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Downtown Restaurants in Cancun that you Must Try

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Cancun is a place to eat, drink, discover, dance, and then go to sleep in a gorgeous hotel. The whole city exudes eternal magic while managing to stay true to its roots. The city also pulses with culinary innovation, from the fanciest downtown restaurants showcasing international flavors to eateries with leading, homegrown chefs.

The vast selection and choice available however divide opinions enough to make one want to seek out simple advice – where there is little dispute over which places are the best.

So, eating utensils at the ready, here is a list of the best downtown restaurants in Cancun that you should seek out.

Lorenzillo’s Cancun

Visit Lorenzillo's in Cancun

Lorenzillo’s, one of Cancun’s longest surviving restaurants, has been a favorite among locals and tourists since it first opened in 1979, thanks to its huge outdoor deck, impeccable service, and delicious cuisine.

Located on Nichupte Lagoon, the setting has a mystic haunt, of a pirate named Lorencillo. Any restaurant that takes its name from a pirate immediately sets itself off as being legendary.

The backstory is that on May 28th, 1683 a pirate named Lorencillo and his companion, Agramont, reportedly landed at “La Villa Rica de la Veracruz” on the Gulf of Mexico. Unfortunately, the pirates were not satisfied with the restaurant’s culinary delights, and in retaliation, they plundered the city and murdered the upper crust of society.

The name Lorenzillo’s is used today, where the best food in the Gulf is offered. Nowadays the pinpoint is more enchanting. Opening at 1:00 pm, the setting is perfect, especially because the terrace is bathed in sunlight.

Being mainly a seafood restaurant, plates piled with crispy and creamy lobster croquettes, and tuna tostadas with avocado, hot habanero pepper, and soy sesame, regularly come flying out of the kitchen. And appetizers like their avocado stuffed with shrimp, celery, and bell peppers are to die for.

There is a lobster farm on the premises so anything from Roquefort Lobster to Mariana Lobster can be requested. Delicious seafood, salads, meat, poultry, pasta, and shrimp are all presented with seasonal ingredients.

Everything about this place is truly magical, and faultless – like a lesson in how natural reserve dining should be done.

Du Mexique

downtown restaurants in Cancun

Housed in a former house, Du Mexique is a top-notch, fine dining restaurant, with a feminine touch at the front of the house. It has become highly successful for the simple reason that all its work is undertaken by a lovely couple – Sonya, the owner, and Benjamin, the chef.

With admirable care, every recipe is skillfully handled, and the bill of fare is richly promising: classic French cooking with Mexican fusion food.

The atmosphere is quiet and intimate with only a few tables, and regulars rave about how they feel like family on every visit.

Their cheese soufflé is a favorite, as is the sopecito foie gras, or the duck confit. The menu is small, but there’s an unspoken guarantee of superlative dishes.

For coastal cuisine, no restaurant will seduce you so utterly as Du Mexique. So, for a special occasion, all you need for an evening of sophistication in perfect style is to turn up here in evening attire.

La Fonda del Zancudo

best downtown restaurants in Cancun

This rustic, dreamy place was once an abandoned house on one of downtown Cancun’s central avenues and is now an outdoor garden for Mediterranean cuisine.

The alluring atmosphere of the setting – twinkly lights, rafter-strung lanterns, and bougainvillea that climbs the walls beneath the stars – beckon to a fairy-tale evening.

Dishes including the homemade empanadas, or the artisanal ravioli stuffed with plantain and goat cheese, show that the authentic, world-class Mediterranean cuisine of our fathers hasn’t vanished forever. It still exists at La Fonda del Zancudo!

Particular favorites are the Tuna Tartare or the banana ravioli with bean sauce, and the cactus fruit ice cream with mezcal makes for a dessert with a difference.

Everything is fittingly served in the al-fresco dining room, and the result is a delectable evening under the stars, surrounded by ancient walling, and tropical plants. Open for dinner only expect everything you wish for, along with a great wine list.

La Habichuela

La Habichuela restaurant

Mexicans are obsessed with all food, and the different feasts that wait before you at La Habichuela show why.

Both Caribbean and traditional Mexican food are served, however – being an institution for a reason – La Habichuela delights in serving dishes with no nationality – but rather with their own name accredited to the plate, with unique personal touches.

Examples are the Mero Supreme: Grouper fillet stuffed with lobster in guava salt, served with grilled plantain and dried fruit, or the Giant Shrimp in Tamarind Sauce.

Their flamed desserts are the pièce de résistance, including Bananas Maison with banana and brandy liqueur, garnished with ice-cream.

The restaurant’s interior is a tribute to Mayan Culture, with interesting artifacts scattered about. With such fascinating history in a unique location, this makes a visit to this familyfriendly restaurant a unique day or night out, near one of downtown Cancun’s busier areas.

Marakamé Café

Marakamé Café facilities

This laid-back cafe is reminiscent of a giant treehouse, with outdoor tables surrounded by greenery, attracting diners from all over.

On Sundays, a brunch buffet is what Marakamé Café is all about, where there are always many standout treats, including barbacoa (slow-cooked meats) and quesadillas, plus delicious freshly-baked pan dulce.

The place bursts with life with live music adding to the chilled-out vibes. All of this can be topped off with a Maracuya Margarita, or a Lychee Martini, so you can sip and socialize. And their rich Café de Olla will remind you that you ‘ll want to come back the following Sunday!

Parque las Palapas

Last but not least, and constantly timeless, is the main park in downtown Cancun, Parque las Palapas, located not far from Tulum Avenue.

Not a restaurant, of course, but rather a hot destination for tacos, tamales, churros, quesadillas, chili hot dogs, fried bananas, and more. This Park showcases the best regionally influenced, home-style, and Mexican food you can find anywhere on the streets.

Arcades covering its perimeter sidewalks make it one of the most fun, and best places to eat in Cancun. Although activity peaks after sunset with street vendors and open-air stage performances, the space is busy during the day with locals visiting a collection of stalls offering various Mexican cuisine.

Hungry tourists go mad for the cheapest prices ever and the delicious food, exclaiming the park, with its tables and benches surrounded by towering trees, is a must-visit when in Cancun.

Along with a collection of shops nearby selling premium tequilas, local beers, crafts, and jewelry, the nightclubs close by in downtown Cancun allow you to dance off the magnificent Mexican dishes, and the tequilas you have just consumed.

Downtown Restaurants that Delight

Cancun streets with downtown restaurants

Real Mexican hospitality, super-fresh ingredients, and the vibrant culinary scene have made the city of Cancun one of the top food destinations in the world. Life in Cancun is all about the sea and sun, and leisurely lunches and candlelit dinners in downtown restaurants.

High culture and haute cuisine are both high priorities when a special occasion is looming, so we hope you can benefit from our compendium of restaurants.

Whether it’s morning, afternoon, or evening, where to eat in downtown Cancun is totally up to you. The only problem is there is too much to eat, and too little stomach space in which to store it! But you can still have a lot of fun trying out the best downtown restaurants in Cancun, anyway.

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