A gem on Oaxaca’s Pacific coastline, Mazunte is a tranquil, hippy town known for its eco-conscious vibe and laidback attitude. For such a small place Mazunte actually has a great selection of places to eat. Whilst if you’re looking for fine dining or special occasion restaurants this is probably not the place for you – if you’re more in the market for low key restaurants, cafes and beach bars where shoes or even a top are optional, then Mazunte’s food scene is probably right up your street.
I originally only intended to stay in the town for 3 nights and a couple of weeks later I still hadn’t left so I had plenty of time to find some of the best restaurants in Mazunte.
Here’s a guide to where to eat in Mazunte.
El Armadillo – Plant based Moroccan food
Armadillo is probably one of the best restaurants in Mazunte and as such, it’s popular. If you’re going in a group or require a table at a specific time then it’s worth making a reservation. It’s slightly on a hill and away from the main street meaning it’s not too loud, unlike many of the places in town.
It’s a plant based and describes itself as a Moroccan restaurant (the owner is Moroccan), but serves a range of dishes with both North Africa and Middle Eastern influence.
It has a great ambiance with rustic wooden furniture and an open-air setting. They’ve got some nice wine options as well as special house cocktails. Portions are very big, so consider sharing some of the more expensive dishes. Some must try dishes are below –
- Moroccan platter: Falafel, hummus & other Moroccan favourites in a huge platter
- Cauliflower tagine: Packed full of flavour, it’s a sharer dish with juicy sultanas and served with flatbreads.
Cenzontle: The best burgers in Mazunte
While you might not come to Mexico for burgers, if you’ve been on the road a while you might be craving something different.
They have a range of freshly made burgers at decent prices, with a nice bun and rosemary fries., You can also order many of the burgers as either beef, the fish of the day, or a vegetarian lentil-oat patty.
La Terraza de Arquitecto: Beachside drinks
La Terraza de Arquitecto is a bit of a remote worker favourite due to its shady terrace and decent wifi, but I think it’s one of the best restaurants in Mazunte for a few reasons. Firstly, it opens early (usually around 7am) which means that if you go for a sunrise swim then you can grab a coffee there afterwards. Secondly it has pairs of chairs out on a sun deck, meaning it’s also a really great spot to have a cocktail at sunset.
With its prime location right over the beach, La Terraza de Arquitecto is the perfect spot to unwind after a day of swimming or sunbathing. The restaurant features open-air seating, letting you feel the ocean breeze while enjoying your meal.
Food is the normal local fayre, including decent breakfasts, tacos and sandwiches and a few fish options.
Fish & Love Parrillada: For the Grill Enthusiasts
If you’re a fan of grilled seafood, look no further than Fish & Love Parrillada. It does have seemingly unreliable opening times as often when I walked past it wasn’t open, but you’ll know when it is – because of the huge smoking grill at the front!
The grill is the heart of this restaurant, and they have a massive range of seafood to choose from, although given it’s fresh local catch, it does depend on what the fishermen have brought in.
Expect giant shrimp/prawns sometimes even lobster, as well as a selection of fish served with side dishes like rice, potatoes and salad. It’s quite a unique spot in town and it’s always popular, although given the prices are done by weight, it can be hard to know how much you’re going to spend when you go in.
La Pizzeria
There are a few pizza places in town but La Pizzeria is definitely the best restaurant in Mazunte serving Italian food. The bases are freshly made and doughy, rather than the dry and crispy bases of some other places down the main street.
They’ve got a big selection of pizzas and focaccia options too. The Napolitana with fresh anchovies is delicious and the Hawaiian pizza is really good too. They sometimes (or the place next door) have live music and it’s in a shady area under some trees.
If you’ve still got space for dessert the generously sized tiramisu is worth trying.
La Tertulia Mazunte – For top tacos!
La Tertulia is definitely one of the best restaurants in Mazunte. It’s not fancy, with casual seats and completely outdoor dining, but the battered shrimp tacos were so good I came back on a few occasions. During the day it’s a gorgeous place to sit, with its prime location right by the beach, and at night time the breeze comes in from the water meaning it’s a bit cooler and they often have live music nearby.
If you’re not in a taco mood then the sushi is fresh and delicious and the beers are served ice cold.
Pan de Vida
Painfully slow service but very tasty freshly made bakery goods. The pain au chocolate is soft & yummy while the homemade pizza slices are a great snack too.
They have a range of coffees and some great baguettes and other breads. Come early if you want to get the best choices of items.
Granito de Arroz – for smoothies
It’s a vegetarian restaurant/café, which is always busy, especially in the morning for breakfast.
It does a great selection of juices & smoothies, coffees with a variety of milks and some nice options for eggs & salads.
The servers seem generally annoyed about having to serve you but if you’re not in any kind of rush – why would you be – then it’s fine.
Tips for visiting restaurants in Mazunte
- Plan Ahead: Many restaurants in Mazunte are small and fill up quickly, especially during peak season. Reservations are a good idea for popular spots like Cenzontle and Armadillo.
- Check Operating Hours: Some restaurants may have limited hours or be closed on certain days, so it’s best to confirm ahead of time if you’ve got somewhere you really want to go. Google times seem to be quite unreliable.
- Cash is King: While a few places accept cards, it’s wise to carry cash as many are cash only and there aren’t many ATMs in Mazunte.
