We stumbled upon Casa Banana while walking the beach road in Tulum looking for a dinner spot. It's…read morea Michelin guided restaurant and we were lucky to get a table on a Wednesday night since we didn't have a Rez. It's a very vibey spot with low lighting and a boho atmosphere. The highlight of the entire night was the baked fig appetizer! It was gooey and delicious! We also ordered the whole fish baked in the wood fire oven. The fish of the night was yellowtail. First time to ever eat a whole fish and wow was it good! For cocktails we got the Pilar, which had the lightest hint of hazelnut, and the Emerald whiskey cocktail. It was unique, but the Pilar was better. Service was very attentive and made great recommendations. Go check this place out and try and make a reservation for the weekends.

Had some time to kill before our reservation at Ilios, so my friends and I came here for a couple…read moreappetizers and it ended up being such a great find. I've been eyeing Casa Banana every night we've been here and it felt so much more chill compared to all the surrounding party restaurants. It was the perfect stop for a reset. The vibe was top tier. So intimate and cozy, and it felt really nice sitting by the fire on such a chilly night. Our server Joaquin was so friendly and attentive and took great care of us. The octopus salad was so lovely, and the Argentinian chorizo was honestly one of the best chorizo I've had. Not very spicy, served with perfectly toasted focaccia and roasted vegetables. We also loved the pickled eggplant that came with it. They brought out complimentary toast and spread when we first arrived too which was so sweet. So happy we stopped here

BAK' was my birthday-week splurge, and WOW. I'd heard the steak was incredible, so the bar was…read morehigh.. and somehow it still gave me the best steak I have had in years. Not exaggerating. The open-flame cooking is the whole concept and you can absolutely taste it. On top of the food there's a fire and dance show called Cha'an Ka'ak, Mayan-inspired, and it is a whole experience: fire, performers, the works. Ours kicked off around 9:30, and I'm not positive it runs every single night, so confirm when you book if you want to catch it. Yes, it's a splurge, but it was 100% worth it. Dress up a little and make a night of it :)

We had the Wagyu tartare, Kansas City Wagyu, the shrimp/squid black pasta, grilled elotes, and…read moreoyster mushrooms. The meat and pasta were great! Delicious. The grilled elotes were not what I expected - more like day old corn that was grilled so kinda hard. The mushrooms were extremely salty! Hard to eat without chasing it with lime. The service was great - very attentive and super friendly and quick. It was very well lighted until they turned down the light - lol.

1-Star Review for BAK Tulum…read more We were very disappointed with our experience at BAK Tulum, especially since it was meant to be a special anniversary dinner. I clearly mentioned to the staff that I am pregnant and asked for my steak to be well done. When our steaks arrived, mine was rare inside. I immediately brought it to their attention, and they took it back. My husband waited to eat with me, and after about 10 minutes, they returned my steak -- yes, it was cooked through, but they had simply thrown it back on the grill, leaving the entire crust black and burned. A proper well-done steak should be baked or finished carefully, not charred. I had to cut around the burnt parts and could only eat the inside, leaving my plate full of burnt steak pieces. We also ordered banana cream and churro waffles for dessert -- both were disappointing, we barely had two bites each. They brought us two complimentary champagnes, which was thoughtful -- but again, I had already told them I was pregnant. They didn't bother to offer me a non-alcoholic alternative, so I couldn't enjoy anything. When the bill arrived, the manager had said the desserts would be complimentary, but they were still charged on the bill, along with the champagne we never ordered. After pointing this out, the waiter said he made the changes but questioned who told me that, claiming I "heard wrong." Only after insisting did he remove the desserts from the check. We paid $700 USD for a $626.16 bill, expecting the change in pesos as agreed. Based on the daily exchange rate (18.46), the change should have been 1,363.50 pesos, but we were given 1,240 pesos, short 123.5 pesos. When questioned, the waiter said, "our restaurant's rate is 17," which still didn't add up and left us short again. Throughout the entire experience, no one apologized -- not for the burnt steak, not for the billing confusion, and not for the dishonest handling of the exchange rate. In person, I gave them the chance to make things right, but they chose not to. That's why I'm writing this review -- not to complain, but to warn others. The music and fireworks were great, but the food, service, and honesty were deeply disappointing. Unfortunately, this experience ruined our anniversary night.

The best dining experience I've EVER had! From the…read moreappetizers, drinks to our main course and desserts. Outrageously delicious. We squeezed in a mescal tasting to enhance the fun. Each step through the experience was another level of pleasure to the senses.

No repeats is usually a vacay rule. But when in the Yucatán, this spot is an exception to the rule…read more These dishes are what I love about Mexican food and their salsa de habanero is a spicy lovers dream. Whole grilled octopus -- absolutely incredibly prepared. Tender, so much flavor, and the potatoes are delish. Deep fried soft shell crab taco -- favorite bite! This thing is HUGE! All four of us got one and loved this most. Shrimp molcajete -- think Mexican gravy with seafood. And some fried cheesy stick things that oozed and the cheese just didn't stop! I've been here multiple times now and each time the service is impeccable. They are welcoming and it's all operated by locals -- no hip looking expats here, all the real deal. And I love that!

We ordered the octopus It's amazing !…read moreSo tender and fresh ! Must order, service is amazing ! Definitely "must to go" restaurant in Tulum !

If you're looking for a party vibe while having dinner, this is the spot. From passing out…read moresparklers to everyone to the fire dancers it was all very entertaining. Make sure to make a reservation in advance, especially for Thursday through the weekend. We visited at 8:30 and we felt like it was the perfect time because a lot of the performances began around nine. The service is top-notch. From putting the napkin in your lap to arranging a miniature coat rack to hang your jacket, they pay attention to detail. Not to mention, though the atmosphere takes priority here, the food was also very good. We ordered a steak and the shrimp risotto. The shrimp were colossal. I have never seen shrimp so big. Most of their specialty cocktails are quite acidic and that night I was craving whiskey so I ordered an old-fashioned and it was also very good. I would say this spot in particular is well known for big groups and bachelorette dinners. It is quite loud, so keep that in mind. It's also in line with other nice restaurants in Tulum regarding price, but we felt it was worth it. Lastly, make a note that they charge for water so you're not surprised when you get the bill.

This was a full-on experience night and easily one of the highlights of the trip. From the moment…read morewe walked in, the place had energy, music, lights, and a crowd clearly there to celebrate something. It never felt stiff or overly formal, just lively and fun the entire evening. The food was excellent across the board, but the standout was the tomahawk steak presentation. When it arrived, sparklers, drums, and all eyes on the table, it honestly felt like some kind of ceremonial animal sacrifice in the most entertaining way possible. Over the top? Absolutely. Memorable? Even more so. Great atmosphere, great service, and legitimately great food to back it up. We laughed, ate way too much, and left buzzing from the whole experience. A true 5-star night in Tulum.

Where to start. If Our friends had not told us to try the beet, we most likely would have missed…read moreit. I have to tell you you have never tasted anything quite so delicious. So definitely the beet! We are sure tried the fish collar, which many people skip not realizing that this might be the most delicate and flavorful part of the fish. In fact I was tempted to just have two orders of this as my main dish. I had the Wildflower drink, which was light and delicate. We were able to come early at 6pm, only half an hour after they open, and by the time we left an hour later, to say they were full is an understatement. If you like to start the evening calm, as I do, I'd highly suggest coming early and then wandering the street. This also gives you a little time to talk to your wait staff. The server we had (I apologize, I have forgotten his name but I'll ask my husband and add it later) guided us through the menu and had excellent knowledge of each item. And, like everyone we've encountered here, was so gracious with his time and presence. I never feel rushed here as I do in some other tourist focused places. Gratuity is included, yet I'd say adding some is most deserved.

Excellent food, excellent experience. The restaurant has a nice atmosphere, good music, and…read moreattentive staff. Menus are written on sandwich boards placed around the restaurant and the waiters come to your table and explain every menu item in detail. My waiter was very helpful with recommendations and answering any questions I had. I ordered the collar de pescado and the tostada de tartar for my apps, the fillete de robalo (sea bass) for a main, and the berenjena (roasted eggplant) for a side. The collar de pescado, the sea bass collar, was absolutely delicious. The fish was soft and tender, topped with a robust tomato based sauce. Super flavorful. 9/10. The tostada de tartar was also outstanding. The crisp tortilla paired perfectly with the soft fresh fish. The fish mixture was light, creamy, and a little spicy, topped with some greens for freshness and finished off with some lime juice for acidity and brightness. 10/10. The sea bass fillet was cooked perfectly, the fish was soft and juicy and had an incredible crispy skin that gave it a wonderful crunch. It was paired with a creamy sauce, spinach, and cauliflower. The different elements of the dish worked well together, with the vegetables cutting through the richness of the fish and the sauce adding flavor and a contrasting texture to the crispy fish skin. 9/10. The eggplant was good, however it was my least favorite dish. The eggplant was soft and flavorful on the inside, however the skin was a little bit tough. The mole it was paired with had a nice smoky flavor and I wish there had been more of it. 8/10. For dessert I got their only dessert, the honey cake. OH MY GOD THIS DESSERT WAS LIFE CHANGING. Probably one of if not the best dessert I've ever had. The cake was very dense, with the consistency of a blondie. The honey taste is subtle and there is also a slight smoky flavor that comes through from being cooked in their wood fire oven. The cake is topped with a chamomile whipped cream and salt. The whipped cream is so light and airy while still being incredibly creamy. The lightness of the whipped cream works perfectly with the richness of the cake. The salt on top really takes it up a notch. 11/10. My only complaints are that the wooden benches you sit on are very uncomfortable and it gets very smoky from the wood burning oven, and I was seated almost at the other end of the restaurant. It was also quite loud but the place is small and it was packed, nothing the restaurant can do about that. Prices are steep but well worth it in my opinion.

This place is amazing!! We had the best food - everything was cooked to perfection! We had the New…read moreYork steak, the lamb rack, and the stuffed potato with chorizo. The micheladas were the best ones I've ever tried (and I've tried a lot, haha). The restaurant has a very fancy feel, even though the food/drinks were reasonably priced. The ambiance was beautiful - gorgeous paintings of jaguars everywhere and dim lighting to set the mood. The service was outstanding. Our waiters, Guillermo & Martín, made sure we were taken care of throughout the whole night. They even brought my friends and me a mini coat rack to hang our purses next to our table.

Carpaccio octopus : Light, refreshing and flavorful. Thinly sliced well flavored…read moreGuacamole: needed a little more lime but it was great overall

Based on this Yelp listing, we headed over there last night for dinner. We were is the mood for…read moregrilled meats. I was looking forward to the mixed grill for two. After being seated, we were advised that they no longer serve beef, in-fact, they don't serve any meat anymore. The current concept is Italian home-style cooking. There is no menu, you will be served a three course set menu, with the principal dish being seafood and pasta. The place looks charming enough, and could be worth trying, but they should change their name as there is no longer a functional grill, and they do not serve any meats. I am posting 1 star only because I went there specifically for the mixed grill, which no longer exists.

The is place is not the same place. Same art work and design but.... This place doesn't server any…read moremeat only fish and they don't have an actual menu. Very confusing concept and wasn't very happy with the experience. Be careful because this place is not what these photos show. This is def A completely different concept with no way of knowing what you're about to eat. The owner? And bartender were very nice but not what we were looking for.

Great ambiance to the small & cozy steak house. Had dinner here one random night, it was delicious!…read moreBy far the best spot for a good steak in the heart of the downtown Tulum. Margaritas were 10/10 as well and service was amazing! Waiter was attentive and friendly, great guy with an amazing personality unfortunately I forgot his name.. Visit this restaurant, you will not regret it!

Our visit was very plasent, Good vibe, our server Abelardo had great attitude, we had a couple of…read moreglasses of red wine, they were excellent!! The food good, although it could've been great if the chef would've used more seasoning in the meat ( maybe dry brine it ) before cooking it...? just a thought, same with the sides ( vegetables, baked potato, peppers etc) other than that, very good ambience ( music not too loud) Max ( The dog) the comes every night patiently waits for you to give him whatever you don't finish ( steak ) Español: Nuestra visita fue muy agradable. Buen ambiente, El camarero ( Mesero) Abelardo fue muy amable, tomamos un par de copas de vino tinto, ¡y estaban excelentes! La comida estuvo buena, aunque podría haber sido mejor si el chef hubiera sazonado mejor la carne (quizás la hubiera puesto en salmuera seca) antes de cocinarla... Solo una idea, lo mismo con las guarniciones (verduras, papas al horno, pimientos, etc.). Por lo demás, muy buen ambiente (música no muy alta). P.S. Hay un Perrito ( Max ) que llega al restaurante y espera que termines y lo que no termines de comer ( carne ) el lo recibe agradecido!!

Amazing food in a truly special rustic chic environment. Opened up by an Italian ex-pat (it's quite…read moreinteresting how many Italian ex-pats live in Tulum), MamaMuu is a stylist's DREAM. Like everything else in Tulum, the aesthetic is rustic chic...Wabi-Sabi. Everything looks worn and natural and effortless. The awesome part about this place is the fire oven. Spitfired meats, barbecued and roasted to a delectable charred crust with tender center, are chosen and cooked up finely in front of you. The drinks (like all the other cocktails in Tulum) are made from fresh ingredients with wonderful Mexican touches and garnishes. I love the theme here of 50s and 60s rock legends. The placemats are old vinyl records. It's just too cool. And in the jungle. MamaMuu is perfect for a date and a drink. On the jungle side of the road. Bring a flashlight for the walk.