Food

Nothing stands between you and the beautiful Laguna Bacalar at Restaurante Aluxes. Relax as if out-of-doors, on a large patio, sheltered by a delightful palapa roof, constructed around an ancient Puc Te tree and gardens. The restaurant offers guests a delightful taste of nature as well as an extensive drink, lunch, and dinner menu. Plan to come during full moon for moonrise over the laguna.

Visit Vieja Bavaria for excellent, home-cooked German breakfast, lunch and dinner. Open from 10:00 am until 6:00 pm (closed Mondays), the restaurant has a full bar and offers patrons free camping and use of showers and bathrooms. Just 500 meters on Route 193 at the intersection with Route 307 (25 minutes north of Bacalar), Vieja Bavaria is on the way to the ruins at Chaccoben and Merida. Pick up a lunch to eat later, or stop for lunch or dinner and drinks on the way back. Hosts Barbara and Jorge (cell 983 753-7095) usually have fresh-baked German bread by the loaf !

Beyond the casitas, a dramatic shorefront palapa the restaurant and bar at Rancho Encantado serve exquisite cuisine daily. Breakfasts are continental, buffet-style, featuring tropical fruits, home-made breads, fresh orange juice and rich Mexican coffee. Romantic dinners are served around a quiet fountain, with a variety of three course offerings a la maison, including fresh local seafood and chicken. Vegetarian cuisine can be arranged on request. Breakfast and dinner are included in the daily rate. The restaurant can also prepare optional luncheon fare.

Restaurant Muul-Ha is located directly on Laguna Xul Ha, at the southern end of the Laguna Bacalar ecosystem. Open six days a week from 11:00 am until 8:00 pm (closed Tuesdays), Muul-Ha offers a wide variety of home-cooked seafoods and authentic regional Yucatecan beef, pork and chicken dishes. A family restaurant with full bar. For reservations or information about special events contact owner Angel Josue Yam Suarez at the restaurant (983 208-4003) or by cell (983 117-8914). Learn more at www.muul-ha.mx.gs

Cocina Orizaba -- regional Mexican fare, delicious cooking, economical prices. Open every day from 8:00 am until sometime between 5 and 10:00 pm, serving breakfast, lunch, dinner, pizza, fruit drinks and sodas. Owner Señora Ena Escobar takes pride in her varied menu (including comida corrida) and fresh foods. Stop in for a meal, you'll come back! Avenue 7 between streets 24 and 26. Phone 983 834-2069.

Hawaiian Paradise Raspas and Nestle Ice Cream -- what could be better when the temperature is warm? Over 30 different raspas flavors. Plus 14 ice creams and toppings: cone, cup or milk shake.  Prices start at 4 pesos and owners Lola and Arturo are happy to prepare party and take out orders. Near the bus station, on the Town Square at 5th Ave. and 20th Street; open seven days a week from 10 am until 10 pm.

El Famoso Pimienta offers typical home-cooked Mexican food: seafoods, meats, appetizers, side dishes, desserts and soft drinks. Open Tuesdays through Sundays for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Located on the corner at Street 20 and Avenue 9. For take-out or special events, call hostess Diana Maria Heredia Villanueva at cell 983 107-5488.

El Sombrero Restaurant offers as wide a menu selection and portions as large as anywhere in Bacalar. Tortas, tacos, sandwiches, salads, fruit drinks, vegetarian fare, pork, beef and chicken are all on the menu. Don't see exactly what you want? Ask Pedro and Yolando to prepare any combination of ingredients they have on hand -- if you can think of it, they can make it. Open six days a week from 4:00 pm until 12:00 midnight; closed Sundays and Mondays. On 5th Ave. at 10th street.

Looking for the perfect spot for a swim or boat ride and a meal? Just head to the Club de Vela and its restaurant and bar, El Mulato de Bacalar. Open Monday through Saturday from 9:00 am until 6:00 pm (8:00 pm during vacation and holidays.) Enjoy a snack, lunch, or dinner and have a drink at the bar or under the shade trees on the patio. On the Costera, opposite the Fort of San Felipe at 20th Street.

Visit "Los Seis Hermanos" Restaurant and Bar Familiar on the Costera in Bacalar, overlooking beautiful Laguna Bacalar just opposite the balneario ejidal. Open seven days a week from 10:00 am until 8:00 pm (open at 7:00 am during holidays) serving breakfast, lunch and dinner. From eggs and fresh fruits to seafood, chicken, pork as well as regional specialties and a full bar, hostess Juana Aragón Gúzman and her son Noriberto Rojas Aragón are on hand to make sure your visit is pleasant and your meal delicious.

Los Tres Reyes Magos offers great charcoal-grilled chicken. Only $60 pesos for a whole chicken, rice, tortillas, frijoles, hot sauce. Saturdays and Sundays there's also pork ribs: $25 pesos an order or $120 a kilo. Owner Pablo Lopez Trujillo and family are at the custom-built grill seven days a week, from 9:00 am until 5:00 pm. Street 20 and Avenue 9. Phone 983 834-2641.

Los Bacalares Restaurant offers good food (seafood, beef, chicken, pork, traditional dishes from 11:00 am until 7:00 pm), full bar with juices and softdrinks, and much more. Open seven days a week from 11:00 am until 3:00 am with disco music Saturday nights ($20 pesos per person entrance; group discounts available) and karaoke anytime. Your hosts -- Huiso Buitron and family -- welcome you to this oasis of entertainment overlooking beautiful Laguna Bacalar. For information and take-out, call 983 834-2130.

The Buena Vista Water Park Restaurant offers a selection of seafoods and regional dishes in an airy, shaded, open dining area and bar. Serving seven days a week from 10:00 am until 6:00 pm, this restaurant offers families, couples, and friends a beautiful vista and a tasty snack, a filling meal, or delicious drinks. Take out available.

El Carboncito (on 5th Ave. just opposite the ATM on the town square) offers foods charcoal-grilled to perfection. Do you like hamburgers, arrachera, hot dogs? Owner José Cruz also cooks tacos (chicken, pork, arrachera and salchicha) and great french fries, plus you'll find soft drinks and dessert. Open seven days a week from 7:00 pm until 11:00 pm -- everything prepared to go, if you want.

Señor Cafe, located on 5th Ave. facing the town square, offers coffee and light meals seven days a week. Open from 7:00 am to 11:00 pm, you'll find great coffee, cappucino, teas, breakfast, fruit drinks, sandwiches, salads and desserts plus gifts and clothes. Ask Alan or Alejandra about nightly dinner specials. Tel: 983 753-1332

Most everyone knows that if you want to eat cochinita pibil at Chepe's Restaurant, you need to get there early. Open seven days a week from 7:00 am until 11:00 am, Chepe (Jose Contreras) serves taquitos and sandwiches of cochinita pibil and grilled pork, complete with onions, beans, sauces, condiments and soft drinks. Every taquito is made by hand. Eat in or take out; call cell 983 102-4251 to talk about special events or larger take-out orders.