17 Super Delish Restaurants in Bacalar Vegans & Vegetarians Will Love
Looking for delicious restaurants in beautiful Bacalar to please your plant-based palate? You’re in luck! I literally just ate my way through all the top spots in town to get your plant fix. A harrowing task, I know. But when it comes to food, you don’t have to twist my arm to take one for the team.
As a Mexico expat and lifelong vegetarian who previously spent 4 years as a vegan, I’m amazed at how many of Mexico’s off-the-beaten path destinations get plant food right. You can certainly find some terrific vegan and veggie eats in Merida, where I live. But whenever I venture out of the city, it’s clear that the cochinita-heavy capital of Yucatan could stand to learn a thing or two from the Yucatan Peninsula’s smaller towns.
Enter the admirable plant food scene in the stunning pueblo magico of Bacalar.
From breakfast and brunch to quick bites and fine dining, all the restaurants in Bacalar on this list are top choices for vegetarians and vegans. While you won’t find any exclusively vegan or vegetarian restaurants in Bacalar (yet), these are hands down the best eateries for feasting on a diversity of dishes that run the gamut from healthy to decadent. And if you’re plant-based and happen to be traveling with meat or seafood eaters, these unmissable spots will work for the whole gang.
Hungry for plants in one of Mexico’s most pristine destinations? Read on!
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Tierra Ixim
🌿 dinner | 💰💰💰
Tierra Ixim is foodie heaven for diners eager to feast on refined, plant-based Mexican cuisine, thanks in no small part to its vegetarian ownership. Slide into a seat on the enchanting garden terrace and prepare to discover delectable vegan versions of traditional Mexican and Yucatecan dishes. There’s pozole, a traditional Mexican stew made with chiles, hominy and a melange of other seasonings, and a citrusy sopa de lima, one of the region’s most popular dishes. When we dined here on Thanksgiving (I love an unconventional holiday meal), we loaded our table with even more deceptively simple, but standout plates. Velvety guacamole, spicy cauliflower tacos, the smoky tamal del pueblo, and the mushroom tlayuda, a kind of Mexican pizza that’s served on a tortilla slathered with frijoles and topped with veggies. And don’t even get me started on Tierria Ixim’s first-rate mixology. Of all the restaurants in Bacalar, Tierra Ixim is my favorite.
Ruda
🌿 dinner | 💰💰💰
Ruda serves beautifully-plated and locally-sourced cuisine on a lovely and intimate dining terrace. Diners at this popular Bacalar restaurant can count on indulging in elevated comfort food. There’s a spicy vegetable curry, perfectly seasoned vegetable skewers, a baked potato loaded with earthy mushrooms, and a bunless, house-made veggie burger. Ruda’s dishes might sound simple, but the presentation is thoughtful, and the flavors pack a hefty punch. This top-rated restaurant in Bacalar also makes an excellent compromise if you’re traveling with meat and seafood lovers. And definitely don’t skimp on the cocktails. Ruda mixes some of the best libations in town.
Waah Cocina
🌿 breakfast | brunch | lunch | dinner | 💰💰💰
If you’re craving creative plant food in a beautiful and sophisticated space, Waah Cocina is the perfect place. This Bacalar restaurant, which serves the adjoining Makaaba Hotel, creates beautiful, elevated plates that totally took me by surprise in this pearl-sized town. As soon as I tasted the complex melding of flavors in my complimentary amuse bouche, I knew Waah Cocina was set to deliver. My fave dish is the flautas de requesón. These are rolled up and lightly fried tortillas filled with cheese, and they are delicate and scrumptious. Both the charred mushroom tacos and spicy panucho de nopal, a soft tortilla layered with seared strips of cactus, beans and serrano peppers, are delicious and perfect for vegans. Their enticing cocktail menu showcases mezcal and tequila-based drinks. You can also grab breakfast and lunch at Waah Cocina, which I’ll definitely be doing when I make it back!
Nixtamal
🌿 late lunch | dinner | 💰💰💰
One of the most elevated restaurants in Bacalar, Nixtamal is an absolute must for diners looking to be wowed with unique plates on a gorgeous jungle terrace. Nixtamal’s wide-ranging menu features a generous, entirely plant-based section, making it a top contender for vegans and vegetarians. (If you’re dining with seafood and steak lovers, there’s plenty they’ll love here, too). Expect a menu brimming with a mix of Asian, Mediterranean and local Mexican flavors. Standouts include the ramen with lemongrass, mushroom and seaweed, the coconut and mushroom ceviche (O-M and G, sooo good), and the eggplant moussaka stuffed with lentils and cashews. Be sure to accompany dinner with a signature cocktail from Nixtamal’s beguiling drinks menu.
La Playita
🌿 lunch | dinner | 💰💰💰
La Playita is the buzziest restaurant in Bacalar, with reviews evangelizing this enchanting eatery on the water as the best place in town. While there’s no denying that La Playita’s magical atmosphere, privileged location on the lagoon and large menu with plenty of plant-based options can’t be beat, my personal dining experience left a lot to be desired. Our guacamole was flat, my avocado tacos too heavily-breaded, and my son’s flatbread was greasy. Service was also pretty meh. So you can imagine I didn’t love it when the server automatically selected the 15% tip option when it was time to pay. I knocked it down to 10%, which is perfectly standard all over Mexico.
So why is La Playita even on this list? Because some restaurants are about more than the food. La Playita sits right on Laguna Bacalar, and it’s absolutely gorgeous. Once you’ve got your table, you can spend the day noshing, sipping cocktails and jumping from La Playita’s floating dock into Bacalar’s pristine lagoon at your leisure. It’s a privilege that makes braving the wonky food experience totally worth it. And, in all fairness, it could’ve just been a bad day for the kitchen (and the server). I have a feeling your La Playita experience will be the stuff of legend!
Pizzeria Bertilla & Luciano
🌿 dinner | 💰💰💰
There are a few Italian restaurants in Bacalar, and in my humble opinion, as someone who lived in Rome for 4 years, Pizzeria Bertilla & Luciano is the best option. (There’s another Italian restaurant in Bacalar that online reviewers swear by, but I don’t recommend it because the food is outrageously overpriced and mid, at best). The wood-fired pizzas and convivial atmosphere at Pizzeria Bertilla will leave you full and fuzzy with good vibes. You’ll find two Pizzeria Bertilla locations in Bacalar — there’s one downtown, and a second location closer to the lagoon. The latter pizzeria is more vegan friendly, with vegan salads on the menu, and options to build your own pizza (just skip the cheese). If you don’t do gluten, both Bacalar restaurant locations substitute gluten-free pasta.
Ixchel
🌿 breakfast | brunch | lunch | 💰💰
I love Ixchel. This cozy, patio restaurant in Bacalar easily serves the best breakfast and brunch in town. The food is delicious and beautifully presented, Ixchel’s prices are easy on the wallet, and the prompt service always comes with a smile. Diners can expect a wide-ranging menu that runs the gamut from lighter options like granola-topped yogurt, to heartier fare like burritos, which you can easily make veggie by holding the pollo. My son loses his mind over Ixchel’s Oreo pancakes, and my go-to here are the chilaquiles (order them divorciados, with both red & green sauce). Vegans have some great options, too. There’s avocado toast, and peanut butter toast piled high with bananas and hemp seeds. Ixchel also serves a large selection of day drinks, including coffees, teas, milkshakes, and a range of healthy, vegan-friendly smoothies using water and coconut milk as a base.
Arugula
🌿 breakfast | lunch | dinner | 💰💰
I’m all about anywhere you can divine your own salad or wrap with fresh, quality ingredients. Especially in a town where you’re running around in your swimsuit 90% of the time. Arugula, a comfy and casual corner joint with cushioned seating on a chilled-out terrace that’s giving namaste vibes, is Bacalar’s current king of healthy eats. They offer several customizable salad, sandwich and wrap options featuring fresh, plant-based ingredients that are pure manna for vegans and vegetarians. Think greens, hummus, tofu, peppers, chickpeas, quinoa, and lentils. I’m ready for a light lunch just thinking about it! Arugula also serves an impressive variety of innovative smoothies, and a selection of Kombucha, to wash it all down.
El Manati
🌿 breakfast | brunch | lunch | 💰💰
El Manati is a quintessential Bacalar restaurant with several tables perched amid a charming and verdant terrace. Equal parts eatery and concept space, El Manati’s enormous interior doubles as an art gallery and shop where local artists and artisans sell their wares. You can discover some intriguing art pieces and local products, like honey and handmade clothing, whose sale helps support the local community. That said, there’s also a fair amount of bric-a-brac, so peruse and purchase wisely.
But we’re here for the food! Breakfasters will find all the usual suspects like omelets, chilaquiles and pancakes. Lunch features more filling fare like the veggie burrito and veggie burger. Vegans will be enticed by exotic local flavors. There’s a coconut ceviche tostada, vegan enmoladas and sopa del huerto, a soup loaded with local vegetables like chaya and herbs like hoja santa. If you’ve got a wheat allergy, El Manati caters to the gluten-free set.
Enamora
🌿 breakfast | brunch | lunch | 💰💰
Vegans, vegetarians and gluten-free diners rejoice! Enamora is one of the best breakfast and lunch restaurants in Bacalar for plant-based and gluten-free diners. Their menu is rife with those tell-tale “green plant” and “no-wheat” icons that herald you’ve found your tribe. Good luck choosing among all the goodies! The hummus salad, quinoa salad, jackfruit and eggplant sandwich, vegan flautas, and the black bean tartine are all excellent, plant-based options. There’s even vegan ice cream and vegan sweet breads for desert! And you get to savor all this plant-based deliciousness on a relaxing terrace that’s bursting with good vibes.
Picaflor
🌿 breakfast | lunch | 💰💰
The lush terrace at this Bacalar breakfast and lunch restaurant is the perfect place to kickstart your day, or tuck in for a filling lunch. If the heat and mosquitoes happen to be out in full force (you’re in the jungle, baby), you can dine inside under the blessing of Picaflor’s colorful hummingbird mural. I love that breakfast here is affordable, and loaded with egg dishes and specialty plates like crepes and yogurt bowls. Last time I popped into Picaflor was during lunch. Avocado-topped vegan tacos for me, veggie burger and fries for the hubs. Portions are generous and the food is delish! Picaflor also boasts an impressive selection of herbal teas, and they serve organic coffee every which way you can imagine, from rich espressos to lattes spiked with Bailey’s. Yum!
Yerbabuena
🌿 breakfast | lunch | 💰
Yerbabuena is Bacalar’s resident smoothie bar and health food restaurant. The smoothies here showcase a variety of local fruits, like mango, papaya, and coconut, and you can also customize them with homemade almond milk. Yerbabuena is one of the few health food restaurants in Bacalar where you’ll find juice shots made with superfoods like turmeric and ginger, as well as Golden Milk, my favorite soothing, non-caffeinated elixir. You can also enjoy a variety of tasty plant-based toasts, bowls and salads in Yerbabuena’s cozy and vibrant dining room.
Mango y Chile
🌿 lunch | dinner | 💰💰
Mango y Chile is one of the restaurants in Bacalar I could eat at every day. It’s that ridiculously delicious. Fortunately, I managed to exercise some restraint last time I was in town because we’re not exactly talking superfoods here — Mango y Chile serves plant-based fast food comfort food at its finest. The good news is that everything is high-quality and super fresh. You’ll even clock a few salads and healthy smoothies on the menu to balance out the more decadent options. But let’s be honest. You’re totally here for the tacos, burgers, hot dogs, and milkshakes. Topping my delish list are the Ahumada burger, a smoky soy patty covered in Gouda cheese, the veggie hot dog, and the Crujitofu tacos. And the fries. Dear lord, the fries. The best in Bacalar, if not the whole Yucatan Peninsula.
Mi Burrito
🌿 lunch | dinner | 💰💰
Being from Los Angeles, I’ve got a pretty high bar for food truck burritos. Us Angeleno’s are food truck pioneers, and the city’s massive Mexican population means Los Angeles serves some of the best burritos on wheels north of the border. So you can’t blame me for having high hopes for Mi Burrito. Which turned out to be… just okay. Of their 2 vegetarian burrito options, The Pachuco is made with Jamaica flower, and The Guadalupano comes with carrot, broccoli and zucchini. The hubs and I ordered 1 of each. The Pachuco was tasty enough when you got a bite of the Jamaica, but unfortunately it wasn’t plentiful. I’m glad I added avocado to the Guadalupano because the carrot, broccoli and zucchini weren’t so special. Honestly, the bucket of salsas they leave at the table went a long way to jazzing up lunch.
Despite this, Mi Burrito has some saving graces. It’s got a cool vibe — a tricked-out food truck surrounded by a smattering of picnic tables and colorful murals. The location is also a big bonus. Mi Burrito sits on a central stretch of Bacalar’s main, lagoon-side road, making it a quick, convenient and cheap spot to grab a meal on your way to or from the lagoon. Was it my fave? No. Would I grab a quick burrito if I was starving after a day on the water? Totes. And I certainly can’t hate on their cheap cocktail menu or $2 beers.
Madre Masa
🌿 breakfast | brunch | 💰💰
This bustling Bacalar breakfast and brunch spot is known for turning out some seriously heavenly pan, or bread. From luxurious pain aux chocolats to oh-so-sweet cinnamon rolls, Madre Masa bakes tempting confections that are totally worth rising and shining for. Get here a hair past 11 and you’ll find the most popular pastries sold out, and the restaurant jam-packed. But don’t despair. On my last stop here, the host remedied our wait by giving us the option to dine “family style” by joining another table. You’ll still have a fine selection of coffees, smoothies and interesting veggie plates to choose from, like the cactus and avocado toast, and the cauliflower pita. And from my experience, there’s always a buttery croissant or two left.
La Kinta Cafe
🌿 breakfast | lunch | 💰💰
Located in downtown Bacalar, La Kinta Cafe is a relaxed and welcoming café to enjoy coffee, tea, smoothies, and some solid nosh. It’s not exactly a destination restaurant, but it’s certainly a good place to grab a sweet crepe or savory veggie bagel after working up an appetite exploring Bacalar’s main plaza, which is just across the street. Salad and avocado toast are the primary vegan options, so I’d say vegetarians will have more luck here. La Kinta brews some pretty strong coffee, so I also like to pop in for a little pick-me-up.
Ajal
🌿 breakfast | brunch | lunch | dinner | 💰💰
One of the newer restaurants in Bacalar, Ajal is a pretty, modern and al fresco dining spot downtown. Ajal has an all day menu that aims to satisfy an array of eaters. Breakfast features plates like fruit bowls, hummus avocado toast, egg casseroles, and carrot tacos. Lunch and dinner don’t have as many plant-based options as the daytime menu, but you’ll still find a veggie burrito, vegetable rolls and a roasted portobello salad. I love Ajal’s curbside drink bar, where you can either grab a coffee or creative smoothie to-go, or stay to drink and dangle in an oversized swing. If you’re here for dinner or happy hour, Ajal mixes up some seriously fine drinks.
The Wrap
I hope this roundup of the best restaurants in Bacalar that vegans and vegetarians will love hits the spot! I cannot overstate how thoughtful, fresh and delicious so much of the food is in this beautiful and rustic jungle paradise. Bacalar might not have any full-on vegan or veggie restaurants, but there’s no denying that plant food is king!
As a Mexico expat and lifelong vegetarian, I’m very impressed by the variety of restaurants in Bacalar that cater to plant-based eaters. As I mentioned at the beginning of this article, this seems to be a theme among The Peninsula’s smaller towns and cities. You can read about my similar plant-based awakening in my Unrivaled Guide to El Cuyo, a tiny, magical fishing village in Yucatan that you absolutely must visit. The incredible island of Cozumel is another excellent, plant-based hub. Read all about it in my article, The 29 Absolute Best Vegetarian and Vegan Restaurants in Cozumel.
Don’t go to Bacalar without checking out my other articles so you can design an incredible getaway.
Check out my Unrivaled Guide to Bacalar, which is chalk full of essential Bacalar travel tips, including the 30 best things to do in Bacalar. Here’s a rundown of the 17 best beach clubs in Bacalar, my Unrivaled Guide to Los Rapidos, Bacalar’s must-visit “lazy river,” and my 100% honest, uncompensated review of Casa Hormiga, the uber-stylish boutique hotel I always stay at in Bacalar.
And don’t forget to tell me about everything you eat in Bacalar in the comments below!
As always, inspired travels Amiga! 💜
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