Over the past five years, I’ve had the pleasure of eating at many of the best restaurants in Isla Mujeres. Therefore, I know this island is a great spot for many people who are looking for creative Mexican dishes, as well as many seafood dishes.
Below, I’ve outlined my favorite restaurants all over the island. Some of them are good at creative local dishes, while others are known for their mixology, or their affordable prices and high quality.
1. Lola Valentina – The Most Creative Restaurant on The Main Street
One of the reasons why we like to go to Lola Valentina (we eat here weekly) is that their food menu, much like their drinks menu, offers options that you won’t find anywhere else on the island. Another positive thing about this is that their food is consistent, and all their dishes are good and/or great.
Personally, I like eating here because they have delicious fried cauliflower tacos. That could be a boring dish if it’s not executed right. However, the fresh guacamole and the mole and peanut sauce that come with it make it an absolute banger. The best thing is that it’s only 200 pesos ($10 USD) and it’s more than enough food for a casual dinner.
I’ve also had the Caribbean tostones, which are smashed fried plantains topped with guacamole and pico de gallo. That’s a good appetizer, but I think I prefer the regular guacamole overall.
Other good things about Lola Valentina are that the restaurant has an amazing vibe, with a saxophone player during dinner time, and that the service is friendly all the time. It’s pricey, but worth it.
Read my complete Lola Valentina review here.
2. Olivia’s – Mediterranean Vibes
Olivia’s is a restaurant where I go with my girlfriend once or twice every half a year (we normally stay in Isla Mujeres from January to June). It’s a Mediterranean-inspired restaurant. That’s nice because that makes it the only restaurant on the island that offers this kind of food. We’re talking falafel, mousakka, Moroccan-style fish filet, shawarma, and many more dishes.
Personally, I love the falafel here because it’s very fresh. Falafel is a dish where you really notice if the product is fresh or if it’s three days old, but Olivia nails it every time. They also have a nice selection of cocktails and wines. My girlfriend is always very pleased with the house wine here.
Overall, the vibe and service in Olivia’s is one of the best, if not the best, on the island. It has a calm, tasteful vibe, and the staff is incredibly attentive. It’s definitely one of the most romantic restaurants in Isla Mujeres that you can find near the main street.
They have an indoor area, but most people come here to sit in the larger outside area. One thing to remember, though, is that the outside area can have some mosquitoes. We always take some mosquito repellent with us when we want to sit here.
Price-wise, Olivia’s is definitely up there. I would say it’s similarly priced to Lola Valentina. Most basic dishes start at 240 pesos ($12 USD) and go all the way to 450 ($22.5 USD).
3. Al Natural – Best Mexican Restaurant in Isla Mujeres
If you’re with a small group of a maximum of four people, I think Al Natural is one of the nicest little places you can discover on Isla Mujeres. It’s located a bit off the main street, on the corner of a side street right next to a laundromat. They have three tables that you can sit at outside, and maybe one or two more tables inside.
They only serve Mexican food here, but it’s Mexican food that’s done well. I’ve eaten at this place well over 50 times over the years. One thing they do very well with their tacos is that they include a substantial amount of guacamole and pico de gallo as well. I also think their burritos are bangers.
Finally, they have a bunch of aqua del dias, of which the aqua de jamaica is my absolute favorite. It’s a huge glass with sweet hibiscus water. 10/10 every time.
Because it’s a small place, there’s only one server, and it’s normally the same guy. He’s very smiley, upbeat, and, from what I’ve seen, speaks three languages (English, Spanish, and French). The prices here are very reasonable. Most dishes go for 150 – 250 pesos ($7.5 – 12.5 USD), which is almost unheard of for a location in the city center.
4. Mahache – Creative Seafood Dishes
Mahache is known as one of the better local seafood restaurants on the island. The dishes here are more exotic and creative than you’d normally see. We’re talking grouper with pepperleaf sauce, Peruvian fish ceviche, and Mahache shrimp. Personally, I’m a big fan of their beetroot risotto, a dish you won’t find anywhere else on the island.
On top of that, the servers are very friendly, speak very good English, and are great at giving personalized recommendations regarding food and drink combinations. The vibe in the restaurant is similar to Olivia’s, but there’s no outside area.
Price-wise, many dishes hover around the 400-peso mark ($20 USD). For the quality of the food that you’re getting, combined with the attentive service, I would say that’s definitely worth it.
5. Oceans – Best Restaurant In Isla Mujeres For Groups
If you’re looking to eat somewhere near the main street and you have a big group of people, Oceans is a very good choice. The restaurant is one of the larger restaurants on Avenida Miguel Hidalgo, and you can’t miss it. It’s right across from Lola Valentina as well.
During dinner time, they often have live music. This can be in the form of a band or a saxophone player. Personally, I prefer the saxophone, but if you’re not sitting directly next to the band, that also creates a very chill vibe.
One of the reasons why this is one of the best restaurants in Isla Mujeres for big groups is that their menu offers the basics done well. We’re talking chicken fajitas, seafood nachos, parsley pesto penne, and even a vegan pizza with vegan cheese. This means that almost anyone will find a dish here that they can enjoy. Most dishes are priced between 250 and 400 pesos ($12.5 – 20 USD), which is similar to Lola Valentina’s pricing.
On top of that, their mixology selection is solid as well, with a Mexican negroni, Ocean’s sour, and exotic new cocktails such as flor de jamaica (vodka, vermouth rosso, and hibiscus flower syrup). Most of these cocktails are priced at 230 pesos ($11.5 USD), which isn’t cheap but also definitely not a rip-off.
6. Javi’s Cantina – A Great Blend Of Mexican Food And Live Music
Now, this is a gem that you won’t find on many other travel blogs. That’s because Javi’s isn’t directly located on the main street, and from the outside, it really doesn’t look that appealing. However, if you walk past the entrance, you’ll find the have a fantastic indoor patio with a bar area and fantastic live music.
I only ate here once, with a group of friends who had discovered the restaurant before. The service here is fantastic, and the same can be said about the food. They mainly serve interesting twists of Mexican dishes. We’re talking Parmesan chicken, tuna tartar, shrimp ceviche, stuffed mushrooms, and vegetarian tacos. In my opinion, Javi’s Cantina is definitely one of the best Mexican restaurants in Isla Mujeres.
Prices range from 350 pesos ($17.5 USD) for beef tacos to 640 ($32 USD) for filet mignon with black pepper sauce. Most of the dishes are below 500 pesos ($25 USD), though definitely not for the budget travellers, but a fantastic choice if you’re looking for authentic Mexican food.
7. Limon – The Best Restaurant For Expensive Seafood
Limon is one of the better seafood restaurants in the south of the island. The restaurant is managed by Sergio Martinez, who has been cooking and grilling here since 2012.
On the outside, the restaurant doesn’t seem like it’s going to be much; there are some small palm trees in pots and a grey sliding door through which you enter. However, once inside, you’ll notice the interior is very quaint and cozy; we’re talking black chairs, red walls, and wooden accents.
Sergio is known for his seafood; the lobster and coconut shrimp are favorites of many guests, but there’s also ribeye, hibiscus flower tacos, or gnocchi if you’re in the mood for something different.
One thing to note about Limon is that it’s not a place where you should go if you’re on a budget. Main courses start at 310 pesos ($15.5 USD, pasta pesto) and go all the way to 900 pesos ($45 USD, filet mignon with four chilli sauce). This is the only point of criticism that I have read about Limon, that sometimes guests don’t feel the food quite lives up to the price. However, let it be said that those voices are the minority.
Read my complete Limon restaurant review here.
8. Fuego De Mar – Best Restaurant For Wine Lovers
Talking about seafood restaurants, we can’t miss out on Fuego de Mar. Located further south on the island, right next to the laguna, you’ll find probably the most creative seafood dishes on Isla Mujeres. Warm bread with roasted eggplant spread as an appetizer, followed by a piece of seared tuna and a lime ice cream dessert, that’s just a selection of what’s on the menu.
Price-wise, expect to pay between 300 and 650 pesos ($15 to 32.50 USD) for a main course.
When we look at the drinks menu, we see that this is one of the only restaurants on the island that offers a selection of red and white wines. Expect to pay around 200 pesos ($10 USD) for a glass and 600 to 1000 pesos ($30 to 50 USD) for a bottle, which are common prices for wine on the island.
9. Rusticco – Simple Mexican Food Well Done
Rusticco hasn’t been around for a long time; they opened their doors in December of 2023, and they’ve quickly gained a reputation as a solid restaurant on the main street.
What they do very well is combine a cozy atmosphere with classic Mexican dishes and reasonable prices. Lola Valentina and Oceans are located almost right next to it, but compared to those restaurants, Rusticco won’t leave you with a bill that’s one of the highest on the island.
In terms of food, Rusticco has a wide selection of tacos (lobster, arrachera, baja style, ribeye, chicken, and vegan). The same can be said about the burritos, fajitas, burgers, salads, and sandwiches that are part of the menu as well. Most of these are priced between 220 and 350 pesos ($11 to 17.5 USD), with lobster tacos being the only exception at 440 pesos ($22 USD)
10. Bastos Grill – The Most Local Experience
If you’re looking for a more authentic experience, Bastos Grill is the place to be. This restaurant, located in La Gloria in the middle part of the island, features plastic menus in Spanish, simple wooden chairs and tables, and authentic Mexican food that well over 500 people on Google Maps say is delicious.
One of the great things about this restaurant is that they serve free nachos with dips with your meal as an appetizer. On top of that, portion sizes are plentiful, and options are endless. There are tacos, enchiladas, fajitas, burritos, huaraches, sopes, quesadillas, and much more.
One of the great things about this restaurant is that it’s not located near tourist hotspots, and it’s family-owned. That means prices are low and you’ll find many dishes below 200 pesos ($10 USD). Definitely a spot to put on your list if you’re looking for something more local!
11. Oscars Grill – The Only Restaurant With American-Style Pizza
Oscar’s serves a mix of Mexican, American, and Italian foods. We got tacos, fajitas, burritos, seafood dishes, and enchiladas on the Mexican side, hamburgers and New York-style pizza on the American side, and a variety of pastas on the Italian side.
On the island, Oscars is mainly known for its pizza. That’s also how the restaurant started back in the day. At the time of writing, we live in the neighbourhood that’s right next to Oscar. So, whenever we feel like having pizza and not going to the northern part of the island, we’ll head to Oscars.
They serve two kinds of pizzas: New York Delgada (thin crust) and Siciliana Cuadrada Gruesa, which is a deep-dish pizza. In my humble opinion, the pizzas are gigantic. Both my girlfriend and I can easily eat a full Italian-style pizza. However, at Oscars, we typically just share a pizza because it’s so much. We also go for the thin-crust pizza, because the deep-dish ones are even bigger.
The pizzas are very good for a New York-style pizza. Personally, I prefer Italian-style pizzas with a way thinner crust, but in terms of this style, Oscars is the only place on the island that delivers it. I’m guessing that’s also one of the reasons why it’s so popular with the North-American tourist that mainly visit here.
Other reasons Oscars is a popular place, it has a very easy-going vibe, and the prices are extremely reasonable for the amount of food you get. We’re talking 190 – 300 pesos ($9.5 – 15 USD) per pizza and 60 pesos ($3 USD) for a beer.
Read my complete Oscars Grill review here.
12. Isla Burger – The Best Burgers On Isla Mujeres
I’ve eaten at Isla Burger probably more than 15 times over the past few years. That’s because it’s a very easy-going place, their prices are reasonable, and their burgers are delicious.
Isla Burger is the only dedicated burger spot on the island (that I know of). It’s good to know that it’s quite a small place. They operate out of a building near the main street. Their downstairs floor is the kitchen, so you have to take a few stairs to their rooftop terrace and/or their small indoor area. Overall, I would say they have space for up to 20 people.
In terms of appetizers, I’ve had their guacamole and their fried pickles. Their fried pickles are an absolute banger. Highly recommend those.
In terms of burgers, I only eat the vegan burger, but it’s a top-notch vegan burger. Friends who I have gone with have also had the Isla Classic (a beef burger), the Classic Chicken Sandwich, and the Fiesta Burger. Never has anyone said they didn’t like the burger.
In terms of prices, they charge 230 to 270 pesos ($11.5 – 13.5 USD) for a burger. That’s not the cheapest option on the island, but it’s also not extremely out of budget for most people. Overall, highly recommend if you’re done with having burritos and tacos!
