When you're planning your vacation in Riviera Maya, restaurants are sure to be high on your list. Food is a big part of the culture here, along with many other things to do in Riviera Maya.
While you're visiting, check out some of the best restaurants in Tulum, from beachfront seafood spots to hidden gems deep in the jungle.
Beachfront Bliss: Dining With a View
Dining by the sea is truly special. Enjoy the sea breeze as you fill your belly before heading off to explore some of the other wonderful things to do in Riviera Maya.
1. Hartwood
The food philosophy at Hartwood restaurant is based on using the freshest local ingredients. For that reason, the menu changes daily. Seafood and produce come from local markets and harbors, highlighting the bounty of Mundo Maya.
Delectable dishes are cooked in the handmade wood-burning oven and grill for truly authentic Mexican flavor. When you eat at Hartwood, you can be sure you're supporting sustainable fishing and farming.
2. Gitano Tulum
Gitano Tulum is a modern restaurant with a lounge and jungle room. Swing by for dinner any day of the week from 6 p.m. on. If you're visiting on a Friday, stick around for gypsy-disco dancing until late into the night.
We recommend ordering a range of small plates and snacks so you can sample as much of the delicious menu as possible — don't forget to try the cocktails!
Jungle Hideaways: Exotic Culinary Adventures
Dinner deep in the jungle is an adventure everyone should experience at least once. This is what we exemplify in our JOYÀ experience — a lavish meal and a heartfelt performance inside a theater built purely to enhance the show. Join us on a culinary adventure in one of the world's most beautiful tropical forests.
3. ARCA
Micro-seasonal food makes up the menu at ARCA in Tulum. The restaurant has strong relationships with local producers, who supply it with the freshest food the region has to offer.
Executive Chef Jose Luis Hinostroza crafts a tasting menu that showcases Mexico's bold and explosive flavors. Be sure to try the house cocktails, which feature fiery ginger, sweet honey, and mezcal made from the native agave plant.
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4. Kin Toh
If you love heights as much as we do, we're sure you won't pass up the chance to have dinner in a towering tree house. Kin Toh offers spectacular views over the Mayan jungle, and its delicious food is prepared with local and organic produce according to ancestral recipes.
The restaurant has an extensive wine cellar, so be sure to ask the sommelier for recommendations. If you aren't a vino fan, try a colorful cocktail crafted by the talented bartenders.
Authentic Flavors: Traditional Mexican Cuisine
If you're craving an authentic taste of Mexico, you'll find it at these Riviera restaurants. Tacos and tequila in Tulum will turn you into a lifelong fan of Mexican cuisine.
5. La Taquería de Tulum
Tacos will never taste the same again once you've sampled the incredible creations on the menu at La Taquería de Tulum. Choose from a number of fillings, including shrimp, marinated octopus, and tempura fish. Vegan and vegetarian meals are also available. The atmosphere is cozy and friendly, with free Wi-Fi and a carefree vibe.
6. El Asadero Tulum
The menu at El Asadero Tulum includes grilled meats, surf and turf, and an extensive selection of vegetarian dishes. In short, there's something to please everyone! It offers a great selection of cocktails and more than 20 varieties of tequila.
The location, on a quiet side street in the busy town of Tulum, gives you the opportunity to recharge and refuel before heading off on your next Riviera Maya adventure.
Healthy Eats: Vegetarian and Vegan Options
Eating vegan while traveling in Latin America can sometimes be a challenge, but not in Tulum. Restaurants have sprung up all over the city to cater to the animal-conscious crowd. Bring your carnivore friends. They won't miss meat when they taste the fresh and flavorful items on the menu at these vegan restaurants.
7. Raw Love
Nourish your body with a healthy, vegan meal from Raw Love. All the food here is plant-based and free from refined sugar, with absolutely no preservatives. All ingredients are organic and local, and the restaurant is committed to helping the environment through composting and recycling as much as possible.
Try the delicious coconut curry, followed by a vitamin-packed Food Farmacy Shot. The cakes are so delicious it's hard to believe they're good for you, but it's true that they're all free from refined sugar, dairy, and gluten.
8. El Bajón Vegano
El Bajón Vegano serves some of the best tacos in Tulum. The food is so flavorful that it's easy to forget everything on the menu is vegan. While you dine, check out the fantastic art on the walls. This affordable little diner is truly a hidden gem and a great place to grab dinner before exploring Tulum's nightlife.
Unique Dining Experiences
Tulum's unique restaurants offer dining experiences you won't find elsewhere. Here are some of our favorites.
9. NÜ Tulum
Chef Luis Aguilar crafts exceptional dishes from organic ingredients at NÜ Tulum. Originally from Mexicali, he's worked all over Mexico and the United States. The produce comes from a regenerative farm in the Yucatán Peninsula, and the care that goes into growing it is evident in the explosion of flavors in every bite.
Delicious drinks are also available here, including more than 30 varieties of mezcal. Dine by candlelight while subtle lounge music soothes your soul. It's the ideal place for a romantic date.
10. Casa Jaguar Tulum
Casa Jaguar Tulum doesn't have a menu, but you can trust the chef to serve up a culinary experience you'll dream about for years to come.
Tuesday is music night, with tunes starting at 10 p.m. and continuing late into the night in its Todos Santos bar. Sway to the beat in Casa Jaguar Loft, or sip drinks in the chai house. There are no rules here, just good vibes.
Leap Into a Culinary Journey Through Tulum's Diverse Dining Scene
After you've enjoyed an authentic Mexican meal, come see our show JOYÀ at Vidanta Riviera Maya. The story features half-human, half-animal fantastical creatures as a biologist hopes to pass his lifelong search for the meaning of life on to his rebellious granddaughter.
Our gravity-defying acrobatics will have you on the edge of your seat, gasping in awe at the mere spectacle of it all. You'll be jumping for joy at JOYÀ!