7 of the Best Restaurants in Tulum, Mexico

[Calida Jenkins]

Great meals accompany great moments - they are usually inseparable. And the resort town of Tulum, on the Riviera Maya of Mexico's Caribbean coast, offers not just gorgeous beaches and the only seaside Mayan ruins in existence (above), but also myriad wonderful dining opportunities for all tastes and wallets. Here's a septet of its top venues:

Loco Tulum

Here the Israeli owner/chef Idan Lifshitz is loco, yes, but about ensuring you have a memorable experience, enjoying a mix of Italian, Middle Eastern, and Mexican cuisines made with fresh local ingredients in a stylish, casual setting.

Cenzontle

With a small but expertly curated menu based on seasonal local produce, this candlelit, open-air "secret garden" in Tulum's hotel zone specializes in artistic presentations of Mexican dishes with global tweaks and vice versa.

La Coqueta

Right near the center of downtown Tulum, La Coqueta is a colorful, unpretentious, and affordable place to enjoy traditional Mexican fare.

Único

Also located downtown, "Unique" does indeed stand out as one of the best restaurants in Tulum because of the quality and creativity of its international dishes as well as sterling service.

Hartwood

Ex New Yorkers Eric Werner and Mya Henry pride themselves on their sustainable, organic menu, which changes daily depending on what's locally available. It's also one of the few places in Tulum to use solar panels, and composts all its waste, as well.

Arca

Next door to Hartwood and with an elegant outdoor dining area with a whiff of copal traditional Mayan incense (and good at keeping mosquitos at bay), this restaurant serves elegant takes on Mexican cuisine, cooked in a wood-burning oven and served in small plates.

Ziggy's

Part of a beach club right on the sand, Ziggy's serves up cool cocktails and chef Miguel Hidalgo's creative Mexican fare accompanied by live music daily. Plus there are cool theme nights every day of the week.