Bacalar has been climbing up the popularity ranks, and for good reason – this Mexican town is both a breath-taking paradise and a vibey hot spot, filled with delicious food (all included in this Bacalar Food Guide). Undoubtedly, the biggest star of Bacalar is the ‘Lagoon of Seven Colors’, which spoils its visitors with mesmerizing views and many water-based activities like sailing trips, rapids and magical cenotes around the area.

But what does a full day of having fun in the water make you?

You guessed it – HUNGRY!

Whether you feel like a good meal is in order or need to grab a quick bite to get you going for the rest of the day – I’ve got you covered. My two months in this little Mexican paradise were well spent (read: mostly eating) and the food places found in this Bacalar Food Guide are some of my all-time favorites. This town has a central area with plenty of good food choices, but some of the best spots lie on the outskirts – and I’m sharing those tasty gems with you too.

Restaurants at the lagoon and around the main square are pricier than the ones found on the outskirts. But there are exceptions, and it is possible to grab a bargain meal while overlooking the lagoon. The town itself is small and everything is within walking distance, but if you feel like grabbing a cab, it shouldn’t cost you more than $15 to get from one side to the other.

So go ahead, scroll, and take your pick (and if it’s too hard, just try them all!).

Overall tip: Tuesday is the local ‘day-off’ and most restaurants are closed.

Central restaurants & cafes

Mango y Chile

⋅ vegan ⋅ water-view ⋅ central ⋅

Kicking off this Bacalar Food Guide with plant-based deliciousness serving the best vegan ice cream in town! Mango y Chile is located right off the main square, perched on a hill with an outdoor terrace giving you beautiful views over the lagoon. Perfect for a meal or a coffee date!

The menu offers burgers (Maya burger for the win!), tacos, hot dogs, salads and desserts as well as coffees, smoothies and milkshakes. It’s a little pricey for the local standard, but the portions are a good size – so worth it!

Tip: The smoothies here are very filling – both Dan and I struggled to finish them with a burger meal – if you want to try one, get it with tacos or as a small meal. They’re super good!

Pizzaria Bertilla y Luciano

⋅ italian ⋅ central ⋅ vegetarian options ⋅

The owners here provide an authentic Italian food, with some ingredients brought straight to your plate from Italy. The pastas and pizzas are homemade, fresh and delicious! No wonder this place is super busy on most evenings!

The menu consists of Italian appetizers, pastas, pizzas, salads and desserts like tiramisu and panna cotta, and ypu can choose your favorite pasta type with some of the dishes!

Tip: Opens at 4:00pm – arrive early to get a table!

Enamora

⋅ café ⋅ central ⋅ vegan options ⋅

Very popular among the tourists, this vibey and modern café is a great spot for a coffee break and to read away on the next chapter of your favorite book. Local arts and handmade gems are on display in the corner of the café. You might be treated to some live music performances by local artists on some mornings.

On offer here are typical egg breakfasts, sandwiches, salads and various drinks.

Tip: We tried Enamora a few times, as the food choices here look great, but every time we went, a lot of the items on the menu were unavailable. Overall, we prefer El Manatí (further down this Bacalar Food Guide), but do give it a try and let us know how it went for you!

Patio de Aguacate

⋅ fun ⋅ great cocktails ⋅ close to central area ⋅

Great spot for an evening outing – great music, neon lights and awesome selection of drinks. We only had drinks here, but we’ve been told that the food is delicious. We saw their burgers come out to a table next to ours and they looked mouth-watering.

Tip: If you’re into football and don’t want to miss an important game during your time in Bacalar, come here because these guys have a big screen and are happy to put any game on for you!

El Manatí

⋅ garden café ⋅ chill vibes ⋅ vegan options ⋅

If you want to try the popular Turmeric Latte, this is the place to do it! The entrance to El Manatí is a little disguised – the garden café is at the back of a store/art gallery and it’s perfect for a morning breakfast or brunch. They often have live musicians making music and creating incredible vibes in the afternoons.

El Manati offers both Mexican and Western options – pancakes, egg breakfasts, chilaquiles, tacos, burgers, burritos and plenty of juices, smoothies and drinks.

Tip: Try coconut ceviche tostadas and Los de Oro – our favourites! The café closes at 3:30pm.

La Catrina

⋅ cozy ⋅ vibey ⋅ great for a fun evening ⋅

Live music here is the best in Bacalar, the palapa roof creates a cozy atmosphere and the food is tasty. It’s a great spot to spend an evening in Mexican style.

Alongside a wide variety of pizzas, you can also find burgers, tacos, sea food, meat dishes and many cool drinks and cocktails on offer.

Tip: Bring your dancing shoes as the musicians here have a reputation of lifting people up on their feet!

Food spots on the outskirts

Albahaca

⋅ tucked away ⋅ cozy ⋅ budget-friendly ⋅

Amazing breakfast spot! This ‘side-of-the-road’ café offers fruit plates, pancakes, eggs, chilaquiles, sandwiches and drinks. The portions here are big and the prices affordable. You might get to spot a parrot too!

Tip: Albahaca is small, but off-the-beaten path, so you shouldn’t have a problem with getting a seat 😊Apart from the swing chair out front, there are some tables on the side too.

Macario

⋅ outskirts ⋅ unique ⋅ not cheap ⋅

Macario is sensual, the ingredients are high-quality, and their dishes are prepared with precision. Come here if you’re looking for a more luxurious, fine dining experience.

The theme here is ‘modern Mexican fine dining with a twist of the outside world’. On the menu you’ll find meat dishes like steak or chicken, vegetarian options and traditional Mexican foods like cactus tostadas.

Tip: Opens late – you can dine here until midnight. DJ nights on Thursdays.

Yerbabuena Smoothie Bar

⋅ healthy ⋅ quirky ⋅ vegan options ⋅

Glorious smoothie bowls, plant-based sandwiches and delicious poke bowls – food here is made with pure love – give it a try when you’re craving a healthy and fun breakie or brunch.

Chacá

⋅ outskirts ⋅ quiet ⋅ great for laptop work ⋅

If you’re looking to detach, read a book or do some work, this place is great! Chacá has a beautiful outdoor seating, it’s clean and quiet and serves incredible coconut water (in jugs!). It offers breakfast and brunch.

Parque Nacional Maracuya

⋅ food trucks ⋅ café ⋅ waterfront ⋅

Maracuya is a vibe and it quickly became my favourite place in Bacalar. A little different from the rest, it’s basically a food truck park, with a seating area, central bar, a café and lounging chairs to catch that Mexican sun. Maracuya is situated right at the waterfront (with its own deck and kayak rental) and is the best spot for grabbing lunch on a relaxing afternoon or having a few evening drinks.

Tip: Baraka café (located inside Maracuya park) is my favourite working space in Bacalar – great coffee, good wifi and incredible staff. It honestly became my second home.

Lagoon-view dining

La Playita

⋅ mystical ⋅ jungle vibes ⋅ vegan options ⋅

As you enter La Playita, you’re guided through what feels like a jungle, walking down windy paths carved by exotic plants until you reach your seat. Every visit to La Playita welcomes you with a new experience – you may be seated by the waterfront, tucked away among the plants, close to the music scene, who knows? This place also looks and feels completely different during the day and at night – it’s a must while in Bacalar!

There’s a raw bar, tostadas, wraps, tacos, burgers and panchatas flatbreads, which are basically huge pizzas – yum!

Tip: Ring ahead and get a reservation – evenings get super busy here. Click here for contact details. If you show up and can’t get a table, head to La Catrina across the road.

Bertilla Lagoon & Beach Club

⋅ chick ⋅ waterfront ⋅ vegetarian options ⋅

Out of town, this is a great stop-off point on your way back from Los Rapidos or Cenote Azul. It’s one of very few beach clubs that don’t charge you an entry fee (*although there is a minimum spend limit of $250 MXN). I’m not a fan of places imposing any kind of ‘requirements’, however, I found this place to be worth it – it is very well equipped with double beach beds, a double-story deck giving you both sun exposure and a bit of shade when you need it, hanging chairs, water swings and the food is fresh and worth its price. The menu offers a variety of Italian dishes and desserts.

Tip: Spend a couple of hours here, unwind and soak in the beauty of the lagoon.

Kai Pez

⋅ seafood ⋅ waterfront ⋅ central ⋅

The location is great, and the restaurant is spread across a big green area, offering different seating arrangements – grab the open-air seats at the waterside or choose the first-floor covered dining. The restaurant vibes are peaceful, and the open space really gives you that feeling of being in your own paradise.

Their menu has great Mexican treats, like ceviche, tacos and tostadas, alongside a variety of fish and shellfish dishes. Don’t worry if you’re not a big seafood fan – there are plenty of different meat dishes, salads and the traditional Sopa de Lima.

Tip: Dine at lunch time – less crowds so it’s easier to score the best seats (like in the photo below)!

Budget bites

Mr. Taco

⋅ central ⋅ affordable ⋅ for everyone ⋅

Mr. Taco is super popular in Bacalar as it allows you to create your own tacos or choose from what seems like an endless list of potential combinations. They also offer quesadillas, burritos and more – it’d be hard to not find something here for you.

Tip: Need a refresher on a hot Mexican day? Try their natural drinks – especially the cucumber one!

Chiltepín Marisquillos

⋅ water-view ⋅ budget-friendly ⋅ nice extras ⋅

This place only opened at the end of our stay in Bacalar, but we did get a taste in and wow, wow, wow. It has a lot on the menu, from seafood to meats, soups, grilled dishes and Mexican favorites. Chiltepín is positioned on a hill, providing a stunning view of the lagoon, but that’s not all – it has a pool! Yes, you can come for a dip and when you get peckish, you have freshly made food within arm’s reach.

Tip: This place has the cheapest fish and prawn tacos in town, and they are absolutely delicious! We also scored the best dessert in town here! Speaking of which, have you read the Brownie Edition of the Bacalar Food Guide? A must for your sweet tooth.

Mi Burrito

⋅ close to central area ⋅ great on-the-go meal ⋅ vegan options ⋅

Bacalar Food Guide favorite – this is not to be missed! Hands down, the best burritos in the whole of Mexico are found here! Mi Burrito is a food truck, but there are a couple of benches to sit at and dive into their delicious burritos. The waiter here is the nicest and funniest guy we met in Bacalar. The burritos are served with 6 different sauces – try them all if you’re brave enough!

This place is also ideal to pick up a quick meal in between any activities.

Tip: Even if you’re not vegan, try the vegan burrito – it is the bomb! And don’t forget to add avocado – you can thank me later.

So here it is – your ultimate Bacalar Food Guide. I hope this blog helps you make the right choices on your culinary journey and leaves mouth-watering memories for years to remember – after all, good food is always a good idea!

If you’re wondering what to do on your trip to Balacar, what the weather will be like and how to get here, you can find all the info in our Guide to Bacalar.

If you have any specific questions or any general comments or additions to this list, please comment them below!

Tasty travels my amigos!

Vicky