Tulum’s Best Must-Try Beach Restaurants: Dine with the Waves

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Tulum’s beach restaurants are the perfect spot if you’re looking for a slice of paradise and good food.

Tulum is located in southern Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula, famous for its turquoise blue waters and powdery white sands.

The best Tulum’s beach restaurants are a feast for the senses, serving delicious meals and incredible views of the Caribbean Sea.

Tulum has a unique history, one of the Mayan cities that the Spaniards destroyed during colonization.

Its ancient ruins remain well-preserved even today and are one of the prime attractions in the area. 

Besides its historical significance, Tulum has become a hub for beach lovers and foodies, owing to its beautiful coastline and mouth-watering cuisine.

The beach restaurants here are architecturally unique and perfectly blend with their scenic surroundings.

Most restaurants limit the number of guests, giving them an intimate feel that makes for a cozy, romantic atmosphere.

Top 6 Restaurants in Tulum: From Sunrise to Sunset

1. The best seafood tacos at Los Aguachiles

This is a popular spot with locals. The menu here is unique and has something for everyone.

You can find a lot of seafood here, but they also have other options like lamb, chicken, and vegetarian dishes. 

The food is excellent, and the atmosphere is very relaxing and romantic. This is a great spot to go with your partner or friends.

There are plenty of great dining options in Tulum, but if you’re looking for a high-end meal, this is the place to go.

Los Aguachiles offers a new menu each night highlighting local ingredients and sustainable seafood. 

You may want to read: Tulum Mexico: Travel Guide and Tips for 2023

The restaurant is off the main road and has a lovely atmosphere with rugs on the floor and oriental knick-knacks.

The ambiance here is truly magical, and the service is amiable. The menu is creative and includes many items inspired by Yucatan cuisine. 

Don’t forget to try the Mezcal mojitos or their signature margaritas. Artisanal beers are also available.

2. Eat with a view at La Zebra Restaurant, Tulum

The beachside restaurant at La Zebra is one of the best places to taste Mexico’s exciting flavors. 

Whether you’re in the mood for pancakes, tacos, or healthy snacks, this eatery serves them with postcard-worthy views.

Make sure to save room for dessert, too — the Cookies’n’Cream shake is a must-try.

Dine with the Caribbean Sea in sight at this open-air beach restaurant. Choose from fresh seafood dishes or Western favorites like burgers and pasta, then sip on one of their signature cocktails. 

Their menu features drinks with hints of refreshing, tropical, dry, smoky, or herbal flavors to complement your meal.

Jasper created the drinks for this Colibri family of restaurants, with each dish crafted to compliment the hotel’s unique identity.

Whether you want a refreshing margarita or a pink sombrero, this is the place for creative cocktails in a tropical jungle setting.

3. Cooling-off at Mezzanine Beach Club

With a prime location that overlooks Tulum’s beautiful rocky beach and the sea-drenched jungle, Mezzanine is a top choice for an afternoon of sipping mixologist cocktails. 

Garn Surasak helms its authentic Thai restaurant and features well-balanced flavors that explore Thailand’s culinary heritage.

It’s also a popular destination for its casual seaside martini bar and lunchtime happy hour.

Located on the northern end of Tulum’s Hotel Zone, it’s away from many neighbors and has a more intimate feel on the beach – even though it technically sits within the public swath of sand.

The cliff-top boutique hotel is small and intimate, with just nine rooms tucked alongside a peaceful stretch of sand and rocky beach. 

Rooms are outfitted in East Asian or bohemian-chic décor and feature private porches, luxe Bulgari products, stocked mini bars, yoga mats, and spacious master suites with a deep tub.

While it may be a bit more expensive than the other options on this list, it’s worth the extra expense for the luxurious experience and stunning ambiance.

It’s a great spot to unwind with friends or loved ones, and the staff is incredibly friendly. 

Mezzanine Beach Club is also one of the best places in Tulum to get some delicious fish tacos, so make sure to try them! You can also buy a pass for this spot to get a discounted rate on drinks and food.

4. Sunset sips at Gitano Jungle Room

At night, Gitano Jungle Room is the spot to be seen.

Designed by an impressive team of international chefs (including Michelin-Starred Mika Bagale), this restaurant and mezcal bar serves modern Mexican fare in a 24,000-square foot jungle setting complete with wooden pergolas and beach-front dining decks. 

Sample the cocktails, including the Jungle Fever made with mezcal, cilantro, and chile while enjoying appetizers like Black Truffle Mushroom Sopes or Short Rib Pibil Tacos.

5. Dinner and drinks at Hartwood Restaurant Tulum

If you ask any locals for restaurant recommendations in Tulum, it’s almost guaranteed that Hartwood will be one of them.

This popular jungle eatery is so hyped that it’s on every foodie’s to-do list when visiting the Quintana Roo coast.

American couple Eric Werner and Mya Henry fell in love with Tulum on a 2009 trip and moved to the Mexican beach paradise to start their restaurant from scratch.

Aiming for sustainability, the restaurant uses only locally sourced Yucatan ingredients. 

With a daily menu, the dining room’s laid-back atmosphere (think gravel floor, simple white awnings, and a tree-filled outdoor setting) combines with a creative culinary style that merges international techniques with traditional Mexican cuisine.

The resulting dishes are genuinely mind-blowing. Expect things like the succulent slow-roasted cochinita pibil and tacos with a variety of seafood, including the aguachile and tostadas mixtas covered in fresh fish and seafood.

You can also try several kinds of Torres de mariscos – decoratively stacked towers of avocado fans, diced vegetables, and raw or cooked seafood- served with lime juice and spicy sauces.

6. Late-night bites at Casa Jaguar

After the sun goes down, Tulum is transformed into a party town.

The trendy beach clubs, bars, and nightclubs of Papaya Playa Project draw big-name DJs and fantastic crowds to a scene that is as beautiful as it is exhilarating.

A Caribbean restaurant by day, Casa Jaguar hosts jungle parties at their back terrace after 11 pm on Thursday nights.

They serve mojitos with fun combinations like prickly pear; you can even watch them press their sugarcane to make the fresh juice.

Located on the main road in Tulum Downtown, heading towards Chetumal, Casa Jaguar is a top-rated restaurant for its generous servings, delicious food, and impressive presentation. They also offer plenty of vegetarian and vegan options.

Tulum’s Top 6 Beach Restaurants: Conclusion

Tulum is a foodie’s paradise, and you can book a culinary walking tour to sample the best local dishes.

Try everything from street foods to old family recipes on a tour that includes tasting and visiting local restaurants.

Most restaurants in Tulum are cash only, so come prepared with pesos. Tipping is customary, and 10 to 15 percent of the total bill is appropriate. 

You’ll find that the service staff in Tulum is friendly and helpful, so remember to tip.

Bring bug spray and a hat when dining outside, and dress in comfortable, bohemian chic. You’ll also want to pack a flashlight for exploring the jungle after dark.

Tulum offers excellent time and fantastic cuisine all day and year round. Be sure to visit and try all the tasteful dishes this town provides. Vamonos!