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Without a doubt one of the best parts about traveling to Mexico (maybe the best part) is the food. Now, maybe I’m biased, having grown up in California with Mexican grandparents, but I think it’s one of the best cuisines, and more importantly, one of the hardest to come by outside of the southwest or west coast of the US (or Mexico, of course). So I knew I wanted to be extra meticulous in choosing all the Bacalar restaurants I wanted to go to because I didn’t want to waste a single meal.
Despite being such a small city, figuring out where to eat in Bacalar can be a bit daunting. There’s a pretty shocking number of Bacalar restaurants to choose from, which is why I wanted to make a hand-picked, curated list for you.
Here you’ll find all the best restaurants Bacalar has to offer, making it easy for you to plan your trip and maximise all your meals to be the best they can be! Keep reading to get inspired (and probably really hungry) and be sure to save this for later so you can reference it in the future!
Delve into Mexico
Don’t forget to check out the rest of my Mexico posts and guides if you’re still planning your perfect trip!
Best Bacalar Restaurants
1. Ixchel
Ixchel is one of the best Bacalar restaurants for breakfast. They’re open from 8am-2pm every day except for Mondays, and they’re located just a few blocks off the main square.
The chilaquiles and coffee here are both amazing, and honestly with those two settled it’s hard to imagine wanting much more from a breakfast spot!
But, just in case you or your party doesn’t like chilaquiles, I can assure that they have a fairly wide menu, including pancakes and other American-style breakfasts.
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2. Costera 28
Costera 28 was one of the best Bacalar restaurants we ate at. We had the restaurant entirely to ourselves because it still wasn’t quite the high season yet, and the staff was attentive but not overbearing. We even got to hear from the chef himself about some of the dishes. We chose to do the taco tasting menu, which I highly recommend.
A few of the tacos are made with offal, which I normally would be a bit stressed out by, but they actually ended up being our favorite tacos. We liked them so much, in fact, that we ordered another round of the offal tacos when the tasting was over.
I love the way that Mexican cuisine can be so inventive with things like insects and offal—it makes even a slightly squeamish eater like myself curious and excited to try these things!
If you want to hear more about the best things we did in Bacalar, check out my guide below!
3. Siete (at OurHabitas Bacalar)
OurHabitas Bacalar is admittedly a bit out of the way if you aren’t staying there—roughly a 15-minute drive from town—but they do take outside reservations at their restaurant, and the food, service, and ambiance are all impeccable.
(FYI: If you haven’t yet decided where to stay, OurHabitas is by far my top choice for accommodation in Bacalar. We stayed here and haven’t stoped thinking about it, or talking about it, since.)
Every night as we were coming back from dinner in town or walking up to Siete from the lakeside bar to eat dinner on the property, we saw several parties who presumably had come for the even from town—so this is definitely something people do do and you should do.
Staying for over a week, we were able to try out a number of items from the menu. Actually, let’s be real: I tried most of the menu, and I can confidently say that it was amazing.
I was especially obsessed with the breakfast and lunch options. The pineapple french toast and Motuleño toast along with basically all of the smoothies were staples for me in Bacalar. For lunch, the tacos, the shrimp roll, as well as the the fish bowl were also huge hits for us.
I can’t even get into the dinner menu, because everything was so impressive that I would be here forever listing things.
I think about the food at Siete on a weekly basis, so I highly recommend it. If you want to hear more about my time at Habitas, check out my review of our stay (coming soon)!
4. Enamora
Enamora is a lively breakfast café (though they’re open from 7:30am-6pm every day, aside from Thursday) that is based a little ways off the main square, in a really nice and serene setting with lots of plants, open space, and shade.
The menu is has more of a western breakfast influence, due to the owners’ Swedish heritage, and likely the prevalence of backpackers. The food really is good—I personally loved the shrimp omelette, and the coffee is somehow even better.
The real draw of Enamora, however, is the live music and art markets that often happen in the seating area. It’s not uncommon to pass by and see something going on here, so make sure to take a peek if you happen upon it! Otherwise, when there’s no event on, it can be a really calm spot, so it’s perfect for any vibe you’re after.
5. La Playita
Nestled off the main square of downtown Bacalar, right on the shore of the lagoon, is one of my favorite spots—and one of the most popular Bacalar restaurants—La Playita. Aside from the great food, La Playita is popular for its open-air gazebo surrounded by lush greenery, just steps away from the water.
It’s open everyday from 12pm-11pm, so you can lounge in one of their comfortable hammocks, sip on a refreshing cocktail and indulge in delicious seafood dishes (or vegan options, if that’s more your speed), at any time of the day! La Playita is a culinary delight, offering a diverse range of dishes to suit every palate. From juicy burgers to classic Mexican and Latin fusion, there’s something for everyone.
Their menu includes a wide range of options like braised octopus, shrimp sandwiches, buffalo cauliflower, and fresh guacamole. They also have live music at night, which is so fun!
6. Nixtamal
Nixtamal is definitely an elevated dining experience, with prices that may be higher than some of the other Bacalar restaurants, but are beyond worth it. Open everyday from 3pm-10:30pm, Nixtamal mainly specializes in perfectly crafted seafood dishes, and the grilled lobster tail and Salmon Xocolatl are the standout items from the menu.
The vibes are also immaculate, with an open kitchen and stunning jungle atmosphere it’s the perfect place to come for dinner after a day of relaxing at the lagoon. The service is also fantastic!
I highly recommend eating here, I wish I could go back to be honest.
7. Los de Atlixco
Los de Atlixco is basically open all day, everyday, and they are absolutely one of the Bacalar restaurants you want to make time for while you’re in here.
The menu is a mix of “American” staples like burgers, and all the classic Mexican favorites. All options are honestly fantastic. We tried the al pastor tacos (which come with pineapple, my favorite), shrimp tacos, a burger, and a steak burrito. Everything was amazing, and the fries that come with all entrees were insanely good.
It’s a pretty casual spot, so no need to worry about reservations or anything like that, but on a busy night you may have to wait.
8. Mango y Chile
Now, I didn’t personally eat here, but I wanted to include this in my list of Bacalar restaurants because Mango y Chile is widely considered to be one of, if not the best, vegan restaurant in Bacalar. Open every day besides Tuesday from 9am-9:30pm, you can swing by here and enjoy their food for any meal of the day, or even a snack! Honestly, the donuts look really good, and I’m regretting not trying this place.
The location is also perfect, with lagoon views and a stunning outdoor seating area. It’s located just off the main square, so it’s very easy to find and get to from most accommodations.
9. Kai Pez
At Kai Pez, the menu is fairly standard, but the quality and flavor is what will keep you coming back. They offer all the classic seafood dishes, like prawn tacos, grilled octopus and ceviche. But don’t worry, they have non-seafood options too!
With its prime location right on the lagoon, Kai Pez offers perfect views of the water. It was one of my favorite places to lounge with a drink and a snack in the afternoon. There’s even easy access to the lagoon from the restaurant so you can easily take a dip in the water. Not only that, but you can also book a boat tour from the restaurant!
Overall, Kai Pez is the perfect spot to relax and enjoy the vibes of the lagoon. They’re open from 12pm-7pm every day.
10. El Taco Loco
El Taco Loco is a bit out of town and therefore out of the way, but personally, I think it’s worth it. This is one of the more authentic Mexican options on the list, so you won’t find the classic Bacalar aesthetic going on here, but there’s still a lot of seating out under the lush jungle setting.
These are some of the best tacos you’ll have on your trip, to be quite honest, and some of the best seafood as well. The menu is pretty extensive, so there’s something for everyone, and everything is so good that I imagine you’ll be wanting to order a feast for the table.
They’re open from 9am-6pm, giving you plenty of time to make your way over here.
11. Yerbabuena
Yerbabuena smoothie bar is open every day from 8am-4pm, and they’re a great option for those looking for healthy but delicious breakfast options in Bacalar.
One thing about me is that I love a smoothie, so I was a huge fan of this place. They also have more substantial meals, but I can’t personally vouch for them because I was way too eager to have smoothies all day every day—the Coral and the Chunky Monkey were my favorite flavors.
Are you ready to explore the best Bacalar restaurants?
The best restaurants in Bacalar are ready and waiting for you now that you’ve looked through this list! I hope you feel well prepared to eat the best food during your trip, and you leave Bacalar feeling satisfied and full!
While you plan your trip in Bacalar, make sure you check out my guides to all the best things to do in Bacalar and day trips from Bacalar that you won’t want to miss.
If I missed anything you think should have made the list, be sure to leave a comment with your favorite spots to eat in Bacalar, and be sure to save this for later on Pinterest!
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P.S. When you book using my links, you help support Rachel IRL at no extra cost to you. It’s a win-win!
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