Eat and Drink in Isla Holbox, Mexico

A couple of weeks ago my sister, mom, and I spent a few days in Isla Holbox, Mexico.

Holbox is often described as Tulum’s less crowded cousin, mainly because it’s not as well known and is a bit harder to get to, as I explain in this blog post and in this reel. My sister and I visited Tulum in 2018 and had a great time (you can read more about that trip here). We really enjoyed our Holbox visit despite it being quite a trek to get to! Honestly, Punta Caliza, our hotel, especially the staff, food, and beach club, played a big role in making it a very special trip.

I don’t think Isla Holbox is considered a “foodie” destination per se, but for such a small island, there are a lot of restaurant options! Here is where we ate and drink, where we didn’t get to but was recommended, and a handy map showing them all.

Restaurants in Isla Holbox

Punta Caliza

Breakfast was included in our stay at Punta Caliza, which made for really relaxing mornings. Every morning began with a lovely bowl of yogurt, honey, granola, and chunks of fresh fruit like pineapple and papaya, alongside hot coffee and fresh fruit juice. Next came the main course, which differed every day and was always delicious and beautifully presented.

Although breakfast was very filling, we would usually order a snack or two at the Punta Caliza Beach Club to go with our margaritas. We had their ceviche, tacos, guacamole, and quesadillas - all delicious.

Cenaduria La Tapatia

We went to Cenaduria La Tapatia on our first night, on the recommendation of an employee at our hotel. It was just what we wanted after a long day of travel - relaxing, low-key live music that offered nice background noise, a large outdoor space, and a casual menu of tacos, guac, and other Mexican food. To me, the tortilla chips tasted stale and bland, but maybe it was an off night. The standout from the menu were the tacos! We only ordered one al pastor each at the end of our meal because we weren’t that hungry, but I wish we had ordered more earlier because they were so good. There’s also a long self-serve salsa bar, which was a fun addition.

Mojito’s Beach Club

We stopped at Mojito’s Beach Club, which is part of Ser Casasandra Hotel, one night on our way out to dinner. The sun was still out, we snagged a couch and table, and ordered drinks and ceviche while watching the ocean. Their space is beautiful and the snack and drinks were perfect before the rest of our night.

Barba Negra

Barba Negra is a unique concept that’s definitely worth a visit. It’s also a very popular spot, so be prepared to wait in line for a seat. At first glance it looks like a hip outdoor restaurant, but it’s actually a mini food hall. Once you’re seated by the host, table service is provided for drinks and you must go up to one of the four or so food stands to order your food, which will be brought out to you. I’m blanking on all the food options, but there was definitely pizza, sushi, and tacos. We had heard they are a great spot for fish tacos, which I can confirm. The sushi looked delicious but we didn’t try it. The atmosphere is fun and laid back.

There was a big rainfall before we arrived to Isla Holbox, leaving many puddles throughout the street, some very deep. The street in front of Barba Negra was the deepest one we saw around town, and we’re honestly surprised no one fell in while squeezing past the line to get in on the skinny sidewalk!

Luuma

Luuma definitely feels like it could be in Tulum. One of the more expensive meals we ate, it’s an open-air tapas restaurant and bar full of beautiful and well-dressed guests. It fills up quickly and they seem to only take reservations from guests staying at the hotel across the street, Casa las Tortugas, so get there early or expect a wait. We shared a bunch of dishes and a bottle of wine. It was delicious but not a must-visit if you’re trying to stay on a budget.

Taco Queto

Taco Queto was one of my favorite spots, but that may be because I’m a sucker for inexpensive authentic tacos. It’s really casual, with red plastic chairs, colorful tables, and no alcohol. We ordered a bunch of different tacos, queso fundido, and grilled spring onions to share. This was the only restaurant that took our temperature and were strict about masks. This is a quick meal, so we wandered to a local bar afterwards for drinks and live music.

Mandarina

We ate at Mandarina, also part of Casa Las Tortugas, on our last night, for my sister’s birthday. The setting alone is gorgeous - it’s on the sand with string lights and a variety of seating. We shared a couple bottles of wine and a bunch of food including a smoked beet and goat cheese salad, roasted carrots, tuna “carnitas,” taglietelle with smoked sauce, and provoleta, which reminded me of my time living in Argentina. We had a nice relaxing meal with great service, lovely ambiance, and good company.

Bars in Isla Holbox

There are lots of local bars around the square and beach clubs on the sand that you can stop in for a casual drink. Here are some places around the island we went to.

Punta Caliza

We drank a lot through our hotel! From our welcome mezcalita we were hooked on the tajin rim and ordered it as much as we could, especially at the beach club. We got to know the bartenders at the hotel and they taught us a thing or two about tequila (what’s best for sipping vs mixing), and also introduced us to Carajillo, a Mexican after-dinner coffee drink made with Licor 43.

There are a ton of beach clubs along the water to choose from. Punta Caliza was great for us since we were staying there, but they are also open to non-hotel guests as long as you meet the food and drink minimum, which at the time was equivalent to 1.5 margaritas - totally doable!

Mojito’s Beach Club

Although we also ate at Mojito’s, another beach club, it’s a great spot for just a drink.

Basico

I wish we had a chance to eat at Basico, but they were having a private party the night we stopped in! We came back another night for a pre-dinner cocktail at the bar. This indoor restaurant is well-designed with lots of plants and macramé.

Barba Negra

In addition to being a great spot for food, Barba Negra has a big cocktail menu and happy hour specials.

The Hot Corner

To be honest, I was turned off by the name, but this casual bar was perfect on the one chilly day we had. It seemed everyone was out and about in town, either walking around or having coffee or a drink. After some shopping, we opted for a beer at a high top at The Hot Corner and it was just what we were looking for.

Ice Cream in Isla Holbox

La Gelateria de Holbox

We stopped at La Gelateria de Holbox, a cute little walk-up counter right on the street, twice. It’s about a block from the beach, so, very convenient.

El Mangle Blanco

We stopped at El Mangle Blanco one night after dinner. It’s a cute little shop that hit the spot.

Coffee

We never stopped for coffee, since we had it at our hotel every morning, but Clandestino Café was very cute and popular.

Snacks

Carts selling coconut water and mango go up and down the beach all day!

Additional Recommendations

Here are some recommendations we got but didn’t get to!

• Villa Mar

• Raices Beach Club

• Roots (for lobster pizza)

• Pizzería Edelyn (also for lobster pizza)

• Las Panchas

• Antojitos El Abuelo Tom (for authentic tacos)

• Mahi

• Tierra Mia (for coffee and smoothies)