Really more like 4.5 stars. Holy CAO - this place serves delicious food with inventive and entertaining cocktails, and vibes to keep you grooving in your seats as you eat. Located in the marina with both indoor and patio seating, you'll have a nice view of the water and a breeze in the evenings. My party spent 4 hours dining here for dinner; splitting a few dishes and mostly just talking with each other, the staff, and vibing to the DJ's tunes. At times the music was a little loud and I could see this deterring families with young children from sitting outside. They also push the alcohol sale here hard. As with most restaurants, I'm sure this is a big money maker for them (nothing is cheap here) but we had a person in our party who does not drink alcohol and the push was a little too pushy, even after we asked that they stop asking. We were celebrating a friend's birthday and they brought a cupcake at the end of our meal. Unfortunately, it was frozen solid in the center. Every entree and appetizer selection was excellent. I highly recommend the quesabirria and garlic shrimp! We're from the California Bay Area and the pricing here was like going out at home. It's expensive and caters to the tourist, so beware. You can also hookah here! read more

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If I could give a place a 5+, this would probably be it. Right from the ambiance, to the presentation and showmanship and finally the flavors, everything was on point and above. We were celebrating our 9th wedding anniversary and wanted a place that was fancy, non touristy and not bank breaking and zeroed down on this place. ++ The complimentary chips and salsa was delicious. I landed up getting another order of the chips ++ Cocktails. Not only were they delicious, but the showmanship was the coup de grace ++ The New York Aguachile was something else. The server cut the steak and seared it in front of us and applied all the sauces (more like vinegars), onions and guacamole ++ Try the rib eye gaoneras and the Cao Tacos. You definitely won't be disappointed We were so full, that we didn't have any space for dessert. I may have exaggerated on the 5+, but I think that's subjective and relative to competition. Among the multiple places in Cancun, this one definitely stands out. read more

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Food matches the amazing ambiance. Great place for a date or a group of friends with lively music. Service is 5 star! W We ordered the tuna tostadas and the guacamole with rib eye chicharron. Great balance of freshness and substance. Already have come back it was so good. read more

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I have had the good fortune to have these "Slow-down-to-savor-each-bite" moments in at least three Mexican cities now. and Holy CAO, this place did not disappoint. Sorry. I'm better than that but I had to take that low-hanging fruit. I traveled with 7 other people to Cancun and we were looking for an escape from the food at the resort. I got a reservation to this restaurant after a cursory search of off-resort restaurant offerings and I so happy to have come across this restaurant. It was only a 5-10 Uber ride from the hotel and it is located in the Puerto Cancun shopping mall; think: the swanky walkable malls in any metro area in the U.S. The place is located right on the water and it is in the shadow of several highrise condo buildings. We chose to take a table inside, as opposed to our original plan of sitting outside to catch the sunset. The position of the restaurant prevented that. My husband and I chose to make our own tasting menu: we shared the TUNA TOSTADAS, RIB EYE "GAONERAS" (tacos) and the CHEESE BURGER. It sounds like alot but there were only 2 tostadas and and 3 small tacos. The tuna tostadas were an absolute delight, with a hint of sweetness and the savory firmness of the tuna. The small gaonera tacos were delectable in their delicateness and I added a bit of chile to make each bite pop. The slight char on the burger bun was a perfect complement to juiciness of the 7 ounce beef patty. Culinary portion of the review is done--I'll take a moment to discuss the surroundings. As a person in his mid-forties, I had a terrible time actually reading the menu because of just how dark the restaurant was. It could have stood to be a wee bit brighter, although it definitely lent itself to a romantic environment. The bathroom was really great, but it was also incredibly dark. The servers at the table were amazingly accommodating and took care of us well. The bill was consolidated into one bill, which was problematic for a large group. I'm not sure if they could have separated it, had we mentioned it earlier. It was still very inconvenient with the mix of cards and cash from each couple. Summation: CAO was AMAZING and I will return the next time I am in Cancun. Kudos to the chef and management on a job well done! read more

CAO - Tuna tostadas - Seafood Near Me - Cancún, ROO

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Now this is service!!! Exceptional service and the food was just an phenomenal. Came here with a big party and our hostess Isabella was so accommodating with my allergies and provided our table plenty of options to play with. We started our night at the bar and moved to our table. The napkins were placed on our laps and folded when you leave your seat. The wine was flowing and refilled with precise attention. We decided to order a bunch of items for appetizers and main dishes and shared across the table. Everything was delicious, the photos honestly don't do justice. Please go here, I promise you, you will not be disappointed read more

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We came here to celebrate my birthday and we were not disappointed at all! We truly enjoyed our dinner here! The food was absolutely delicious! From the appetizers to the main course and the dessert. Everything was well seasoned and absolutely delightful. The service here was great! The staff was very attentive and I appreciated their small token to celebrate my birthday. If you seat in the outside area you get some great views at night! I would highly recommend this place! read more

CAO - Dessert! - Seafood Near Me - Cancún, ROO

Excellent service at this upscale restaurant in the heart of the puerto of Cancun. The hamachi and tacos were tasty! read more

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Where do I start. The ribeye tacos were so tasty. We also ordered the guacamole it was great as well. The margaritas were prepared exceptionally. I'd recommend this to anyone wanting a great bite and nice ambience. read more

CAO - Tacos, margaritas. - Seafood Near Me - Cancún, ROO

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We have been wondering where the party was at??? CAO is LIT!!!! Great customer service... Tell our waiter Daniel & the manager GABO that we sent you... Please come during happy hour & I promise you will find your happy here! The outdoor area has a beautiful scenery with a beautiful bar, DJ, and a great view. The happy hour drinks are 2 for 1, and that alone is perfect! The food was absolutely amazing... The 14oz ribeye with a side of garlic mushrooms were cooked and seasoned to medium perfection!!! From the customer service, atmosphere, drink specials, beautiful views, and delicious food... We highly recommend!!! Can't wait to come back... read more

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4 minutes agoNEW Every dish was special - not typical Cancun resort food. We started with an assortment of sauces and crispy tortillas, then tuna guacamole and BEET, then we shared the burrata dish, the salmon, and the shrimp. It was all delicious and would be a lot of work to make at home. We finished with tableside NITRO ICE CREAM and a vegan carrot cake. Be sure to request Isa- she's fun and informative!! read more

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I was a little sad to see the previous restaurant in this space close, but when I read the CAO menu, I felt a little less sad and popped in here for a dinner, and then returned for a lunch on another trip. CAO is going for a Mexican fusion sort of menu, and I must say there's quite some unique items. My first trip was really exceptional, mostly because the service from Alan was over the top and I felt quite at home. This was probably the first week they were open, so they were all getting used to the menu and some of it's intricacies, and I think everyone was quite surprised when I ordered the Cabbage appetizer, prepared table-side with a truffle sauce...this was quite memorable! Another note worth mentioning - the complementary mini burrito dish in place of bread! Really gets you hungry and excited for the real food! The octopus dish was quite solid as well, as were the Shrimp Stones - somewhat reminiscent of a shrimp tempura with spicy mayo sauce.... and we all know my life is centered on spicy mayo lol. As with most places in Cancun, the meal was quick, service was amazing, and the prices were great! Will be back. read more

Beautiful restaurant located in the mall with gorgeous views of the landscape of Cancun. The waiter, Nikolous, was fabulous. We were there for a very long time, enjoying the scenery late at night and celebrating a birthday; the crew came in later on to sing and give out a dessert with sprinklers and a free shot. The food was beyond delicious, and depending on what you ordered, they would come and put on a show for you (grilled shrimp) with fire. This is a wonderful place for photos. After 2 hours, we went to the bar and had some drinks, and we were offered free tequila shots from a regular there, which made the experience better. The locals were very friendly and polite. We would absolutely come back! read more

Food was not good, service was very slow, and the music was so loud we couldn't hear table conversations or the waitstaff. Left with a headache! read more

We stumbled in here because the restaurant across from them couldn't accommodate our large group of 16. So they could. Kudos for that. We all mostly ordered the ribeye steaks, a few had chicken, salmon, & short ribs. It's dark & dimly lit so it sets a nice vibe especially for a date night or something celebratory. The service was decent, menu isn't extravagant, and our food was good. They were delayed with bringing out the food for some of our party though. There was also billing concerns. But it was a decent spot. I probably wouldn't request to go back, but I'd try them again if asked to. read more

I've eaten at a few of the Anderson Group's restaurants. CAO is good, but I prefer Ilios or Bak. The restaurant is nestled on a marina with a beautiful view. The food is delicious. I don't typically enjoy beets, but CAO served me the best beet of my life! The only reason I don't give them 5 stars is because I feel the drink menu is lacking. I consider myself a cocktail connoisseur and the drink combinations fell short. The espresso martini for dessert was the only truly exciting cocktail I sipped on. It's made with real espresso which is always promising and wasn't too sweet. Overall an enjoyable dining experience. read more

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Oscar the bartender was amazing! You absolutely have to come to Cao. It's gourmet authentic sumptuous Mexican fare with top shelf tequila. Highly recommend the shrimp tacos, the barbacoa dip and nachos read more

CAO - Margarita - Seafood Near Me - Cancún, ROO

Wow. I wonder if it's because we are Asian or because we had 3 kids, the hostess refused to seat us. Despite the fact that my family rolled in with their LVs and Rolexes, we didn't fit their "dress code." The hostess literally looked us up and down. We're in Cancun, people walked up wearing the same things we were and WE were turned away. My brother is a local and literally eats here weekly I guess if you're the wrong color or have kids- don't count on your money being worth anything here. Zero stars. Fix your policies and retrain your rude and awful waitresses. We will never eat at your restaurants again and will tell everyone of your discriminatory practices. read more

I ordered a "to go" meal consisting of a salad & queso fundido. The queso was put on paper, then in a box. Not a good look, but It was good. I've had better in my home town. The salad was good but very small portion with very large leaves. Had I gotten utensils I would have cut the salad into bite size pieces, I didn't even get a napkin! I didn't realize this until I got to the hotel! I had to scrounge through my tote bag for anything I could use to eat my meal. Found a spoon, not fun to eat salad with. They had one chair to wait. If there had been more people waiting, there would be no where to sit. Luckily it was quick. It was not worth what I paid ($440 pesos =$28.60 usd incl 10% tip) I get they may not have many "to go" orders when their restaurant faces the the yachts on the water, but I have the same view at my hotel balcony & I would have enjoyed eating my dinner from there had I not had to eat out of a box or struggle with my large pieces of lettuce. Maybe they should invest in plasticware (plastic bowls) just in case they get that one "to go" order. All in all I will not come here again. I have 3 more trips this month, but will find elsewhere to eat. Ordering room service is an option! read more

CAO - View from my balcony. - Seafood Near Me - Cancún, ROO

The venue,the service,the food was phenomenal. Our server took care of us and was patient with us. Explained everything we asked and had a bday celebration and even threw in a guava treat which sealed the deal. Highly recommend. read more

Excellent service! I would definitely go back again when I'm in that part of town while traveling. The food was fresh, filling and amazing! It's affordable for a family of 4 and worth the experience. read more

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This place is popping with energetic music. Food was delicious with great presentation! They celebrate lots of events I.e birthday, anniversary etc. Would definitely be back. read more

CAO - Delicious cocktails at Cao!! - Seafood Near Me - Cancún, ROO

Wonderful experience and delicious food! Decided to wander off resort and found CAO. Health and Safety protocols did not miss a beat from first contact with hostess throughout dinner. There was never a moment where we weren't being on checked on including the manager stopping by a couple times to ensure excellent service. Jorge was an absolute gem. Professional, kind, great recommendations and always available. Can't have asked for better service! The staff as a whole all looked like they were having fun which always helps the ambiance including setting the tone for our experience. Highly recommend the charred octopus, it was amongst the best I've ever had. Spicy margarita, you won't regret it! read more

CAO - Spicy margarita - Seafood Near Me - Cancún, ROO

We booked this restaurant for NYE. The location was beautiful. We flew in from NYC for the holiday season. This was by far the WORST meal we had in Cancun. The food was cold, they asked about allergies and brought us food that one person in our party was allergic to. It took at least 30 mins to bring water and drinks and we were the first party for NYE. The only saving grace in the service was our attendant EDWIN. He was OUTSTANDING and should be promoted. It felt as if the restaurant wasn't prepared for NYE. It was soooo bad we left without our dessert. If we hadn't prepaid 12,000 MXD, we wouldn't have even stayed for dinner... DO BETTER!!!!!!! read more

Good and service were great. Food was really fresh and the complimentary chips and dip was very good as well. They gave us some authentic Mexican candy that's was good and they offer fresh fruit to put inside your water. read more

CAO - Fred's tacos and asparagus - Seafood Near Me - Cancún, ROO

CAO is truly a great place for modern Mexican food. The staff is very friendly and the restaurant offers great drinks and food. Get an outdoor table and you can enjoy a great view of the port and sunset. You can then either take a stroll by the water or enjoy the shops at the mall. read more

This food was amazing and the overall vibe of the restaurant was incredible. Gorgeous atmosphere right on the water, fun for a group, and the staff took such good care of us. It was my fiancées birthday and they provided a complimentary dessert! Special shoutout to Eleazar Erwin! read more

Fantastic food and great service. Such a nice place we will be back for sure!! The steaks are so delicious

Food and service was good, as expected in Mexico. I had the Picanha. Wasn't cut as traditional Picanha. Had one end piece that was all fat, but no fat distributed through all the slices - as you would expect with Picanha. But it was cooked to temperature and tender. This came with delicious, thin cut fries. I didn't know or, perhaps, misunderstood that It did because I ordered the papas com queso comte. (So 2 servings of fries) I understood it was going to be like raclette. Nope, it was nacho cheese. Like, dark yellow processed nacho cheese. Funny thing is that they actually had the cheese spread on a 'raclette board' (??) and scrapped it over my fries! I was a bit disappointed, but the fries, themselves, were tasty. I'll come back to try some seafood. read more

Absolutely loved their food and their service. This is one of the best spots in the Puerto Cancun restaurant area!!

This is a promising restaurant, fod is delicious, and managment is amazing! Had the seafood pozole! Shrimp and clams were cooked to perfection! read more

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Great restaurant, staff was very inventive and spoke English. The food was amazing the tacos birria and falafel tacos were the best and for dessert the bread pudding was crazy good. The vibe was fun with great music. Definitely recommend trying read more

We always enjoy Cao, great martinis, and the essentials of Mexican cuisine. The times we've been there the restaurant has been quiet and elegant. Have to admit it's on the pricey side. L read more

This restaurant really has the best of everything. Delicious food, excellent service, and great ambiance with the view of the marina. Our server recommended a few dishes, which turned out to be amazing- we had the octopus, cured beef tacos, tuna toast, and ordered seconds because they were just so incredibly good. The service is also top notch, waiters are attentive and approachable. They also don't add tips in advance which some of more touristy restaurants in cancun would, just hands down an awesome dining experience!! read more

Stopped in for a few drinks and some appetizers between the lunch and dinner hour. This place is beautiful and the staff went above and beyond in every aspect. Our large party shared multiple appetizers and all were incredible. Can't wait to visit again and come back for dinner read more

This place is fully open during Covid. The kitchen is closed by 10pm, but you are allowed to stay and enjoy the ambiance and drinks. My shrimp dish along with with meals of my companions were presented beautifully and of course extremely delicious! read more

This place was AMAZING! We dined in for my boyfriend's birthday and the food was absolutely wonderful. The environment was great as well with low lights and great music. Highly recommend read more