The tiny town of Bacalar in Quintana Roo is a bit off the traditional tourist trail but firmly on the backpacker route. While you won’t find necessarily fancy places to eat here, you will find that many Bacalar restaurants have a shabby chic, boho vibe with plenty of choices, including great vegan places, sushi, pizza, pasta, Argentinan barbecue, and, of course, plenty of amazing traditional Mexican food.
In this blog, we’re going to take a look at what we think are some of the best restaurants in Bacalar that will give you a taste of Mexico and a bit of something different if you need a change from tacos.
Please note: The list is random and not ordered by ‘best’.
The 12 Best Bacalar Restaurants
1. Mr Taco – Best Authentic Mexican Cuisine in Bacalar
Mr Taco recently moved from the main square in Bacalar to a few streets away (they got so popular that their tables were spilling out onto the street, and there was a line of people waiting for tables every night). Having completed the best rated food tour in Playa del Carmen, we knew our standards were high, but Mr Taco did not disappoint and has firmly placed itself on our list of must-visit Bacalar restaurants.
The prices are reasonably cheap, the menu is huge, and it’s one of the best places to get Mexican food in Bacalar. You can choose from a few set dishes or you can build your own meal from all of the options.
Ok, it’s not all quintessential Mexican, and some reviews mention it’s more of a tourist spot than for locals, but we enjoyed our evening here. The food was great, the service was prompt, and we felt the prices were good for a cheap meal.
2. Mango Y Chile – Best Vegan Restaurant in Bacalar
When researching Bacalar restaurants, we quickly put Mango Y Chile towards the top of our list. We try to eat a mixture of food and mix in vegetarian and vegan dishes multiple times a week, so when we find a well-reviewed spot, we always make an effort to visit.
Mango Y Chile was a pleasant change after weeks of tacos, burritos, quesadillas and gringas. It feels a bit like vegan fast food, but served in a restaurant you actually want to be in. It’s a little more expensive than other places on this list, but the food was amazing! Make sure to try the Falafel Burger and the Vegan Hot Dog – both are full of flavour and incredibly filling. So, while you pay a little more, we’d say it is totally worth the price.
Top Tip: This is a great little spot to grab dinner after a boat trip across the lagoon or visiting Fort San Felipe.
3. Mi Burrito Bacalar – Best Burritos in Bacalar
Mi Burrito looks a little unassuming, but you’ll thank us for recommending you have this down as one of the Bacalar restaurants to try. This little food with a small covered seating area smashes out some of the best burritos in Bacalar and is a cute little spot away from the centre of town (which can get busy at night).
The seating area has a few benches and a cute vibe decorated with fairy lights. We’d recommend visiting in the evening, but it’s also open during the day for lunch.
4. Chacá – Best for Aesthetic Vibes in Bacalar
Chacá is another of the Bacalar restaurants that is outdoors. Made up of a few shipping containers (that are covered in some cool street art) and a cute outdoor seating area, Chacá serves up a mixture of Mexican dishes and international food. This place is super Instagrammable and reminded us of some of the Insta-worthy photo spots in Tulum. The food is well presented, the boho outdoor area is covered with plants, there are a couple of hammocks around, and there is a bar area with swings too.
We ate breakfast here (the chilaquiles and huevos rancheros were amazing!), and can highly recommend it. Although it’s a little bit out of the centre, Chacá should be on your list for a brunch date.
5. Albahaca Breakfast – Best Breakfast Restaurant in Bacalar
This is hands down the best place to eat in Bacalar, and you have to put it on your Bacalar restaurants list. Albahaca is a shack on a backstreet a little way south of the town centre, but don’t let appearances put you off. There are just a handful of tables, the kitchen is in a tiny wooden building, and you’d be forgiven if you were cautious about eating here – but don’t be!
The service is welcoming and friendly, the food is fresh, and the cosy vibe tops it off. If you’re looking for somewhere to grab a healthy breakfast with fresh juices (you can see them making the juice as soon as you’ve ordered it), then you have to come to Albahaca.
💦 If you’re looking for a unique way to enjoy breakfast in Bacalar, this 5-star sunrise paddleboard tour with breakfast takes place on the clear waters of Bacalar Lagoon as the sun rises. You also get to visit cenotes and experience a sulfur-infused full-body mud mask!
6. Los de Atlixco – Best for Tacos & Good Vibes
Just off the main square in the centre of town, you’ll find a bunch of Bacalar restaurants, some with seriously mixed reviews, meaning they can be hit and miss. However, Los de Atlixco isn’t one of those. We had some of the best tacos we ate during our 3-month trip to Mexico (they also do some seriously impressive burgers!).
Los de Atlixco is in a food court-style area where numerous restaurants look like they’re in the same place, so make sure you choose the right one. As you walk in, the tables for Los de Atlixco are on the right. We both had Tacos de Camaron from the Specials Taco menu (don’t confuse them with the standard tacos), and we absolutely devoured them! They looked so good the table next to us asked what we had so they could order them.
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7. Parque Nacional Maracuyá – Best Food Trucks in Bacalar
A list of the best restaurants in Bacalar wouldn’t be complete without Parque Nacional Maracuyá. Well, it’s actually multiple restaurants in one. This food truck park is right on the edge of Bacalar Lagoon and has plenty of choices for food including Mexican, sushi, burgers, Argentinian, barbecue, gelato, a coffee shop, and a fully-stocked bar.
Also, this place offers free and easy access to the water for swimming, kayaking, paddleboarding, jet skiing and boat trips. Ok, it’s a little on the pricey side compared to some of the other places on this list, but you really could spend all day here, or at least afternoon and into the evening. It’s a relaxing vibe with plenty of places to sit and its own pier. They also have live music.
8. Pizzeria Bertilla y Luciano Centro – Best Italian Restaurant in Bacalar
Amazing Italian in a tiny town in Mexico – who’d have thought it? Pizzeria Bertilla y Luciano, like all great Italian places, has a huge selection of pizza, pasta, and wine. There are two branches in Bacalar. One is a beach club on the lagoon, but we’re talking about the one in Bacalar Centro.
We headed here for dinner and weren’t disappointed. There’s plenty of choice, including vegetarian dishes and options to suit those travelling on a budget. It gets quite busy here, probably because it has great reviews, but you probably won’t be waiting around for a table. The service was great, the food served quickly, and it was incredibly tasty. It’s definitely one of the Bacalar restaurants to visit if you want a break from Mexican food and fancy some authentic flavours of Italy.
Read: Los Rapidos Bacalar: The Ultimate Guide & Honest Review
9. La Playita – Best Dinner Restaurant in Bacalar
With over 9,000 Google Reviews, La Playita is definitely one of the most popular Bacalar restaurants, and once you see it, you’ll know why. In a prime location, right on the water, La Playita is a great spot to spend the day or for a romantic evening meal.
The food is presented beautifully, and the venue itself is incredibly aesthetic. During the day, there are plenty of shady areas to escape the sun and easy access to the water to dive in and cool off. As night falls and the sky fills with stars, La Playita illuminates with cute fairy lights and turns into a romantic spot for a chilled dinner.
10. El Manatí Bacalar – Best Boho & Organic Restaurant in Bacalar
Plenty of restaurants in Bacalar have an aesthetic, boho vibe, but El Manatí takes it to another level. This artistic space is full of local ornaments and crafts, which you can buy too. They’ve got a good mix of healthy, hearty, and vegan meals too, as well as mixing it up with some traditional Mexican dishes and international food.
It’s a cool, relaxed, and artsy vibe. The service is always great, and they even have live music sometimes too. You have to put El Manatí on your list of restaurants that are worth visiting in Bacalar.
11. Ruda – Best Grilled Food in Bacalar
Ruda is one of the best restaurants in Bacalar for some seriously hearty food and great cocktails. Located on Av. 1, north of the centre of town, Ruda is easy to find, and like many other Bacalar restaurants, it’s decorated with impressive street art and has a laid-back, boho vibe. If you’re a lover of grilled food and more than healthy portions, Ruda is definitely the place for you. Expect a range of dishes with plenty of US-inspired choices. Also, they have some pretty sensational garlic bread (Lauren’s all-time favourite food), so what’s not to love?
As you’ll see from the reviews, the service is great, the vibe is accommodating, and they sometimes have live music going too. Whether you’re a couple looking for a romantic dinner and cocktails or a family search for Bacalar restaurants to accommodate you all, Ruda is a great choice.
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12. Cafe Tito – Best Coffee in Bacalar
If you’re looking for a spot to grab a quick coffee and a cake of pastry, Cafe Tito is the spot. Located in the centre of town (the east side of the square towards the lagoon), this is the ideal Bacalar restaurant to watch the world go by and take a break from exploring. We stopped here on our way back from watching the sunrise over the lagoon, and it was a great way to start the day.
You can grab more than small bites here – they have options for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. It’s a well-reviewed all round spot to eat in Bacalar and one of our favourites!
Tasty Bacalar Restaurants Summarised
Bacalar is a tiny town on the backpacker trail, so you might think you’d be pressed for places to eat and limited to local Mexican spots. That couldn’t be further from the truth. Bacalar restaurants offer everything you could possibly need and more. You could stay here for weeks and still not get through a list of the best restaurants in Bacalar. Expect laid-back, boho restaurants, many covered in seriously impressive street art. Oh, and with some incredibly tasty food on offer too.
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