- La Choza:
This is the New La Choza and still has great food at really good prices. They specialize in an orange margarita that we don’t like, so ask for a regular lime one and watch out. They will cook your catch at a great price too. Favorites include Chicken in Black Sauce and now the Fish Ceviche. The orange colored chili salsa is an island original. Ask for Nacho, our favorite waiter...he has the luck of a "Dancing Dog"!
Easy walk, stagger home. (On 10th Ave. just before Salas) $-$$
- Especias:
This is one of our favorite restaurants. You can feast on the appetizers alone, but everything is wonderful. Lots of veggie friendly fare (empanadas are to die for!). The special bacon wrapped shrimp is the best on the island! Adrian is a wonderful host, and if you hit it off
will be happy to take you on an island tour. For the quality and the
amount of food, the prices are a steal!
Closed Sundays. On 3rd between 5th and 10th.
$-$$
- Pancho’s Backyard:
Inside Los Cinco Soles store at the North end of Ave. Melgar on the
water. Go before 9 pm and browse the pricey stuff at the shop (don’t
buy overpriced bottles of liquor here!), and then enjoy great food and potent margs in the romantic courtyard. Try the mole and fish served on the grills. Offers good vegetarian section on menu (try the Chiles Rellenos with Plantains and Walnuts!). Take a cab up and then enjoy the walk home through town.
$$-$$$
- Pancho's Backyard website and coupons
- Jeanie’s:
They have rebuilt the beach and added a huge palapa so you can enjoy the view and just spend the day, or dine on the street and watch the tourists wander past. Food is always good. This is one of our spots to snorkel and watch the sunset. On our last trip we had the best breakfast ever on the island! On Melgar near the stop light, next to Margaritaville. $$
- Casa Mission:
Take a cab both ways to this old hacienda east of downtown off Juarez. Very good everything and strolling musicians to go with a usually fun evening.
Frankly, we have not been here in years but would very much like to go again. Its sister restaurants, La Mission and Mission Grill, are in town (see below). $$-$$$
-
Casa Mission
- Casa Denis:
One half-block inland off the south side of the square. Great people
watching, and we think Castro ate here (if the photos on the wall are any proof)! Food is OK if a bit salty,and the margs were just so-so. $$-$$$
- Casa Denis
- Casablanca:
Next to Casa Dennis, but closer to the square. We used to rave about
this place, then paned it and now like it again. Like so much on Cozumel there is always change. On our latest visit the service was great and water (always seems to be an issue) showed up right away! The Chicken and Mayan dishes were very good. Get the Free Margarita card before you sit down. $-$$
- El Foco:
Cheap, late night greasy spoon located ½ block from the square on 5 Sur. When nothing else is open and you have had many Margs, this is the place to recover. We heard they are open until 5 am some nights! $
- Mosiacoz:
Is a great little restaurant and people watching place on the square. We especially liked the pizzas. Our last trip we sent the way undercooked pasta back. We took advantage of the 3x2 pizza special and were told if we took the leftovers with us then we would be charged full price. Avoid this joint until they figure things out! We like the location, but it can get busy in the evenings. Cheap beers during the day make it popular then too. Just across from Casablanca. $-$$
- La Mission:
Just off Melgar, a block south of the square. Same owners as Casa Mission but a livelier, more touristy atmosphere. Huge filet mignon was great at $17. Glory was not impressed with the quality of the veggie menu. Another place we have not been to in a while, but do check it out. $$
- La Mission
- El Camaron Dorado:
This is one of those long time Cozumel spots that we have just never tried, but wish we had. The shrimp and fish tacos are yummy and super cheap...all things we like. No liquor and only open from 7am till 4pm, so not a dinner spot, but a great place to hit on the way to or from the East Side. Not much English spoken but the menu's are in English. This is right on the Transvaal so grab an outside table and watch the traffic go by. $
- Chi: Chinese
place right on Melgar over the Pizza place on Calle 3. Very OK for a change of pace. Sushi as well as all the regular Chinese stuff. Great
views too! $$-$$$
- Plaza Leza:
On the square so excellent people watching. On our last 2 trips here the food has been poorly prepared and the margaritas tasted like sea water. So we are taking this off our list of good places to eat...until it gets better! $-$$
- Los Chilangos:
This is great for lunch! Like eating in a typical Cozumeleño home. Limited
menu changes daily and you sit family style. Always a veggie choice and only $4-$5 for plenty of food...you can also request half orders.
Go east on 15th one block and turn left on 10th
for a half block. They have a sign now, so it’s easier to find. $
- El Morro:
Get directions to this old favorite...inland behind the Pemex station.
Streets are dusty and this is in a little neighborhood, but don’t be fooled cause it looks like a pit, as the food is great. Mayan pork thing and chicken with ham and peas
were very good. Mole was a bit salty. Our last visit prices seemed to
have gone up. $-$$
- Rock N’Java:
On Melgar north of Hotel Barracuda. Glory loves this place as it is air conditioned, very veggie friendly and you have a great view of the ocean. Avoid the ground chicken burger. It was the worst we had ever tasted. Open late. $$-$$$
- Museo de Cozumel:
Really good breakfast spot. A friend of ours loves the French Toast! Ocean front on Melgar. Check it out and
tour the Museum for dessert. $$-$$$
- Mission Grill on 30th:
Owned by the fine folks who own Casa Mission, this is another place loved by locals. Fish dinner for $80 pesos and Tortilla Soup for $30
pesos that could be a meal by itself. Excellent veggie Rellenos. Located
north on 30th just past San Francisco grocery and Covi’s
liquor store on the west side of the street. Margaritas are usually killer! $-$$
-
Parrilla Mission
- La Cocay: Higher end restaurant with higher prices and ambience to match. One of those "Special Occasion" kind of spots. On 8th north between 15th
and 25th. $$$
-
La Cocay
- Otates: Even though this very local eatery has been discovered by the Gringo Crowd, it is still very good and one of our faves. Our last trip it was packed, but still the service was prompt, the food was excellent and cheap. Stick with the meaty tacos or burritos and you will be fine. Pazole is reportedly very good too. Nothing very veggie here except a veggie burrito. On Ave 15 between Calle 3 and 5. $
- Prima: This is the latest in 5 star dining on Cozumel. Great big view and prices to match!. Great 2x1 Happy Hour on the new outside patio. Fried Calimari was voted best on the island by us! Divers breakfast from 7-9am is only 37 pesos. Plan Local breakfast is only 47 pesos, but you have to ask for it. Warning: Be sure to leave a tip even if the service is terrible or you could be banned from this jint for life!$-$$$
- Zapata Grill:
(Also known as Al Pie del Carbon) Now this is a grill! Open flame cooking over real logs! Grilled veggies on skewers and the meats are great. The grilled fish is THE BEST and at a great price! Our last trip we had the best grilled Tuna ever as well as one of the best pasta dishes. Calle 6 North on the corner with Ave. 5 North. The small dining room is air conditioned, but on our last visit it was great to sit outside.
$$
- Sorrisi: Pizza and Pasta in a now lovely space. The food and service are great.
Pat says this is the best pizza on the island! Prices have really gone up though; $9 for a bottle of water and $8 for a small margarita are not so good! On the up side, they now just bring you a glass of water with out an issue. Near the water on Calle 3. $$$
- Sorrisi on FaceBook
- Tony Rome’s: Another island fave that some people love. Tony is always there and is Mr. Personality. Pat loved the ribs! Otherwise not so veggie friendly unless you like pasta. On 5 Sur ½ block south of the square. $$
- Tony Rome's
- Le Chef: This is the old Olive with the same good food and location, and of course, chef. This was one of the best meals we had on our latest trip. Check out the shrimp and pasta dish. On 5 Sur at Calle 5. $-$$$
- French Quarter: The food is good and very expensive. Some people swear by this place.
Cajun stuff, fish and ribs. The Cadillac Mjargarita is very good! ½ block south of the square on 5 Sur. This is one of the most expensive restaurants on the island. $$$$$
- French Quarter
- Pizza Rolandi: New Italian joint located right on the water. Both food and view are great! The 1/2 price Sangria Happy Hour from 5-7 is a find, the funky bread is free with a meal and the service is fantastic. Lots of locals too. Pizza was good...avoid the risotto. Next to Margaritaville on Melgar. $$-$$$
- Empanadas Del Sur: Excels in empanadas....little turnovers stuffed with all sorts of goodies. We made a meal for 3 with a couple of platters full and only spent 160 pesos. We hear they also have great steaks but did not check those out. Just around the corner from Especias on 5 Sur. $-$$$
- Kinta:
This is a new classy little place with good food and high prices. Very cute courtyard out back and it is the place to be. They cooked up our barracuda to perfection!
Our most recent visit the catch of the day was a bit overcooked. North of the square on 5th. $$-$$$
- R J Thai Noodle House:
This is the first Thai restaurant on Cozumel. It has fast become one of our faves with surprisingly good food. You can mix and match noodles and create dozens of unique dishes! The smaller bowl is plenty of food, and the margs are very good too!! They are now open downstairs at the Mega and this location is better for take-out spot than dine-in since there are only 4 tables. $$-$$$
- Natur Island:
This is a healthy food kind of place that both Pat and Glory love. Great salads and smoothies, with a monster cheese burger that is one of the most unique on the island. Everything seems to come with at least 2 kinds of cheese. Prices are great, so check it out! Located just at the corner of 5 Sur and Calle 11, under Ego gym. $-$$
- Il Giardino: This is a new little neighborhood eatery located very close to Caribe Sunset, Casa Amor and Casa Kay. The owner used to work for a cruise line and is full of stories. The menu changes daily as do prices. Sample items include Jamaican Chicken, Shrimps, Pasta dishes and Ribs with home made BBQ sauce. Sunday is Lasagna Day. Open Wednesday through Sunday, 11 am to 6 pm. On Ave 15 between 17 and 19. $-$$
- Midori Sushi: We have seen this eatery for years and always wanted to give it a try...we wish we had done so sooner. It was some of the best sushi we have ever had. Very Fresh and unique. The Banana Roll they made for Glory was a big hit. The fresh Tuna Sashimi was incredible! Fully air conditioned with city views. On Salas just before the Mercado. $-$$
- Chilangos On 30th: This is a very good, very local hang, only open for dinner. You look at all the food in the window and point at what you want inside your "huarache" or shoe. Lots of veggie selections. They now have a full bar. On 30th going north, before you get to the Pemex. $
- Kondesa: We had high hopes for this new restaurant which is related to Kinta. Kondesa serves more traditional Mexican fare: burritos, enchiladas, fajitas, achiote chicken...even nachos and tamales. While the prices were good and the servings generous, we found the food on the bland side. But that's just us. Check it out and let us know what you think. On Ave 5 Sur, north of the cemetary. $$
-
Kondesa
- Guido’s:
You will pass it on the way home from Pancho’s on Melgar. Now large menu of very overpriced pasta and seafood. Pizza is good but at 159 pesos for plain, small pizza, not what it once was. Do order the bread thing! Get a seat by the window in front for the view and the AC. We love the gorgeous and romantic back courtyard, but it has become a place to see and be seen for island locals. Open 7 days a week. One of the most expensive pasta restaurants on Cozumel. $$$-$$$$
-
Guidos
- New Restaurants We Want to Check Out:
Lobsteria ... on 5 Sur.
Hint: We save a
bundle by bringing To go cups
full of margs everywhere! No problems. Also order glasses
of water, as this is pure water from big bottles. Some restaurants will give you a free little marg or a beer with dinner but you
have to ask before hand.
More Hints: Some restaurants now refuse to serve you a free glass of pure drinking water. They want to charge you for a bottle! Solution: Bring your own bottle!
Beware:
Some restaurants in town are charging a tax on your meal.
All taxes are already included in the cost of food in
Mexico. If you are charged tax, complain. If they refuse to take it
off of your bill your simplest recourse is to not leave a tip. Please
let us know if this happens to you.
We have avoided giving
exact addresses just because the fun of finding a place comes in finding
something else along the way! Please enjoy your journey!
Disclaimer: This is Mexico so all
prices, locations and cuisine are subject to change at any second!
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