As I was visiting this beautiful Mexican island with my sister and her friends for their 30th birthdays, we splashed out by visiting some amazing Isla Holbox restaurants… Until we realized how much money we were spending, then we found some cheaper places to eat in Holbox, too.
To summarize, we discovered restaurants for a range of budgets from cheap street food to fancy restaurants with luxe ingredients and creative cocktails. I also sniffed out some of the best brunch and coffee on the island because, well, that’s basically my special skill in life!
Read next: the best things to do in Holbox, Mexico
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Best restaurants in Holbox, Mexico
I’m going to start with some Holbox food awards, listing the best place to eat for different categories. Then, I’ll mention some of my other general favorite restaurants in Holbox and, finally, list all the cheap places to eat for those traveling on a budget.
Best Isla Holbox restaurant for a fancy meal – Mandarina Seaside
Mandarina Seaside is part of the boutique hotel, Casa las Tortugas, located right on the beach. We had a fabulous meal out on the sand that blended Mexican and Italian food perfectly, with lots of fresh seafood to boot.
I had a seabass tostada followed by lobster spaghetti. Both were delicious! Although we were stuffed, the desserts looked decadent, too. We spent around 1,100 pesos ($60) on a main, starter, and drink per person. It may be one of the more expensive restaurants on Holbox but I would say it’s worth it, especially since it’s so cozy and romantic with the beach area strung with fairy lights.
The drinks are unusual and creative like the peanut colada cocktail. It’s not something I’d think to order but, after trying my friends and realizing how good it was, I ordered my own.
It looks like their brunch and lunch dishes are also well-presented and delicious. Apparently, you can do a beach club day here with a minimum spend of 500 pesos. Since we spent double this on our dinner and drinks, it seems like great value to also get a beach club day out of it… However, the highlight is the romantic evening setting so I think it’s the perfect dinner restaurant on Holbox!
Best restaurant in Holbox for vegans – Arte Sano
The first place we ate in Holbox after getting off the ferry and freshening up was Arte Sano. In our party, we had a couple of vegans and veggies as well as meat-eaters but we all really enjoyed this restaurant. It’s a cute place in a garden area with fairy lights, plants, and statues like this friendly dog.
Although they have a varied menu, we all ended up ordering hearty veggie burgers… I think because we were starving after our long travel day! Burger options to choose from include the Tropical Burger topped with pineapple, the Mexican Burger made with nopal and peanut, and the Reina Roja patty with a hibiscus flower patty, topped with red pepper, apple, purple cabbage, and blueberries.
Each type of burger has a different patty but most are made with veggies, chickpeas, or beans rather than the fake meat patties that are popular these days. All the burgers are massive and come with fries and salad.
Other dishes on the menu include enchiladas, quesadillas, tacos, and tostadas. For brunch and lunch, opt for Mexican and Western classics like chilaquiles and smoothie bowls. Most dishes cost between 150 and 200 pesos.
They also do great margaritas and other cocktails.
Best seafood restaurant in Holbox – Viva Zapata
Viva Zapata is a fantastic place for a fresh seafood dinner. They serve lobster in several ways: fresh off the grill, in medallions, or with pasta. They also do a delectable seafood platter for 1000 pesos ($50) with fish, shrimp, crab, clams, and octopus. If you’re a pair or small group who like seafood, look no further!
Viva Zapata is also a good place to eat in Holbox if not all your party are seafood fans because it has a balanced surf-n-turf menu also featuring steaks and Argentinian sausage, or you can opt for the land and sea platter with both meat and fish. Wash it all down with a margarita (my advice for eating literally any piece of food!).
Best brunch cafes in Holbox – Painapol
You won’t read a guide about food in Holbox that doesn’t mention Painapol! You can’t deny the impressive aesthetic of the food. I don’t think I’ve ever seen more impressive smoothie bowls… and I’ve been to Bali!
Unlike some smoothie bowls which are more style than substance, these bowls actually filled me up because there’s essentially an entire fruit platter on top that can only be described as a work of art!
Although the smoothie bowls are the most popular dish due to their ‘grammable nature, the other breakfast dishes are delicious, too. This avocado and egg toast with a side of bacon and salad was divine! Everything is so fresh and colorful.
Tip – Painapol is the most famous brunch restaurant in Isla Holbox and get’s very busy. Go early or be prepared to stand in line. Either way, it’s worth it!
Best sandwich – focaccia at Juice Corner
During our stay on Holbox, my travel buddies and I became obsessed with the focaccias at Juice Corner, a colorful shack at the modern food market on the main street. It’s more of a hipster food court aimed at tourists (for authentic Mexican street food, I have a few suggestions coming up) with stands selling everything from Chinese food to falafel.
Juice Corner serve juice (obvs!), smoothies, bowls including smoothie bowls and healthy Buddha bowls, plus topped toast and their famous focaccia sandwiches. We loved the Serrano ham one with cheese and salad. In fact, we loved it so much that we came thisssss close to missing our prepaid ferry to the mainland because we were determined to have it one last time!
Best taco restaurant – Taco Queto
If you’re craving tacos, this is easily one of the best restaurants in Isla Holbox. Taco Queto is a popular local joint to try tacos, burritos, nachos, and all the rest. Tacos are certainly authentic Mexican food while other dishes like nachos are more Texmex (but still tasty). If it’s authenticity you’re after, ask for corn tacos rather than wheat. They do both.
This was once a casual taco stand on the street but, over the last 15 years, it’s expanded to a restaurant with lots of seating for its many customers.
Best pizza on Holbox – Roots
Roots Pizzas a la leña is the best place for a pizza on Holbox, not just because of the perfect crispy, wood-fired bases or the wide variety of luxe toppings but the undeniable draw of lobster pizza!!
There are a couple of Isla Holbox restaurants that serve this delicacy and apparently, it was actually Pizzeria Edelyn that invented it. However, it’s now widely agreed that Roots do the best lobster pizza on the island.
The lobster pizza is 749 pesos, undeniably pricey for a pizza but a decent price for lobster!
If you’d rather skip the seafood and just have an amazing pizza, there are other topping combos from 220 pesos. They’re all named after regions of Mexico but you’ll recognize classic combos, for example the Nayarita with pineapple and ham (that divisive combo!). Alternatively, try an unusual one like the Yucateca with cochinita pibil and frijoles or the Poblana with mole (a typical food from Puebla city).
More eats on Holbox
Now I’ve listed my top favorites for brunch, pizza, seafood, tacos, and fine dining, let’s delve into a few of the other best restaurants in Holbox…
El Chapulim – fine dining
For upmarket dining on Holbox, there are few places better than El Chapulim. Unlike most restaurants where you order from the menu (or, if you’re me, read it online during the day to prepare in advance what I want to eat that night!), it has a unique concept: the chef, Erik Winckelmann, greets you and shares what he’s cooking that night.
You do have to be a fairly flexible eater for this type of dining experience, but luckily there are usually 4 options to choose from. At least two are generally seafood. Most dishes cost around 300-400 pesos.
The ambient, colorful restaurant doesn’t have a fine-dining look but it certainly does have character. You’ll notice lots of grasshopper details relating to the restaurant’s name El Chapulim.
Clandestino Coffee Shop
Isla Holbox has lots of good coffee shops but there’s no competition as to which is the best! Clandestino Coffee Shop steals the show when it comes to amazing third-wave coffee, baked goods, and brunch dishes. No, there’s nothing very ‘Mexican’ about it but, hey, sometimes you just want avo toast and a cappuccino, am I right?!
Everything’s homemade from the bagels to the fruity parfait and delicious desserts like pecan pie. For coffee fans, they do all your espresso-based beverages like lattes and cappuccinos, plus matcha and chai drinks. You can’t beat it!
They have another cafe close to the beach called Another Clandestino. You can’t go wrong with either.
Alta Gula
One of the most visually pleasing restaurants in Holbox is Atla Gula with cool street art on its exterior wall. Get your ‘grammable photos here, and the best Argentian food inside!
Argentinian classics are on the menu like empanadas, arepas, and milanesa. Everything is huge and delicious, plus surprisingly bright and colorful (topped with colorful salad) for food that’s predominantly fried!
Although Argentinian food isn’t known for being super veggie friendly, there are a few tasty options like mushroom empanadas.
Barba Negra – tacos and cocktails
We stumbled across this quirky, dimly lit bar after dinner one evening. It was a great find and we loved our cocktails. They do all your classics like margaritas, mojitos, and pina coladas, as well as more unusual house drinks like the rosemary hibiscus margarita and coconut old fashioned.
What we didn’t try were the tacos and I’ve since heard VERY good things. They do a huge range with lots of seafood options with fish, shrimp, and octopus marinated in their house garlic and smoked chili marinade or spicy diabla style. There are also plenty of veggie options featuring mushroom and cauliflower in the same flavorsome sauces.
Most cocktails cost between 130 and 200 pesos; classic prices for touristic parts of Mexico. Tacos cost 40-60 pesos a piece, or around 150 for 3 pieces.
For a cool but casual dinner, Barba Negra is a great place to eat in Isla Holbox with swinging chairs, low lighting, and eye-catching wall murals.
Las Panchas
Las Panchas is another of the best Holbox restaurants for seafood, serving fresh shrimp, fish, and octopus dishes. There’s a wide variety to choose from on the creative menu from shrimp burgers to seafood soup, ceviche, and stuffed fish fillets. Alternatively, keep it simple with fish fresh from the grill seasoned with garlic and butter or a spicy diablo sauce.
This is one of the most popular places to eat in Holbox but it’s not too expensive. Prices are reasonable starting at 190 pesos for main dishes. You can also expect a warm ambiance and live music in the evenings.
Basico (best small plate restaurant in Holbox)
Basico is another one of the best restaurants in Holbox based on its beachy chic ambiance and creative, unusual food. As you can see from the photos, the evening setup is dark and moody with high ceilings and lots of hanging lanterns. It’s a cute spot for date night, but there are lots of large tables so it also suits group dining.
Basico is known for its small plate style of dining (Mexican tapas?) so, depending how hungry you are, order a bunch of plates and share. Croquettes, ceviche, Oaxacan cheese, fresh tuna, baba ganoush, mole, and salads are on the menu from 200-300 pesos per plate. I liked the mix of Mexican and international flavors, plus how many veggie options there were.
Like tapas tends to, it can get a bit pricey but it was worth it, especially since it was the last night of my friends’ trip. The cocktails are another highlight; the pineapple and mezcal one is a killer combo.
Basico is open 6pm-midnight so it’s a dinner-only spot.
LUUMA
For a stylish evening meal in cool settings, LUUMA is your spot, all set around an ambient garden with lots of plants and fairy lights.
Booking a table ahead is advisable because it gets mighty popular. Because there were just two of us, we managed to grab a seat at the bar and have some tasty (slightly pricey) cocktails while perusing the food menu which features tapas-style dishes like croquettes, shrimp kebabs, spring rolls, pakoras, mini tamales, and more.
It’s world cuisine but with lots of Mexican influences (tamales, tostadas, and all the other good things beginning with T!). One thing to note is that there are only a few veggie options. As you generally order a few tapas dishes, it basically doesn’t give vegetarians much choice.
Zomay
I wouldn’t say this was our absolute favorite meal on the island but you can’t beat the location: right beside Playa Nelsy facing sunset! If you want to watch the sky turn all shades of red and pink with a cocktail in hand, this is your spot. Also, if you’ve just watched sunset while sitting on the sand and you’re feeling hungry and lazy, it’s an ideal place to grab dinner once the sunset show is over.
El Chiringuito Restaurante Bar Zomay do fantastic cocktails for around 250 pesos; slightly expensive for Holbox. Between 5 of us, we shared a bunch of sushi, small plates, and pizza, all of which was tasty. It’s certainly not the BEST food in Holbox but it hits the spot and the views are second to none!
Zomay is also a hotel and beach club with a 600 peso daily minimum spend; again, slightly more than some places on the island.
For sunset, it’s best to get there 1 hour before to bag a table with a great view!
Parador 33
If you’re in the mood for something that isn’t Mexican food (although that’s not a mood I know haha), try Parador 33, a highly-rated Argentine/Uruyuan restaurant.
They serve fusion dishes including steak and other meat dishes, plus lots of Italian-inspired food (which Argentina is known for) such as pasta, risotto, and pizza… Including the famous Holbox lobster pizza!
As to be expected, they serve excellent wine. The desserts are also highly rated including the chocolatey ones! Yep, this is an indulgent place to dine but hey, you’re on vacation so why not?
Where to eat in Holbox on a budget
You don’t have to spend a lot of money at upmarket Holbox restaurants to enjoy the island’s food scene. We had several cheap meals to ease our bank balances and the food was still delicious. I always like to try the local joints because the food is far more authentic than at any touristy restaurant.
For Holbox street food and cheap eats, I would recommend…
Antojitos Norma
This cheap and cheerful hole-in-the-wall is the best place for a budget breakfast on the island. At Antojitos Norma, you can forget about avo toast and smoothie bowls and, instead, order a hearty Mexican plate like enchiladas, chilaquiles, or huevos al gusto (eggs how you like) for 70 pesos.
Antojitos means snack so it’s no surprise they also do other snacky dishes for lunch like empanadas, sopes (corn dough with yummy toppings), tostadas, quesadillas, and panuchos.
I had the latter because it’s a Yucatan specialty that I hadn’t tried before (I’m more familiar with the Mexico City street food and other dishes from Central Mexico). Panuchos are fried tortillas stuffed with refried beans and topped with ingredients of your choice, commonly chicken tingga. These cost just 20 pesos each. Bargain!
Sazon Jarocho
A few doors down from Antijitos Norma is another casual restaurant in Isla Holbox serving similar snacks like sopes, empanadas, tacos dorados, tortas (sandwiches), and drinks. I can’t find a Google pin for Sazon Jericho but you can’t miss it on Calle Porfirio Díaz, covered in colorful murals of flowers and toucans.
Municipal Market
Once you’ve visited the best restaurants in Holbox, take a local detour to this bustling market mainly frequented by locals. If they’re eating there, you know it’s good!
The market has two functions, firstly a fresh market where you can buy fruits and vegetables. If your accommodation has a kitchen where you can cook, this is a great way to save money. Alternatively, just pick up some unusual fruits like dragonfruit to sample.
The other reason to visit the Municipal Market is to try some of the most authentic and cheapest food on Holbox! Tuck into typical dishes like cochinita pibil and fish tacos, all washed down with fresh juice. You won’t pay more than 100 pesos for a hearty meal and drink.
Street food square
Wondering where to eat in Isla Holbox on a low budget? Wonder no more. Around Holbox central square, there are a bunch of food trucks that pop up every night serving tasty Mexican street food dishes including ones unique to the Yucatan region like cochinita pibil served on tacos and in tortas.
We even managed to find some decent veggie options. You’ll find affordable meals for 70 pesos or less.
Don’t miss the marquesitas!
There’s a popular street food dish from the Yucatan you shouldn’t miss for dessert. Marquesitas are thin wafers, rolled up and stuffed with a wide range of ingredients. And I mean wide! You’ll get all your regular dessert fillings like chocolate and strawberry, as well as some unusual combos like chocolate with cheese! Yep, they don’t flinch at mixing sweet and savory together.
Rumor has it that marquesitas were invented in Mérida when an ice cream vendor whose sales would drop in the cold winter months came up with a new recipe. Instead of ice cream, he combined his waffles with tasty ingredients including Dutch cheese (sometimes called ball cheese).
It was a hit and they can now be found around Mexico but particularly the Yucatan Peninsula, although I’ve seen them as far away as San Cristobal de las Casas in Chiapas, Central Mexico.
Thanks for reading!
