When visiting Tulum one of the things that you are going to enjoy the most is eating! Tulum is not only home to the best beach clubs and bo-ho vibes, it is also home to a variety of diverse and delicious cuisines! In this post I will tell you about our Top 5 picks for best places to eat in Tulum! Each of these places offered incredible experiences and left long lasting impressions on us! This list has a wide variety as well, ranging from healthy fruit bowls on the beach, to fully vegan, to casual fine dining. So without further ado let's get into Tulum's Top Eats!
ARCA
A place where culinary experience steps outside the norm. Feast on skillfully crafted cocktails, and eat food that could be considered art. All while in the heart of the Tulum jungle. This is a place whose atmosphere, ambiance, and cuisine cannot be matched.
Where is it :
This restaurant is located on Tulum Beach Road. If you are driving down the road from Tulum Central it is toward the end of the road. It is close in proximity to Rosa Negra.
The address: CARRETERA TULUM-BOCA PAILA KM 7.6
77780 TULUM, QUINTANA ROO MEXICO
(note this is the address on their website)
The address: Av. Boca Paila, Tulum Beach, 77766 Tulum, Q.R., Mexico
(this is the address I used off of Google Maps when we went)
Type of Cuisine :
I would say that the cuisine presented here is traditional Mexican cuisine. But imagine it as more of a casual fine-dining experience. I think often times when people think traditional Mexican cuisine they are assuming it is only foods they have been taught to associate with that, such as tacos or burritos. This restaurant offers a wider variety and will introduce you to ingredients from Mexico's heritage that you may have never know before.
General Info:
Hours: 5:30pm- 10:30pm
Do I need reservations: Reservations are highly recommended, this is a popular place.
Is there parking? There is no direct parking at this location, however there is a paid parking lot right across the street, about a 2-3 minute walk from this location.
Average Cost: $$$
This restaurant is not the cheapest place in Tulum, but it can still be enjoyed if you are on a budget. The reason it has a higher price tag is because you are experiencing high quality cuisine and you are getting a full culinary experience, with knowledgeable servers, skilled chefs, and an amazing atmosphere.
Our Experience:
Believe it or not, our original plans were not to eat here at all! We had dinner plans this evening at a different venue. But we had heard such great things about ARCA, we had made a reservation for drinks and maybe an appetizer or two before heading to dinner. It did not take long for us to change our minds.
Our server was so knowledgeable, the way he described the food made us so intrigued and after tasting one dish and one drink..we just knew. We had to try more! There was nowhere else that was going to compare and we couldn't bring ourselves to leave. We stayed and enjoyed dinner here instead and it was divine. To get full details on everything we ordered check out my post ARCA: More Than Your Typical Dining Experience.
Also, check out their website: https://arcatulum.com/
La Hoja Verde
If you are someone who is looking for delicious food that will also make you feel great then La Hoja Verde is a great spot for you! This restaurant is a fully vegan restaurant, but that doesn't mean you can't enjoy if you are not a vegan. My boyfriend and I are what I call part time vegans, because we love vegan food and how it makes us feel so we eat it whenever we can. But we also like a good steak, so yea all about balance over here! Anywho, this place is divine! Affordable and delicious plus it's good for you! What more could you ask for!?
Where is it :
This restaurant is located in Tulum Centro, or center city Tulum. Located right off of the main road, you can't miss it. It's side has a mural that says La Hoja Verde, and across the street is another beautiful mural. Just look for the art work and the beach fronds of the hut thatch roof and you will spot it. The exact address is provided below.
Address: Beta Sur S/N, Tulum Centro, 77780 Tulum, Q.R., Mexico
Type of Cuisine
This restaurant serves vegetarian and vegan cuisine. I would describe the cuisine as feel good, healing food! It is all healthy and all delicious! Everything made here is made with care and it all tastes fabulous! Here are some images of the fabulous meals we enjoyed while we were there! To get more details on each of these meals you can check out my post La Hoja Verde- A Vegan Gem in Tulum.
General Info:
Hours: 8:00am- 10:00pm every day except Tuesday
Do I need reservations: Reservations are not required, when we went we just walked in. Of course wait times depends on how busy the restaurant is at the time of your visit.
Is there parking? There is street parking near the restaurant. We drove ourselves and had no issues with parking.
Average Cost: $
Not only does this restaurant have delicious food but it has affordable food. There is a variety between salads, burgers, tacos and more! The prices are affordable and not outlandish. I highly recommend coming here for a quick bite to eat! They also offer take out if you wanted to eat it in the comfort of your own space.
Our Experience :
We found this place through Instagram and thought it looked amazing so we decided to stop by one day for lunch. We thought the atmosphere was so cute , full of plants, and chill vibes! There were so many delicious sounding foods on the menu we couldn't decide so we each got a couple things to try, and not one single thing disappointed us! The food came out fast and every bite was amazing. I really enjoyed this place because as someone who has a dairy sensitivity and tries to limit gluten, this place made eating really easy for me! If you're into healthy food that tastes amazing, this is a must stop spot for you!
Mestixa
Mestixa, a delicious fusion restaurant is center city Tulum. Allow your tastebuds to come alive with unique flavor profiles and combinations that you would have never thought possible. If the cuisine doesn't draw you in, the beautiful decor sure will! The perfect balance between Mexican and Asian cuisine, this place definitely deserves it's spot on the Top Tulum Eats list.
Where is it :
This restaurant is also located in center city Tulum. Similar to La Hoja Verde, it is located on a side street right off of the main road. The address can be found below.
Address: Av satélite Entre Av. Tulum, Calle Polar Pte. y, 77760 Tulum, Q.R., Mexico
*Note that they do have a location in Playa del Carmen as well, but since this is the Top Tulum Eats post, we are focusing on the Tulum location specifically.
Type of Cuisine:
This restaurant is a blend of Mexican and Asian cuisine. Imagine upscale street food! What I mean by that is imagine the authenticity and culture of street food mixed with flavors and presentation of fine dining. This place offers some amazing meals. Here is a look at some of the things we ordered.
General Info:
Hours: Opened everyday from 5pm - 11pm
Do I need reservations: I would recommend reservations for this restaurant. We went on a weeknight and had reservations, and thank goodness we did because it was hopping! Good food brings the crowds!
Is there parking: There is plenty of street parking available near the restaraunt. We drove ourselves here.
Average Cost: $$
I would say that this place is pretty good when it comes to cost. It is not as cheap as a food truck, or a whole in the wall restaurant, however you definitely won't be spending all of your hard earned cash here either. It is reasonably priced and well worth whatever you pay.
Our Experience:
Our experience here was a pleasant surprise, we had actually almost canceled these reservations that we had because we were thinking, we had ate out so much this week maybe we should cook at home. Thank goodness we didn't! We adored this restaurant! Now we are a little biased because Mexican and Japanese cuisines are both in our top favorite types of cuisines, and this restaurant is a blend of those, so talk about a perfect spot for us haha! However, the food seriously was delicious, the decor was spot on and it was the perfect place for us for a night in the city after a long day. It was low key, delicious and bursting with unique flavors I highly recommend.
Raw Love
Jumping right back on that healthy food train I want to tell you about one of our favorite spots in Tulum, Raw Love. We stopped here for breakfast one day and wow, talk about delicious healing foods. Nestled on Tulum Jungle Beach this restaurant connects you to Mexico both in its environment and in its cuisine. I honestly don't think you will find a place that offers more Tulum vibes than here. You've got fruit bowls, you've got hammocks, you've got a great time! When you're in town Raw Love is a must stop destination.
Where is it : This gem is located right on Tulum Beach Road. It is very close to the famous Daniel Popper Sculpture. So if you see that you know you are close! It is a little tucked away back on the beach, but there are signs indicating its location from the street.
Address: Av. Tulum Mz 5, Lt 1 , local 21, Tulum Centro, 77766 Tulum, Q.R., Mexico
Type of Cuisine : I would describe the food as healthy, plant based food. It is the kind of food that leaves you feeling fantastic. Most of the food here is vegan, and there are gluten free and dairy free options as well. Think fruit bowls and healing foods, that is what is mainly served here. In addition to their cuisine they also have fabulous healing juices and tonics to accompany your food as well. Here are some images of some of the things we ordered!
General Info:
Hours: 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Do I need reservations? No. We did not make reservations when we went and we were fine. This is a relaxed, sit down place on the beach. Walk-ins are fine.
Average Cost: $$
One other amazing thing about Raw Love, besides the delicious healthy food is that it is affordable! This is not a location that will break you bank. The price you are paying is because you are getting local, fresh ingredients that are good for you! I would say imagine slightly cheaper than typical American prices for fruit bowls here.
Our Experience: Our experience here was magical. We had just left Azulik museum a little further up the road, which I highly recommend checking out! To learn more about that stunning museum check out my post Azulik: Top 10 Things You Need to Know. We had met some friends and the museum and decided we could really go for a nice, healthy breakfast on the beach. We found Raw Love, tucked away in the jungle towards the back of the Daniel Popper Sculpture. Nestled back there was a quaint, relaxing scene. Little tables and chairs, hammocks, seashell wind chimes, the vibes were all relaxation. And the food was delightful. Everything that we put into our mouths not only tasted fantastic but made us feel fantastic as well. This place is a retreat for the soul and a healing ground for the body. I definitely recommend. Full post on this place coming soon!
Palma Central Food Truck Festival
Not every good meal has to be a fine dining experience. Sometimes, the best meals you have are from the locals cooking it off of the street. When in Tulum, Palma Central Food Truck Festival is a must stop place! It offers the widest variety of food, from multiple local restaurants and allows you to sample so much deliciousness. It is also by far the most affordable meal we had while in Tulum. Not to mention, it is a festival! So there is music and shopping and fun to be had by all.
Where is it : Palma Central is located in center city Tulum.
Address: Av. Kukulkan 6, Palma Central, 77760 Tulum, Q.R., Mexico
Type of Cuisine: Literally everything - this was a food truck festival when we went so there were a ton of food trucks there, each cooking a cuisine specific to their restaurant. If you have someone who is picky or never knows what they want this may be a good choice because the options are literally endless.
General Info:
Hours: 9:00 AM -2:00 PM and 5:00 PM - 11:00 PM (closed on Wednesday)
Do I need reservations? No. We walked into this event no problem. Also, reservations can not be made as it is not a restaurant, it is a lot with a whole bunch of food trucks. Walk in any time during operating hours. Just be aware, the later you arrive the more likely that some of the food trucks may be out of what you want to order.
Average Cost: $
This was the most affordable meal we had while in Tulum. We each got a full meal from our chosen truck and I think the average price for meal was about 6 US Dollars. And it was delicious! I think we went with a 20 dollar bill in our pocket and we got two full meals and two beers. Really great if you are on a budget or travelling with a big group. Also it is a fun place to bring the kids.
Our Experience: Our experience here was extra special to us because this was a place that we had no idea existed. While in Tulum, we had made plans to visit all of the hottest spots in town, you know the places. The ones that are featured on everyone's Instagram page and that look like the best party places. We had been to one the night before and if I am being honest, it wasn't all that and it was expensive! We were prepared to give it another go by trying another place this evening, but luckily for us we ran into a wonderful older couple at our Airbnb's pool. We got to chatting, and learned that they had lived in the area for several years, when we asked their opinions about where we had planned to go eat they told us not to waste our time and money. They invited us to attend this food truck festival with them. I am so happy we did, it was such a lively event and it had soooooooo much food. If you can think of it it was there, empanadas, sushi, burgers, salad, vegan, asian bistro, mexican, pizza, hawaiian, literally every type of food was there. And it was super affordable! And there was a bar, shopping and live music. It was such a great way to connect with the locals, support their business and have a wonderful evening.
There you have it! Our opinion of Tulum's Top Eats. I hope when you visit you get to experience these incredible places. If you do, or already have, let me know in the comments section! Or if you have another place that you think should make this list let me know!
Until next time,
Steph
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