Great Bars, Restaurants, and Coffee Shops Worth Checking Out
Whether you are new to this area of Mexico or you are a returning expat, below I have listed some wonderful spots to check out around the area. I think you will be amazed at what all is available and how wonderful these places are. Enjoy!
*** In Barra De Navidad ***
Banana’s Great place to go for breakfast! Besides it having an amazing view of the ocean, the food is D-E-L-I-S-H! I personally recommend getting the breakfast burrito –which includes eggs, bacon, beans, cheese, avocado, and salsa. To get there, go to Hotel Barra and go up the stairs. Price range -$$ moderate.
Barra Mia Hands down the BEST place for a Michelada! —Comes giant, with a salad atop, and delish. Not to mention, there wings, burritos, and nachos are fantastic 😋. Run by my friend —Junior, Manuel and Norma’s son (of Restaurant Manglito Family) Great place to hang with friends, ‘cause the ambience is right up there 😁. Also, interested in watching sports and or the latest thing on t.v., they often air it there the night of. Price range -$$moderate.
Barra Galeria de Arte & Restaurant More or less one of the newer additions to Barra, and a GREAT one! Not only is this where Robert showcases his FABULOUS photography, but also where Rosy creates delicious plates! And… to boot, they have added a nice little Tequilaria located in the back of the joint. –Where Robert has a nice little stash of high-quality tequila :). If you treat him well, he’ll treat you well with some really smooth stuff. Located down the block some from Hector’s Bar towards the Sand’s Hotel, just on the right. Price range -$$ moderate.
Barra Mar Probably the coolest spot in town right now to grab a cocktail and have a dip in the pool😎. I’ve had my BEST blended margarita there😄. With its spectacular view overlooking our bay here, you can’t beat the location. Situated to the right of Casa Chips, where there once was a parking lot for one boat😆. Price range -$$ moderate.
Besame Mucho Location is in a great spot, right near the church. Once all lit up at night, it has quite the romantic feel. So…. great spot for a sexy night out! Not to mention, they often have some Live Music going on. —Run by Christina and Eric. Price range – $$$ high.
Cabo Blanco –A hotel located at the entrance of the first and second canal streets. And… recently, open to the public –YEAH! …Because, it is a wonderful spot to go mid-day to later-afternoon. Grab some friends, take a little dip in the pool -maybe even take up on some water-volleyball, and grab a beer and a bite to eat. I personally love the jalepeno poppers 😉 Price range: -$$ moderate.
Cecilia’s Better off known as the family who ran Mexico Lindo back in the day😊. Cecilia and her husband, Jorge run the familiar spot we all love and know here. The place has great ambiance, delicious food, refreshing drinks, and wonderful service! Location these days, is on your way to the Malecon, after Barra Mia on the left. Price range -$ low.
Cundi’s OK, hands-down the BEST tacos around. The only thing is is that it’s a morning joint. Yep, that’s right! So… if you like your taco in the morning, you definitely need to go. Well actually, even if you are not, you should go anyway, and you might find yourself to be a morning-taco-person. Manuel is the guys name -Cundi, and he serves up a variety of tacos, which include; frijoles, rajas, championes w/ or w/out pollo, pollo, carne de res, adobada, pastor, chichurron, fish, and shrimp. He also offers coffee, agua fresca, and pop. To find him, head down the main road, take a left where the buses take a left, and he is on the right –at a cart. He is awesome! Price range -$ low.
Cocina Economica Paola This place is my go-to for lunch. Besides being right around the corner from me, it is by far the easiest, cheapest, and tastiest places to grab a full meal. Paulina offers an array of dishes, anywhere from: huevos con machaca, pollo con mole, albondigas soup, carne de res, etc. Price range -$ low.
Dolce Strega In the mood to bring home some pizza? —This is the place. Their hours are from 4pm to 10:30pm. You can either call them at 315.125.9473, or swing by and put an order in. Located right across where the ATM machine used to be. Takes little time, and they have a load to choose from. Francesco is the guy. Price range -$$ moderate
Dos Soles In addition to the traditional taco and quesadilla, Dos Soles offers Chile Rellenos, Carne en Su Jugo, and… they even have a salad on the menu. Located on the main road into town, on the right, right before you get to the Hotel Alondra. Price-range -$$ moderate.
El Horno Frances A.K.A –the French Bakery. A lovely little place to sit and enjoy a nice croissant and an orange juice. Also, a great spot to buy baguettes, and dessert tarts. Open both during the daytime and night. Location: Across the Alondra Hotel and near the Church. Price-range -$$ moderate.
El Manglito Owned by Manuel and Norma, two fabulous people –whom I’ve come to know pretty well over the years. Anywho… they offer the BEST seafood dishes in our little pueblo. Just located near the water taxis. *Also, their restaurant is the place to be -during any fishing tournaments. …Because, it is where they weigh the fish and serve it, too. Price range -$$ moderate.
Friend’s Sushi OK, so maybe it’s not quite what it is like in the States or Canada, but… it definitely hits the spot for your sushi craving. Usually open pretty early, like around noon or so, and goes pretty late. –Not sure what day it is that they are closed, but I will find out. If you haven’t already tried it and you want to, it is located right before the Kiosko as you enter town, just on the left side. Price range -$$ moderate.
Isadora’s Looking for a romantic evening out, this is a great place to go 🥰. Located on the lagoon, this quaint little restaurant offers up some really nice dishes hand-plated by a great chef! To find it, it is located right in front of Lucy’s Paradise. Price range -$$$ high.
i Taco (actually it is named Las Pencas) THE BEST TACO JOINT in town 😋!!! My husband and I are there maybe 3 nights a week come high season. Everything is good, but I highly recommend getting the big flour quesadilla filled with pork -Yummy! The corn tacos, G.R.E.A.T!!! And… their salsas, you can’t beat. Located on the same strip as the church, right on the corner on Veracruz. Only open at night. Price range – $ low.
L’Angolo This comfortable little spot, family of iTaco, offers a nice little experience! They have salad, pasta, pizza, and more. Location of the place is right across iTaco and near the church. Price range – $$ moderate.
La Bruja Looking for a GREAT cup of coffee, this is the spot😉. You can find anything from any espresso drink, to delicious baked goods, to souvenirs. They also have internet for use, and feature local artists and artwork. Price range -$$ moderate.
La Enchilada A nice spot for either breakfast or lunch! Small place, but high-quality food 😊. Located right next door to what-was Hector’s Bar. Price range – $ low.
La Tanda Bakery located literally three doors down from our shop on Veracruz, just a few shops before the jardin. Best Artisan Breads in town!!! Be sure to stop in and purchase a lovely little item, on your way to or from our coffee shop 😉 Run by Roland and Veronica, a lovely couple. Price range – $$ moderate.
Loco Loco For FABULOUS pizza and lovely ambiance in Barra, you’ll definitely want to try out Loco Loco; owned and operated by my friend’s Mara and Alesandro. It was previously located upstairs near the BIG Perota tree, but now….. resides in the old Los Arcos building, another fabulous location! Price range -$$ moderate.
Lucy’s Paradise For Live Music there is this wonderful joint! —Located on the corner heading towards the water taxis, just after you pass the fish market, right on the right side. Run by the one-and-only Lucy herself. There you can purchase great cocktails and tasty bites. Price range -$$ moderate.
Mango Cafe Day and Night The newest restaurant to go into Marlena’s old location. Easy to find, located on the main road coming into Barra on Veracruz on the left just before Kiosko. Great place here; beautiful ambiance, lovely espresso beverages, great food, good customer service, and lots of charm! Price range -$$ moderate
Miriams Another bad-ass place for some quick, easy, and cheap tacos. —However, they are only a nighttime deal, so. There they serve both tacos and quesadillas with your choice of carne de res, pollo, chorizo, frijoles, championes, and/or rajas. Located on the left side of the street right before the BIG Perota tree by the Fish Co-Op. Price range -$ low.
Mokeke’s Newly renovated, this place looks cool to hang. Located upstairs, on the corner, near Thrifty ice cream, and on the bus route. Open at night, and also offering Live Music on occasion. I haven’t eaten there yet, so I can’t say anything about the food, yet. Price range – $$ moderate.
Nacho’s Great spot to hang on the beach, people-watch, and enjoy a beer and a bite! If you are headed down towards the malecon, it is on the right side, after Sea Master and before Popeye’s. Price range – $ low.
Nelly’s If you like to hang with the local ex-pat community, this is the joint to go. —Fairly new, but now a staple here. It’s where the old codgers go 😉. There you can grab a cold beer, probably some food, and chill for hours with the gang. Located one street south of the main road (Veracruz), near the bus route. Price range – $$ moderate.
Nonsolopizza For a grab-and-go pizza, this will do. I haven’t had it in awhile, but what I remember when I did, I liked it! Located on the corner near Mokeke’s, downstairs. And…. I’m pretty sure they deliver 😌. —EXCITING! Price range $$ moderate.
Pancho’s One of the few restaurants located on the beach side, more-or-less right after Sea Master, and in front of Barra Mia. Nice spot to hang, get some guacamole, and enjoy a cold and refreshing beer. Price range – $ low.
Pizzeria Ivette One of the long-standing favorites around town! Not the traditional pizza most of us know, but definitely good! Thinner crust meets mexican-style = Fun and Fantastic!!! Also, they deliver….. To call an order in, the phone number is 355.5918 Price range -$ low.
Popeye’s If you are ever interested in watching the surf, or simply wanting to gaze out towards the ocean, this is a GREAT SPOT! Located right at the entrance of the Malecon on the right. Nice spot to enjoy a cold beverage, some quacamole, and/or some huevos al gusto. Price range – $ low.
Ramone’s By far… The most consistent restaurant in town. Always open, day or night, and super-consistent with their food. Not to mention, the BEST MARGARITA’S in town! My husband and I personally love to get the Caldo Loco when we are feeling ill, always tastes yummy and feels nourishing. Located just in front of Hotel Barra. Price range – $$ moderate.
Rinconcito One of the best taco joints around town in the evening. Along with serving tacos, quesadillas, and carne asada, they serve a mean stuffed potato with a variety of fixings. I personally love this spot just for its amazing variety of salsas. To go to this spot, just head to the square and it is located on the NE corner of it. For those of you not to familiar with direction, it is across the street from La Bruja and 3-4 stores down towards the ATM machine. Price range -$ low.
Sea Master A staple in our town. Has always been around. Great local and ambiance! Sometimes offers Live Music. I’d recommend getting a cold beer, maybe some guac., and catching sunset there 😎. Price range – $$ moderate.
Señor Froy’s Hands-down…… one of the best and most consistent restaurants in town. Open pretty much daily from late afternoon to late evening, Froy and his staff serve the BEST fajitas around, and at a great price! Also… his place is charming and his customer service is impeccable! Definitely want to give this place a try. Located after the Oxxo coming into town, take the first left, midway down the street, on the right-side. Price range -$$ moderate.
Sunset Bar I really dig going to this spot for sunset! –Grabbing a cold beer and some guacamole 😉 Located across the church on the beach side. Price range -$$ moderate.
Tacos El Pastorcito You might also know of this place as the pastor place on the corner near the bus stop. Or… you might just be familiar with Jorge, the big jovial kid who really runs the place -GREAT! Here, they serve a variety of dishes. But… my favorite and a favorite to a lot of other peeps, is the Chop Suey (and… NO it is not asian) …but, it is DELICIOUS! It is a plate that comes with a pile of chopped beef, pastor, bacon, veggies, and cheese. –Served with your choice of corn or flour tortillas hand-made and quite the spicy salsa on the side. Price range -$ low.
Tacos El Tuviz Great afternoon spot for tacos 😋. Often the girl there will have an option of 3 types of filler. —All FANTASTIC in flavor! Located across the street from the Thrifty Ice Cream joint. Price range – $ low.
*** La Isla de Navidad ***
El Pescado Sushi Bar and Restaurant For a fun adventure, boat over to Colimilla and walk up the hill about two blocks (behind the three restaurants there along the lagoon), and dine on the BEST SUSHI in our area! *My favorite, the Dynamite Roll! Not to mention, …Fabulous Cocktails, as well 🙂 Run by a good friend of ours, Chuy —of the Fortino family. * O.K. Location might now be situated at Fortino’s (updated in September 2022) Price range -$$ moderate
Palmera Negra Run by my good friends Maria and Bernie, plus Pablo and Carlitos☺️. Located out on Playa de Cocos, this charming spot created by them offers not only the BEST cocktails and Delicious Food; like Pad Thai, Salad Bowls, and Jalapeño Poppers, but…… a beautiful view, a refreshing pool to dip into, and a place to stay (in their cabanas). They also offer there location for a reasonable price to host an event☺️ To get there, driving over to the Isla, you pass Playa Grande and Musica Del Mar, and a bit more to the left (should be a sign), you pull up and to the first right is the place😉 Price range -$$ moderate.
*** In Melaque ***
Bistro Escondido —Run by a friend of mine, Arriana. Here she provides GREAT food, AMAZING ambiance, and WONDERFUL service, not to mention, TASTY beverages!!! Located in Melaque, take the last entrance in (as if you were to head to Custacomate), then take the first right, then when you can, another right. –There it will sit 😉 Open Thursday thru Sunday from 5pm – 10pm. Price range – $$ moderate.
El Patio Just recently, this restaurant was introduced to me from a friend of mine. I have to say, …it is right up there as one of my favorite places for breaky. Located just across the street from the bank is where you will find it. And… don’t be afraid to enter, because… right inside is a wonderful little patio to hang out in. It’s so damn cozy –you could stay for hours. Also, they have a tremendous menu! Plus, there coffee is pretty good for these parts. And… the quantity of food that you get is incredible! Price range – $$ moderate.
El Quetzal Situated near La Taza Negra, this little gem is a fabulous spot for both breakfast and/or dinner😋. They serve a variety of dishes, including: standard breakfast items, crepes, salads, burgers, and pizza. Price range – $$ moderate.
Estacion Del Caffee De Beny Just as you enter Melaque on the main road in, on the left side of the street midway down the block in this quaint little coffee shop, run by a sweet guy by the name of Gama ☺️. —Whom takes great pride in serving a world-class cup of jo. Paying great detail to how he serves his espresso drinks😌. And… not only does he make a great cup, he also is the roaster —pretty AMAZING! You can purchase his beans there, and around town. Price range – $$ moderate.
La Chanita The BEST place for Traditional and Authentic Chinese food! –Run by a lovely little lady, Xie Li. Here you can purchase, Beef and Brocolli, Kung Pao, and more….. Plus, she delivers to Melaque and Barra. The phone number is 315.355.9083 and/or 314.148.7291 Open 1:00-9:00 7 days a week. Price range -$$ moderate.
La Oficina A great place to go to unwind in the evening. Not only does Aaron serve wonderful food, including THE BEST hamburger in Melaque, he has a full bar, stocked with THE COLDEST BEERS around😋. It’s great to go with a few friends and shoot the shit or a little pool. And… some nights he offers LIVE music. Located in Villa Obregon, near its square, on the east side of it. Price range -$$ moderate.
La Taza Negra A GREAT coffee shop that has a lot to offer. —Any and every espresso beverage, coffee beans available for sale, baked goods, breakfast items, smoothies, teas, and much more. Run by my great friend, Alejandro Alex Amador Navarro. Located in Villa Obregon, just where the tiangi’s set up shop on Wednesday’s there. Price range – $$ moderate.
Macondo Cafe Fantastic spot for Live Music and a cocktail!😁. The building that it is in, once was both a theater and skate park —ginormous in size, so great for acoustics! Sweet ambiance and wonderful customer service! Located right off the main square in Melaque near to the taxis. And… run by a great friend, Benji😊. Price range – $$ moderate.
Mariscos Hermanos Rubi All I got to say is -nothing is better than a few surimi or marlin tostadas after an afternoon surf session… and add a cool and refreshing beverage to wash it down –pure bliss! If you haven’t already, at some point you must try out this place. It has a LOT of items on the menu and at great prices. In fact, you can get completely full and totally satisfied for just $50 pesos. Not totally located in the heart of Melaque, but rather in-between Melaque and Barra on 200 across from the V.I.P. Price range – $ low.
Pechacane For INCREDIBLE AMBIANCE, this is THE SPOT☺️. As you enter Melaque where the dolphin statue is, it’s about a block down on the right, right after the Kiosko. Here you will find a decent salad, and thin-crust pizza -served with a nice variety of salsas. Price range – $$ moderate.
*** In La Manzanilla ***
Bahia Azul If you are interested in hanging on the beach, in the shade, with a great drink and a platter of delicious food, THIS IS THE PLACE! I personally love the B.L.T.’s 😋! It’s located on the main road going towards the jardin, midway on the right. After Figaro and before Pedro’s. Price range – $$ moderate.
Cafe du Calcetin A little hidden gem on the beach at the far end of La Manzanilla -towards the river mouth. A place to go chill on the beach, sipping a nice espresso 😋. Price range – $$ moderate.
Fenix By far… My favorite restaurant of 2021! Run by a wonderful couple, Martha and Elia. Whom which set up a lovely little setting and great ambiance! —Serving fantastic cocktails and superb food at decent prices. A bit hard to find the first time, but…. Memorable and easy to get back to, ‘cause you’re gonna go again :). Best way to describe where it is at, is maybe…. Take the main road in, take a left halfway to the main road into town, and across where NO Bullshit Coffee is located. To call for reservations, which I highly recommend, call 315.115.7738 Price range -$$ moderate
Martin’s If you are down for a beautiful evening, go to Martin’s come sunset. It’s absolutely gorgeous! Martin, offer’s great food, and sometimes he even cooks it for you at your table. Just ask him what is fresh on the menu and he will tell you. He serves traditional mexican dishes, seafood dishes, and pretty high-end plates of steak. As you are driving into La Manz., just follow the main road into the square, pass the square, and it is on the right -upstairs. Price range -$$$ high.
Palapa Joe’s Great spot for a casual lunch or dinner. And… it’s a terrific place to watch the latest sports game. Also, if you fancy a game of bocci balls, Willy offers a tight little spot to play a round. As far as food, they have yummy fried artichokes, tasty hamburgers, nice thin crust pizza, and much more. Price range -$$ moderate.
Panaderia Leia The Bakery TO GO TO😋. —Run by Miss Leia Bowers. Here you can find THE BEST cinnamon rolls, sticky buns, muffins, and more …including desserts such as; pies, cakes, and tartlets. And a heads up, if you are not in La Manz., you can find her lovely little treats in Melaque at Estacion Del Caffee Beny or La Taza Negra. In Barra, you can find her stuff at La Bruja. But…. if you happen to be in La Manz., she is located on the left side of the road, just as you drive the main road going to the square, before you hit Palapa Joe’s. If you hit Palapa Joe’s, you’ve gone too far. Price range -$$ moderate.
Pedro’s Fish Tacos By far, THE BEST FISH TACOS in the area! He has both fried and grilled Mahi Mahi tacos, and shrimp tacos –which both come with his amazing chipotle mayo salsa and tamarindo salsa –YUMMY! Also, you must know that he is also located directly on the beach. Just drive as if you are going to the square, and he is located on the right side just before you hit the square. Open from 11ish am – 6:00 pm. Price range -$$ moderate.
The Lab A GREAT coffee shop! Here… Laura and Monica offer great tasting coffee, baked goods, and variety of dishes at decent prices. You can find them close to the Jardin, on the left, as you drive in. Price range – $$ moderate.
Xacalli My FAVORITE place for pizza! But besides having the best pizza around, they have great salads! Additionally, they might have the best cocktails, too! Besides serving great pizza and salad, they too serve pasta dishes, fish dishes, and more. Now… it’s a tiny restaurant, but with a ton of charm! Just located right at the tip of the triangle when you drive towards the square. Price range – $$ moderate.