We ordered the octopus It's amazing !…read moreSo tender and fresh ! Must order, service is amazing ! Definitely "must to go" restaurant in Tulum !

No repeats is usually a vacay rule. But when in the Yucatán, this spot is an exception to the rule…read more These dishes are what I love about Mexican food and their salsa de habanero is a spicy lovers dream. Whole grilled octopus -- absolutely incredibly prepared. Tender, so much flavor, and the potatoes are delish. Deep fried soft shell crab taco -- favorite bite! This thing is HUGE! All four of us got one and loved this most. Shrimp molcajete -- think Mexican gravy with seafood. And some fried cheesy stick things that oozed and the cheese just didn't stop! I've been here multiple times now and each time the service is impeccable. They are welcoming and it's all operated by locals -- no hip looking expats here, all the real deal. And I love that!

Was a bit underwhelmed by this spot to be honest. The aesthetics were on point, open air concept…read morewith widely spaced tables, candles, decent music. They start you off with a complimentary piece of toast with some vegetable chunks. Each of us got a quarter of a piece of dry white bread that I would pass on in the future but the vegetables paired with it had decent flavor. I got the passion fire as my drink and very much enjoyed it. It was sweet and refreshing with just the right amount of heat. 9/10. For appetizers my group split the duck tartlet with pink mole, the sweet potato agrodolce, and the hamachi tiradito. The duck was well cooked and tender but lacking in flavor. The pink mole wasn't adding much to the dish other than creaminess. The tart shell was awful. It was thick and dry and reminiscent of a premade store bought tart shell. 5/10. The sweet potato agrodolce was good, the sweet potato and squash ribbons had a nice firm texture and snap but all of the flavor came from the yogurt sauce that they were sitting on. 7/10. The hamachi tiradito was my favorite of the apps. The fish was fresh and light, the flavors were interesting with the combination of the sweet banana vinaigrette, the salty umami ponzu, and the sweet tangy mango, chili, cucumber salsa. This dish was the best of the night, 8/10. For mains we split the catch of the day, which was red snapper, and the broken beet. The fish was underwhelming, being a bit overcooked and dry. The sauce it was drenched in helped with the dryness but didn't lend much flavor. The yuca chips were a nice addition, adding a nice crunch to contrast the soft textures of the fish and sauce but again, not lending much in flavor. Chips could have been salted. 6/10. The beets were cooked well, they were soft and tender and paired nicely with the sour cream, turmeric oil, and salad. The turmeric oil added acidity, the salad added freshness and also acidity from the dressing it had, and the sour cream added a nice creaminess and tangy. These flavors offset the richness of the beets nicely. My second favorite dish, 8/10. For dessert we went with the "corn," which was a cake shaped like a corn cob with a chopped nut center and what I think was real corn kernels across the exterior, paired with a corn ice cream. Overall a solid dessert, the chopped nuts added a nice crunch however the cake as a whole was a bit dry. The ice cream added some needed moisture and paired nicely with the cake, though the texture was a bit icy, more like a corn sorbet than a corn ice cream. 6/10. Overall a good experience but with its high prices and small portions I wouldn't go back. The apps were on average between $20-$30 usd, with mains being between $25-$50 usd, and dessert $20 usd.

This is an unusual find in Tulum (or maybe fine dining is becoming more common there these days?)…read more Top notch service. We arrived on a rainy night and they improvised a valet device for us. We were seated in a lovely indoor/outdoor room, tables spaced well apart from other diners. Our waiter explained both the drinks and the food. In fact, when I wanted to order a glass of wine, he offered to have us taste all the reds they had available (since he didn't have faith in the one I had my eye on). The food was on the fancy side and very very good. One dish didn't succeed, but the rest did. It was a lovely night and we ate well!

This place is amazing , the ambiance is incredible, the service is even better and the food…read more...takes the top prize! Bone marrow is a must Tip, book the drink tasting experience.

Second time at Arca and much better than our first! We had…read more* our go-to soft shell crab tacos- lightly breaded and served with local edible leaf as a taco shell * prawns with curry sauce- perfectly grilled with the head on * grilled octopus * scallop ceviche that was amazingly presented and seasoned, served with in-house crackers * sea bass filet * dessert- coconut/passionfruit/ mango ice cream served in a husk. Great mixture of flavors! Chocolate ice cream - beautifully presented and some rich chocolate ice cream as well, and another dessert that I forgot. So maybe that one may be just okay LOL * drinks - Miami Nice (passionfruit) and a no name drink that the resto blends into a clear drink, served with a guava block. You take a piece of the guava block and leave it on your tongue, and sip your drink. Very very smooth! Would highly recommend this unknown drink. Michelin starred, reservations highly recommended. Better to come without heels since the flooring is made out of pebbles, dim lighting contributing to the dining experience, and fantastic service.

Simple was simply delicious! Bad jokes aside, this place was located in a very touristy area filled…read morewith restaurants and boutique hotels, and the food and service were great! My friend and I split the Simple Fish Ceviche (peanuts, chia seeds, serrano peppers, red onions, etc.) and that was so fresh and flavorful! He got the tuna dish which was also great, but my black rice with octopus, calamari, and plantains was seriously A+. The black rice must have been made with squid ink or something but the total combination was a seriously savory seafood dish that was extremely filling and not like anything I've ever had before. I highly recommend getting this dish, but, be warned, it is EXTREMELY filling! After the ceviche and a passionfruit mojito (also delicious), I only had room for half of my entree. Another upside is that many of the staff can speak English. The only downside we had was a weird moment with the check. The receipt said "tip" in Spanish but then had a bolded "No tip included" at the bottom. We also tried paying with card because we didn't have any cash, and the first time around our waiter said the internet was down and he couldn't run the card through. We asked him to try again and it went through that second time. Also, this is a much pricier restaurant than other places in Tulum/Mexico with dishes mostly in the $20 range. Aside from that, I really recommend going to this place for the delicious food!

Pricing here is like at Tenadie's infamous place in Les Mis: "charge 'em for the lice, extra for…read morethe mice, 2% for looking in the mirror twice!" The food is already overpriced, even by Tulum tourist standards. Then adding the posted exchange rate, the cost unexpectedly increases 15%. And they charge an additional 5% for using a credit card. AND there is an automatic gratuity of 15% for any size party, which is insult added on injury for the painfully slow service. If you want outstanding Tulum seafood try EL CAMELLO JR on highway 307. That's where local fishermen sell their FRESH catch DAILY. El Camello is easy to find or reach by taxi, it gets a higher Yelp rating, and the service and prices are honest and friendly. Be aware that El Camello only accepts cash, a testament to its local authenticity and popularity. El Camello was recommended by our concierge when we asked for a seafood recommendation, and it was well worth the 10 min drive. You'll wait a lot longer than that for your food to be served at Simple. If you'd rather eat on the Tulum strip, then just a few yards down the road try Alma Tulum which has equally good food (including grilled seafood), an ocean view, great ambiance, and genuinely warm Mexican hospitality without abusive pricing for unsuspecting tourists.

We stumbled upon Casa Banana while walking the beach road in Tulum looking for a dinner spot. It's…read morea Michelin guided restaurant and we were lucky to get a table on a Wednesday night since we didn't have a Rez. It's a very vibey spot with low lighting and a boho atmosphere. The highlight of the entire night was the baked fig appetizer! It was gooey and delicious! We also ordered the whole fish baked in the wood fire oven. The fish of the night was yellowtail. First time to ever eat a whole fish and wow was it good! For cocktails we got the Pilar, which had the lightest hint of hazelnut, and the Emerald whiskey cocktail. It was unique, but the Pilar was better. Service was very attentive and made great recommendations. Go check this place out and try and make a reservation for the weekends.

Had some time to kill before our reservation at Ilios, so my friends and I came here for a couple…read moreappetizers and it ended up being such a great find. I've been eyeing Casa Banana every night we've been here and it felt so much more chill compared to all the surrounding party restaurants. It was the perfect stop for a reset. The vibe was top tier. So intimate and cozy, and it felt really nice sitting by the fire on such a chilly night. Our server Joaquin was so friendly and attentive and took great care of us. The octopus salad was so lovely, and the Argentinian chorizo was honestly one of the best chorizo I've had. Not very spicy, served with perfectly toasted focaccia and roasted vegetables. We also loved the pickled eggplant that came with it. They brought out complimentary toast and spread when we first arrived too which was so sweet. So happy we stopped here

Came here for a nightcap after dinner. We ordered a Pina Colada and Passion fruit Margarita with…read moreMezcal. The Pina Colada was watered down and the taste of alcohol was absent. I hardly drink and did not get even a baby buzz from the drink. The Margarita was OK. The service was OK. Each drink was $300 MXN or around $17 USD. Maybe I visited on an off day? There's plenty of other places in the area, this place would be a last resort.

Amazing and absolutely delicious! I had the shrimp and beef tacos so good. I'll be back for sure!read more

Where to start. If Our friends had not told us to try the beet, we most likely would have missed…read moreit. I have to tell you you have never tasted anything quite so delicious. So definitely the beet! We are sure tried the fish collar, which many people skip not realizing that this might be the most delicate and flavorful part of the fish. In fact I was tempted to just have two orders of this as my main dish. I had the Wildflower drink, which was light and delicate. We were able to come early at 6pm, only half an hour after they open, and by the time we left an hour later, to say they were full is an understatement. If you like to start the evening calm, as I do, I'd highly suggest coming early and then wandering the street. This also gives you a little time to talk to your wait staff. The server we had (I apologize, I have forgotten his name but I'll ask my husband and add it later) guided us through the menu and had excellent knowledge of each item. And, like everyone we've encountered here, was so gracious with his time and presence. I never feel rushed here as I do in some other tourist focused places. Gratuity is included, yet I'd say adding some is most deserved.

Excellent food, excellent experience. The restaurant has a nice atmosphere, good music, and…read moreattentive staff. Menus are written on sandwich boards placed around the restaurant and the waiters come to your table and explain every menu item in detail. My waiter was very helpful with recommendations and answering any questions I had. I ordered the collar de pescado and the tostada de tartar for my apps, the fillete de robalo (sea bass) for a main, and the berenjena (roasted eggplant) for a side. The collar de pescado, the sea bass collar, was absolutely delicious. The fish was soft and tender, topped with a robust tomato based sauce. Super flavorful. 9/10. The tostada de tartar was also outstanding. The crisp tortilla paired perfectly with the soft fresh fish. The fish mixture was light, creamy, and a little spicy, topped with some greens for freshness and finished off with some lime juice for acidity and brightness. 10/10. The sea bass fillet was cooked perfectly, the fish was soft and juicy and had an incredible crispy skin that gave it a wonderful crunch. It was paired with a creamy sauce, spinach, and cauliflower. The different elements of the dish worked well together, with the vegetables cutting through the richness of the fish and the sauce adding flavor and a contrasting texture to the crispy fish skin. 9/10. The eggplant was good, however it was my least favorite dish. The eggplant was soft and flavorful on the inside, however the skin was a little bit tough. The mole it was paired with had a nice smoky flavor and I wish there had been more of it. 8/10. For dessert I got their only dessert, the honey cake. OH MY GOD THIS DESSERT WAS LIFE CHANGING. Probably one of if not the best dessert I've ever had. The cake was very dense, with the consistency of a blondie. The honey taste is subtle and there is also a slight smoky flavor that comes through from being cooked in their wood fire oven. The cake is topped with a chamomile whipped cream and salt. The whipped cream is so light and airy while still being incredibly creamy. The lightness of the whipped cream works perfectly with the richness of the cake. The salt on top really takes it up a notch. 11/10. My only complaints are that the wooden benches you sit on are very uncomfortable and it gets very smoky from the wood burning oven, and I was seated almost at the other end of the restaurant. It was also quite loud but the place is small and it was packed, nothing the restaurant can do about that. Prices are steep but well worth it in my opinion.

My friend and I were wandering down the beach strip looking for a place to eat for dinner that was…read morea good fit for my vegetarian friend. We spotted this gorgeous restaurant and popped in. It was like 7 and super empty but filled up alot as it got later. It was very dark, yet super romantic.... you literally felt like you were having dinner in a jungle. Just such a pretty spot. We ordered some small bites and a few cocktails. Service was attentive and the food was good.

This place is now something else, unfortunately, it was a little place on the beach that was more…read morelow key, you could actually see the people sitting across from you and enjoy their company. Small plates, good cocktails, mezcals, good music, good service. Location is excellent as it is in the middle of the beach, is a perfect place for a casual dinner, date, or drinks spot.

second time in Tulum back in November, and these are the tacos we still dream about ! we were…read morestaying at a hotel just up the road from this cute little taco stand. during our bike ride we saw it and had to stop and support! this is as authentic as it gets. Abuela cooking up a storm in this little truck and everything was so amazing! took a while for everything to come out but that was to be expected as It was just her and a younger man that was taking the order and serving it as well. we love to support these types of places because you know they cook with heart. we had the ceviche, shrimp tacos, asada tacos and they were each equally tasty ! we do plan on returning to Tulum and we will not forget to stop for these delicious tacos!

This was our favorite restaurant at the beach!!!! The sweetest ladies made our tacos from scratch…read morefor CHEAP and put avocado on each one! When she ran out of avocado she drove on her moped to the store to get more so fast. We were thinking about this place the rest of our trip to Tulum. 10000% recommend!

This place is now closed, unfortunately. The Real Coconut was one of those places I would go to…read morerepeatedly, even when they opened their location in town. It was vegan, gluten free, keto friendly, accomodating for all types of diets and food allergies. This is very important for someone like me who can hardly eat half the menu at places like Casa Banana, and is so picky about the quality and source of food. Coconut chips, delicious habanero chili sauce, great beach and atmosphere, excellent hotel, friendly and attentive staff, coconut cheese quesadillas, the habanero which I doused on everything, the smoothies, the bowls, I loved this place. RIP Real Coconut, you were the OG.

Stopped here while on vacation and this place was surprisingly delicious! Everything was vegan…read morewhich was perfect for and the cookie was super chocolatey (too much for me) but still good. I loved my burger and my friend wasn't too excited about his nachos so only ate certain parts. He loved his milkshake though and even went back to get another one the next day. Overall, we'd definitely be back. The prices weee a bit expensive too but it is in the hotel zone and to be expected I suppose.