Eating out in Akumal, Mexico

Imelda in her kitchen

Dining out, and doing it well, is a breeze in Akumal, Mexico. In fact, it’s hard to find a bad meal in this small resort town on the Mayan Riviera. Pretty much all the restaurants have ambiance to spare - half are on the beach, many more in garden settings. The service is friendly and the prices range from bargain to moderate.

The first three restaurants on my list are in Akumal North within walking distance of the condominiums that ring Half Moon Bay. The other three at Akumal Beach are a five-minute taxi ride away (C$7).

La Lunita before and after dark

1. La Lunita, a beachfront restaurant on Half Moon Bay, is where you can dine on soft-shelled crab while hermit crabs nibble at your toes. If you’d rather not share, stay off the sand and pick a table under the roofed terrace. La Lunita has excellent modern Mexican and Mediterranean food, a decent wine list and attentive traditionally-trained servers. This is where you go for a romantic, lantern-lit special occasion dinner under the stars. If you want to dine late, be sure to reserve - the place fills up.

Crab, snapper brochetas and dessert!

The soft-shelled crab wrapped in lettuce leaves was perfection. The snapper brochetas may have spent a minute too long on the grill but they were beautifully presented on oriental noodles tossed with julienned vegetables and infused with bright and lively Thai flavours. The steak is a disappointment both in presentation and flavour.

 2. Que Onda is in a lush garden carved out of the jungle in a quiet neighbourhood at the north end of Half-Moon Bay. We spent a three Margarita afternoon there taking shelter from a gale and torrential rain that surprised us on an afternoon walk.

Que Onda

We’ve had the best tacos and cervezas at Que Onda for lunch after snorkeling at the nearby Yal-Ku lagoon and we’ve sampled the Italian-influenced main courses at dinner. Home-made pastas with a wide variety of sauces courtesy of its Italian owner, fish of the day (grouper on our last visit), shrimp, calamari, salads, grilled meats are all on the menu.

3. La Buena Vida, deservedly the best known Half Moon Bay eatery, has a beach club vibe. It’s where where you go for FUN. Interesting cocktails (including a perfect traditional Margarita), lots of appetizers and small meals for afternoon noshing as well as full lunch and dinner menus. Yucatan’s famous lime soup with shredded chicken, tortilla strips, tomatoes and lime is a sure cure for winter.

Lime soup!

You’ll find swings around the bar at La Buena Vida, hammocks, rustic tables, Muskoka-style chairs on the sand under the palm trees,  multi-level patios and roof top tables. And yes you can swim off the (rocky) beach or in the pool. Across the street half dozen tourist shops sell jewelry, t-shirts, brightly coloured blankets and pottery.

4. Turtle Bay Cafe and Bakery in Akumal Beach makes a fabulous - the best anywhere - pina colada. Don’t miss it even if you don’t normally imbibe girly cocktails. This fresh coconut and pineapple concoction is better than dessert. Maybe even better than chocolate. The shrimp tacos are brilliant and the ahi tuna’s usually OK. There’s baked goods and homemade ice cream, too.

Turtle Bay Cafe

5. Lol-Ha restaurant and bar occupies a prime stretch of Akumal’s public beach. Hop on a stool, order a Dos Equis and feast on the million dollar view. Fishing boats anchor just offshore from the palm tree-lined beach where sea turtles return every year to lay their eggs. Visitors can swim in a restricted area with the turtles that are resident here but when it’s time for them to begin laying their eggs, the beach is closed to the public.
 

Lol-Ha view

6. Imelda’s Ecocina sits on the edge of the basketball court in Akumal. It’s patio dining under a thatch roof with typical Yucatan breakfast and lunch at modest prices. A cheerful place with a lovely vibe, you’ll likely to end up chatting with people at the next table - not unlike dropping by at a friend’s cottage. Perfect for brunch on your way to the nearby produce market that sets up Wednesdays and Saturdays by the Akumal souvenir market.

Happy to serve at Imelda's Ecocina!