Best Restaurants in Tulum, Mexico
Are you planning a trip to Tulum, Mexico and looking for all the best restaurants to visit on your trip? Then you’ve come to the right place! Tulum is one of my absolute favorite destinations and there are many reasons to visit Tulum. The food scene here is definitely one of those reason!
One of the great things about the food scene in Tulum is that you can find all kinds of different food experiences. In downtown Tulum, there’s tons of restaurants where you can enjoy some authentic Mexican food, or you can head to the hotel zone for a dinner party at a five star restaurant. Tulum also has a huge wellness community so you’ll definitely find some wellness focused cafes and vegan options with locally sourced ingredients!
Before we talk about all the best restaurants in Tulum, I’ll go over a few important tips for you to know when planning your Tulum vacation!
How do you get to Tulum?
The easiest way to get to Tulum is by flying directly into the Tulum airport! This is definitely the quickest way to get to Tulum. This is a brand new airport and has limited flight options. If you don’t see flights directly to Tulum from your city, you can always fly into Cancun instead. Once you land at the airport in Tulum, you will need to grab a taxi to your hotel!
If you decide to fly into Cancun, you will want to take the ADO Bus from Cancun to Tulum or book a private ride! The ADO Bus is the cheaper option and usually cost around $15 USD each way.
Where to stay in Tulum?
Tulum has many great hotel and Airbnb options to choose from. The most important thing to know is that there are actually two different areas in Tulum: Downtown Tulum and the Hotel Zone. These are two very different areas and have very different hotel options.
If you are staying in Downtown Tulum, it is going to be much more affordable and will give you more of a local feel. I have stayed in Downtown twice out of my 3 trips to Tulum and love how it is walking distance to so many affordable shops and restaurants. Tons of Airbnbs in Downtown Tulum are affordable and great for groups! The only downside to staying in town is that you have to take a taxi to the beach which can be costly.
If you are wanting to stay near all the best restaurants in Tulum, you will have great options no matter if you decide to stay downtown or on Tulum beach.
Best Hotels in Downtown Tulum
Aloft Tulum, Downtown Tulum Hotel, Layla Tulum
Best Hotels on Tulum Beach
Kanan Resort & Spa, Coco Tulum, Papaya Playa Project, Azulik, Nomade, Casa Malca
Also Read: Best Hotels in Tulum
When is the best time to visit Tulum?
The high season in Tulum runs from November to April. The most popular months for tourism are December to March, and this is the best time to visit Tulum if you want to have nice weather and minimal seaweed on the beaches. When traveling to Tulum, it is best to avoid planning a trip between June and October for several reasons. These are the hottest and most humid months of the year in Tulum and also fall during the Caribbean hurricane season. Another downside to going to Tulum during this time is the seaweed that washes up on the beaches. This typically clears up around November, which is when you can then enjoy the white sand and clear waters of Tulum Beach!
Now, here is your complete guide to the best Tulum restaurants!
Best Restaurants in Downtown Tulum
Downtown Tulum is a great place to go when looking for some authentic Mexican cuisine! Tulum town is much more laid back and more local then Tulum Beach, so this is where you’ll be able to find some great affordable restaurants and authentic Mexican food!
Here are some of my top Downtown Tulum Restaurant recommendations:
Burrito Amor: Best Affordable Restaurant in Downtown Tulum
Burrito Amor in Downtown Tulum is by far my favorite place to eat in Tulum town and I make sure I go here on every trip!
This is an affordable place to eat and has a laid back aesthetic atmosphere! The unique thing about the burritos here is that they are wrapped in banana leaves! My go to order is the chicken burrito and coconut cool “healthy” cocktail!
This is also a great place to go if you are looking for somewhere to have breakfast in Tulum town. They have coffee, lattes, matcha, and breakfast burritos!
Casa Sofia: Best Italian Food Restaurant in Tulum
If you want to take a break from eating Mexican food, check out Casa Sofia in Tulum town! This is a delicious Italian restaurant that was one of my favorite restaurants that I went to on my first trip to Tulum. This restaurant was very affordable and a great price for what you get. I got the carbonara pasta and it was one of the best meals I had in Tulum!
Liefs Tulum: Best Coffee in Tulum
Liefs is an outdoor restaurant in Tulum town, located on the main road to the beach. It is the cutest aesthetic vegan restaurant that has two green Volkswagen vans that is used for the bar. This is a cafe with a fun tropical vibe and is a great spot to grab breakfast or brunch.
They are famous for their foam lattes but also have great drinks such as coffee, teas, and matcha. You’ll definitely want to order a side of banana bread with your meal or just as a snack with your morning coffee! They have a great selection of vegan foods and is definitely worth a try even if you’re not a fan of vegan options. It’s so good you can’t tell the difference!
ROOFTOP by Downtown: Best Dinner Party Restaurant in Tulum Town
Downtown Tulum is a boutique hotel in Tulum town. They have a rooftop restaurant that is the perfect spot for dinner and drinks. They have a wide range of food options, so you’ll most likely find something here no matter what you’re in the mood for! The tacos here were 10/10 but they also have a pizza menu that looked amazing as well!
Even if you aren’t wanting to eat, they have a good selection of drinks and a DJ at night so it’s a great spot to have a drink, enjoy your friends, and listen to some music!
Ćtico Rooftop Bar
Ćtico Rooftop Bar: Best Restaurant Views in Tulum Town
Atico Rooftop Bar is a bar and restaurant located on the rooftop of the Aloft Tulum hotel in Tulum Town. The bar is small and near the pool but is has a great happy hour, food, and drinks! One of my favorite parts of this rooftop is the amazing views of Tulum’s lush jungle and is a great spot to watch the sunset over the jungle. Another fun feature of this rooftop bar is the telescope where you can view the Mayan Ruins in the distance!
Raw Love: Best Vegan Restaurant in Tulum
One of my favorite restaurants in Tulum is Raw Love. It is a vegan cafe that is great for breakfast and lunch. I love their chocolate dream smoothie and they have some of the best avocado toast! All of the food at Raw Love is made from locally sourced ingredients, is completely plant-based, and is dairy, refined sugar, and preservative-free!
Best Restaurants on Tulum Beach
The hotel zone on Tulum beach is where you will go to find the more upscale restaurants in Tulum and where you can experience the dinner parties. The restaurants in the hotel zone are typically quite a bit more expensive than the restaurants in Tulum town, but you can still find affordable options at some of the more casual restaurants on Tulum Beach.
Bagatelle: Best Mediterranean Restaurant in Tulum
Bagatelle is a French Mediterranean restaurant chain located in the hotel zone. It is also a beach club during the day and a popular dinner spot at nighttime. If you traveling during the high season, I would recommend making a reservation for dinner around 8:30 and 9 PM.
I love the atmosphere of this restaurant and they have a live DJ! The portions here are on the smaller side, but they have good seafood options and I highly recommend the truffle ravioli!
Gitano Jungle: Best Dinner Party Restaurant in Tulum
By far one of my favorite dining experiences in Tulum is Gitano Jungle on Friday night! Friday is their Disco Night, where they have a DJ and dance floor. I chose this restaurant for my birthday dinner and it was the perfect restaurant to celebrate at!
The food here is so good, we got the carnitas tacos, carne asada, and a mezcal punch bowl! Gitano Jungle is known for its mezcal cocktails! I also love the vibe of this restaurant as it truly feels like you’re dining deep in the jungle! They have entertainers that walk around, will bring sparklers to your table, and you can go straight from dinner to the party!
Gitano also has a beach club called Gitano Beach that is at a separate location if you’re looking to visit during the day!
Mia Beach Club: Best Beach Club Restaurant in Tulum
If you’re looking for a place to have lunch with an ocean view, head over to Mia Beach Club! This is by far my number one beach club to visit when in Tulum because their prices are reasonable and they have good food and drinks.
Mia has a wide range of food options from Mexican cuisine, seafood, and most importantly, they have the best pizza which I highly recommend getting at least once!
If you want to sit on the beach beds, there will be a minimum spend per person, however, once you order food and a couple of drinks, it’s pretty easy to hit the minimum spend. The minimum depends on where you sit and the day of the week but I’ve usually spent anywhere from $60-$85 USD per person here.
La TaquerĆa: Best Affordable Restaurant on Tulum Beach
If you’re looking for a more low key restaurant in the hotel zone without the dinner party vibe, check out La Taqueria! This is an outdoor restaurant with a bar and a great variety of tacos, burritos, and fajitas. It is has been a while since I went to this restaurant, but I do remember their prices being reasonable for a restaurant in the hotel zone. You’ll definitely spend less there than you would at one of the larger club style restaurants!
Final Thoughts
Tulumās food scene is truly one of the highlights of visiting this laid-back yet vibrant destination. From affordable, authentic eats in Downtown Tulum to unforgettable dinner parties and oceanfront dining in the hotel zone, thereās something here for every type of traveler and every budget. Whether youāre starting your day with a smoothie bowl at a wellness cafĆ©, grabbing casual tacos in town, or dressing up for a night out at one of Tulum Beachās iconic restaurants, the variety and quality of food is unmatched.
No matter where you stay, youāll never be far from incredible dining experiences that make Tulum so special. I hope this Tulum travel guide helps you plan your meals, make reservations with confidence, and discover some new favorite spots along the way. Tulum is a destination youāll keep coming back to, and its restaurants are a big reason why.
More Tulum Travel Guides:
11 Best Things to do in Tulum, Mexico
My Stay at Aloft Tulum: Hotel Review
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