Tulum 🌮 What To Eat

Tulum
Part 2

Ok – so you know where to stay in Tulum, now let’s talk about where to eat AND DRINK!

Breakfast
By The Beach

TBH I am a huge fan of just grabbing breakfast at your hotel. Unless of course there is a super noteworthy brunch spot.
I love sleeping in until like 10 or 11 on vacation. Then being able to grab breakfast making minimal moves, when I’m finally ready to rise and shine.

By now you already know we stayed at Jashita.
We had breakfast in bed only 1 day because the view from the restaurant was too good to pass up!

When I tell you the fruit plate was out of this world. I mean it. Not 1 piece of fruit was so-so. It was all so juicy and delicious!
That paired with a croissant was my go-to on bikini heavy days so I wouldn’t look or feel too bloated 😝

I did help myself to their chilaquiles once and they were pretty great as well.
My best friend’s husband couldn’t get enough of the micheladas, while she and I enjoyed a mimosa or tequila sunrise, and Mario never turns down some fresh squeezed juice!

Lunch In Town

We usually ate breakfast mid-late morning so we rarely stopped for lunch. But when we did, it was always at a cute local place in the “downtown” Tulum area.
Here, you won’t find any skyscrapers or bustling traffic – but what you fill find are all the charms of the heart of Tulum. It’s people. Local vendors selling handmade crafts, artisans showcasing felted charms and embroidered dresses, and the most intoxicating smells of leather from all the bags, belts and accessories on display.

Bonita
Burger Bar

Speaking of intoxicating aromas – let’s get back to the FOOD!
We stopped at a super cute burger joint down a side street and enjoyed a Mexican hamburger – with some fries of course, have you met me? 🤣
I had never had a Mexican hamburger before but when Mario said it was a “must try”, I was all in!
Simply put, it’s a hamburger with a slice or two of warm deli ham.
Sounds simple – but it’s so good.

 

Talk About
Tacos

When in Rome – am I right?!
Mario talked to some of our drivers and put together a list we tried of some badass little taco spots.
Our collective favorite, hands down, was this tiny hole-in-the-wall spot on a street corner.
After we pulled up and saw the Al Pastor turning in the open window, we knew we were in the right spot!

These tacos were EVERYTHING.
Sitting outside at the sidewalk bistro tables,  enjoying the breeze (remember, no AC) and sipping Mexican Coca-Colas is such a fond memory of mine.

Antojitos la Chiapaneca Tulum
is truly a MUST EAT gem!
I would link their instagram or website if they had one – but these legends worked their empire by word of mouth alone. If you do search them on Instagram “places” you will see everyone, and I mean EVERYONE raves about them.
Eat here – thank me later
Until you do, scroll to drool.

 

Azulik
After Dark

You have to see to believe Azulik, and it’s restaurant, Kin Toh.
We celebrated one of my best friend’s birthday on the first night and we wanted it to be special. Kin Toh at Azulik was just that.
Dimly lit, with shadows cast everywhere, you feel like you’re entering a manmade jungle. The stairs wind up to an elaborate 2nd floor. To get to the bar, you must cross a catwalk surrounded by oversized nets with views straight to the ground below.
You pass by people lounging, suspended in the air, held by nothing but the net. Like oversized hammocks, simply sipping cocktails under the candlelight.

 

I thoroughly enjoyed the dish “Sea Corn” which was a rich bowl of grilled shrimp, with roasted poblano chileatole.
Chileatole is like grits in a way. This dish is made from corn, but in kernel form. The corn is cooked in a sauce of local spices and pumpkin leaves creating a “creamed corn” like effect.
In short – it was like a Mexican version of shrimp and grits, and I am in love!

Rosa Negra

For a more exciting night out where dinner is more of an experience than a simple necessity, book a table at Rosa Negra.

On my instagram you can see videos, under my Tulum highlights, from our dinner. More specifically, the sparkler show with house music and dancing that erupts mid-dinner!

Full disclosure – the cups were my favorite part!
The skull designs varied by cocktail and I couldn’t get enough.
The restaurant boasts about an eclectic menu featuring a blend of flavors from seemingly all Latin American countries – so the food is very good!
But sadly, almost all of us made the unfortunate decision of simply ordering wrong.

While I enjoyed the “Rice with Seafood” plate,  it just had so much going on (mussels, prawns, clam, squid, creole sauce) that it was too rich and I couldn’t eat very much of it. Serving it hot.. and with no AC, makes it tough to enjoy.
The boys, tempted by prime cuts of meat, order a 28oz New York Strip Steak.. EACH!
Needless to say none of them came close to finishing it and remember with no AC, the meat sweats were very real.
My girlfriend did order the Peruvian Ceviche and said it was wonderful. Clearly what we all should have ordered.
Now you know – order light!

Gitano

Down the street from Rosa Negra was a fabulous little bar called Gitano.

This bar is a cute jungle oasis filled with the scent of sage and incense, decorated like an Instagram dream.

Inside the gate is a now open air “house”, that has the structural bones like it was once an island plantation mansion.

After doing some research, I found that it in fact is inspired by colonial structures of the Yucatan Peninsula!
The giant chandelier hung in the main room, where trees grow inside with roots along the black and white tiled floor, is truly a scene to be apart of.

Here we enjoyed cocktails and dancing in the “backyard” while enjoying conversation above the house music.
My favorite cocktail was a spicy number called “Kisses in the Car”.
Mezcal was mixed with rum, passion fruit, tangerines and habanero. It was served with a habanero garnish – so watch out! 😝

Casa Jaguar

Another instant fav of ours off ambiance alone is Casa Jaguar.

Again, offering a feeling of being hosted in someone’s home deep in the jungle – yet this time, instead of it being a mansion, it’s like a a stucco version of Hemingway’s home. Plantation shutters, wood paneled bars, leather folding chairs nestled at concrete tables, where the candles wax has dripped for seemingly 100 years, all come together to create a unique vibe called Todos Santos

The mixed drinks come in crystal glassware and there are fresh cut flowers arranged all around.
Unique boutiques line either side of the front door once you enter, offering local crafts and flair from Tulum.

Outback is a large yard for dancing where on Tuesday nights, a DJ sets up and takes over the soul of everyone, dancing the night away!
That’s one of the things I love so unique to Tulum, it’s so small each bar gets its “showcase night” and becomes packed with everyone who wants to go out.

La Malquerida

Last on my list of bars to experience is unlike any listed before. By day it’s a quaint, downtown Tulum restaurant. But by night the tables and chairs are moved out to open up space for a makeshift dance floor. The locals tear it up here dancing bachata, salsa, merengue you name it.

Come here with the love of your life, grab them by the hips closely, and dance the night away!
We were dripping sweat but it didn’t matter.
I can honestly say, we were having the time of our lives.
Pausing only for tequila shots or another round of beers to keep cool.

One Last Stop

After hours of dancing the hot Tulum night away, there is absolutely nothing better than a scoop of freshly made sorbet!
Trust me.

Panna e Cioccolato is an ice cream shop with chocolates, candy skulls and other fine desserts to cure any sweet tooth.
The best part is, they’re open late!
I’m usually a sucker for something chocolate, but I’ve never tasted anything as delicious as their mango sorbet.

We strolled Avenida Tulum under the stars, drying off to the warm breeze from the ocean and trying to eat our sorbets before they could melt.

Tulum is such an experience unlike any I’ve had before and what’s uniquely special to me, is that this trip was my first ever to Mexico!

They say food is the way to the heart.. and the food in Tulum certainly found mine.
♥️

Leave a comment below with what meal you look forward to most on vacation!

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