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Wow wow amazing foodie experience here. Can't recommend enough if you want a unique, superbly tasty experience highlighting ingredients of the region. We had a great server, Jonathan, who gave great recommendations. Each dish was presented with a detailed explanation which was appreciated. Everything was super high quality, unique and delicious.
The food was unique. We ordered the venison tartare, the soft shell crab taco, the bone marrow, and suckling pig. We wanted the Mexican Wagyu for the kids but they were hesitant about cooking it medium well so we passed. Everything was so good except the pig. It was not crispy like the description and it was sour. The service was so so. The waitress took really long to take our order after telling us to make a full order when we sat down. The bus boys were more attentive and definitely were on point clearing tables and bringing dishes. The restaurant was outdoor and there was limited lighting. It was so dark and had to use my flashlight to see the dishes. There were big fans so it was nice and cool and they had citronella somewhere to avoid the bugs.
The Striped Seabass with green mole and jicama salad is worth the trip. Order 2. You won't want to share. Other highlights include the prawns, wagyu, and bone marrow. Do not skip desert. The ingredients and preparation are outstanding. Believe it or not, the inventive cocktail menu makes the already superlative menu even better. Don't overlook some adventure in a glass. With the tulum vibes in the dining room, open kitchen, and great service ARCA is a must visit.
This is our 3rd or 4th time dining at Arca, out of maybe 10 to 12 times coming to Tulum. The last time hadn't left a great impression, so we wouldn't have thought to bother again, except for our friends wanted to go. The night began with an inelegant ritual of standing in a line crowding around an iPad to scan 2 QR codes, one for internet, requisite for the second one which was for the menu. Understandable, but with a line of 10 people behind us, it was a bit of an uncomfortable start to the night. While of course physical menus are preferable (not to mention more than justified by the price points) and feel more substantial and necessitate less of the entire restaurant looking into little blue screens in an otherwise dark and dim warm candle lit space, I guess I would suggest doing this whole ritual once seated at the table. We ordered eight dishes in all. The kid's dish came first, crispy chicken and potatoes. Big slabs of meat with hidden cartilage, not ideal for our 7 and 3 year olds. The first dish of our meal was the Dzikilpak-- meticulous and painstakingly prepared, and sadly not very interesting. Kind of like a pesto hummus. The work that went into conceptualizing the presentation felt primary, and the food itself a side thought. This was, we discovered, a feature and not a bug. In rapid succession, we were served the bluefin toro, shrimp and crab esquites. The toro looked absolutely gorgeous until a too-viscous red sauce was poured all over it, completely overwhelming its delicate flavor and obscuring any sort of specialness that may have been. The fermented mix underneath didn't make a lot of sense and also seemed unnecessary. Texture was great though, and quality was apparent. Then there were the prawns, 4 of them swimming in a large bowl of cashew sauce--a ratio so absurd--but it was explained to us that if you wished, you could drink the sauce with the emptied out shrimp heads. Thanks. The esquites was the low point of the meal. Offered up in a large shell, the corn tasted like waterlogged corn nuts, having the consistency of chickpeas. Mealy was the word that came to mind. Neither the shell nor the dim light saved its unappetizing appearance, which could have been easily overlooked if it tasted incredible. Seabass was decent but I wouldn't base a whole meal around it. After a long intermission, punctuated by the stinging of mosquito bites, the bone marrow and tlayuda were dropped. The former was overly wrought, too many flavors and far too smoky. The latter was brought, with much pomp and circumstance, in what looked like a bowling ball, dramatically opened to reveal its anticlimactic contents. This was a humble dish, not only in appearance but in flavor--I'm sure the steak was good quality, but I was glad I had asked for habanero sauce to give the dish a modicum of flavor. The pacing was uneven, which again could be overlooked had the meal been exceptional and had the hostess not made such a big deal upon entry about our strict time limit of an hour and a half, a timeline they themselves struggled to meet. The prices were the least offensive part of the meal--far more offensive was its masturbatory indulgence in being creative. I always find it difficult to find the soul of "tricky" food. All in all, I think this would be a great choice for people who are unsavvy diners and easily impressed by modest theatrics. If you want woodfired, go to Hartwood or Casa Banana. Sincerely, an LA diner who felt duped by the high rating so felt the need to add my experience.
I don't know what I could possibly say about Arca that would do it justice - this is a food experience that I genuinely will remember forever. Despite staying at an all-inclusive in Tulum, once we all heard that there were so many Michelin restaurants in Tulum, we knew we had to leave the resort and experience some incredible cuisine in Tulum. Arca doesn't just feed you, it gives you a cultural experience in addition to the absolutely incredible food and drinks that are unlike anything I've experienced - and for a price that you couldn't touch anywhere else given the quality, ambiance, and experience. Stepping into Arca is like stepping into a jungle experience with its outdoor seating, wood fired ovens, with beautiful greenery around you, and candles everywhere to light the area and also keep the vibe special and natural. It's also spacious - no tables on top of each other so you just feel like you can breathe and take your time. The DRINKS! A great mix of classics and ones that brought in a really unique cultural vibe - for example, my friends ordered dirty martinis, while I opted for the Mestizo Margarita - which used sour orange which is native to Tulum and recado negro syrup to give it the black coloring. DELICIOUS! Everything was fully explained to us when it was brought out, which really added a special touch to the experience. The FOOD. Oh my god, my mouth is watering as I write this review. The food at Arca is my favorite vibe - tapas to share, so plays nicely into my typical "Do you guys just want to get a bunch of apps?" vibe. We threw everything in at once, but it was all spaced out and basically arrived 2 at a time. We had the sourdough bread that was hot and so fresh, served with a coconut butter that lives in my dreams which arrived with the bluefin tuna crudo, served in an aguachile and with a vegetarian take on a chicharron. All dishes come out with explanations of how they should be eaten as well as the culture/history behind them as well. From there, we got my personal favorite, the whole squash, which was literally a roasted squash prepared so many ways and included squash blossoms and this AMAZING sauce. That came out at the same time as the grilled broccolini that was basically a deconstructed Caesar salad with some really unique, delicious twists to elevate it. Lastly, we had the crab esquites which was a massive portion served with corn, tomato, and in this delicious broth (it was also served in a massive shell) and the Mayan octopus that sat on lentil puree with radishes. Everything was AMAZING and it was the perfect amount of food for us. Again, the service was just top-notch, next level with every dish presented and described - you could feel the pride everyone had in being a part of the dining experience at Arca and it was truly special being a part of it. As a last surprise and delight, they brought out a cake and candle since my best friend and I were in Tulum to celebrate our collective birthdays. It was SO good and came with a goat cheese ice cream that I will also probably crave forever. This is truly a must for those who want a cultural experience in a gorgeous environment with people who are truly the best of the best at what they do. This is a dining experience I still think about and cannot wait to return to for the next time I'm in Tulum!
Pros: The food is actually as good as they say online, and their beverages excel in quality compared to everything on the main Tulum street. Good vegetarian and pescatarian options. My partner has a huge aversion to mushrooms and he inhaled the mushroom ttlayuda. The ambience is amazing, an introverts paradise if you're a fan of dim ambient mood lights. Cons: Expensive! Steep. They were out of most of the mixology options on the menu that we were there to try. While seafood plates were good, the octopus was overcooked and a bit chewy. Crab tacos tasted or were primary just batter, no meat.
We went for dinner a couple weeks ago when we were in Tulum. I'm still thinking about the amazing seabass and green mole! It's so unique - doesn't taste like any seabass I've had. And so delicious and flavorful. We also got the Dzikilpak spread. It was unique and flavorful and filling. The restaurant is trendy and outdoors - typical for Tulum. Service was as expected for Tulum.
Really nice spot. Excellent service. We did the chefs tasting with alcohol pairing. Everything was small bites but so delicious and you can order more if you want. The presentation for each dish was pretty and explained with background of all the ingredients. Each pairing went well with each course. Would def recommend a nice fine dining experience here.
Tasting menu - hands down 10/10. From appetizers to mains and desserts, chefs kiss! Delicious food on our last dinner in Tulum with my girls. Servers were nice and attentive, cool vibe overall.
The food was authentic and exquisitely done. Fresh, simple, high quality ingredients, prepared perfectly with excellent waiting and table attendant, excellent cocktails.
Hands-down my favorite dining experience in Tulum. We had a 5:30 PM reservation and were seated immediately. As a family of five, it was comforting to see other families dining there as well, since some restaurants tend to lean on the clubby side. But Arca is not that, you can tell they that their focus is in the quality of their dishes. First off, I must give major props to the spots amazing taste in music, from disco to Feist, I couldn't stop singing when I wasn't sipping from the delicious cocktails. The restaurant is moody and chic, tucked under gorgeous palm trees. All of the food is shareable, and it's more fun that way so that you can taste a bunch of things. We ordered about five dishes, excluding the kids, delicious crispy chicken and potatoes. EVERYTHING WAS 10 OUT OF 10!! We live in Los Angeles and dine out frequently, a lot of restaurants are trying to pull off the Tulum thing..and while they are absolutely delicious and elevated, Arca is top tier. Highly recommend visiting.
Best food I've ever had. My first experience at a Michelin featured restaurant. The soft shell tacos were INCREDIBLE. The crab was perfectly tempura fried giving the taco a nice crunch. The tortilla is subbed out for a leaf, which I found worked perfectly with the tempura. Where a regular tortilla could have been too heavy, the leaf gives a nice freshness to the taco. All of the flavors worked well together. The saltiness of the sea urchin paired well with the sweetness of the scallops. The bass was cooked to crisp perfection and I could drink the green mole sauce. The sauce was slightly smoky which worked well with the light and bright jicama salad. The salad also cut some of the richness from the sauce and the fish. The mushroom tlayuda was perfectly crisp with smoky, meaty mushrooms and fresh greens. The prawns were soft and juicy and I could drink that sauce as well. The atmosphere was laid back and sophisticated. Great music, not too loud. Definitely very pricy but worth it for the experience.
We went there when vacationing in Tulum. It was a perfect dinner for the occasion. We all loved our drinks, perfectly balanced, not too strong or too sweet. The food was served in smaller portions so we probably ordered 8 items for 5 people. Everything was very delicious. The ambience was amazing. We sat by the open kitchen and it was so much fun to see their actions. They are definitely in the top 50 as awarded.
4 years ago
Great restaurant with excellent food and service. This was the best restaurant during my recent trip to tulum. Must haves - dip - shrimp - leaf tacos - curry fish - short rib- one of the best I've ever had read more
5 years ago
7 years ago
ARCA was our favorite meal in Tulum. The restaurant is outside (as most of the restaurant in the area) and very chic. We started at the bar, and had the best drink of all time, the ARCA Colada (MUST TRY). The bartender was very friendly and entertaining. We were seated after a short wait and ordered three dishes to share (between 2 ppl). We ordered the soft shell crab tacos, they were very different and unique, but good. Then we had grilled octopus which was awesome. And lastly, as had the sweet potato empanadas, which were also very unique and good. Our server was very kind and explained the whole menu in English. He also gave us a complimentary dessert with mango and these ice cream like balls, it was so good! Some tips: wear bug spray, it's very hot, cash only, order dishes to share because everything is so interesting and you'll want to try it all! read more
5 years ago
7 years ago
Arca was recommended by a friend of mine and an acquaintance of the owners. We had a group of 6 looking for a great last night meal in Tulum and this...was it. First and foremost, the ambiance is stunning from the moment you walk in to the kitchen to the back bar. We arrived around 815 and were seated right away despite not having a reservation. Drink menu was first and pleasantly unique. Food menu was beyond. Other reviewers mentioned the chef being Michelin Star status and I couldn't agree more. The kitchen staff responds to chef's order call out and it adds to the high quality vibe you expect. I shared the sweet potato empanadas (just order them, don't think about it), the grilled avocado, soft shell crab tacos and lobster. The rest of the table had a mix of the rest of the menu and not a single thing disappointed. Price is next level so just know that going in. It's reasonable if you expect a quality dinner with a restaurant and staff that treats you like it. Save a few more pesos by eating $2 tacos in town and make it happen. My bill for 2 people was about 1500 pesos with tip. Bring the bug spray, but truly make a visit here, you won't be disappointed. read more
Space is Smokey and surreal at night. Service is impeccable. Dish presentation is art work you simply have a moment of dilemma of whether or not to destroy or devour and so you inevitably take out your smartphone and attempt to freeze it in time before you take your first bite and just like that the next masterpiece arrives. It's like that here at ARCA. This is the way they roll. They are exceptional at what they do and everyone knows this. If you can snag a spot here on a late evening for dinner, consider yourself lucky. You are in for a real experience. This will complete your Tulum dream. read more
Beautiful restaurant. Beautiful presentations. They request you order all your dishes at one time. Specialty cocktails are a must try. Plates are small and meant for sharing so order a few of each and then reorder more of your favorite. We were definitely hungry after our dinner. Octopus was very good. Shrimp was amazing! read more
7 years ago
Booked a table 2 months in advance for a special occasion. The staff was super friendly and the service was great. The lobster empanadas, soft shell crab cakes, and the jumbo shrimp were very flavorful. We loved the empanadas so much that we ordered them again! The drinks were good, but nothing great. Keep in mind that they don't accept AmEx. read more
Nice! Great atmosphere, service, and food, esp for the price! Orders almost everything on the food menu. Everything is slightly over salted but not unbearable. I liked the sea urchin (uni) ceviche because it was just so different than anything I've ever had. It's served in a fresh orange which makes the presentation really pretty but also the citrus really makes the dish pop. I ordered two of the bone marrow bc it was my favorite dish of the night. Spread it on the warm bread they give you and sprinkle the salt on top for a spectacular bite. The soft shell tacos were unique and tasty too!! Skip the red pepper tartare and the crunchy avocado. They were very underwhelming. read more
4 years ago
an absolute must if you are in tulum! we planned this dinner for our last night and although pricey, it was super worth it! the food and ambience was amazing, and i loved that the waiter talked through every dish they served- it tied the whole dinner experience together. we got the soft shell crab tacos and scallop crudo for starters and both were to die for. the soft shell crab was paired with a leaf 'taco' that was the perfect match between crunchy and refreshing, and the scallop crudo was tangy and fresh. for our main courses, we got the octopus al pastor and the roasted bone marrow. i wasn't a huge fan of the sauce that came with the octopus just because it was a bit smoky for my liking, but my boyfriend absolutely loved every bit of it. the bone marrow, however, was the showstopper. It was so soft and buttery and paired with the bread and butter - it was absolutely amazing! I highly recommend this dish for your dinner here. Lastly, we had two different cheesecakes for dessert (which i believe we're season flavors). They were both light and sweet! overall, a must go to if you are in the area! read more
4 years ago
3 years ago
2 years ago
I LOVED my meal as well as my bar experience at ARCA. I think it is my new favorite dinner spot in Tulum. The restaurant is beautiful and has that amazing jungle Tulum vibe that we all love. We walked in on a Saturday night and had to wait about 30 minutes which we happily did at the bar while the amazing bartender created some delicious and beautiful mezcal cocktails for us to try. The meal and service itself was equally great and we tried a variety of dishes which were all superb. The stand outs were the soft shell "tacos"- wrapped in a leaf that is native to the area which were delicious. I also adored the prawns and pulpo. The waiter from Argentina (forgot his name) was also very attentive, friendly and offered great recs. A must try dinner spot while in Tulum. read more
5 years ago
Best meal we had all week, and great cocktails to boot! For comparison, in the same week we also visited Hartwood (recommend), Kin Toh (recommend) and Rosa Negra (don't recommend) for dinner. This place is a "must-go" when you're in Tulum. It's unassuming al fresco dining that is still highly sophisticated and elevated enough to be a destination for the most celebratory of occasions. The open-air kitchen is a wonder to behold - the team works in such harmony that it's almost like dinner and a show, and the dishes come out remarkably fast. Speaking of the food, it's damn good. There were two of us dining, one vegetarian who loves bread, and one gluten-free carnivore. The menu suited us both, they do a superb job with everything! We had the fresh sourdough bread, the pumpkin seed dip, the roasted squash, lobster crudo and seabass - all excellent, we barely left a crumb on the plate. We thought we were too full for dessert but our server convinced us to share the avocado gelato and we are SO glad we did. The presentation alone was enough reason to order it, but it was also so so so creamy and light! It was the perfect way to top off our meal. The cocktails were all super well-balanced and delightful. I can't recall the name of it now, but I especially recommend the one with the clarified whiskey and the xtabentún. Absolutely delicious. read more
6 years ago
The food, the ambiance and the overall experience at Arca, is incredible. This is a late review. I visited in 2018, but I have just found the time to write a review due to Covid lockdown. This place is a must visit while in Tulum. The bone marrow is to die for, and the soft crab tacos are incredible. One of the top 5 meals I've had in my life. A must try! read more
7 years ago
Arca is awesome. I've been to Tulum multiple times and eaten at many of the high end restaurants in town. Arca was my favorite, one of the best meals I've had in the past year. The hostess told us there was a 30 minute wait for the front restaurant, but we could eat in the back bar. We chose to sit in the "back bar" it was also extremely picturesque. The bartender was incredibly friendly. We had the avocado, bread, prawns and the seabass. Every item was excellent. The bill was just around 100 USD for the four plates with three drinks between us. I will return to Arca on this trip and most likely on future trips to Tulum. Sorry my photos aren't better. I decided to write a review after I left. read more
3 years ago
4 years ago
8 years ago
8 years ago
CASH ONLY About US $75 per person, including one cocktail, dessert, mineral water and 15% tip. read more
6 years ago
By far the best meal we had in Tulum and quite possibly one of our top meals ever. Everything was incredible, especially the soft shell crab tacos which we ordered seconds of because they were THAT amazing. I really can not rate this restaurant enough stars! read more
11 years ago
Food I give one star. Cocktails we would say 4 (Chechen was great while El Solar was meh...). Go here for cocktails and a pretty ambiance. Very pretty at night with candles and the music selection is good as well. Be sure to slather on lots of mosquito repellant. The octopus was bland and sat in a bath water warm broth with some white beans and four shreds of a kale leaf. I asked for extra jalapeño (the garnish) to add some flavor to the meal and could only stomach three bites. Bleh! We literally went over to a nearby pizza place to get a pie afterwards because we were hungry. Pizza in Mexico... read more
This was by far my favorite established in tulum (in this price range). Can't really compare this to the taco stands, those are good in their own way too. But in the realm of Hartwood or rosa negra, i don't even think it's close honestly. Hartwood is very good but I didn't see much in terms of fine dining outside of their excellent cocktails. All are still patio restaurants, one with nature surrounding themes, but arca was the most serene. A great date spot for sure. Food, nothing I can say more that hasn't already been said but they definitely tell a story. From using a whole vegetable in 7 different ways (noma background?) to a dish resembling the Mexican flag, there's plenty to pay attention to and I highly recommend it to everyone and anyone in Tulum. It's one of the few restaurants I truly look forward to coming back to! read more
Hands down best food I've had EVER, ANYWHERE. Everytime a dish was placed in front of us, we oooohed and ahhhhed at the art on the plate. It looked too good to eat, but tasted too good to just look. We started with the citrus free ceviche served with a homemade cracker that looked like a reef sea creature. Every bite was heaven. I had the chicken mole and my dining partner had the catch of the day. Every taste was fresh and amazing. Cocktails were also delicious. We didn't have reservations but managed to get a walk in table. This was definately the most pricey place we went in Tulum (and not much is cheap there) but the price was comparable to the best restaurants back home. I usually don't put prices in my reviews because they change over time, but to give an idea, 2 cocktails, 2 entrees, and an appetizer was about $95 USD in May 2018. Worth every penny. read more
Came here for a cocktail and was definitely impressed. Just 15 minutes after sitting at the bar the whole restaurant filled up. I had the bartender make a mezcal cocktail which was amazing and never had anywhere else! Staff was great and definitely want to come back and try more of the menu! read more
3 years ago
The food was great! Each dish was visually appealing. The ingredients were fresh. We also enjoyed the service as well. read more
7 years ago
My girlfriend and I visited Tulum and was told that Arca is a must for dinner. The drinks were amazing and really got excited for dinner. Every course was spectacular! I can't wait to visit Tulum again and have this experience again! read more
2 years ago
6 years ago
This restaurant is absolutely mindblowingly good. The soft shell crab, scallop, lobster dishes are all game changers. 10/10 for food and service read more
2 years ago
4 years ago
6 years ago
After I heard so much about this place, clearly I was excited. To be very honest nothing special. Not enough choices on the menu, very small portions, over priced & service was below average. The waiter had a bad attitude and was very slow. Honestly and sadly I would not recommend this place. read more
3 years ago
More like a 4.5. Really good all around. Dishes were small sharing plates basically very nice presentation. Drinks were good too. Me and my girl got 6 plates and it was plenty. Also their version of a Cesar salad was surprising but absolutely delicious and worth a try. read more
3 years ago
More info about ARCA
Carretera Tulum-Boca Paila Km 7.6
77780 Tulum, Quintana Roo
Mexico
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http://www.arcatulum.com
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