PUERTO MORELOS

Puerto Morelos - the little gem of the Mayan Riviera!

Puerto Morelos provides the traveller with a glimpse of the real Mexico, fast disappearing from the Riviera Maya Coast, the only remaining colonial town on this part of the Caribbean coastline. The village charms you when you first arrive and never lets you go.

Its simple town square is a home for the Church, the taxi stand, the children's basketball games, beachfront restaurants serving margaritas, fishermen bringing in the daily reef catch and is a great place to promenade after the heat of the day. Festivals are held in the square, with stalls lit up and music playing well into the night on special occasions. The New York Times described it as... the 'Way Mexico Once Was'.

Puerto Morelos is only 15 minutes to the Cancun International Airport and stands between Cancun and Playa del Carmen, the start of the Mayan Riviera, providing a great jumping off point to all the attractions of the area. Naturally our beautiful white beaches are a drawing card for people of all ages. [see map]

The Great Mayan Reef —a National Maritime Park, is 5 minutes by boat from the beach with world-class snorkeling and diving and deep sea fishing. The world famous underground waterways, cenotes, are nearby and horse riding, bike riding, zip-lining and other activities are all available in the nearby jungle. Yes, the jungle. It is nearby and accessible.

Puerto Morelos manages to maintain a low-key residential community with a mixture of colourful expats and locals living harmoniously. Either side of the town are large '3 - 5 star' all all-inclusive resorts that have little impact on the peace of the town which is only three streets wide being bounded by wide, white, sand coral beaches and the natural reserves of the mangrove and many, many birds.

Puerto Morelos started as a centre for export of timber and chicle and is now a town of close to 15,000 inhabitants mostly dependant on tourism and who do all they can to keep this little gem of a place as charming and authentic as was before... today.

WHERE TO EAT IN PUERTO MORELOS:

AKA the Foodie Insider Guide to Puerto Morelos.

There's lots to explore when it comes to authentic Mexican food plus some tasty international options in Puerto Morelos - from fine dining to 'authentico' roadside carts. Seafood is an obvious specialty. Most of the restaurants serve fish and seafood that is caught daily and brought in off the pier at the town square.

Here are some of the restaurants in town with a wee description. They're listed by location based on the center of town - the square. A few photos are provided to show you what you are looking for when you get here! (Photos © Catriona Brown)

On the Town Square

Café de Amancia

On the south side of the square, kitty corner from the church. Espresso coffee and light fresh meals with internet available. Open early until late. Closes in the afternoon for siesta.
Closed Tuesdays

Doña Triny's

On the south side of the town square. Mexican food, local specialties. Lunch and dinner. Closed Wednesdays

L' Oazis

On the south side of the town square. Wide variety of choices. Dinner only. Closed Mondays

The Ice Cream Place

In the middle of the south side of the square. Lots of varieties of ice cream in the cone or by weight to take home

David Lau's

On the south side of the square. Asian food & Italian specialties, pizza, spaghetti. Weekdays 5-10 / Weekends 3-10. Closed Wednesdays

Hola Asia

On the square, south side near the beach. Asian food, lunch-time buffet. Chinese, Thai and Sushi. Good and cheap. Opens daily at 3pm, Sundays at 1pm.
Closed Tuesdays

El Tio

Opens very early and closes late.
Across from the lighthouse, just around the north corner of the square. Mexican hole in the wall, inexpensive meals and take away.
Open all day and most of the night.
Never seems to close.

El Pirata

On the north side of the square on the corner near the police station. Wide varied menu. Open all day every day.

Los Gauchos

Across from the church on the south side.
Varied menu, pizza, homemade pasta, empanadas. Inexpensive.
Dinner only. Closed Mondays

Pelicanos

On the beach, just around the south corner of the square.
Mexican seafood, full bar, popular with visitors.
Open all day every day.

La Terraza

On the north side of the square upstairs.
Vegetarian choices. Healthy, light Mexican food. Much is homemade.
Open daily 7am-10pm.

La Casa del Pescador

On top of the fish co-op beside Terraza on the north side.
Seafood.
Open 10 -10 daily during high season

Restaurante El Faro

On top of the supermarket, near the dock.
Steaks, fish, fajitas, shrimp, soup and salad. Cold beer, great view of the square and the fishing pier activities.
Open daily. Closed Wednesdays

El Michoacan Ice cream

Along the beach, just south of the square
An ice cream store with an amazing variety of real fruit ice creams, in the little mall next to the supermarket.

Los Palmeros

On the ocean, half a block south of the square.
Mexican seafood.
Open for lunch and dinner daily

La Panza Es Primero

In what used to be Paradise Pier, south of the square, very cold beer and cocktails has fun, cartoon Mexican sports bar atmosphere.
Great deck and view of the ocean, beautiful timber floors and palapa.

Cayote Apache in Hotel Carmen Hacienda

1 long block south of the square on the beach in what was Hacienda Morelos, about Mixed variety of food to suit tourists, hotel and restaurant now managed by Carmen Inns. Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

El Gato Azul

Nearby the Carmen Hacienda, across the street in front of the kindergarten. Cute café. Variety of breakfast and lunch dishes, crepes, sandwiches and fruit. Homemade specialities, cakes, delicious hot and cold drinks. Single bedroom Studio for rent in the back of the café.
Closed Thursdays.

La Suegra (de John Gray)

On the beach just north of the square.
Breakfast & lunch favourites and gourmet. Not cheap but a great location.
Open for breakfast and lunch. All you can eat on Sundays with a barbecue.

La Petita

On the road near the lighthouse.
Fish & Lobster - great fried fish and cold beers.
Fisherman hang-out, muy autentico!
Open daily
North of the Square on Ninos Heroes Road

John Gray's Kitchen

(one of our guest celebrity chefs)
1 block north of the square on Ninos Heroes opposite Hotel Inglaterra.
Fine dining, international cuisine. Reservations recommended, no credit cards.
Dinner only, high season. Closed Sundays

Loncheria Mimi

About 1 block north of the square on Ninos Heroes.
Local food (cocina economica)
Open all day

The Biergarten

Adjacent John Grays, this indoor outdoor venue is casual dining with a German menu and cheap beer, Schnitzels, pasta, fish, very reasonable. Closed Monday

The Little Fish Place

Next to the tortilleria in Ninos Heroes - local seafood basics - fried fish fresh cheap
North of the square, along the main road (Rojo Gomez)

Juicy Rosy's Juice Bar

One half block north of the square on Rojo Gomez (main road).
Breakfast, lunch, juices & smoothies.
Lunch & dinner daily

Pizza and Love

On Rojo Gomez next to the Police station
Open in the evenings

The Octopus

On Ninos Heroes they have fresh seafood tacos, cheap and good, every day. near Lonceria Mimi, opposite John Gray's

Mama's Bakery

Half block north of the square on Rojo Gomez.
North American-style baked goods and breakfast & lunch.
Breakfast and lunch. Closed Mondays

Don Pepe's Ole

One half block north of the square on Rojo Gomez (main road).
Mexican food and steaks, full bar.
Lunch and dinner daily

Pescayito's

North of the square, half a block opposite Habanero's.
Hole in the wall fun place with seafood tacos and other light meals. Very clean, cheap, and great attention, they also have the best Micheladas and Mojitos in town.
Closed Mondays

Cantina Habaneros

On Rojo Gomez. Full restaurant & Bar. Open daily with food and bar service at night (Live music sometimes). Home of a weekly 'Meet, Greet, & Eat' every Friday night, for Trip Advisor people and other visitors, often followed by live music. Open every day. If you zoom in close on the right hand side you will see Ed with his new baby.

Spaghettino

Reopening in November at a new location
Italian style food.
Dinner from November-ish. Closed Sundays

Ojo de Agua Restaurant

South of the square, along the main road (Rojo Gomez)
On the beach at Ojo de Agua Hotel. American, Mexican. Cancun visitors hang out. Breakfast, lunch and dinner daily.

Posada Amor

Just south of the square on Rojo Gomez.
The oldest restaurant in Puerto Morelos, has retained a loyal clientele for nearly 3 decades. Terrific Mexican and seafood dishes. Famous great Sunday brunch buffet. Open all day, every day.

Al Chimichurri

Across from Posada Amor on Rojo Gomez.
Empanadas, pizza, fresh pasta, meat.
Opens at 5:00. Closed Mondays

Bara Bara

A place where Martinis, caguamas, and good music join to give you a night of pure pleasure...
Opens daily at 8pm until very late: Fridays HOUSE Music, national and international DJ's, Saturday DANCE HALL, REGGAE, RAGGA, DRUM & BASS

Los Baleanoras

Just down from Bara Bara, local family run Argentinian speciailites, lots of barbecue, salads, pastas, good red wine, very reasonably priced
TUE-SUN 5.30pm- 11.30pm

The Little Empanada place

South of the town square opposite the Handicraft Market, local chap eatery has empanadas (7 pesos), salbuches etc. good for a cheap quick snack.
Open daily, day time

Cactuz

Just past the handicraft market on the other side. Reopens November
Argentinian food - big fat steaks with salad, mixed grill, also do vegetarian shashliks and other dishes including pastas and empanadas. Fun place with local artists exhibited on the walls, backyard and live music in high season. Open for lunch and dinner high season.

On the Beach, north

Ixchel Beach Bar

On the beach, near star wars condos.
You can lie on the beach under an umbrella or sit on a stool with your feet in the sand. Drinks & sandwiches. Sunday BBQ.
Open daily except Tuesday and during thunderstorms

South of town

La Marina

On the Marina at El Cid (open to the public) Seafood, view of the marina. Open daily - closed until first week November

In the Colonia

There are a lot of small restaurants and taco shops in the Colonia (west side of the highway) including these:

Valentina's

On the southbound lateral, just south of the highway intersection.
Mexican food, plus burritos and fajitas. No English spoken, but very friendly, clean and inexpensive.
Open daily

Pizza del Carmen

Just south of the highway intersection on the eastbound one-way road.
Pizza. 2 for 1 every Tuesday and Thursday - They deliver too
Open daily