In a sleepy backwater of less than 2000 residents, you’d imagine the restaurants wouldn’t be up to much… but you’d be very very wrong.

You can eat exceptionally well in El Cuyo. This little town is making a name for itself for its gastronomic offerings (along with everything else it has to offer).

What Are The Best Places To Eat In El Cuyo? (UPDATED DECEMBER 2024)

There are several fantastic restaurants, a few great cafes and pizza places, a whole host of seafood joints plus various loncherias. It’s not a massive selection, but it’s sufficient (and more importantly – tasty!!).

The Top Ten Places to Eat in El Cuyo

The places in the TOP TEN are the most consistent highly rated places on Google (they’re not sponsored or my subjective opinion).

They range from budget snack joints ($) to high end gourmet restaurants ($$$).

Each has more than 100 reviews and scores 4.7 or higher.

Note, opening times may vary in low season.

El Chile Gordo $$$

El Chile Gordo $$$ By reservation only. This is not a normal restaurant! Take a nine course gastronomical tour of Mexico at the chef’s table. TripAdvisor Travelers’ Choice consecutive since 2019. For reviews, see google. Note: It gets booked up fast so reserve well in advance (WhatsApp +52 999 16 997 14).
Naia Cafe $$ Open daily from 8am-3pm (and later at weekends). Naia gets fab reviews and serves beautiful breakfasts, a selection of snacks and drinks, home-baked cakes/cookies and has healthy and vegan options. For more reviews see google.
Zapote $$ serves exceptionally well thought out food cooked in a wood oven (fuelled with zapote wood). Get there early or you’ll have to wait for a table – but the wait is worth it. They’re across from Naia’s back garden and are usually open Wednesday to Sunday 6-10pm. Received 2024 Travelers’ Choice on TripAdvisor. See reviews on google
Mowgli $$$ Wild and Refined food, cooked on an open fire, served within a natural and rustic setting. Using locally sourced and wild ingredients… the fish is caught by the chef! Best to reserve. See reviews on google

Piccola Italia in El Hotelito $$

Anahata Cafe & Bistro $$

Casa Mangle $$

Piccolo Italia in El Hotelito $$ Open daily (except Thursdays) from 8am-11am for breakfasts, serving coffee and cake all day, but the evening meals are their party piece – serving great pasta & bruschetta – from 6pm. See reviews on google.
Anahata $$ Open daily from 7.30am-1pm (closed Mondays). Situated half way along the Veraniega and selling a good variety of breakfasts and coffees, plus pink lattes and other instagrammable dishes – all served with a smile (and maybe a song if Gustavio is on form!) See reviews on google.
Casa Mangle $$ serving Mexican dishes from San Luis Potisi region in a relaxed setting, overlooked by beautiful murals. Check opening times on their instagram account @casamagle_el cuyo. See reviews on google

Laguna in Mero Mero Hotel $$ looking out on El Cuyo’s main square. Open daily from 7.30am-2.30pm, serving international and healthy breakfasts and lunches in a super cute environment. See reviews on google.
Navios $$ Open everyday between 9am and 5pm. Great value restaurant, tucked one street back from the main square, specialising in fresh fish and seafood dishes (octopus, ceviche etc). See reviews on google.
El Bucanero $ Super tasty hamburgers, cute relaxed environment and amazingly good value. Open Thursday to Sunday from 6-10pm. Featured in Yucatan Tourism Board #365flavours, for their Lobster and Octopus hamburgers. See reviews on google
Doña Marta Pescaderia $ Doña Marta cooks fish, caught by her husband, over her log fueled frying pan. She has no standard opening times but mid-day or early afternoon is the best time to find her open. You can take away or enjoy your fish on her terrace. She lives on the lagoon road, past El Chile Gordo – keep going all the way to the end of the street. See reviews on google.

Can Cocal Paella Night

BONUS TOP PICKS that fall just outside of the qualifying criteria for the Top Ten and are definitely worth mentioning…

Loncheria Amigo Willys $ Open daily 5-11pm. It’s on the main road between the beach and the river. Serves great panuchos, sopes and tortas and is fantastic value. This is where the locals eat! See reviews on google
La Limonaia $$ Opens 4-10pm (Closed Sundays). Family run and serving great pizza. They’re one street back from the Veraniega, in the same block as Naia cafe. See reviews on google.
Can Cocal Hotel Restaurant $$ currently rates in Top Ten Restaurants on TripAdvisor so is also worth visiting! It’s open daily for breakfast and evening meals. Serving a selection of Mediterranean and tapas dishes – AND they have Paella Night on Wednesdays and Saturdays with a huge paella cooked over an open fire. See reviews on google.
La Negrita $$ Open daily from 8am-6pm daily. Seafood and local specialitiies – clean friendly service and great value. It’s highly popular with locals and tourists alike. See reviews on google.

Other Eating-Out Options in El Cuyo

Aroma @Casa Cielo $$ The beautiful restaurant terrace of this boutique hotel overlooks the beach and has a gourmet fusion menu plus pizza and basics. Open every day, from breakfast through till dinner (dependent on guest occupancy). This is also the best place to enjoy a margarita and enjoy the sunset views from their rooftop terrace.
Fum $$ On the rooftop of Dos Mares hotel, at the far end of the Veraniega, with a view out over the sea and the lagoon. Open daily for breakfast and evening meals – selling Mexican & international food.
Luma $$ Open daily from 8-10am and 6-9pm. The restaurant is within the hotel ‘LunArena’ at the very eastern end of El Cuyo. It serves international food with an Italian influence.
Casa Mate $$ cozy hotel restaurant with a basic but quality menu.
Off the Vine $$ cute and cosy wine bar restaurant at the start of the Verniega (opposite Naia cafe) serving a variety of dishes – hamburgers, seafood etc.
Casa Cuyo Hotel & Restaurant $$ Open 8am-2pm & 4-9pm (Closed Tuesdays). Serving breakfasts plus dinners of gnocchi, hamburgers and vegan burgers.
Restaurant El Camaron $$ Tucked away in the heart of town. El Camaron sells great fresh seafood dishes and is open practically all day and night. The ceviche and fried fish are their forte. See reviews on google.
El Tiburon $$ Open daily 12-1pm and 5-6pm (but will stay open longer if there are customers). They have no set menu but serve what’s freshly caught. The ceviche is highly recommended – and everything is great value!
Valerios $$ Open from 11am-7pm (closed Tuesdays). Valerios is on the main street and specialises in fish and seafood. They also have bar Proa on the roof – usually open weekends
La Conchita $$ Open daily from 8am-6pm. La Conchita is the most established seafood restaurant in El Cuyo. It’s just off the main square.
Mikasa $$ Recently opened by the owner of the successful Asafran of Tulum. Cafe and super tasty icecreams – no standard opening hours.
La Playita $ Located just in front of the jetty, almost on the beach. Serving ceviches, aguachiles, paletas and micheladas. Open 11am-6pm daily.
Amigo El Pato $ Blue house at the entrance to town where they sell fish to take away and cook yourself, or you can ask them to fry it for you and you can eat on their terrace. Opening times depend on when the fishermen come home.
La Chata $ Selling coffees, smoothies and desserts. Just off the main square in the town centre. Open 11am – 4pm and 6pm – 11pm. (Closed Mondays).
La Terracita $ Open from 6pm – 11pm, weekends only. Serves a snack menu and beer and cocktails.
Kukulkan Tacos $ Right on the main square. Usually open weekends and selling a wide choice.
Pizzeria Ruiz $ Open daily from 5-11pm, serving pizzas and tacos to eat in or takeaway. In lobster season, they do a specialty lobster pizza! Go for the very thin and crispy base…
El Amigo Omar $ just off the main square. It’s open during the day and is simple and very economical.
Casa Satz $ round the corner from the entrance to town. Quick and tasty local food. Opening times vary.
Loncherie La Lupita $ Open daily from 5-11pm. Just off the main square on the main street into town, serving panuchos, sopas and other traditional Yucateca comida.
El Tata $$ recently opened and already with a number of great reviews. This place is tucked away just a few steps from the main square, selling local dishes. Open 7.30am-2pm Tuesday to Sunday. Find it on google.
Gaby’s Pizza another new place on El Cuyo’s gastronomic scene. Open Thursday to Tuesday, to eat in or take away.
Mundo Marino $ in the heart of town selling seafood dishes. Note – this place is only usually open in Mexican holiday season.

And don’t forget the weekend street stalls for a great value traditional Yucatan breakfast.

Lechon (pulled pork) is sold every Sunday in a stall opposite La Conchita, and the locals queue up for it. Get there before 10:30am or they’re likely to have sold out…

And you can find the most representative Yucatan dishes ‘Cochinita Pibil’ being sold from stalls on the main street on Saturdays and Sundays. It’s slow-cooked pulled pork in a marinade of achiote, bitter orange and garlic. They’ll give you chopped red onion in lime, to garnish your tacos (there’s a tortilla shop almost next door) and a habanero to nibble on – not for the faint hearted!