Many of these restaurants are
open only for lunch, in which case they'll close in
the late afternoon - they'll still be open after
your dive boat returns and you shower and rinse your
gear at Villa Zaztun.
Check the
Local Cuisine page or use the search box for
definitions of unfamiliar terms.
Locate restaurants on the
Restaurants page or on our
detailed external map.
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Restaurant
|
Details
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Amparo's
$$ |
A: Calle 2 N at the
corner of 10 Av
P: 872 77 49
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Very pleasant, bright
dining room for brunch. Closes early by
Mexican standards for lunch. Besides brunchy
favorites such as omelettes and Eggs
Benedict, they have patty melts and BLT's.
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Antojitos Doña Pili
$
|
A: Av. Pedro Juaquin
Coldwell #410 at the corner of calle 12 bis
N
P: 869 10 03
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|
Established over 20
years in a somewhat odd beehive-shaped
building. Great traditionally-made
quesadillas (made with masa that's filled
and cooked on a comal, not a tortilla) with
all the traditional toppings available.
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Asadero el Pollo
$
|
A: Av. Pedro Joaquin
Coldwell (30)
between Calle 5 Sur & Morelos
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|
Two locations offering
grilled chickens and sides. Great for taking
to the beach or back to Villa Zaztun. They
close when they run out of chicken.
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Buccanos Beachclub
$$ |
A: Playa San Juan
Costera Norte Km 4.5
P: 872 01 00
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Beach club north of
town with nice lunches at the edge of the
water. Great views. There's a swimming
beach, snorkeling area, pool, and outdoor
shower that restaurant customers can use!
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Cafetería la Cozumeleña
$
|
A: 10 Av. Sur at the
corner of Calle 3 Sur
P: 872 10 89
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|
One of our very
favorites. La Cozumeleña is a bakery in the
center of town. They have great fruit
smoothies and fruit plates. Their fried
shrimp tacos and tortas are a great lunch
choice. Free parking just past their door on
the right.
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Camilo's
$$ |
A: 5a Av. Nte #99
between Calle 2 & 4 Nte
P: 872 61 61
|
|
This downtown
restaurant has tacos such as shrimp or
smoked marlin, good seafood soup, and nice
fish filets (such as one in poblano cream
cheese sauce)
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Carnitas Díaz
|
A: 65 Avenida S between
Rosado Salas and Calle 3S
|
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$
|
Very good carnitas
tacos. Closes quite early for lunch by
Mexican standards at 2 PM.
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Cielito Lindo
$$ |
A: Calle 3 Sur at the
corner of 5 Av
P: 101 95 89
|
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|
Serves Mexican
classics, properly prepared. These include
the famous and delicious Chiles en Nogada,
traditionally available only seasonally in
mid-September for Mexican Independence Day
(on the Enlish menu here as "stuffed chiles
with walnut cream sauce"). Newly-remodeled
indoor space and outdoor seating on the
sidewalk.
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Doña Dilla
$
|
A: 11 Av between Melgar
& Calle 5
P: 872 44 21
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Located around the
corner from Mega across from Parque Quintana
Roo and the Municipal palace (in which it
used to be located). Traditionally-made
quesadillas, meaning they're made from masa
that's filled then cooked on a comal, rather
than a tortilla. They sometimes run out of
toppings (always the one you want). Very
inexpensive and filling.
|
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El Camarón Dorado
$
|
A: Av. Benito Juárez
near 105a Av. Sur
P: 872 72 87
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|
This place on the
transversal road is not very close to Casa
Suzana, but it's great for wonderful tacos
and tortas. Their specialty is fried shrimp,
but they have a large range of seafood and
non-seafood toppings. They will deliver to
Villa Zaztun. Closed Mondays.
|
|
El Coctelito
$$ |
A: Avenida Rafael
Melgar entre Calle 10 y 12 Nte
P: 120 15 03
|
|
Seafood place on the
waterfront, with a playground for the kids.
Great ceviche and fish, not to mention fizzy
limeade (limonada con gas). The "Mummy
Shrimp" with cheese and wrapped in bacon are
a favorite. Closed Mondays.
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El Mercado
Municipal
|
A: Calle Dr.
Adolfo Rosado Salas between Av. 20 and 25
|
|
$
|
There are several food
stalls and restaurants in the main city
market that offer lunch. These are quick,
inexpensive, and filling.
|
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El Moro
$$ |
A: 75 Bis Av. Nte #124
between Calle 2 & 4 Nte
P: 872 30 29
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|
Well-loved but
hard-to-find place popular with Americans
and specializing in seafood and Mayan food.
They have the traditional Yucatecan Frijol
con Puerco at lunch on Mondays. Closed
Thursdays.
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El Museo
$$
|
A: Av. Rafael E. Melgar
between Calles 4 & 6 Nte
P: 872 08 38
|
|
Recently reopened.
Great views from the upper-level
terrace.
|
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El Paste Empanadas Horneados
|
A: Calle Miguel Hidalgo
#1683 between 65 Av. &55 Sur Bis
P: 120 93 05
|
|
$
|
Wonderful baked puff
pastry empanadas in a range of fillings.
Great daily specials. They'll deliver to
Villa Zaztun if you order 10 or more
empanadas.
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El Super Hit
$
|
A: Av. Pedro Joaquin
Coldwell (30)
at the corner of Calle 15 Sur
|
|
Good place for
cochinita pibil tortas - pick some up to go
("para llevar") to eat on the plane on the
way home! Walking distance from Villa Zaztun.
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Empanadas Los 3
Patitos
|
A: Av. Pedro Joaquin
Coldwell (30) at the corner of Calle 15 Sur
|
|
$
|
Not far from Casa
Suzana, this places sells 4 kinds of
traditional empanadas and drinks including
cebada - that's it. You can eat your
emapanadas standing at the long counter at
the sidewalk or take them home. Get there
early, since they close when they sell out
every day. I've noticed them open in the
evening recently.
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Frenchies
$
|
A: 10a Avenida between
Avenida Juárez & Calle 2 Norte
P: 116 1759
|
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Frenchies is unique. It
looks like a franchise location, but it's
the only (or at least the first) in the
world. They serve fresh-made french fries
that are great in themselves but are
transformed with a range of toppings.
There's the familiar French-Canadian
poutine, but also wonderful Thai orange
chicken with ginger, "Bluefalo", superb
garlic parmesan and vegetarian varieties.
You have to try it to believe it.
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Hanal-Ki
$
|
A: Av. Benito Juárez
between Calle 60 & 65 Sur
(across from the fire station)
|
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This place on the
transversal road specializes in Mayan
dishes, including cochinita pibil, relleno
negro, panuchos, salbutes, and papadzules
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La Candela
$$
|
A: 5a Av. Nte at the
corner of Calle 6 Nte
P: 878 44 71
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|
A favorite with us and
many local residents. In addition to a great
menu, they offer daily family-style
specials. Eat under a palapa and watch the
people go by, then shop downtown or along
the waterfront. Finish with mamey or mango
pie or the best-of-both-worlds layered
combination mamey and mango pie.
|
|
La Casa del Mojito
$$ |
A: 5 Av between Rosado
Salas & 3 Sur
P: 111 41 24
|
|
|
One of our island
favorites! Cuban food and drinks prepared
properly and with love. We love the masitas
de puerco (cubes of pork loin slow-cooked in
their own fat) and the fried plantains in
particular. The mojitos are the best around
and are made with Cuban rum. They also serve
one of the best burgers on the island, the
"Cuban Burger" with homemake spiced beef
patties and a fried egg.
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|
La Choza
$$ |
A: 10a Av. Sur at the
corner of Calle Rosado Salas
P: 872 09 58
|
|
Offers a range of
seafood and traditional Mexican items.
Chicken mole is particularly good. Famous
for their yellow salsa, which you can buy to
take home. Their avocado pie is better than
it sounds. Free parking in private lot on
Calle 6 Nte.
|
|
La Cocay
$$$ |
A: Calle 8 Nte #208
between Av. 10 & 15 Nte
P: 872 55 33
|
|
Lovely indoor setting
and mediterranean fusion dishes. Closed
Sundays.
|
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La Conchita del Caribe
$$ |
A: 65a Av. Sur #960
between Calle 13 & 15 Sur
P: 869 12 18
|
|
Lots of great seafood
options here. The best is to choose your
fish from the cooler and have it fried
whole.
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La Perlita
$$ |
A: Calle 10 Nte between
Av. 65 Bis & 70 Nte
P: 869 83 43
|
|
A bit difficult to
find, but worth the trouble especially for
great lionfish dishes, particularly ceviche
and pez leon xcalacoco (breaded in coconut).
Two-for-one lionfish dishes on Thursdays!
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La Sirenita
|
A: Av. Coldwell (30) at
the corner of Calle 1 Sur
|
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$
|
Fresh-squeezed juices,
cocos frios, seafood tacos and tortas.
Cheap, fast, fresh, tasty.
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Las Palmas
Cocina Economica
|
A: 25a Av. Sur at the
corner of Calle 3 Sur
P: 872 12 95
|
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$
|
Crowded, popular Cocina
Economica "back in the 'hood". Very popular
with locals. Great value and good quality.
The "Tampiqueña" is a large combo that
includes soup and an enchilada in addition
to your selected main course.
|
|
Le Chef
$$ |
A: 5a Av. Sur #398 at
the corner of Calle 5 Sur
P: 878 43 91
|
|
Creative offerings of
fresh local ingredients inspired by French
and Mediterranean techniques. Their lobster
and bacon sandwich is great!
|
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Lobster Shack
$$
|
A: Calle 3 Sur between
5 Av and Melgar
P: 869 08 12
|
|
Despite appearances,
they don't serve New England-style lobster
rolls, but this would be impossible using
local clawless spiny lobsters. Instead, they
serve delicious with lobster cooked on
griddle with cheese stuffed into rolls with
avocado. They also have shrimp and
arrachera. Their salsas are especially
noteworthy - cilantro coconut or 4 chile go
particularly well with lobster, and the
sweet chipotle goes well with arrachera.
They make burritos, but we don't like them
nearly as much as the rolls.
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Los Chilangos
Cocina Economica
|
A: 10a Av. Sur between
Calle 13 & 15 Sur
P: 872 30 72
|
|
$
|
Neighborhood Cocina
Economica not far from Villa Zaztun. They
offer a changing list of low-priced,
delicious meals for lunch daily. Not to be
confused with
Taqueria
los
Chilangos, which specializes in huaraches
and is open only for supper.
|
|
Los Otates
$
|
A: 15a Av. Sur between
Calle Rosado Salas & Calle 3 Sur
P: 869 10 59
|
|
Very popular with
locals and tourists alike. Famous for
pozole, they also offer a range of tacos,
tortas, burritos (unusual in Mexico), and
even burgers (but no fries). Free WiFi. Free
parking.
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Mezcalito's
|
A: Transversal Road at
the Beach - 876 09 14
|
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$$-$$$
|
Deservedly well-known
place on the eastern shore of the island.
Tables in the sand steps from the ocean. Our
favorite is "Mezcalito's Super Shrimp"
marinated in tequila and grilled. Possibly
the most addictive french fries on the
island. They close around dusk, since there
is no electricity on this side of the
island. Despite not having floors, this is
not a budget option.
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|
No Name Bar
$$ |
A: Av. Rafael E. Melgar
#628 between Calle 7 & 11 Sur
P: 878 40 20
|
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Great view, swim-up bar
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Pancho's Backyard
$$ |
A: Av. Rafael E. Melgar
#27 at the corner of Calle 8 Nte
P: 842 21 41
|
|
Attractive setting in
the Los Cinco Soles store on the waterfront
at the north end of downtown, they offer
some tasty and unusual dishes. People
particularly like their chiles rellenos
stuffed with plaintains and walnuts.
Different lunch and supper menus, somewhat
unusual for Cozumel.
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|
Parrilla Mission
$$ |
A: Calle 1 Sur between
Calle 50 & 55
P: 869 24 63
|
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Longstanding favorite,
specializing in arrachera and seafood. In
addition to a full menu, they also offer
great family-style lunchtime specials that
are delicious and inexpensive.
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Parripollo
$
|
A: Av. Coldwell (30) at
corner of Calle Rosado Salas
P: 123 29 75
|
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Another good choice for
grilled chicken and sides to take out to
Villa Zaztun or to the beach
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Patagonia Bistro
$
|
A: Calle 2
N between Melgar & 5 Av
P: 869 04 97
|
|
|
Small, bright place
just off the waterfront boulevard.
Sandwiches and brunch fare as well as a few
Argentinean specialites and yerba mate. The
bondiola, a slow-cooked braised pork
shoulder, is fantastic.
|
|
Pescaderia San Carlos
$
|
A: 50a Av. Sur Bis
between Calle 3 Sur & Calle A. R. Salas
P: 872 74 40
|
|
Some of the very best,
freshest seafood around. This is a fish
market with a small, pleasant covered dining
area out back. They do a large amount of
takeout business with local families. The
menu isn't extensive, but it is memorably
good. You won't regret going.
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Restaurant
Tamarindos
|
A: 30 Av at Calle 7
|
|
$
|
On Saturdays, they
serve Lechón al Horno, roast suckling pig,
in tacos and tortas so cheap it's almost
free. Served with crackling, it is
addictive. They are open for lunch, but
hefty take-out business in the morning means
they can run out of lechón by lunch. The
rest of the week they have cochinita pibil
and a few other toppings every day.
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Super Carnes HC de Monterrey
|
A: 5a Av. Sur between
Calle 9 Sur and 9 Bis
P: 872 22 77
|
|
$$
|
Well-known for
arrachera, which is their specialty
|
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The Pub
$$ |
A: Calle 4 Nte between
5 & 10 Av
P: 872 41 32
|
|
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Good English pub grub,
beer on tap, and a really good homemade
burger. The steak and ale pie is noteworthy
(and takes about 20 minutes).
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Wet Wendy's
Margarita House
|
A: 5a Av. Nte between
Calle 5 & Benito Juárez (pedestrian)
P: 872 49 70
|
|
$$
|
Famous for innovative
margaritas, they also offer "Mexican and
Texican Food"
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