Tulum is one of our favorite vacation spots for so many reasons – chill vibe, cool art scene, epic foodie destination, Cenotes, and more. The food scene here is vibrant, authentic and simply unforgettable. 

Here’s our top 6 Unforgettable Places To Eat in Tulum.

Let me just start with WOW. This will be the most unique restaurant you’ll ever eat at. Located up in the Nests of the Azulik resort, this property is just stunning.

If you’re going to dine here, plan early as reservations are required. If you want to get the famous Instagram photos with enough light out, book the first dinner setting at 6:00 and line up at 5:30.

We arrived about 30 minutes early and they separated the line into people with dinner reservations and guests trying to get upstairs for a cocktail and photos. Once it was time we walked up the stunning spiral staircase to the restaurant. Looking up you’ll notice the nets overhead. 

There are 3 sets of nets that you can climb out on to take photos. It’s a pretty epic spot. Ladies, be mindful of what you wear crawling out on the nets. We were sitting at dinner and 2 guys from France were waiting near our table to get onto one of the nets. A young lady was crawling out on the net for her boyfriend to take her photo. She had a skirt on with a thigh high slit. To get on the nets, she decided to turn her skirt around with the slit in the back. This was either a fatal mistake or she didn’t care. 

As I looked over at the guys waiting, the young lady was laying face down for her shot. This meant her butt was straight up in the air for everyone behind her to see. Julie and I had a great laugh with the guys from France. 

Back to dinner. Our server, Juan, was great. He gave us a great overview of the menu and what to expect. Since we were early, he snuck us up into the Nests. These are special seating areas above the main restaurant. With a view of the entire resort and looking out to the ocean, these are worth a look. 

For our first course, we had the fish tartar and venison tartare, poblano risotto and the roasted beets. All three were stunning visually and the taste was out of this world. 

For the main course, Julie had the beef tenderloin w/ mashed potatoes, seasonal mushrooms and epazote de arugula. I had the gulf shrimp with tumbabda rice, Bell pepper mojo, epazote, parsley, corriander and oregano with a mild pepper broth to pour over it. Both dishes were perfect and I would highly recommend them.

While stuffed, we couldn’t pass up dessert. We chose a chocolate cake with a vanilla creme and pavlova slices with a caramel sauce poured over. It was way too much food, and was totally awesome. 

Kitchen Table Tulum is a small and intimate setting featuring an open and utility free kitchen. They cook everything over a wood fire, no gas or electric grills. Everything is fresh and chilled in coolers up on the kitchen stage when you arrive. 

It’s walkable from PPP and Azulik, but it’s a crazy walk. There’s no sidewalk, very little shoulder area and the drivers are a bit crazy. We laughed the whole way down. Coming back was a little sketch since it was dark. I would grab a cab if you’re staying on the north end of the beach. If you’ve got a rental car, don’t drive here. Parking is really limited. They take reservations at least a week in advance. They take cash, credit cards and crypto. 

Shortly after being seated we were greeted with a great cocktail menu. We tried the Leyla, Picollins, Diablito, and Pina Pop. To go with your cocktails definitely order the Jungle Sourdough. It comes with a lima bean and roasted pepita spread and a side of lime butter that is sumptuous. 

For dinner Julieordered the pork belly served with purslane, fresh oregano and pasilla sauce. Usually I get to eat half of Julie’s meals. This one I only got a couple of bites of it was that good. I had the catch of the day which was halibut with a beer tartar, greens and roasted pepitas. The skin was a little tough because of the fire cooking method but the flavor and texture were just perfect. 

For dessert we had the salted caramel, and the cocoa bread. The salted caramel was rich and to die for served in a mason jar. The cocoa bread was good and not overly sweet served with a melted vanilla cream sauce and pavlova slices on top.

Hartwood Tulum is probably one of the most popular restaurants in Tulum. Make reservations early for this ultra popular spot. They open reservations 30 days out and you have to email them. They are cash only so be prepared. 

The menu changes based on what’s available each day. It’s about as fresh as it gets. The menus are on large chalkboards throughout the restaurant. They are all in spanish, but don’t worry your server will explain every detail. Be sure to pay attention because there’s a lot of detail in their menu. 

Julie started with the enslada de jicama which is a jicama salad with an avocado sauce and dabs of roasted beet puree. I started with the tostada de pescado, tartar of fresh fish and corn in a fresh lime sauce over a fired roasted corn tortilla. Both were fresh and full of flavor.

For our main we both had the arrachera angus which was a fire roasted flank steak. Don’t expect the flank steak to be what you expect that type of cut to be. This was much closer to tri tip (for you west coast meat eaters). The simple salt and herb crust combined with a slow roast over fire made this just perfect. 

We passed on dessert this time. We were stuffed and the selections weren’t inspiring to over eat.

Wild Tulum is a fusion of traditional mayan craftsmanship with rustic elements alongside modern elegant and abstract influences. The restaurant is a truly unique design concept influenced by the surrounding Mexican Caribbean landscape. WILD’s atmosphere is seductive and serene with copal incense adding to the ambiance and the etherealness, tables are set under the canopy of the concrete jungle showcasing an internationally inspired cuisine with a Mexican twist.  

WILD features a farm to table  international menu with a Mexican twist using fresh produce and ingredients from local producers, featuring a variety of meats, seafood, and local vegetables cooked with a wood fire oven and grill.

Photos courtesy of Wild Tulum.

The last luxury place to stay on our list is definitely not the least. It is dubbed as one of the original places in Tulum Beach, and offers a “magical setting for an authentic experience elevated by original architecture and exceptional service, in an intimate native beach setting.” One of the best things about this luxury place is that it has kept the minimalist design and culture originally inspired by the area before it was discovered as a tourist destination. 

NEST has a total of 12 guest rooms and a private villa, each comes with features that would make your entire stay stress free. They also have several restaurants and bars offering Mexican fusion and unique Mexican spirits, wines, and custom drinks. 

Complete your Mayan experience with ceremonies and classes that are all inspired by the place’s rich history. 

Have a romantic escape at NEST and enjoy sunsets, food, adn booze with your loved one in this resort. It is going to be worth it, and you know it.

Photos courtesy of Mateo’s Tulum.

Ready for the best smoothie of your life? Matcha Mama’s is your place. Located at the southern end of Tulum, this is another top Instagram spot. Everything on the menu is fresh. Get here early if you want to get your IG photo. The place is packed late in the day.