12 Best Restaurants in Bacalar Mexico in 2025
Looking for the best restaurants in Bacalar Mexico? You’ve come to the right place!
As a travel blogger that has spent many years living in nearby Playa del Carmen, I’ve been to Bacalar many times and can help you plan your trip.
Though it’s a small town, Bacalar actually has an incredible culinary scene with a great mix of Mexican and international restaurants.
In this post, I’m sharing my top picks for the best restaurants in Bacalar, both in town and on the lagoon.
So whether you’re looking for breakfast restaurants, casual lunch spots, or upscale dining, I’ve got you covered!
Ready to find out where to eat in Bacalar? Let’s get started!
Best Restaurants in Bacalar Mexico
Aside from being known as the Maldives of Mexico, the magic town of Bacalar has an up-and-coming culinary scene with a great variety of delicious and inventive restaurants.
Here are the best restaurants Bacalar has to offer:
1. Mango y Chile
- 📍 Location: Av. 3 Fuerte San Felipe, entre Calle 22 y Calle 24
- 🕒 Hours: Daily from 9AM-9:30PM (Closed Tuesdays)
If you’re looking for a delicious vegan restaurant with a great view, head to Mango Y Chile.
This restaurant is located adjacent to the San Felipe Fort in the center of Bacalar, and offers stunning views of the lagoon from its terrace seating area.
All of the menu items at Mango Y Chile are vegan, including waffles, burgers, hot dogs, smoothies, and fruit dishes.
It’s a great restaurant for breakfast, lunch, or remote working. You’ll even get to dine next to a cannon on the outdoor terrace!
2. El Manati
- 📍 Location: Calle 22 116, Bacalar, Quintana Roo
- 🕒 Hours: Daily from 8:30AM-3PM
El Manati is the perfect place to enjoy a delicious traditional American or Mexican breakfast while surrounded by beautiful artwork from local artists.
The restaurant sources its ingredients fresh and locally, so you can be sure you’re getting the best of what the area has to offer.
Plus, the beautiful garden setting is simply lovely and there’s even a gift shop selling unique local products.
Whether you’re looking for a unique dining experience or just a great place to enjoy a good breakfast, El Manati Bacalar is definitely worth checking out.
3. Enamora
- 📍 Location: Calle 18
- 🕒 Hours: Daily from 7:30AM-6PM
With its brightly colored outdoor seating area, Enamora Bacalar definitely draws a crowd and is one of the best breakfast restaurants in Bacalar.
Menu options include omelets, egg dishes, tartines, french toast, cinnamon rolls, and fresh fruit salads. And for a taste of Mexico, try the chilaquiles!
Plus, the restaurant’s cute picnic table seating and live music gives it a great atmosphere and makes it a good place to start your day.
4. Ixchel
- 📍 Location: Calle 26, Avenida 3 y 5
- 🕒 Hours: Daily from 8AM-2PM (Closed Mondays)
Ixchel is a great little spot for breakfast in Bacalar. The restaurant gets its name from Ixchel, the Mayan goddess of love and fertility.
The menu features Mexican food classics like chilaquiles and egg dishes. And for some breakfast fun, try their house special–Oreo pancakes!
But what I really love about this place is the relaxed vibe which makes you feel right at home in this Bacalar town restaurant.
It’s the best place to start your day while enjoying some delicious food.
5. Yerbabuena
- 📍 Location: Calle 28 Entre Avenidas 3 y 5
- 🕒 Hours: Daily from 8AM-4PM
If you’re looking for a delicious and healthy breakfast or lunch option in Bacalar, be sure to check out Yerbabuena.
This colorful cafe and juice bar serves up coffee, smoothies, and agua fresca, as well as some mouthwatering food items like pancakes, sandwiches, salads, and poke bowls.
And the best part? You can enjoy your meal while swinging on one of their cute wooden swings!
6. Mi Burrito Bacalar
- 📍 Location: Avenida Costera entre Calle 16 y Calle 18
- 🕒 Hours: Daily from 12PM-9PM (Closed Wednesdays)
Looking for a delicious, quick, and affordable meal in Bacalar? Look no further than Mi Burrito!
This colorful food truck offers a variety of different burritos, all packed with fresh and flavorful ingredients.
Whether you’re in the mood for a meaty burrito or something lighter and veggie-packed, Mi Burrito has got you covered. Burrito options include meat, Spanish sausage, shrimp, chicken, eggs, veggies, and more.
Plus, at less than $10 dollars per burrito, the good prices won’t break the bank. If you’re looking for a casual yet tasty fast food meal in Bacalar, be sure to swing by Mi Burrito!
7. La Playita
- 📍 Location: Avenida 1 765 (Costera, Calle 26 Esquina)
- 🕒 Hours: Mon-Sat from 12PM-11PM, Sun 9AM-11PM
La Playita is a great spot for lunch or dinner if you want to dine directly on Bacalar lagoon.
This popular Bacalar restaurant is located right on the lagoon and has a laid-back lakefront terrace with jungle plants and hammocks–creating a great outdoor ambiance.
The menu offers a variety of good food options including tacos, empanadas, burgers, and flatbreads, so there’s something for everyone to enjoy.
8. Finisterre
- 📍 Location: Avenida 3 entre Calle 24 y Calle 26, Lote 16
- 🕒 Hours: Daily from 8AM-11PM
If you’re in the mood for some delicious pizza or pasta after a day exploring Bacalar Lake, head to Finisterre–one of my absolute favorite restaurants in Bacalar!
This upscale Italian restaurant has a beautiful second level open-air patio overlooking the water, and serves up some of the best food in Bacalar with its brick oven pizza, pasta, and Mediterranean cuisine. The lasagna is especially delicious!
Don’t forget to order a glass (or bottle) of wine to enjoy with your meal–it’s the perfect way to relax and watch the sunset over the lagoon after a day of adventurous activities in Bacalar.
9. Waah Cocina
- 📍 Location: Avenida 1 entre Calle 14 y 16
- 🕒 Hours: Daily from 8AM-10:30PM
Located at the Makaaba Eco-Boutique Hotel, Waah Cocina is one of the best farm to table restaurants in Bacalar.
Offering a complimentary breakfast for hotel guests, the restaurant is also a popular dinner restaurant in Bacalar.
The Waah Cocina menu features creative and affordable dishes made with fresh, local ingredients like tamales, ceviche, pumpkin, lamb, beef tongue quesadillas, and a tasty jamaica (hibiscus) dessert.
You’ll also be able to enjoy your meal poolside next to the hotel’s trendy and completely eco-friendly outdoor pool and garden.
10. Nao Restaurant Bacalar
- 📍 Location: Avenida 1 27
- 🕒 Hours: Daily from 8AM-11PM
Nao Bacalar is a lovely Japanese restaurant located right on Lake Bacalar. The setting is perfect for enjoying a quiet, romantic meal or an evening out with friends.
The outdoor terrace seating is an especially nice place, as you can enjoy the beautiful view of the lagoon while sipping on mezcal cocktails and tasting delicious sushi dishes.
The service here is friendly and efficient, and the dishes are beautifully presented with fresh flowers. If you’re looking for a truly special dining experience in Bacalar, be sure to check out Nao!
11. Nixtamal
- 📍 Location: Av 5 esquina Calle 12
- 🕒 Hours: Daily from 12PM-10:30PM
For an upscale dining experience in Bacalar, head to Nixtamal, which is only open for lunch and dinner.
This higher end restaurant serves a variety of creative dishes including seafood, fresh fish, steaks, and ribeye dishes. You won’t be disappointed with the restaurant’s beautifully presented dishes.
Plus, Nixtamal’s outdoor jungle setting is very trendy with unique overhead light fixtures and a heart-shaped structure made out of wood–giving off a very warm and romantic ambiance.
12. La Cabañita Grill & Cantina
- 📍 Location: Avenida 5 entre 26 y 28
- 🕒 Hours: Daily from 8AM-11PM
Open for all day dining, La Cabañita Grill & Cantina offers a delicious and slightly more upscale dining experience in Bacalar.
The tacos here are tasty, and the octopus, salmon, and catch of the day dishes are all definitely worth trying. And you can even order fresh guacamole prepared right at your table.
But one of the best things about La Cabañita is its creative food presentation and mezcal tasting.
Plus, the complimentary appetizer of colored tortillas hanging on a clothespin line is a fun and unique way to start your meal.
Bacalar Best Restaurants: FAQs
Here are the answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about Bacalar food and drink:
The most popular restaurants in Bacalar are La Playita, Mango y Chile, El Manati, and Finisterre.
Start your day in Bacalar at a breakfast restaurant like El Manati. Then hang out on the lagoon at a waterfront restaurant such as Los Aluxes. Finish the day by having dinner and drinks overlooking the lagoon at Finisterre.
No, Bacalar is not touristy. While tourism is growing, Bacalar is still worth visiting and it is no where near the nearby tourist towns of Playa del Carmen, Cancun, or Tulum.
Bacalar is very safe and walkable if you stay in the town center. If you choose to stay on the lagoon further away from the town center, it’s best to have a rental car to get around.
Conclusion: Best Bacalar Mexico Restaurants
Are you ready to try out some of these amazing restaurants in Bacalar Mexico? I hope this Bacalar restaurant guide was helpful in discovering the best places to eat in Bacalar.
While many Bacalar hotels offer free breakfast, be sure to venture out and check out some of these incredible restaurants for breakfast, lunch, dinner, or drinks.
And with Bacalar being a small town, most of these restaurants will be within easy walking distance of where you’re staying.
A truly special place on Mexico’s Yucatan peninsula, Bacalar is one of my favorite places in all of Mexico and the food scene there does not disappoint! Provecho!
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