From dining above the jungle in a bird’s nest, to drinking Kava and Kratam by a cenote to a speakeasy dining experience, here are the must visit restaurants in Tulum right now.
Where should you go for dinner in Tulum? What are the top foods to try in Tulum? Where do you go if you’re just looking for drinks? Where do you go if you’re looking for a loud or low-key party scene? What are the best restaurants in Tulum and how expensive are they? These and more questions are all answered in my personal guide to restaurants in Tulum. Each of my recommendations is very different from the other and each is accompanied by a detailed description of why the place is unique and worth trying, whether it’s because of the food, ambiance or experience.
1. WILD
You should eat here if: You’re looking for beachside feels on the jungle side and a good low-key vibe. And if you’re looking to taste the local Mexican delicacy-chapulines, or grasshopper
Must-Try: Mezcal with chapulines (grasshoppers), crushed coffee and cacao beans and orange peel
WILD came highly recommended and was right around the corner from us. It has low key vibes that definitely stay on the calmer side of things. Occasionally on Thursdays they might turn it up a bit, but typically this is a good spot for cocktails, music and a romantic dinner.
The menu itself is definitely “wild.” The Michelin starred Executive Chef mixes Mexican cuisine with his international inspirations. As a starter we ordered the gyoza so that we could really experience WILD’s fusion specialty. That was then followed by octopus and short rib as our starters. We could see our meals being made from the open aired kitchen on the other side. The meals were playful and fun and had us questioning what those peculiar yet complementary flavors were throughout out entire meal.
For dessert we ordered churros. We couldn’t be in Mexico and not order churros, it’s like going to Italy and not having gelato. To finish we decided to try a must-try specialty in Tulum, but some would argue all of Mexico: Mezcal. Patrick’s new favorite digestivo alongside whiskey. For those that don’t know what Mezcal is, it’s your new go to beverage. It comes from the agave plant, similar to tequila. But unlike tequila, which is steamed in industrial ovens, Mezcal is cooked inside earthen pits that are lined with lava rocks and filled with wood and charcoal before being distilled in clay pots. This gives it a much smokier taste and completely different feel in the mouth. I, who like whiskey but can’t drink it because it’s so strong, found Mezcal to be delicious.
But it wasn’t just the Mezcal that was new to us…the Mezcal came paired with three distinct sides to be enjoyed with every sip of Mezcal. Crushed cacao and coffee beans, orange slices and crispy grasshopper. That’s right–crispy grasshopper aka chapulines in Mexican. Apparently, it’s a very common delicacy in Mexico. It reminded me of the strange food that was sold in the foods stands in Beijing. Continue reading about my first-time experience eating chapulines in Tulum >>
Location: End of Tulum Beach Road before the entrance to Sian Ka’an Bio Reserve, on the jungle side
Hours: 6PM – 11PM
Price: $12 for starters, $17 for main
Want More Mezcal Experiences?
There are plenty of Mezcal plantations to visit, tastings and classes you can participate in and dinner pairings you can enjoy at restaurants in Tulum. We didn’t get to experience one, but I recommend you do if you have the chance. I know we will be booking one ASAP next time we’re in Mexico.
2. Bula Tulum Kava & Kratom
You should go here if: You’re looking to get a legal high by consuming Kava and Kratam cocktails. OR are looking for a drink by a cenote.
Must-Try: Kava and Kratam cocktails or tea
Bula Tulum Kava & Kratom is the first Kava and Kratom bar in Mexico. If, like me, you don’t know what Krava and Kratom is, it’s a special plant harvested in Southeast Asia that relaxes the mind and body, increases concentration, and reduces pain among other things. Think of it as a legal high, with a whole culture and group of people that lives and breathes off of the healing properties of Krava and Kratom. Once you start looking into it, you’ll fall down a rabbit hole.
Bula Tulum Kava & Kratom mix these plants with teas and cocktails to offer users a relaxing experience in Tulum. They determine the doses based off of your weight, height, previous exposure, tolerance etc. so it’s very safe so that you don’t end up tripping unnecessarily. If Krava and Kratom cocktails or tea are not what you’re looking for on a sunny afternoon or as a night cap, you can also just enjoy drinks by their cenote (which is what I did!).
There are not many cenotes on Tulum beach road, which is what makes Bula Tulum Kava & Kratom so unique. You actually get to enjoy a cerveza, or beer, in one of their 2 free, open-aired cenotes. Cenotes are these watering holes found throughout the Yucatan Peninsula. They were once considered “sacred wells” by the Mayans. It is believed that the Yucatan Peninsula has over 6,000 cenotes and many of them are interconnected. For everything there is to know about cenotes, continue reading my 101 article on cenotes. What makes Bula Tulum Kava & Kratom perfect is that while your enjoying a beer, you can hop into the Cenote to cool off from the hot sun. All while listening to the DJ play some low vibe music from the platform.
Location: Cenote located on Tulum Beach Road, on jungle side
Hours: 11AM – 11PM
Price: $9 – $17 per drink
3. Cenzontle
You should eat here if: You want to dine at one of the up-and-coming top restaurants in Tulum, if you weren’t able to get reservations at Hartwood. And you’re in the mood to feel “inside-out,” more on what I mean below…
Must-Try: A Rita Hayworth cocktail: Mezcal, cucumber lime, epazote leaves and the duck carnitas
The vibe isn’t the only thing appealing at Cenzontle. When you walk into this open-aired restaurant, you feel like your still inside a house. There are corners set up to look like a small niche table setting in a French household with paintings and lanterns on the wall and couches on the sand to make it feel like you’re in a living room. You truly get a bit turned around and can’t understand if you’re outside or actually inside. But aside from the décor there are 2 things that are a can’t miss on the menu. Everyone raves about the duck carnitas tacos…and trust me, they are worth the rave. The duck carnitas tacos were tender and savory with just the right amount of spices. The other are the cocktails, the mezcal cocktail was refreshing on a hot night. The cucumber lime watered down the mezcal giving it a smokey, yet almost healthy taste.
Location: Tulum Beach Road on the jungle side, next to Hartwood
Hours: 6PM – 11PM
Price: $10 for appetizer, $20 per main
4. La Eufemia [Permanently Closed]
You should eat here if: You want a cheap, but delicious speakeasy taco place.
Must-Try: Tacos
La Eufemia is hidden behind a small alley that you wouldn’t even think twice about walking down. There’s a small wooden sign that reads “tacos” and we trust it. It takes us down a narrow alley with a ceiling lined with glass bottles. After a few curves around graffiti covered walls here and there, you start to hear music playing in the distance. Ok, the beach and taqueria needs to be near. All of a sudden you see the beautiful Caribbean sea, an open grill, and a wooden deck overlooking the beach. We choose the wooden deck over the beach set up so we could enjoy the view from above. There’s a live band playing below us on the sand. The vibe is hopping.
The food is just as good. It feels like a homemade, simple, not overly complex taco–and at the right price. I watch them prepare our food as sombreros hang from the ceiling nodding back and forth to the wind. The wooden chairs we’re sitting on are decorated with artwork of people so it looks like there is someone actually sitting in the chairs, even when there is not. The place is quirky and it’s exactly what we wanted.
5. Azulik: Kin Toh or Tseenja
You should eat here if: You’re into Disneyland, for adults. It’s perfect if you’re looking for the ultimate Tulum dinner ‘gram shot or if you’re with a group of friends.
The line to get into Azulik–a famous Tulum hotel, restaurant and art gallery–is very long. In fact, you can’t get in without a reservation so make one at least a month in advance before you go–even if it’s just for drinks. Even if you just want to see the art gallery installation, you need a reservation. Azulik and it’s restaurants in Tulum are a touristy stop, but worth stopping by because it is so unique to Tulum. The experience begins by walking into a large woven wooden tunnel that takes you up into a floating treehouse. We order some drinks at our table before exploring the grounds. The first stop was exploring how guests at Azulik got around the hotel. It was through suspended jungle gyms (see video on the left). If you’re afraid of heights you may want to reconsider trying them as they feel a bit flimsy and scary. But it’s very cool.
After feeling like a child again, we made our way to the rooftop. This is where Azulik’s famous restaurants in Tulum can be found–private lunch and dinner nests. Their two restaurants in Tulum, Kin Toh and Tseenja, cater to the nests above, perfect for groups looking for a birds eye view of the Caribbean Sea on one side and the Mayan jungle on the other. They have 1 or 2 nests available for just 2 people, but those get snatched up fairy quickly.
As we make our way back down to our table, we pass by the “Bridge of Tseenja,” an intimate dining experience secluded from everyone else. The only way to get to it is by walking on a bridge of water. The drinks and ambiance here were nice, but we were looking for something a bit more local, low-key and not as Disney-landish. Definitely come here dressed upscale. So we went to dinner at Gitano’s…more on that below.
Location: Beginning of Tulum Beach Road, on the beach side
Hours: 7:30AM – 11:30PM
Price: Expensive
6. Gitano’s – Jungle Side
You should eat here if: You want to go from dinner to dancing without leaving.
Gitano’s has become so popular, a location has opened up in New York and Miami as well. It started off in Tulum, so this is the OG location. It has 3 locations in Tulum: Beach, Jungle and Meze. My personal favorite is the Jungle because it’s bar boasts over 50 Mezcals and dinner turns into dancing in the Jungle Room under the disco ball on Friday nights. The ambiance here is quiet romantic, but lively as well. Think candlelit dinners and low-lighting with upbeat mood music.
Location: Tulum Beach Road on the jungle side, next to Hartwood
Hours: 5PM – Closure
Price: $12 for appetizers and $26 for main
7. Posada Margherita
Posada Margherita Restaurant Review, Tulum
You should eat here if: In the mood for an exquisite Italian meal on the beach or just a fresh squeezed juice.
Must-Try: Fresh hand-made pasta or pizza.
One of my favorite restaurants in Tulum is an Italian restaurant called Posada Margherita. Not only because the meal sat so well with me that a few hours later I didn’t feel like I had a belly bomb, but because of the care and attention to detail. Getting to the Tulum beach restaurant is an experience in and of itself. The recipes on the menu are passed down from their grandmother who was from Genova. Patrick ordered the pizza. The pizza dough and the oven itself were created by true Italian craftsmen to bring the taste of Italy to Tulum. I ordered the pasta with gamberi and zucchine, or shrimps and zucchini. The pasta is made from scratch and cooked for you personally the moment you order. This is a must stop on your Tulum food itinerary.
Read full article about my Posada Margherita Restaurant Review >>
Location: Beach Road, on the beach side
Hours: 7:30 – 11:30AM; 12 – 10PM (No reservations accepted)
Price: $16 – $24 for pasta, $12 for pizza, $6 for juices (Cash only)
8. Tulum Treehouse
Tulum Treehouse Restaurant: A Private, Speakeasy Dinner Experience
You should eat here if: You’re looking for a private party and Speakeasy experience with a social media blackout.
Must-Try: They’re tasting menu and communal dinners.
No advertising. No photos. Limited number of people. An inconspicuous entrance. It’s almost like Tulum Treehouse Restaurant doesn’t want you to know about their private, speakeasy-like dinner experience. You definitely will not come across Tulum Treehouse as a recommendation from any other blogger or travel writer. Why? Because it’s too low-key and hidden for people to know about. It’s the place only the people who are in the know really know about. Tulum Treehouse is the real, old school Tulum experience. Even their website doesn’t say anything about what actually happens at Tulum Treehouse dinners…So here I am sharing my story. Luckily, I tell all (without pictures because they cover your camera phone to keep it private).
Read full article about my Tulum Treehouse Restaurant Speakeasy Experience >>
Location: Tulum Beach Road on the Jungle side at the hotel Tulum Treehouse
Hours: Tuesday to Sunday from 6pm – 10 pm
Price: $106 for tasting menu (not including drinks)
If you can get in…a few more restaurants in Tulum to add onto your list
Of course, all good things come to an end, and there is just so much space I can make in my belly for delicious food. If I had more time to eat on Tulum (and had I made reservations a month in advance–that’s really the key here), these were some additional restaurants in Tulum I would visit and eat at next time I’m there.
Top Foods to Try in Restaurants in Tulum
>> Next: 7 Can’t Miss Park City Restaurants & Saloons
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