Last updated on March 21st, 2025 at 01:03 pm
If you’re wondering where the best restaurants are in Tulum, I’ve got you covered! One of the most important things in planning any trip is knowing where you will eat. Luckily there’s no shortage of incredible restaurants in Tulum!
One of the best parts about visiting Tulum is being able to dine next to the water with the sea breeze or in the jungle with the cool atmosphere at night! You can have some truly amazing culinary experiences, that will elevate your stay!
In this guide, I’ll highlight the top restaurants in the area, I’ve spent weeks in Tulum trying to hit as many stunning restaurants with incredible food as possible! So you can be sure only the very best restaurants in Tulum have made the cut!
Here’s where to eat in Tulum, the top restaurants you don’t want to miss!
Tulum Restaurants Overview
Exploring all the different restaurants in Tulum is one of the top activities, especially for foodies! Tulum is known for its luxe restaurant scene, with many places Michelin-rated!
Visiting the top restaurants in Tulum is a different experience than the rest of the Riviera Maya. Here in Tulum, things are more rustic, nature-filled, and bohemian!
Expect to be sitting on a hand-crafted chair with your feet in the sand or gazing across at the treetops in a ‘nest’, but don’t be fooled by appearances. The food in Tulum, Mexico, is incredible!
Food In Tulum Mexico
Now that you have an idea about the restaurants in Tulum, you’ll want a few foodie tips! The food in Tulum is one of my favourites, it has International flair, creativity, taste and is super health conscious which I LOVE.
You can enjoy locally sourced ingredients in many restaurants and some offer farm-to-table daily changing menus (see below for details!).
Authentic Mexican food can still be found on (almost) every menu, including local dishes such as fish tacos or fresh ceviche, insider tip, try the traditional cochinita pibil – barbeque pulled pork!
BEST RESTAURANTS IN TULUM ON THE BEACH
LA POPULAR RESTAURANT
Location: Nomade, South Beach
When to visit: Lunch
What to try: Shrimp tacos & ceviche, paella
La Popular restaurant in Tulum is a great place to begin your culinary adventures! It’s nestled right on the sand between palm trees and the blue sea. You will find La Popular at Nomad Hotel, situated within a lovely scenic and upscale area of Tulum’s bohemian South Beach.
La Popular is a dreamy spot if you want a delicious lunch with a sea view and tranquil ambience, they specialise in seafood – it’s the best restaurant in Tulum Beach for fresh ceviche. I love the whole Nomade vibe – take a walk around!
COCO TULUM
Location: CoCo Tulum Hotel, Hotel Zone, Middle Beach
When to visit: Lunch
What to try: Octopus tacos, deep fried prawns
Coco Tulum is another fabulous choice, it’s one of the first Tulum beach restaurants that I ever visited and still remains a firm favorite! You just can’t beat sitting on a swing, eating octopus tacos with a glass of rose!
The restaurant and bar set up is pretty unique, with swings, beachy white decor and cool music, it’s a hot spot for Sunday afternoons when there’s a DJ, but if you want to hear the waves crashing and have a more relaxed time visit mid-week!
They do some of the best tacos in Tulum beach IMO!
LA ZEBRA
Location: La Zebra Hotel, Hotel Zone, Middle Beach
When to visit: Lunch or sunset dinner from 6.30pm
What to try: Shrimp Aguachille, summer salad
The last time I visited Tulum, vibrant La Zebra was not only one of the best restaurants in Tulum beach, it was also the best restaurant to eat authentic and flavourful Mexican food!
Located right on the beachfront with a variety of indoor and outdoor tables, La Zebra occupies a large area with a Hotel, tiki bar and beach club – tip you can combine the two!
A lovely beach lunch menu is served until 5.30pm then the dinner menu is from 6.30pm, I recommend grabbing a table on the terrace outside!
La Zebra is also one of my favourite boutique hotels on the beach in Tulum! Wondering what else makes the list? Don’t miss my blog post on the best beach hotels in Tulum!
TANTRA BEACH CLUB
Location: Tulum Middle Beach
When to visit: Lunch/all-day
What to try: Crispy shrimp maki rolls
If you’re looking for a gorgeous place to eat in Tulum Beach for lunch, Tantra Beach Club’s restaurant is a great spot! One of the best beach clubs in Tulum that offers gourmet dining by the sea – go for the fun ambience, crispy shrimp maki rolls and bohemian luxury surrounds.
Reservations are a must at this popular Tulum restaurant on the beach!
BEST RESTAURANTS IN TULUM HOTEL ZONE
WILD RESTAURANT
Location: Beach Road – central
When to visit: Dinner
What to try: Beetroot salad, cochinita pork belly
If you’re looking for upscale dining, and Mexican cuisine with a twist, Wild is the perfect choice. Wild is Michelin-rated and offers a fantastic ambience, it feels like you’re in the jungle but with beautiful furnishings!
I particularly loved the magical setting at this restaurant and the cocktails and beetroot salad were exceptional! If you have a special occasion, this is the place – you can’t go wrong!
KITCHEN TABLE
Location: Beach Road
When to visit: Dinner
What to try: Jungle bread, fresh fish tostada, brisket
Kitchen Table is another restaurant set in the jungle with tables scattered amongst the trees! It’s one of the the best sustainable restaurants in Tulum, therefor most of the light comes from dozens of candles, it has quite a romantic feeling.
It’s a good spot for dining under the stars, the service is also amazing and the dishes are quite artful to look at!
TOP RESTAURANTS IN TULUM FOR INTERNATIONAL & FUSION
MEZZANINE
Location: Tulum North Beach, Hotel Mezzanine
When to visit: Lunch or sunset
What to try: Thai queen salad, cocktail gin gin mule
If you’re looking for a change in flavour, head to Mezzanine for upscale Thai dining over the ocean! I love this restaurant, it’s been around for a while, but it’s still a good choice. It offers authentic Thai cuisine served in bamboo leaves and delicious cocktails.
I’ve always found the service friendly and the views amazing from the terrace, you have an unobstructed view over the water. I recommend lunch or sunset and also ordering the Thai queen salad with a couple of sides to share.
P.S Mezzanine boutique hotel is also recommended in my guide to the very best beach hotels in Tulum!
CASA BANANA
Location: Beach Road, Hotel Zone
When to visit: Dinner
What to try: Roasted sweetbreads, steak, grilled calamari, wood-fired artichokes
Casa Banana is a popular restaurant in Tulum for its Argentina flavours along the beach road! With tables lit by candlelight and a warm and rustic setting, Casa Banana offers the best open woodfire steaks and it also does a tasty grilled calamari dish with avocado and fresh tomatoes, I always try the healthiest thing on the menu!
BEST PLACES TO EAT IN TULUM FARM-TO-TABLE
ARCA
Location: Tulum Beach Road
When to visit: Dinner
What to try: Softshell crab tacos, grilled heirloom green beans, scallop crudo
An incredible open-air restaurant and excellent bar on Beach Road, Arca is one of the most popular restaurants in Tulum. All the dishes (equal amount of vegetarian dishes) are creative and well-presented, using local ingredients which means the menu changes quite a bit!
The setting is very nice for an evening meal, the last time I ordered the soft shell crab tacos and they were very tasty! (You can see there’s a theme with my food!).
HARTWOOD
Location: Tulum Beach Road
When to visit: Dinner
What to try: Menu changes daily!
Hartwood is one of the more accomplished upscale restaurants in Tulum, everyone raves about it and reservations are hard to come by, but if you persevere you’ll be in for a treat!
It is a foodie haven with locally sourced ingredients paired with mainly fresh vegetables, seafood and fish, but you can get other dishes too – it’s all hand-written on the chalkboard that is presented to your table! For what it’s worth, it is pricey but very tasty and worth checking out!
NU RESTAURANT
Location: Tulum Beach, La Valise Hotel
When to visit: Dinner
What to try: Sweet potato agrodolce, octopus
Nu is another fantastic restaurant in Tulum that uses fresh local ingredients to provide a creative menu. It’s part of La Valise Boutique Hotel, an ultra-bohemian hotel and the restaurant has the same theme, the menu caters for all tastes and the concept is farm-to-table so you can expect some differences from week to week.
This is another romantic restaurant, ideal for couples and also hosts many wedding celebrations in Tulum, check out their incredible set-ups!
If you’re looking for more romantic things to do for couples in Tulum, don’t miss my complete guide to the best romantic things to do for couples in Tulum!
BEST RESTAURANTS IN TULUM TOWN
ONYX
Location: Tulum Town Central
When to visit: Evening entertainment
What to try: Spicey tempura prawns
If you’re looking to try authentic Mexican dishes with a side order of vibrant Mayan culture, Onyx is your place! It comes highly recommended for its friendly service and ambience, there’s live music a few times per week.
If you’re staying at one of the hotels in Tulum Pueblo, this spot is perfect for you, fair warning though – a lot of the dishes are spicey!
RESTAURANTS IN TULUM WITH A DIFFERENCE
KIN TOH BY AZULIK
Location: Tulum Beach Road, Azulik
When to visit: Sunset dinner
What to try: Mayan Octopus, coconut scallops – starter
Kin Toh by Azulik is an exclusive address that serves some of the best food in Tulum Mexico! It’s a Mayan-Mexican restaurant and avant-garde cuisine with a reservations-only policy – or you won’t get in!
This restaurant is located at the famed Azulik, a space filled with nature and art and Kin Toh is positioned within the tree branches high up in the canopies which offer panoramic views and a one-of-a-kind experience!
TSEEN-JA BY AZULIK
Location: Tulum Beach Road, Azulik
When to visit: Sunset dinner
What to try: Yin & yang bao’s, edamame shallot, Cocoa cod
Another restaurant in Tulum by Azulik – I cannot mention restaurants with a difference without including Tseen -ja! It’s well known for the ‘nest’ dining arrangement in the tree tops, it’s very unique and a foodie experience to tick off the must-do list while in Tulum!
Signature dishes include locally sourced ingredients with Japanese methods, I particularly liked the yin and yang bao’s and edamame shallot to share and the cocoa cod – it’s very delicate! But the show-stopper is the scenery and location!!
If you’re planning your itinerary for Tulum, don’t forget to check out my guide to the most luxurious experiences there!
TIPS FOR ENJOYING RESTAURANTS IN TULUM
RESERVATIONS
One thing to know is that reservations are a must at the best restaurants in Tulum, up to 3 weeks in advance for dinner and once you have reserved online re-confirm your date and time beforehand to check they have you in their data base! Tip! You can even book a couple weeks before you arrive in Tulum!
TIMINGS
Beachfront lunches are busiest around 2pm, but are open for business between 12.30-5.30pm, while dinner is between 5pm-10.30pm. Sunset is the optimal dinner time for Azulik or at the beachfront. In the jungle, it’s best to dine a little later so you get the atmospheric candlelight.
DRESS CODE
Tulum’s boho-chic dress code extends to the restaurants, stylish yet relaxed, don’t forget you’re in the warm tropics. For dinner – you’ll see smart-casual on a lot of websites.
HOW TO PAY
As backup always carry cash on you, some restaurants prefer cash or in case of an electricity issue – it happens and you’re unable to process payment by card! You’ll be stuck or hassled – and we definitely don’t want that!
TULUM RESTAURANTS FAQ
What kind of food in Tulum known for?
Tulum is most well-known for Mexican-fusion dishes, and Mexican staples but with a twist, often local ingredients are used and menus feature seafood, fish, avocados and tacos quite heavily! Tulum food is delicious!
Do you tip in restaurants in Tulum?
Tipping is recommended in Tulum, it’s often added to the bills – sometimes as high as 20%, but you can ask for a receipt without a tip and leave a personal tip on the table or 10%. Just make sure you don’t end up ‘tipping’ 40%!
Are restaurants in Tulum expensive?
The top restaurants in Tulum are expensive, they are often Michelin rated and have the best chefs in the Yucatan, just be prepared for this, but it also depends upon what you order. I normally eat smaller light dishes and include a vegan or vegetarian ‘garden’ dish, but that’s because I like to eat healthily!
How much is an average dinner in Tulum?
For two people, dinner and drinks in one of the Tulum restaurants above will be around $100, less if you are vegetarian or vegan or don’t drink alcohol of course! Be aware of the price per kilo of fish and steaks options on the menu!
FINAL THOUGHTS
Have you chosen your favourite Tulum restaurant? I hope this foodies guide to the best restaurants in Tulum has given you some inspiration! As you can see there’s no shortage of incredible restaurants to eat in Tulum with creative menus and surrounds.
The restaurants and boutique hotels (like the ones on this amazing list) make Tulum what it is, if you’re planning a trip to Tulum soon, I recommend adding a few of these restaurants to your itinerary – include a couple of high-end experiences and refined lunches on the beach to add the perfect touch to your holiday!
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Plan your trip with my Tulum Travel Guides!
Here’s my go-to list of travel resources and best travel guides to Tulum so you can plan your own Tulum itinerary!
- Booking.com: For the best hotel rates
- Trip Advisor: The latest reviews & trips
- Viator: For incredible day trips
- Welcome Pickups: Airport Transfers
- Discover Cars: Best car hire
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Michelle Trudie, is the founder of Little Wanderblog, a luxury boutique travel site. She has travelled to over 30 countries in the last 15 years. Michelle share’s her passion for stylish and affordable luxury travel experiences in Europe and beyond! Her goal is to make travel planning easier to hidden gem places!
