A exceptional farm-to-table restaurant located in the farmland to the east of San Jose del Cabo, Acre is being heralded as a more contemporary, South Beach version of longtime favorite Flora’s Farm, just down the road.

A newly introduced dining concept at Maroma Resort, Aldea Maya (meaning “Mayan Village”) offers guests an authentic Yucatecan experience set jungleside in a recreated Mayan “village” within the grounds of the resort. Diners eat in a casual, open-air setting as chefs prepare food over an open flame using clay pots and pans, and servers dressed in the traditional white embroidered “huipiles” dish up a memorable meal showcasing the region’s signature flavors. Expect to sample dishes like black bean stew with sour cactus fruit salsa and lion fish cooked in a banana leaf with mint, tomatillo and local citrus salsa. A portion of the Aldea Maya proceeds will be used to create and promote ecological and educational programs that will directly benefit the local Mayan communities. Non-guests are also welcome to make reservations for the experience.

Guests of the Four Seasons rave about the excellent food and service at Aramara and swear a dinner here should not be missed. The chef has toured extensively in Indonesia, Malaysia and Hong Kong, and his menu features a Latin American-Asian fusion. In addition to the terrace and indoor areas, there is also a small private room and a bar. Aramara is open only for dinner and features a live band six nights per week.

Dining under hundreds of candles in a beautiful courtyard within Mexico City’s historic center is reason enough to choose Azul Historico. Add one of the capital’s most well-regarded chefs, Ricardo Munoz Zurito, and it’s clear that Azul Historico is a ‘must’ restaurant in the city. The restaurant’s cuisine is traditionally Mexican, with bright flavor notes in every dish and an impressive level of complexity to each preparation. The meal’s coup de grâce is the Mexican hot chocolate cart that allows guests to have their dessert prepared to their liking tableside.

The more casual of the Four Seasons’ two dinner restaurants, Bahía is a great pick both for guests of the resort and travelers staying elsewhere. The menu focuses on fresh seafood and meat cooked on an open grill visible from the dining area and served with a selection of sauces. My husband raved about the freshly grilled catch of the day, but my favorite was the tangy ceviche appetizer. Reserve one of the front tables, where you dine with your toes in the sand. Bahía also offers a children’s menu.

This intimate cocktail bar has a quiet, cozy, speakeasy vibe and is great for a before- or after-dinner drink and conversation. In 2023, it made the World’s 50 Best list.

Recommended by an Indagare community insider

Located on the main drag in Sayulita, Barracuda has four small lunch tables where patrons can order fresh ceviche, fish tacos and delicious margaritas. If you’re lucky, you’ll catch a spontaneous performance by locals, who often sing and dance across the street from the restaurant.

Identifiable by the lime sorbet–green vintage Volkswagon bug parked outside, Batey's is the best spot in town for cocktails. They specialize in mojitos using raw sugar cane juice made from a handcrank (that is incidentally set in the Beetle's backseat). Most nights feature live music and there are yummy, simple snacks, like tomato bruschetta available.

A historic Mexico city institution, Café Tacuba is beloved for its interiors first and food second. While the stained glass draws perhaps the most eyes, the high ceilings leave plenty of space for the blue and white tiling, shelves of colored glasses surrounded by painted flowers and dangling greenery and iron lanterns. The menu is large, serving tasty, authentic Mexican dishes for reasonable prices at breakfast, lunch and dinner. To be in the center of the action, request a table in the main dining room, but the smaller spaces are atmospheric as well. A live mariachi band plays daily, but double check the website for hours.

Recommended by an Indagare community insider

This whimsical little coffee shop is done up in sleek wood and burnished gold chandeliers, with an ornate spherical mirror and an ornamental metal railing blocking off a small lofted dining area. There is also a smattering of tables outside where travelers can enjoy pastries, sandwiches and coffee, or even a glass of wine. There can be long lines and during peak times, it may feel cramped.

Recommended by an Indagare community insider

This local favorite serves elevated French bistro classics—mussels in white wine; beef tartare and an excellent caesar salad—alongside a variety of surprises, such as uni on brioche wedges or delicate parsnip dumplings.

This new restaurant from Gabriela Ruiz is stylish and upscale while still maintaining a warm and inviting atmosphere.

One of only a few restaurants in Mexico with an AAA Five Diamond Award, the St. Regis’s most formal restaurant is an excellent option for a big night out in Punta Mita. The seafood-heavy menu features local ingredients prepared in a Mediterranean style, white tablecloths and romantic, candlelit atmosphere that’s ideal for couples. Ask for a table on the terrace, which has great sea views.

Set on the jungle side of the beach road, Casa Banana is an open-air restaurant that serves delicious dishes and snacks throughout the day (breakfast is heavenly) and night. Specialties include the grilled meat, seafood and vegetables that are cooked over open wood-burning fires. There is also a small bar that serves elegant takes on margaritas.

Putting a creative spin on traditional Oaxacan food, Casa Oaxaca is lauded as the city’s best restaurant. Foodies will be in heaven here. It is owned by the hotel Casa Oaxaca—but it is not located at the hotel. Try to request tables on the roof for beautiful views of the Santo Domingo Cathedral.

A perennial favorite, the restaurant of this cabana hotel is a lovely spot for a late lunch. The small dining room faces the sea, its windows are flung open, inviting in a breeze, and the menu includes delicious thin-crust pizza and large salads. Breakfast is also served until late morning.

Chef Mónica Patiño is often considered the Alice Waters of Mexico, and Casa Virginia is her flagship restaurant, showcasing elevated takes on traditional Mexican cuisine. Her signature dish is the roast lamb served in a pasilla chile sauce. The restaurant is open for dinner, but most CDMX locals take their biggest meal at lunchtime. To join that chic crowd, get a daytime reservation.

Locals and plugged-in visitors craving authentic Mexican fare, especially incredible mole, head to this laid-back spot in town. The friendly chef and owner is passionate about sourcing the best local ingredients and her menu and the restaurant’s setting is perfect for a local, delicious dinner. The restaurant is located one block north of Avenida Tulum. (Credit cards are not accepted.)

Eating a Choco Banana is as much a Sayulita experience as catching a wave or downing a fish taco. Served to hungry surfers since 1991, the treat is divinely simple: a frozen banana dipped in chocolate and served cold. Anyone in the town can point you to this ramshackle patio on the main plaza. Buy one of their signature treats the moment you arrive in Sayulita, because you’ll probably want another before you depart.