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    El Varadero

    4.4 (28 reviews)
    ModerateCuban

    El Varadero Photos

    EL VARADERO ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Good for groups
    Outdoor seating
    Good for kids

    Recommended Reviews - El Varadero

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    Mojito with ceviche
    Natalie R.

    Hidden gem real authentic Cuban food and the best mojito's & margaritas anywhere in Isla (95 pesos) locals told us to go here. When you drive in it looks very sketchy keep going until you see the boats. Many nice private boats come to dock- we enjoyed the mixto Ceviche, garlic white fish with a black bean rice, pickled onions & fruit. You won't be disappointed.

    Deb A.

    I've been here twice and they're both 5 stars. I ordered a wild caught fresh snapper and they grilled it butterfly style to perfection. I wanted no sauce (traditionally smothered with gravy). Its beautifully served with veggies and fruits around it. Good ti the last bit including all garnishes This place is hidden gem in isla mujeres

    Dani R.

    Delicious Cuban food! A nice sunset view 2 blocks away from our Airbnb. The service was excellent. Mojitos were the best we had all week!

    A little hard to find but well worth it. Great mojitos and fresh fish.
    Erin T.

    The Yelp map is misleading but locals helped us find it. Walk past the school and follow the road to the right until you find it (on the waterway). We enjoyed a great lunch with perfect mojitos, garlic shrimp with rice and beans and fresh grouper. Nothing deep fried, all tasty and well prepared. We will return.

    Randy-Liliana B.

    Place is a bit off the beaten path, but worth the trip. Food was excellent. One of the beast mojitos I've ever had. Ropa vieja was perfectly seasoned and completely on-point. Octopus (pulpo) was perfectly cooked. Staff was attentive. Our party also had the fried pork chunks and Cuban torta. Both were very good. Would definitely return.

    Rosie L.

    Decided to try this place today based on Yelp reviews the food is really good the atmosphere was nice there was live music playing my husband ordered the Cuban sandwich and it was huge it would have probably been enough for both of us to eat I ordered the shrimp and it came with rice and a little bit of fruit the shrimp were very good I did not try the rice my husband had a Mojito to drink I tried it I thought it was okay but he likes it we'll definitely be back and try some different things

    1/2 our fresh red snapper HUGE! and delicious. Perfectly done.
    Steve T.

    This is a hidden gem. On a dock on the lagoon with a bit of boat rolling by. Really a cool vibe and nice staff. There were 10 of us & the kids (over) ordered 5 beautiful Cubans sandwiches & we ordered a massive fresh red snapper with multiple guacamole's, ceviche & a grilled octopus appetizer & lots of drinks our bill was about $300 but well worth it.

    Sean C.

    This restaurant has a great location right on the water. It was nice sitting outside on their waterfront patio at night with cool breezes. Our meals of chicken fracases and pork were tasty and just the right amount of food. We were looking forward to one of their famous mojitos but they were out of mint so we had to settle for margaritas which were a bit sour. I would definitely come back.

    The entrance
    Moo J.

    Perfect place to chill and dance to live music while enjoying some authentic Cuban fare and fresh seafood. Order the langosta and watch them pull it straight out of the trap, right off the dock.

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    6 years ago

    Really good seafood. Must try their ice cream. Very great service as well. One of the best restaurants in Cancun

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    11 years ago

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    10 years ago

    Cuban sandwich is amazing, and the mojitos are super good. Is kinda hide but the place is pretty cool

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    7 years ago

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    El Varadero Reviews in Other Languages

    Review Highlights - El Varadero

    Walk past the school and follow the road to the right until you find it (on the waterway).

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    La Bodeguita del Medio - Almost inedible Masitas de cerdo, Vaca frita and congri rice. Also, some room temperature beers.

    La Bodeguita del Medio

    3.9(140 reviews)
    75.3 kmGonzalo Guerrero
    $$

    Amazing live music and dancing! The food is good, drinks are exceptional! It can get packed at…read morenight, so arrive early. Overall an incredible vibe.

    A Refreshing Change of Pace with Friendly Vibes and Live Music…read more If you're looking to take a break from your usual go-to taco and Mexican spots, this place offers a nice variety with its Cuban-inspired menu. I'm a big fan of tacos, but every now and then, it's great to mix things up--and this spot gave me that change of pace I was looking for. I especially appreciated the inclusion of rice and beans, which I've been missing lately. The atmosphere was cozy and relaxed. It wasn't a busy night, so we ended up getting to enjoy the live music almost like a private show. That part really stood out--the band brought a warm energy to the room, and it made the whole evening feel more intimate and memorable. The service was genuinely great. Our server was friendly, attentive, and took time to explain that the menu was Cuban-inspired, which was a good heads-up. That explained some of the differences in flavor and presentation, and helped manage expectations about what ingredients or sides might be missing compared to more traditional Latin or Caribbean places. One thing I wasn't a huge fan of, though, was having to order everything à la carte. For example, when I ordered the pork, the rice and beans weren't included--they were separate add-ons. It felt a little disjointed, and I would have preferred if those staples came as part of the dish. It's not a dealbreaker, but it's something to keep in mind if you're expecting a full plate. As for the food itself--it was solid. I had the Delicias de Queso, which were flavorful and satisfying, with a nice texture and taste. The pork was also seasoned well and tender. Everything came out hot and well-prepared, and you can tell there's care in the kitchen. That said, nothing completely blew me away, but it all hit the spot. The mojito was probably the low point of the evening for me. It wasn't terrible, but it didn't have that fresh, crisp pop that you expect in a great mojito. Maybe it just needed more mint or lime--something to give it that brightness. Overall, it was a pleasant experience. The food was enjoyable, the live music added something special, and the service was top-notch. While I didn't love the à la carte pricing and the drink could have been better, I'd still recommend giving this place a try if you're in the mood for something different and easygoing. It's a solid spot for a laid-back night out with some good vibes.

    Photos
    La Bodeguita del Medio
    La Bodeguita del Medio - Maduros

    Maduros

    La Bodeguita del Medio - Mojito

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    Mojito

    Javi's Cantina - Brownie Sunday! Excellent

    Javi's Cantina

    4.6(86 reviews)
    2.3 kmIsla Mujeres
    $$$

    This was my favorite spot to eat during out trip! It seemed like the eating area was small but…read morethere was a whole space that opened up in the back, plus live music! The food and the drinks were so good! I had the skirt steak and it was SO GOOD! The flavors were good, the medium rare-ness was good, the sides were good, the drinks were unique! The only thing is the servers were nice but rarely came to check on us, and we had to flag them down for the bill. It was also a bit hard to hear with the music loud by the table. Otherwise, fantastic!

    Great food and atmosphere, worth a reservation! We heard…read moregreat things about Javi's so we made a reservation, and we're glad we did. It's a small, intimate spot so I'd definitely recommend booking ahead. We weren't very hungry, so my husband and I shared a few items: the homemade chips with guacamole and the lobster bites. One cool feature is that they let you choose how much lobster you want. Every dish was seasoned to perfection and absolutely delicious. For dessert, we shared both the flan and the brownie. The flan was creamy and rich, but the brownie was a bit burnt. Still, it was tasty enough that we didn't leave a bite behind. Overall, a great dining experience. We'll definitely return the next time we're on the island

    Photos
    Javi's Cantina - Corridor to other dining area

    Corridor to other dining area

    Javi's Cantina - I got shrimp, left is tacos, and middle top and right were the grouper!

    I got shrimp, left is tacos, and middle top and right were the grouper!

    Javi's Cantina - Drink  IG @wholewellnessmamas

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    Drink IG @wholewellnessmamas

    El Casino - La Casa del Mojito - Smoke and a Grand Mariner

    El Casino - La Casa del Mojito

    4.8(20 reviews)
    84.1 km
    $$

    Excellent. Cool store front! Authentic Cuban. But first…read moremake sure you have the right address. 5th Ave South between Adolfo Rosado Salas and 3 South. Tried several items. Let's start with the mojitos. This is the real deal. Made to perfection. Crush the mint, simple syrup and the rest is magic. The choices of flavor a outside of original are amazing. Mango, kiwi etc. then let's start with the fried pork loins. Perfect starter. We had 4 entrees. The shrimp was jumbo fresh and amazing. Garlic, wine, terrific zest. Loved the butterflied prep. The veggies n potatoes were nicely prepared. The casino special. 4 tacos. Beef and pork and pork sausage. Onions and bell peppers. Flour tortilla. Grouper fish tacos. With habanero and cilantro on flour tortillas. Very thin flour street taco style. Accompanied with habanero, medium oil salsa, medium smokey chipotle. Cubano with pork leg, ham pork and melted cheese and pickles. This is the real deal! Dessert we split. Frozen home made "shake". Plantains, chocolate, carnation milk, coconut creme and some cookies. Lastly to close the night off the "house digestion". Wow just sip and enjoy. After this I'm ready to go to Havana! Super service by Johnny. Thank you! Alex the owner did an amazing job with our food and so cordial. Sorry it's taken 6 years to find this gem.

    Dude....the chili oil on a Cuban. This place was such a pleasant surprise. We are sad we found it…read moreon the last night. Great break from Mexican food and mediocre margaritas. Mojitos made us giggle and probably the best I've ever had***Cuban Sandwich special does not come with pork.

    Photos
    El Casino - La Casa del Mojito - Excellent service!!!

    Excellent service!!!

    El Casino - La Casa del Mojito - Menu del dia ( special today )

    Menu del dia ( special today )

    El Casino - La Casa del Mojito - Tostones

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    Tostones

    El Varadero - cuban - Updated June 2026

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