A Candid Review of Akumal’s Eateries

We take a look at all the places to eat in the town of Akumal, Mexico.  All are owned by locals who also operate them.  These are just our opinions… other people’s opinions may vary!

Lol-Ha Resturant in Akumal

Lol-Ha on Akumal Bay Our favorite!  The Beach Bar has a large palapa style outside dining area surrounded by palms with a great ocean view and cool ocean breeze. The menu offers a wide selection of well prepared foods. For more elegant dining, the main dining area offers a beautiful indoor dining room and a full menu. Their breakfast is a delight. The staff are friendly and helpful.  Friday Happy Hour is a Local’s Favorite.  The Lol-Ha Pizzeria offers freshly baked pizzas.  Located on the right just inside the arch in central Akumal.

La Buena Vida, “The Good Life”  This restaurant has a gorgeous view of Half Moon Bay. The shrimp tacos are wonderful!  The beach bar has swings instead of bar stools.  A fun “night life” place that rocks from Happy Hour to closing everyday.  Wednesday is karaoke night.  Dining on the beach or upstairs in the dining room.  They have a gift shop across the street with some fun stuff for sale.  It’s located on the beach road in the north of Akumal.

Cueva de Pescador, “The Cave of the Fisherman”–Freshest fish in Akumal!  Pescador is a seafood restaurant offering local fresh seafood caught by their own boats daily.  Grouper, Red Snapper, Boquinete (a local favorite), Atun (Tuna) and Dorado (Mahi Mahi) are usually available depending on the season.It is owned by Carlos Danú, a professional fisherman in Akumal since 1982, who for a fee will take you fishing and cook your catch for dinner!  We have fished with Carlos several times.  Always fun and inexpensive compared to the States.  Book fishing trips at the resturant.  Located on the left in the center of Akumal.

Turtle Bay Bakery & Cafe. They bake their own breads, cakes, cookies and pastries daily. Come early for the best selection.  Their breakfast is a treat. Open for breakfast andlunch.  Dinner in the high season.  Located in the center of Akumal behind Cueva de Pescador.

La Lunita, an intimate beach cafe serves contemporary style Mexican cuisine. Indoor or beach seating.  La Lunita is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner during the winter. Dinner only summer and fall.  It’s located in Hacienda Las Tortugas condos on Half Moon Bay in north Akumal.

Que Onda! specializes in Italian cuisine and is personally attended by owners.. Enjoy fresh pastas made daily in house and a nice selection of Italian wines. Enjoy dining in a beautiful garden setting and with an illuminated pool. Que Onda is located in a tropical garden setting at the north end of Akumal near Yal-ku Lagoon.

Loncheria Akumalito is a small breakfast/lunch bar located next to Super Chomak Grocery.  It is inexpensive with simple, delicious meals.

Lucy’s Kitchen Shrimp Tacos and handmade gormet ice cream.  Located by the basketball courts on the left before you go through the arch.

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Akumal is a safe place to travel and is not known for crime like some other larger resort areas. It is always a good idea to be smart about your cash and valuables when travelling anywhere, and Akumal is no exception. Violent crimes like muggings are virtually non-existent in Akumal, but theft is a possibility like any tourist area. If you rent a car, don’t leave valuables inside the car and make good use of the safes that hotels provide. Wearing a money belt is also another good tip to make sure your money stays with you and you can avoid being pick pocketed.

One health tip that is a must not just for Akumal, but for all of Mexico is not to drink the tap water. This sounds like a cliché, but it is one that is true. Drink only bottled water or purified water and even use that to make your morning cup of coffee. It is okay to take showers or wash dishes with the water, but to avoid any illness, do not ingest the tap water. Hotels and other accommodations usually offer plenty of bottled or filtered water to their guests.

Another important travel tip especially for Akumal is to bring a small flashlight with you, especially if you do not plan to rent a car. While everything is within 15 minutes walking distance, at night you will most likely be walking along unlit roads. There are no streetlights along these roads, so it’s important to have this flashlight handy so you can see where you are going and motorists can see you traversing along the road. Some of these roads, especially the North Akumal road, need paving and can be rough walking at night. You need the flashlight to make sure you don’t trip over anything or fall into a pothole. Put a flashlight at the top of your things to pack list, especially if you do not plan to rent a car.

In terms of renting a car, you can decide to rent a car and there are plenty of rentals in town, or you can take advantage of the many taxis or collectivos available. Collectivos are white vans and are less costly than taxis or car rentals. They can be hailed from the street and are often available to take you to popular tourist destinations. For only $2, you can take a collectivo from Playa de Carmen to Tulum. This is definitely a bargain for the traveler on a budget who doesn’t mind sharing a ride with others. If you are going to rent a car, especially during high season, it is best to make your arrangements in advance as availability can be limited when there are a lot of tourists in town.

If you follow these tips, pack a lot of sunscreen, and travel smart and safe, you can enjoy your trip to Akumal and not have any unfortunate incidents or illnesses.

If you would like more information and travel links, visit our Travel Directory or our Akumal Vacation Articles and add your travel site’s link or travel article while you are there.