The delicious food almost made me forget about the sewer smell from the rotting saragasso seaweed. They don't even pretend to clear it off anymore. The horrible smell in the parking area is exactly what you get in the restaurant. But the bar is adorable and the food is delish. The other restaurants down the way, like La Lunita, are not smelly. read more

We love this place. We've tried different things in the menu and everything has been great. My youngest daughter tried the aguachile and only likes it from this place. Service has always been excellent. The atmosphere is so relaxing we've actually spent over 6 hrs here one time having breakfast and lunch snorkeling swimming in the pool and beach bumming. read more

La Buena Vida - Garlic butter shrimp! - Bars Near Me - Akumal, ROO

Great location... I have visited since 2013 and the food and service has always been consistently excellent and very attentive. I have not visited in the evening time, however ... I think it would be a fun place! A spot I must visit every time I visit Akumal read more

Food is amazing. Ambiance I mean sitting on a beach looking out to see how could you ever beat of you like that people are so friendly every time we come to Kamel this is our go to place. read more

La Buena Vida - La Buena Vida - Bars Near Me - Akumal, ROO

See all

What a hidden gem! Drive past the craziness of touristy Akumal into a residential neighborhood, and you will find La Buena Vida! The vibe is so relaxed - with seating in the sand. Pick whether you want to sit at the bar in a swing, at a table next to the water, in a hammock, or even in a crows nest perch (for adults only). My kids loved swinging on their seats and chasing iguanas while we waited for our food. The menu looked great, but given all the awesome seafood nearby, we opted to order a whole fish (snapper) cooked in a traditional foil covered method which came with sides like tortillas. All meals come with chips and salsa (tomato and habernero). The price was quite reasonable considering what a giant fish we ordered - less than $40! I wish I lived nearby so I could visit again! read more

We have visited LBV twice and plan to go again! The staff were friendly and the food was delicious. We had a great time. The views were top notch too! read more

La Buena Vida - Bars Near Me - Akumal, ROO

See all

This place is amazing fun spot for families and locals live music and nachos where awesome

Great open-air atmosphere. Can be romantic (under a palapa next to the ocean), fun (great bar area) or festive (many tree house tables and areas that are great for groups). Service was excellent, and they had good recommendations ready. We had the classic fish ceviche, which was great. hubby had one of their signature juices, a blend of lime, basil and other flavors I could quite identify - very tasty. I had classic margaritas and they were very good. Also had the La Buena Vida Shrimp and Pok-Chuk. Both are house specialties and both were very good. I probably liked the shrimp dish a bit more. The pork dish was a bit tough, but I loved the seasonings. This is an epic spot for happy hour or dinner. Will definitely being coming back! read more

See all

We love the spot in Akumal. The location cannot be beat. You were right on the bay with your feet in the sand. It's a gorgeous place to have dinner or drinks at sunset. There is a pool if you want to swim during the day and hammocks to relax in. There are even tree houses and swing seats at the bar. We have been at least four times and the service has always been great. The food can be hit or miss. Sometimes the chips are fresh and sometimes they are stale. The shrimp Aguachiles, and the chicken quesadillas are always on point. They do have a happy hour with great prices. read more

See all

First of all, Akumal is a hidden gem in Mexico. It is between Tulum and Playa Del Carmen. Went to celebrate my husband's birthday. He wanted lobster and did La Buena Vida deliver. He said it was the best lobster ever. My dish was good too and very flavorful. We sat near the water and what a view. The servers weee very attentive and nice. The food and ambiance was so good, we went twice while there in Akumal read more

See all

Beautiful relaxing place with great food. The place is to sit by the water, put your feet in the sand and enjoy great food and excellent service . Happy hour starts at 5 and has discounts on some alcohol. Rica comida, un lugar hermoso para ver el mar y sentir q comes en la playa. read more

See all

Been going here for years. Love this place! Great view, people and drinks! Can't wait till my next visit. read more

La Buena Vida - Bars Near Me - Akumal, ROO

See all

This is our second time visiting, first time was 10 years ago- pre-kids. It was a smaller, sleepier little place then! Love the vibe, can't beat the location! Definitely geared toward gringos and the prices reflect that- American prices for sure. The service was okay in the beginning but they got swamped and we had to ask for things multiple times. Dropped the star because the food wasn't worth the price, and they overcharged us for a drink and instead of correcting it, they changed a 2 to a 1 on a printed receipt and hoped we wouldn't notice.... Disappointing for sure. read more

See all

Enjoyed a wonderful lunch here. Started with the mango shrimp aguachiles for an appetizer. Fresh and tasty to share after swimming at Yalku cenote. For entrees the table ordered Jose's Havana rice, fresh grilled fish, pollo Chaya and tabbouleh salad. Everyone was happy and satisfied with their meal. read more

See all

Great margaritas, BBQ ribs and service . It was a fun and beautiful happy hour destination several days during our stay in Akumal.

Been here multiple times in our trips to Akumal. You can't beat the bayside view of the water. Stunning. The food is good but not great. I had the Jose's Havana rice which was a miss. Dry rice with little sausage and not much flavor. Margaritas for happy hour are very good and basically two for one. Tacos, the Cheyenne and the fried shrimp are really good. Need more servers. Our poor guy had half the outside by himself. Tried his best but was a bit overwhelmed. At least the view will help you relax as you wait. read more

See all

This location is tucked in Akumal right on the beach- parking right in front. Guarded neighborhood. The vibe is great- just chill/touristy. If it's too windy you can ask to be seated upstairs which is closed in. We started with the guacamole and calamari both amazing. Oh yes and fresh coconut water straight in a coconut-refreshing. The Maya octopus is probably one of the best I've ever had. The fried fish was disappointing as it was such a small portion. I highly recommend coming here. read more

La Buena Vida - Entrance - Bars Near Me - Akumal, ROO

La Buena Vida is such a rare find. A place where the views, vibe and food are UNMATCHED. I heard so much about this place on Reddit and was skeptical that it could live up to the hype. It did, and was so much better than I imagined. Sitting Oceanside was such a delight and I was already happy sitting down to order. We started with a Mayan ceviche. My partner is a huge ceviche guy and said that this place is up there along with Peruvian ceviche. The fish was cooked (we think) in the ceviche but this was a plus in this case, because the flavors were so good! We followed that with tuna fillet and Fresh Shrimp A la Diabla. Both of these were so tasty! The shrimp was cooked in a red sauce which isn't anything too spicy but more of a tomato sauce packed with flavor. This restaurant is a great hangout spot, we saw many visitors just sitting with drinks, or chips and lounging around by the pool and hammocks. There was some parking out front by the street. Overall, highly recommend for the entire experience and wish I had a few more days in Akumal to return here. read more

See all

We keep coming back . The place is magical. The food is amazing. Service is what you expect in Mexico. Climb to the table on a palm tree to enjoy good Mexican beer , then grab a bite five feet from the sea with your feet on the sand . You will wonder why you don't live here. read more

See all

This place will always be a must when we come to Akumal! Not only is the staff great, but the food is to die for! read more

See all

We have been here three times since arriving four days ago. We are not people who frequent places more than once unless it is really really worth it. The Mahi or shrimp tacos "ajillo" are incredible and the drinks are really great. Strong and not touristy. The drink menu can throw you off with typical tourist drinks like "sex on the beach" and others but they are actually decent. My husband loved the mail tai with an extra shot of dark rum. The service is island time slow so don't go e or ting quick in and out food or drink service. It is good though. Our two kids had a blast swimming in the pool while we ate lunch and had drinks. We were very impressed by everything. read more

La Buena Vida - Drinks by the beach - Bars Near Me - Akumal, ROO

See all

The location is lovely. The service was friendly. The food was a tribute to mediocrity and blandness. I had the Ceviche Maya and it was the dankest, heaviest, most laden ceviche... it made a mockery of the octopus and shrimp that gave their lives for sustenance. I was expecting light and fresh. The guacamole was bland, the chips were either overcooked in one basket, or stale in the other basket. When tortilla chips were served the server said the salsa was red and not spicy. Truth! It was red substrate with no heat of any kind and also no flavor. The cocktails were watered down. If you insist on attempting the ambience here, stick with beer and simple foods like tacos, quesadillas and lowered expectations.... difficult to mess those up. Last thing, since tips are only received in cash, I thought it wouldn't be a problem to ask for change on a 500 note. And it wasn't a problem in itself, it was the attitude the cashier gave me over such a benign request. read more

This place is a little overrated in my opinion. The drinks are "okay" and the food is mediocre compared to the rest of akumal. Go for the Instagram setting of sitting up top and getting your beer ordered from the bucket in the rope and move on. We had the fist tacos, chicken quesadilla, and shrimp tacos. All were nothing we hadn't tasted before. Great vibe - beach, sand floor, happy hour from 5-6, and sunshine on the water. Staff is friendly and willing to help and serve you. Other than that don't go out of your way. Money down the road to the other hidden gems to eat and drink! read more

La Buena Vida is a fixture here in the Akumal scene, our waiter, who we easily recognized from previous trips to the area has been here over 20 years. It's location on the beach is epic, tables waterside, swing chairs around the bar, big tables for groups or a treehouse for two provides lots of ways to enjoy this place. We stopped in for Happy Hour and dinner. The drinks are competitively priced, $2.50 for a good variety of drinks and shots. However, the drinks were at best lousy. I get it, prices have gone up, things are more expensive than they were before. But before you start cutting the amount of alcohol you put in my drink, raise the prices. If I pay more but the drink blows my socks off, I'll be back. But if you give me cheap drink that tastes bad and has no alcohol in it, I WON'T BE BACK. For comparison, in the entrance of north Akumal is the Turtle Bay Cafe - same price drinks as Buena Vida for Happy Hour, but way better quality. Not on the beach, but good drinks. Sooooo, your choice, crappy drinks on the beach with a great view, or good drinks and then enjoying the beach anyway in front of your condo...... hmmm read more

La Buena Vida - Dinner on the beach - Bars Near Me - Akumal, ROO

See all

I have to admit that we came here at the recommendation of an activities director in Puerto Aventuras. She told us to bypass all the other restaurants in Akumal to enjoy this one. Her 'favorite place.' So after a swim with the turtles, we stopped here for a drink and a snack. My husband had wanted a pina colada and I wanted a rum and coke. Both were weak and pretty tasteless. Service was slow so he just went to the bar and ordered. For food we ordered the chicken and mango empanadas. They sounded really fresh but the pastry was soggy and oily and the filling had zero flavor. Best thing of the whole meal was the mango salsa that came with the empanadas. BUT the thing is, you can't get by the location and the view. The place is funky and has an incredible vibe. Hammocks hanging between palm trees, swings at the bar, bean bag-like chairs on the beach and really interesting decor! Even the women's bathrooms were unique and worth checking out. Would I come back-yes. I would want to give some more menu options a try. Probably not this trip but I'm s later one. Any bar where I can take my shoes off and stick my ties in the sand or get a drink delivered by bucket to a 'treehouse' perch is worth another shot. read more

La Buena Vida - Treehouse seating - Bars Near Me - Akumal, ROO

I believe This is the first ever restaurant outside of Playa del Carmen that I went to. I was probably at four or five. I feel like this is a place makes me feel like home because of the beach and cozy place. I also want to agree with the fact that the service is excellent and very fast. The drinks are very cold and fresh. The food is soo good, especially the nachos. The price is really good! I Would 100% recommend this place to any tourist or local. Love this place. read more

Well, first off we ordered shots and did not get until the second request. Then they took our food order and did not bring mine, which was the very first. They never came back to refresh our drinks, which I find really bad at any restaurant. read more

Not sure how we found this location but it was the perfect end to our day in Tulum. We were a group of 8 and they had no problems accomodating us. Ambiance: Fun beach vibe, beautiful views, was not too crowded when we were there. A perfect beachside restaurant with swings at the bar and fun ambiance. Food: The food was delicious, few of us ordered different ceviches and they were all very good. Not sweet which would have been a negative in my book. The shrimp tacos which were wonderful, full of flavor, not greasy. Lime soup was interesting and different. Sort of a chicken tortilla soup with lime added to the mix. Jose's Havana Rice also got raves from the group: sort of a jambalaya with mexican flare. The Buena Vida salad was very good as well. Service: They were quick, polite, no slow down even though there were 8 of us. Drinks: Margaritas of course were great. No complaints. No skimping on the tequila, got the orders right. Yes, we'd recommend. Yes, we'd love to return. Enjoy and Cheers! read more

Awesome, lively place for drinks and food on the beach. Surely the best bar in Mexico! read more

It's right outside on the beach, and the views are spectacular. Food was totally decent. Tacos and fajitas are good, nachos are great, and the coconut shrimp was excellent. Tip: ask for a side of plantains - they are delicious! Prices are typically tourist high and service is slow but friendly. But the beer is cold and you're sitting on the beach watching the sunset so it's a Buena vida. read more

The setting is absolutely beautiful -- right on the beach, almost always a nice breeze. The service is super friendly and quick. The drinks are solid, though sometimes a little weak. And, the food is delicious!!!!!! My family and I stayed at a hotel right near La Buena Vida, and we went for either lunch, dinner, or a snack almost every day we were in the area. The Fish Tacos are very very very very good. If you eat fish, I'd say those are a MUST do! :) read more

Food was good, great atmosphere. Waiter took my cc to pay the bill. That night I had $1600 of fraudulent charges. That is the only time and place that card was used, because they didn't accept Amex. Last night - just down the street our friends card number was stolen and Aeromexico tickets were bought, within 20 mins of buying ice cream. If you come to Akumal - bring Pesos!! read more

The view is lovely. The beer is cold. The shrimp aguachiles and shrimp tacos were delicious.

THE GOOD LIFE! It sure is! This place was the highlight my entire trip in Akumal! The food is great, the prices make you want to return and they even have an amazing happy hour from 5pm to 6pm to start the evening off right. The bar itself has swings as seats and the tables are right on the sand. Really amazing! This place I is great for a date or a family and the service is wonderful so bring cash to tip them! On our stay we went there about 6 times and we miss it already! To the good life! read more

See all

Our waitress was super nice and friendly. They were a bit slow even tho there wasn't many people. read more

La Buena Vida - The pasta was Amazing! - Bars Near Me - Akumal, ROO

Such a fun atmosphere and delicious food. Sitting on the beach with your toes in the sand while enjoying yummy food and beautiful views. During our one week vacation we ate at La Buena Vida twice for dinner and both visits were outstanding. I would highly recommend spending an evening here with family and friends or just a romantic dinner for 2 on the beach. Either way, I highly recommend visiting La Buena Vida for a meal. read more

See all

Amazing place for the ambiance. There are swings at the bar. The whole place is on sand, very nice on your feet. There are some neat tables up in the air high up, they serve drinks by raising buckets up to them. It looked neat for a party of 4 that doesn't mind heights. There's a pool at the restaurant and hammocks by the water. We went there on a very windy day that got a smidge cold but it was so neat. Many entrees meet the tastes of American tourists, but the appetizers were delightful. Tuna tartare and shrimp aguachile were great, we ordered it twice for our large party. My family and I were less thrilled about our entrees there but still enjoyed the place, got some great family photos there. read more

We ordered: 1. The mixed fish/shrimp ceviche which was super fresh, citrusy and flavorful, which is why it isn't photographed because we devoured it with such enthusiasm! 2. I ordered the tic Kin xic mayan specialty which is a fish fillet wrapped in a banana leaf and baked. It was served with refried black beans, rice, pickled red onion, and fried plantains on the side. YUMMY- not a crumb of food was left 3. The garlic shrimp tacos were really good too. Nothing out of the ordinary but high quality, fresh and tasty for sure. 4. We enjoyed our beverages too! They had some Akumal microbrew IPAs that we didn't see anywhere else so it was nice to try and their signature La Buena Vida frozen cocktail that combines Baileys, Kahlua, coconut cream and Grand Marnier was a treat- just be careful not to get brain freeze! 5. The atmosphere and beach views can't be beat! read more

La Buena Vida - Tic kin xic fish and Garlic shrimp tacos - Bars Near Me - Akumal, ROO

Great food, terrific service, incredible music, just a marvelous Norte Akumal "Beach Bar".

These injuries happened tonight when the owner's Belgian Malinois dog ran across the restaurant to attack my dog. I went to protect my dog, and sustained a bad knee injury. A bit later a pit bull came out of nowhere and attacked my small 11year old dog. I was understandably quite shaken up & unable to walk. I convinced a bar patron to drive me home, and as I left the manager aggressively time me that I am banned from the restaurant because I did not pay my $25 bill (vet bill $100 and PTSD!) I am ok with this Several patrons came forward to offer their support as witnesses. I live in Akumal and have been a regular patron because the restaurant is conveniently nearby, but I am saddened and dismayed at such horrible treatment read more

See all