the Blue Bayou famous since 1985. A place designed for pure enjoyment.

Cambalache.
Cambalache is part of Mexico’s largest Argentinean restaurant chain. They have differentiated themselves by the quality of meat that has been aged and selected, then grilled to perfection for the discerning palate. Combined with a rustic yet elegant décor, enveloped in the sounds of soft tango music, Cambalache is an unforgettable experience. Located in the heart of the Hotel Zone in Forum by the Sea shopping mall.

Hacienda El Mortero.
Built to resemble an old, colonial Hacienda, El Mortero is a true jewel of Mexican architecture. The menu features the best in Mexican cuisine with an emphasis on top quality meat and seafood. The ambiance is romantic-Mexican and includes a replica of the famous hacienda’s courtyard called “El Patio del Mortero”. The main decorating elements include a gazebo, four interior gardens, wrought iron balustrades and gardens with Mexican motifs.

La Casa de las Margaritas.
La Casa de las Margaritas is a celebration of good taste, good food and good times. Designed to provide visitors a rich and varied Mexican experience, the restaurant pulls out the stops every night and envelops its guests in the music, gusto, aromas and flavors evoked by the delicious offerings of contemporary Mexican cuisine. The restaurant’s architecture, décor featuring fine Mexican handicrafts, ambiance created by traditional Mexican music, and staff dedicated to excellent service are the perfect framework for a great celebration. Located in La Isla Shopping Mall.

La Dolce Vita.
An Italian restaurant with a singular homemade style. Featuring homemade pasta, fresh fish and seafood, La Dolce Vita has been a favorite with locals for more than 21 years. Itis also located in front of Nichupté Lagoon in the Hotel Zone, where you can enjoy a spectacular view from the open-aired terrace or in air-conditioned comfort. Enjoy an unforgettable dining experience with the tradition, good taste and excellent fare of La Dolce Vita.

La Destileria.
La Destileria is the only contemporary Mexican restaurant in Cancun located in front of Nichupté Lagoon and built as a replica of an old tequila processing hacienda with an on-site museum. Its menu was inspired by the rich contrast found in traditional Mexican cuisine, influenced by the new flavors that came to Mexico from the farthest corners of the world. La Destileria, in the Hotel Zone, has become one of Cancun’s most popular restaurants.

La Habichuela.
A favorite amongst locals since opening in 1977, La Habichuela was born of native Mayan art and its cultural influences. The restaurant has developed a unique concept composed of its original recipes, special flavorings, excellent service and unique atmosphere. Caribbean seafood dishes and other specialties have made La Habichuela famous and the recipient of several major Mexican and international awards. A legend in Cancun, La Habichuela is located downtown.

La Joya.
One of Cancun’s finest Mexican restaurants, located inside the Fiesta Americana Grand Coral Beach Hotel, in the heart of the Hotel Zone. The restaurant’s secret recipe for success is a combination of dance, rhythm and flavors blended together in a unique experience. Enjoy the only folkloric ballet in Cancun presented as you delight to classic Mexican cuisine. The menu features carefully selected Mexican dishes with that special touch that you will only find at La Joya Restaurant.

La Madonna.
This restaurant features a very unique design and décor, creating a contemporary yet romantic ambiance. Fine linens, European cutlery, Belgian china, and Italian glassware like the best restaurants in the world. The exquisite Italian and Swiss dishes are prepared fresh daily with the highest quality regional and imported ingredients, served with a flare that makes this a truly unforgettable dining experience. Its exclusive wine cellars offer the best wines from all over the world, carefully selected by La Madonna’s sommelier. Located in La Isla Shopping Mall.

Laguna Grill.
The architectural design and blend of culinary styles make Laguna Grill a truly one-of-a-kind place. You enter the restaurant through a lush tropical garden. The dining room floors are decorated with exotic wood and semi-precious stones, and the walls feature handmade Mexican tiles. A small brook crosses the restaurant to create a very tranquil atmosphere. The tables are made of finely treated tropical tree trunks, and there is a lovely terrace facing the lagoon where you can enjoy a spectacular sunset or dine under the stars.

Lorenzillo's.
Lorenzillo's, also known as “The Live Lobster House”, is located in the Cancun Hotel Zone on Nichupté Lagoon. This famous family restaurant has specialized in lobster for so long that nobody knows how to prepare it better or in so many creative, delicious ways. This delicacy from the sea arrives daily from the restaurant’s own lobster farms. The menu also features a huge variety of seafood sure to please any palate. No other restaurant in Cancun comes even close to Lorenzillo’s reputation for fine seafood.

Perico's.
A blast from the past to Mexico’s Revolution, with waiters in historical dress and murals of the era decorating the walls. Perico’s Restaurant goes one step beyond your imagination and what you’ve experienced in other restaurants. The food, house cocktails, colorful decoration, more than one hundred people to entertain you, and live mariachi and marimba music create a memorable evening during your visit to Cancun. No other restaurant can offer a betterpanorama of classic Mexican folklore.

Puerto Madero.
Classic “Argentinean Nostalgia”, a culinary delight at the “five forks” level for the quality of the food, impeccable service and enviable location at Barracuda Marina on Nichupté Lagoon. Mexico’s best known group of Argentinean restaurateurs has personally supervised the smallest details of this tribute to Buenos Aires’ famous Puerto Madero Restaurant; a combination of an excellent menu featuring top quality fare and a unique, distinctive atmosphere. This is definitely one of the best restaurants in Cancun for choice and prime quality meats.

Riviera Maya: Playa del Carmen

Blue Lobster
Seafood lovers can’t miss a visit to Blue Lobster Restaurant, the “Steak and Lobster House”. Besides its now classic regional menu, you should try its newest creation: “Lobster Boulevard”, made of shrimp, seafood, and a delightful combination of spices and exotic sauces. The candlelit tables on the restaurant’s two levels wrap you in a quiet, intimate atmosphere. This is one of Playa del Carmen’s most exclusive, intimate restaurants.

Byblos
A small French restaurant decorated with a pretty, discreet décor like a classic “salle-a-manger”, with a small fountain bubbling down one of the restaurant’s stone walls. The whole focus of this restaurant is to create a peaceful place for you to enjoy good service, good food and fine wine. The best of traditional French cuisine, each dish is personally inspected by the restaurant’s chef/owner.

Carlos ‘n Charlie’s
Carlos ‘n Charlie’s and its international bar is considered one of the best places to dine and drink in a lively, fun-filled atmosphere with a great view of the sea. Carlos ‘n Charlie’s owners/friends will personally make sure you feel right at home in the casual environment that features great Mexican and international food. Part of the prestigious “Grupo Anderson” chain, Carlos ‘n Charlie’s is right next to the new Paseo del Carmen Shopping Mall.

La Casa del Agua
A different sort of experience. Come and discover the exquisite blend of European and Mexican cuisine with that special Caribbean flare. All our dishes are freshly prepared with the best ingredients and accompanied by an extensive domestic and imported wine list. A romantic candlelit yet family atmosphere surrounds you in La Casa del Agua. Soft, white curtains flutter in the windows and a beautiful fountain completes its classic décor. Each client receives special, personalized attention.

Palapa Hemmingway
This picturesque restaurant is located on Playa del Carmen’s famous 5th Avenue. Its unique architecture includes a huge thatched roof supported by “twisted” tree trunks with wicker lamps hanging from the branches. An exotic and creative atmosphere featuring the works of Mexican and Cuban artists on its walls. The background salsa music magically evokes the best of the Caribbean. The menu presents a variety of seafood and pasta dishes, salads, charcoal- grilled meats and traditional Mexican cuisine.

Sur
A fusion of Mediterranean and avant-garde architectural styles with minimalist décor has created a huge, well-lit space divided on to two floors. Snacks, lunch and cocktails are served on the ground floor, while the top floor is used for dinner service. A magnificent, reasonably priced menu features Argentinean grill, seafood, pastas with delicious sauces, huge salads, panades and exquisite desserts.

Yaxche
Throughout the long, devout, religious life of the ancient Mayan wise men, it was thought that food nurtured both the body and the soul. The Mayan cuisine of Yaxché Restaurant is an innovative concept of “a Mayan temple of culinary art” created by its owners. We invite you to explore this ancient legacy that is still a part of the living Mayan culture through your senses of taste, sight, and sound. The rich blend of flavors in Mayan cuisine are an invitation to learn more about their culture and customs.

La Parrilla
A delightfully typical Mexican family restaurant, full of color and folklore. Its festive ambiance along with the decorative arches, fountains and balconies recalls the haciendas of Old Mexico. A cheerful, friendly atmosphere harmonizes with the "Mexicanisimo" live Mariachi Choose from a variety of fine Mexican dishes including beef, chicken and seafood. Traditional grilling saturates each dish with an exquisite aroma and flavor, the tradition continues with delicious, handmade tortillas. Save room for tempting desserts and flaming coffees, prepared tableside. With the attention and service that has made La Parilla a favorite since 1975.

Negrosal Restaurant
Enjoy a top class Negrosal Restaurant, and experience the sophisticated and creative Mediterranean haute cuisine in amazing Playa del Carmen, at the Riviera Maya. Negrosal Restaurant is actually the most fashionable, cosmopolitan and elegant restaurant in the Riviera Maya. The wine-cellar is spectacular with an extensive sommelier's selection of domestic and imported wines. The style of Negrosal Restaurant is eclectic, excellent service, inspiring lounge music and soft light.

The Glass Bar
Mediterranean Restaurant, bar, and wine cellar. This restaurant is a combination of a classic Restaurant with a Lounge Bar offering a creative menu and an Italian touch that will delight you every time. The Glass Bar has one of the biggest wine cellars in the region and a selection of the best wines in Italy. Enjoy a true culinary experience in Playa del Carmen as you choose one of more than 10,000 bottles of wine.