Obsessed with this place. It was on our must-eat list for Cozumel and it absolutely did not disappoint. My pasta was out of this world, and my husband's short rib was fantastic. The owner was so kind and welcoming, which made the experience even better. Definitely make a reservation ahead of time. We're already looking forward to going back in March, and yes, my crazy self called two months in advance to make sure I got the time I wanted. Highly, highly recommend. A true gem and such a unique dining experience in Cozumel. read more

See all

Cozumel in late September isn't a postcard. It's humid, a little sticky, the kind of weather that makes you earn your dinner. The restaurant is open-air, the kind of place where fans work overtime and the heat is part of the atmosphere. If you're here for polished white-tablecloth perfection, you're missing the point. This is the kind of place where the food matters, and the people making it matter even more. We started with a margarita -- simple, clean, lime-driven, the way it should be. Then a surprise: a Mexican Chardonnay that was more than just a curiosity. It was bright, elegant, and held its own against what was about to come. The tuna tataki arrived like a quiet promise -- fresh, barely kissed by flame, layered with tomatoes and herbs that tasted like they'd been picked that morning. Then came the pasta. Not just pasta -- house-made, hand-cut strands with that chew you can only get when someone's sweating in the back rolling it out. One plate loaded with clams, briny and delicate, another brimming with mussels, shrimp, tomatoes -- a proper frutti di mare. This was Italian soul filtered through the Caribbean, kissed with garlic and oil, but unmistakably crafted with care. And then dessert. A cacao chocolate cake so rich, so unapologetically decadent, it silenced the table for a moment. This is the kind of cake you remember -- layered, moist, dark, a reminder that pastry is art when it's done right. But food is only part of the story. Joel, our waiter, was the other. A young man brimming with passion, the kind of person who doesn't just serve you but lets you glimpse the beating heart of the restaurant. His pride, his storytelling, his quiet attentiveness -- it elevated the night from a meal to an experience. Would I go back? In a heartbeat. Not because it's fancy, not because it's perfect, but because it's real. Real food, real people, real sweat. And in the end, that's what matters. read more

See all

The restaurant is upstairs and it's small but the ambiance is cozy and romantic. They have space for parties of 8, best to make reservations. We got lucky as a party of 2 with no reservation. I got their seasonal cocktail and he tried the mezcal. Had the mussels for an app and they were delicious. They also bring a fantastic focaccia bread with a spread that was phenomenal. We shared the risotto special with beef tongue. This was my first time trying it and I was skeptical but my gosh was it delicious!! Joey even took the time to pair a wine for it. Definitely recommend to friends and will be back. Also want to mention they locally source and by their ingredients and put love and thought into what they make. Food is seasonal and you can tell read more

See all

We had 13 of us for a wedding renewal. The chef prepared appetizers and entrees. Absolutely the BEST Italian food you'll find in Cozumel. Everything was prepared fresh and authentic. The weight staff was absolutely on point. There are absolutely positively no negatives on this place. read more

What an amazing hidden gem! We found K'ooben Laab after a local recommended it, and it turned out to be one of the best dining experiences we've had in Cozumel. This charming little Italian restaurant has everything -- incredible food, personal service, and a warm, relaxed atmosphere. We started with cocktails -- a Mezcal Mule and a classic Old Fashioned -- both perfectly balanced and delicious. For appetizers, the Tuna Tataki was savory and flavorful, setting the tone for the rest of the meal. The seasonal risotto was the standout dish: the squid was unbelievably tender and full of flavor, and the pineapple added a wonderful touch of brightness. The carbonara was another highlight, rich and satisfying with perfectly crispy guanciale. K'ooben Laab truly exceeded our expectations in every way. We'll definitely be coming back every time we're in Cozumel! read more

See all

We loved the welcoming atmosphere and food. We had a Mediterranean bagel with delicious goat cheese, tomatoes, and microgreens along with a cappuccino. My husband had the 3 cheese omelette with a side of pancetta and a black coffee. Would recommend' read more

K'ooben Laab is a true gem! The menu has a lot of different options that have fresh ingredients and seem healthier without losing flavor. They have rotating specials that are a must try as well! We had: "Red hat" December cocktail special 10/10 Focaccia w/pumpkin spread 12/10 SO GOOD!!!! Truffle orange ravioli December special 8/10 Vegetable tagliatelle 8/10 pasta was delicious, but I wished I got something with more sauce Lasagna 10/10 Mezcal mule 10/10 Medium spinach salad w/honey mustard dressing 11/10 the dressing was a real standout! White chenin blanc wine 6/10 Staff was great! So friendly and attentive. The space is smaller with only a handful of tables, so call/message beforehand to make a RSVP. I wish we discovered this place earlier so we could have gone multiple times! read more

See all

Great little menu consistently good they have their own bakery so the focaccia another baked goods are delicious. The pork braised and beer is delicious and one of the best salads anywhere highly recommended. read more

This rooftop restaurant is a little further out of town than most restaurants, but well worth the walk/cab ride! The place itself is cute, with circular skylights all over, and driftwood pendants. The service was great, and the food delicious. We were brought a small basket of bread with a walnut based dip. Both types of bread were great, although I preferred the one with tomato. The walnut dip was tasty and unusual...something I'd expect more of Georgian fare than Italian. To start we ordered the meat and cheese platter. It came with 4 cheeses, 4 meats, and some fruit, along with a tapenade and an orange jam. Every combo of meat/cheese/fruit was fantastic. Highly recommend this to start! Hubby and I then shared the carbonara and the ravioli special. The carbonara was creamy and delicious. The ravioli special was filled with a beetroot/mushroom puree and topped with an orangey sauce and mushrooms. This sounds like such an odd combo, but it worked so well. We finished the meal off with their chocolate cake which had 2 tiny orangey meringues. Nice way to end the meal. Expect mainly pastas from their menu, but they make them oh-so-well!! read more

See all

I just ordered what I thought would be a delicious meal However pasta in marinara sauce with veggies well not enough Marinara huge chunky unsauteed vegetables including carrot chunks who put carrot chunks in pasta sauce uncooked???? bread was old and over salt could not make myself eat it went in trash what a waste of my time and money read more

10 stars for this hole in the wall upstairs rooftop restaurant in the outskirts of downtown. A fusion of Italian Mexican fair with amazing fresh organic ingredients, beautifully presented and ingeniously combined. Staff was very welcoming. They make their own fresh bread and desserts. Everything is homemade and I felt like I was in Italy, but in Mexico hard thing to explain 10 stars read more

Quaint little roof top restaurant with seating for maybe ten small tables. Love the open space vibe with skylights and open air views. Food- amazing presentation with perfect portions and amazing flavor. Love the different uses of ingredients and the intense flavors. Service was spot on with immediate attention as soon as we sat down and continued throughout the dinner. A little off the beaten path, but well worth the short walk. Highly recommend and will come again when we come back to the island. read more

This is literally gourmet food at an excellent price. It is a must-do on any trip to Cozumel!!

Excellent offerings on their menu from breakfast to lunch/dinner. We have been multiple times this trip (and in the past) and love it. The focaccia bread is amazing. How are they making it so well on an island off of Mexico!? The hospitality of the staff is also top notch and knowledgeable of the menu and are super friendly, offering their advice, when requested (in Spanish or English). The open air dining room is on the second level and we lucked out during an early breakfast to get the room to ourselves. It's busy in the evenings and they also offer takeout, if on the go. The dishes are all flavorful and beautifully presented. We look forward to coming here each time we visit Cozumel. read more

See all

Very small restaurant with only about 10 tables and I always make a reservation just in case I got shrimp and pasta and my husband got lasagna. We had two desserts, tiramisu and a special which was a banana peanut butter cake. Both were delicious. Service was great and prices were decent read more

See all

We tried dining here one night and they were at capacity, so my friend made reservations for another day, and let me tell you - totally worth the wait! The upstairs dining area is sort of semi-outdoor, but covered, and it happened to be a lovely evening - so it was really perfect for one of our more formal dinners in Cozumel. There is very limited seating, so I would suggest reservations if dining during an off hour, to ensure seating. Vegan/vegetarian folks - there are options here! The Cavatelli pasta (house made!) with vegetables is vegan and it is delicious! KL was very generous with the veggies and it was savory and well seasoned. It was even a nice treat to eat the next day. The focaccia bread is also vegan (also delicious) and I had one of the salads. The salad was surprisingly tasty. I was expecting a run of the mill side salad, much like we have in American restaurants as a side - but this one had a beautiful lush array of veggies and seeds. My friend was also not expecting it to be so delightful. We also had wine and I tried the house kombachu - which wasn't bad, but I could have used more effervescence. The service was excellent! Our server was very attentive and checked on us throughout the meal. Would definitely recommend dining here! read more

Great Italian restaurant. Food was good, service was good, nice outdoor seating. Must be able to climb stairs to the 2nd floor.

Food is great. Craft beer only and wine. I would like to see some domestic beers available. The food makes up for this shortcoming though. Service for this visit was slow. The food also makes up for this. read more

K'ooben Laab - Inside. - Specialty Food Near Me - Cozumel, ROO

Amazing food! We found this place in January 2024 and loved it. I returned to Cozumel unexpectedly 8 months later and we had to return. Just as good as first time and a not to miss spot for homemade pasta and the green salads are really good. Just wish I had room for desert as they look so good. read more

This is a perfect little restaurant. This unique gem on Cozumel has qualities not often found. Obviously the food is incredible. Fresh, made from scratch with local ingredients, the menu is full of delicious choices. The decor is very inviting and it's obvious thought has been put into the entire experience. Loved the path of little pebbles at the top of the stairs! What makes this restaurant truly special is the fact that you truly feel while dining and then after leaving that everyone working there is passionate about the place. You can't help but notice it, and that's what makes K'ooben Laab truly special. And also means you need to make reservations ahead of time... read more

K'ooben Laab - Best cake ever! - Specialty Food Near Me - Cozumel, ROO

WOW! Authentic and fresh Italian cuisine. Incredible It's so good you need to call ahead and reserve a table. Go. read more

This place has the potential to be a great experience - the waitstaff was friendly, ambience and food was quite good but the time we waited for our food & drinks was an eternity to the point that I left in a very bad mood which affected my husband's and I evening. It took at least an hour for my husband to receive the bottled ginger beer he ordered (zero preparation involved) and then at the same time be told they didn't have the kombucha I ordered. The focaccia took about 45min to be served and then our main meals that we ordered took at least 1hr 30min to come out (probably more like 1hr 40min). If the server had told us that it would be over 1hr to receive food, we could have made the decision to stay or leave. The server was very apologetic but in the end that did not make up for the ridiculously slow service. It also took forever to receive the bill and then we were going to pay with a credit card but ended up leaving cash since it was looking like another 1/2hr wait to settle up. This whole experience ruined what should have been a nice evening with my husband. As far as the food goes, it was OK. My husband ordered the seafood pasta and it was extremely oily to the point that my husband didn't really enjoy it. read more

We came here two different times during our 4 day trip. The food was amazing, the vibe of the upstairs seating was so fresh. All the people were so nice and even filled out water bottles up for us. Honestly this place was just relaxing and yummy. We kept coming back and I would definitely go again next time we visit Cozumel. read more

Perfect quaint restaurant. Excellent food and friendly staff. A definite must have! Highly recommend!

We try to get there on every visit to the island. I love the ginger beer. My usual order is carbonara and my husband gets the clams. He has tried several of the pastas and all are perfect. We had the meat and cheese platter several times - it never disappoints. Their breads are fabulous too. We always get an order of granola to take home. My husband even carries it back to the states. Overall a great place but heads up there are stairs you climb to eat on the roof. The owners are very friendly too. read more

Oh my gosh what a hidden gem! Amazing food! Omelettes, bagels, and danishes are the best. Fresh made hibiscus tea and passion orange juice. Great upstair open seating. read more

See all

What a wonderful and intimate experience. Menu choices and fresh preparation were outstanding. Definitely recommend the meat and cheese board, amazingly priced and the choices (especially the cheeses) was one of the Stars of our meal. Home made Focaccia simply great (ask for the spicy chili oil). Entrees excellent, we had the Carbonara and the Tortellini Bolognese just wonderful. Staff attentive and knowledgeable. Thanks for a wonderful dinner. read more

See all

This restaurant was recommended by a young couple At our Condo. So glad we went. Started with the charcuterie for four that was excellent and then shared 2 pasta dishes between four people. Pasta is house made and so is the focaccia bread. Service was great. Very attentive. Would highly recommend. read more

This is my second time eating here and the pasta is really good. I think the actual pasta outshines the sauces but that's ok with me. Not to say the sauces are bad. They are tasty in fact. But I'd like to order pasta and ask to just have butter and Parmesan and let the pasta really shine. And if you like salads, you will be very happy with theirs. Big and filling and chock full of tasty bits. read more

Ok, first the address is correct but the map displayed was wrong. It's on 30th Ave. Took me a few tries to actually get here. The food is all home cooked. I had Cavatelle with pesto. Taste and texture reminded me of Italy. Portions were more than I actually wanted but because it was so good, I had to eat the whole thing. And even though I normally don't eat desert, being home made, I couldn't pass it up. It was well worth the effort, and won't be my last visit. read more

See all

Exceptional espresso and cappuccino and chocolate truffles. Super welcoming and friendly, they explained where the coffee beans are from and the different bakery items they have. Place was busy on a Sunday evening with people picking up food for take out. Loved it. read more

See all

Posting as a US American abroad: This place is a total score. Off the beaten path, so it's not always packed with turistos (like me), but if there is any justice in the world it will be soon - because it is really. good. These people care about the product that they're putting out. Don't be fooled by the simplicity of their kitchen or the size of their dining area (a mostly open-air second floor) - these guys know what they're doing and deliver the goods. The food has subtle flavors and is rich and complex without being heavy. The breads are made on site (I think) and are fantastic. The pasta is made on site and they even have a cutting garden in the back for salads, etc. Prices are outstanding. I had the tagiolini al frutti di mare the first night (c. $12 usd) and the taglioni con camerones the 2nd time (c. $10 usd, pictured). Cold draft beer on tap and a lovely wine selection. Great and friendly service too. This place deserves to succeed. read more

K'ooben Laab - Taglioni con camerones (with a side of veggies) - Specialty Food Near Me - Cozumel, ROO

GO EAT HERE! This is a wonderful little spot, off the beaten path from the touristy areas. They are very accommodating to vegans and very knowledgable about all of their ingredients and what is and what's not from an animal. Many of their fresh baked breads are vegan, including their delicious focaccia breads! I had their homemade Cavatelli pasta with vegetables, which was cooked right in front of me! I had a side of their tomato focaccia bread and their fresh squeezed cucumber lime lemonade. The whole meal was divine! They also have some salsas and oils for purchase - small enough to pack into your carry on to bring some home! read more

See all

Best food great atmosphere love that's it's not a very big place pasta was fresh and marga were good

Absolute top notch restaurant experience. Great Charcuterie, unusual pasta combinations topped off with excellent service. Reservations usually needed. They deliver locally as well. read more

This is a foodies delight. It's off the beaten path. Which if you are in Cozumel DON'T BE AFRAID to go off the beaten path. The locals are awesome, I've been going to the island for 20 years, and the love seeing tourist further in than the main square and Main street. My friend and I were on the island in August and my friend seen this place on trip advisor so we gave it a try. The charcuterie board we has as an appetizer was to die for, The ash Goat cheese knocked my socks off. I had their special, Pork shank and risotto, it was cook to perfection. The waiter was great he recommended a local beer that parred perfect with our meal. the seating on the roof top added to the experience, It is a new must have when going to the island. I can't wait for our next visit. read more

Fresh made pasta and sauces. Adorable owner and chef. Delightful AND delicious. Can't wait to go back and try more dishes. I had the nudi with MAP (butter, garlic and Parmesan cheese) with a touch of sage. Service was perfect. Tiny little place with quaint upstairs seating. I can only imagine you would be remiss to not have reservations on a weekend. A quick wall from Raphael Melgar and Calle 5 N (needed to walk off the carbs anyway). I passed on the bread and dessert THIS time. Go here. Seriously. What are you waiting for? Go. Go. GO!! read more

We initially walked by enticed by the dessert on display, we shared one of the best carrot cake made with dates and chocolate. The owner(host and chef) welcomed us, introduced his menu, an Italian eatery where all pasta, bread and dessert made fresh daily. We felt as if sitting on a counter top watch a friend cook our meals. The second night we return this time experiencing, the bread, pasta and dessert ! My daughter whom a picky eater said " it's the best butter noodle ever" I had the traditional Bolognese and my husband the 4 cheese top off with the cheese cake and chocolate truffle !! All in all great experience, price was reasonable and quality was awesome ! Only downside no alcohol . read more

Absolutely the best bolognese and burrata I've ever had. This is my favorite restaurant in Cozumel.

Wow! What incredible food and service. Dining at K'ooben Laab is a must if you visit Cozumel. Everything is handmade, fresh, and tastes delicious. The servers are friendly, knowledgeable, and make great recommendations. From the moment you walk in, everybody treats you like family and it is just so nice to be there. The restaurant is tiny and I love the quaint atmosphere. The upstairs is so breezy and relaxing. If you love Italian food and enjoy great service then K'ooben Laab is for you! read more