When visiting Merida and being a coffee snob, I've always had a hard time finding better than…read moreacceptable coffee. This place has the best coffee in town and tasty Colombian pastries to accompany it. Highly recommend it!

I love this place! The colombian pastries are delicious and I love having coffee in their terrace…read moreabove the busy streets

This is one of the absolute best places for botanas in Mérida. Go and order a beer and you'll soon…read morefind yourself devouring a number of tasty snacks. The ambiance is always lively, the food and drinks always reasonably priced and delicious, and the service is great. We always make this one of our first stops in Mérida!

Came through twice…read more The first was at noon on a Sunday. Joke is on us: we learned they're not open until 2pm (only on Sundays. Otherwise, they're open at noon all other days.) We came through a couple of days later because it came highly HIGHLY recommended by Big Bro. So, I was more curious than anything. Another reason I came through is to try their kibi's. (It topped my Yelp search when looking for this particular grub.) We wanted to get drinks as well since it was a hot and humid day! Pina colada for me, brewskis for Hubbers. We put in an order for the kibis because that's main reason I came through. Drinks came through, and then... mini plates of snacks, oh, WHAT! La botana, is what they call them. Whew, didn't plan on eating more than the kibis, but I welcomed it! It was a pretty good variety, too: there were sausages, pork skin, jicama and some sort of salad. Staff told us if we wanted refills on any or all of them, to let them know and they'd be more than happy to comply. Kibis finally came through, and I have to admit that I was disappointed. Not only did they lack taste, but they were also hard. They may have been overcooked which most likely contributed to the lack of flavor. Initial thought in mind were hockey pucks. Chewing through one was a challenge that I didn't bother going for a second. (It was practically inedible.) The guac, pico de gallo and sauce were great, but didn't do much for the pucks. Hubbers really liked it, though, so there's at least that. FOOD: 2. SERVICE: 4. I noticed staff mostly just hanging out together at the bar, but they were excellent at being mindful of guests. VALUE: 3. 5 for las botanas, 1 for the kibis. PARKING: Street only. It will be a challenge, for sure. OVERALL: 3. FUN FACT: They are the second oldest cantina in Merida (opened in 1917.) I learned the place is far livelier at night when they have bands performing. Someday, maybe...? Not a one-and-done, but it'll be a long minute before a second visit, if at all.

Local spot for average food with average pricing. Free botanas which were cool but average tasting…read more The key is to get pescado frito but if you are not up for that, then the caldo de pescado and pescado a la plancha are average, fills you up, and at least we ate more healthier as I'm happy about. Wish it could have been more flavorful or tender. Grateful the grilled fish came with side of veggies!

A friend from Merida recommended El Toro for seafood. What do I think about the restaurant? - Let's…read moresay I am no longer friends with the guy who recommended this place. The old saying states: "You always get what you pay for." However, we paid around 65 (Dollars) for two soups, a fish fillet, and a small lobster tail. This is the worst seafood soup I have ever had in my life. How is that even possible, being so close to the sea? I do not know. Yes, the fault is mine because I should have waited to see what the local people were getting, which was fried fish. Unfortunately, I cannot recommend this place, and I do not think I will give a second chance. There are other options on the Malecon; I would try those next time.

A very friendly little cafe. The food and drinks were very good. The service was excellent. It was…read moreour go to place for breakfast while in Merida. I highly recommend you give it a try.

This restaurant is the real deal!! The food was way past excellent! The service is fantastic!! Luis…read moreis the best waiter you could ask for he was great!!! I would go back to Progresso just to eat here!!! Everything was so fresh and prepared to perfection!!!

Our stop here was part of a tour to Mayan Ruins. The bar is located on a public beach with a tiki…read morebar. We were served margaritas and Corina beer with chips and salsa. The staff was fun and engaging despite our language barrier. It was fun watching the locals selling their wares on the beach.

Fam in law mentioned this place a few times, so I felt it was a must stop. And talk about perfect…read moretiming: it rained really hard soon as we got seated. First thing I noticed even while still outside is the number of staff/servers they had. I figured it out soon as Hubbers and I came in: this place is huge! Now... I've been on the hunt for kibis since I got to the Yucatan, so I was delighted to find they had it here. The only thing I was skeptical about is that they were stuffed. I would have much preferred it plain, but didn't wanna knock it without trying it. So, we put in an order for that. While waiting for our drinks, the mini side snacks ("las botanas") started coming through... and it was a lot: pasta with red sauce, ceviche, sliced hotdogs in some kind of creamy dressing, three types of rolls/taquitos with three types of sauces, chips and salsa, and surprise! Included were plain kibis. We tried to find our server to cancel the stuffed kibis and maybe order something else. But it was too late by the time he came back since he had already put the order in the kitchen. Why he didn't mention they were part of the snacks when we spoke about the stuffed ones earlier is beyond me. (No, there were no communication barriers. Hubbers speaks fluent Spanish.) I would have gotten a pizza instead, maybe... LAS BOTANAS: Yes, it was abundant. Yes, they all tasted different. However, all of them were plain. They were just "okay", nothing to call home about, and not one really stood out. And yes: that includes the kibis. The plain ones had very minimal flavor. The stuffing on their stuffed version overpowered the main essence of the kibis. So final verdict is: MEH. But they were generous, I'll give them that. FOOD: 3.5. 5 for quantity, 2 for quality. SERVICE: 3. VALUE: 3. PARKING: I might have noticed a parking lot behind the restaurant. Street parking is also available. OVERALL: 3. Fam met up with us a bit later, so the company elevated the experience a notch. It is a tourist spot so they're never wanting for customers. It certainly is the perfect location for it. So, yeah: come for the drinks, come for the snacks, come for the view. Despite the mediocre food, we still had good times.

We always enjoy going to Dzalbay. The drinks, music, and food are a good way to enjoy spending time.read more

Aug 2024 * Friends As far as I'm concerned, this place is…read moreit. If, while in Mérida, you can't find the "there" there, you will find it at Dzalbay Cantina. Everything is top-notch: food, drink, MUSIC, ambiance. Note: the other night I was there, had a few and departed quickly when my Uber arrived. I forgot my wallet! The next day, it was there waiting for me. Nothing had been taken. Where else in the world could that happen?

Have been here a few times... in comparison to what's available in the area, this is a go-to…read more The service is amazing- they're friendly, prompt and not intrusive. Indoor n outdoor seating .. recommend grabbing an umbrella table outside and taking in the sites, sounds n people watching (depending on where you sit - you may be visited by an occasional local (your friend) inquiring if you'd like to buy a boot leg DVD, bakery item, jewelry ++). The beer is cold and opened table side and the Mexican food is simple, flavorful n authentic! (The prices are ridiculously cheap and the service is stellar - be nice and tip generously ;-) Ps - if needed, they have nice restroom.

Take a walk through the Market Place on the backside. You will arrive at a street that is blocked…read moreoff to vehicle traffic. The Bars and Restaurants have tables on the street in a sidewalk cafe type setting. I have been stopping here on every trip to Progresso. The immediate place as you enter the street area, is Panco Villa Restaurant. You are greeted offer a menu along with the cost of the beverages, Margaritas 2 for $5 or beer for $1. I must say, the margaritas are made traditional, squeezed lime, triple sec, bar syrup, and tequila and in a real glass, not a plastic cup. I had several items to eat, one was the shrimp cocktail, Mexican style, very delicious and then I had the Devil Shrimp, sometimes referred to as Camarones el Diablo. They will prepare to any degree of heat that you want. So, if you are cruising through Progresso, give this place a stop for food or just a drink. Ask for Sergio.

I like to come here and sit at the bar and enjoy their 20 peso drinks and snacks. The mini torta…read morepibil and panuchos are some of my favorites. I've never had a sit down meal here but the the main dining area is very nice and there is another section that is open to the sky. Customers are a combination of locals and visitors. Bathrooms are clean and service is good.

The secret upstairs bar under the open skies makes this restaurant extra special. Its a platform…read morepatio built into shade trees with a thatched roof. It's enchanting at night watching the lighted towers of the old cathedral standing watch over the Merida night sky...sitting at a candle lit table with cool Yucatan breezes blowing. It's a far remove from the hustle and bustle of the narrow, crowded downtown streets and the lively plaza. I ordered a pumpkin seed-based salsa which was prepared table side in a stone vessel. My friend ordered the grilled fish with rice, pickled carrots, onions and sauces. Both were delicious. We also had nice drinks, red wine sangria, and beer. What was perhaps the best feature of the place is the excellent waitstaff who are bilingual, who are helpful with making you feel comfortable, who provide charming conversation and tips, and who are generally well trained in hospitality. Such a far cry from the dour and arrogant wait staff typically found in Washington DC restaurants. This is a good place for a quiet escape from the plaza crowd.

Once you're done having a grand time at La Negrita, you should come to Pipiripau, as this place…read moregets poppin' at night. Similar to the style of La Negrita, this place looks small from the outside, but as you walk in, you'll see it leads to an outdoor area with a small dance floor and a live band! Drinks are cheap here (e.g. 180 pesos for a bucket of beer). The place is adorable with tons of artwork and a wonderful open-air vibe. I'm not sure if they serve food here, as I didn't see any food on the menu, but I also came late.

I can't speak for any of the food, but this is a super cool spot to hang out for drinks and live…read moremusic. Picnic bench style seating, and plenty of it. There's a very small "dance floor" between the live band setup and the bench seating. Lots of beer and cocktail options. Definitely a younger crowd. Service isn't bad, but be patient. This place gets busy.

Went last night for cocktails. We tried 3 different mezcal drinks. Very good. Nice job on the…read moredrinks. Service good. They had a "flatbread" special with 3 cheeses and special sausage. It was pita chs with like 12 large chips with 6 pieces of sausage and lots of creamy cheese sauce. Lots of sauce. It was NOT good.And it should be pita flat bread not pita chips. FOR $250.00 PESOS. It was not work it. They have other flatbread on the menu I hope they are not using pita chips. The fried calamari was good. The antipasto burrata was not a present nicely, needed more flavor, like more pesto sauce over the burrata and the pieces of the antipasto cut smaller which was only fried tomatoes and prosciutto in large pieces. Very disappointed in the food.

I would have to say one of the best burgers in town. Great quality, friendly people awesome drinks…read more The area is amazing. Would recommend to go during the week and they have live music. It's well worth it.