25 Best Restaurants in Mazunte You Need to Try (2024)

When I first visited this Oaxaca beach town, the idea that I could write an article about 25 Mazunte restaurants seemed unfathomable. Fast forward a few years and the restaurants in Mazunte have developed to offer much more variety.

While the options for relatively affordable food in Mazunte are still limited, the diversity of restaurants is nothing short of amazing. 

This list includes places to eat the best breakfast in Mazunte, as well as the best seafood. I’ve also included a section at the end for vegetarian and vegan food in Mazunte.

Although, I did pull out one of my favorites, Doba, to place it near the top since their menu is so incredibly innovative that I didn’t want you to miss it.

Let’s take a look at all of my favorite restaurants in Mazunte, Oaxaca.

Regardless of if it’s a meat, vegan, or vegetarian dish, the owners of Dobo have found a way to include a lot of vegetables in their menu. And use them in unique ways to create meat-like dishes, such as jackfruit in the style of cochinita pibil. 

And their healthy options don’t stop there. They’ve created interesting vegan smoothies, vegan desserts, and drinks that showcase their love of adaptogenic mushrooms, such as cordyceps and lion’s mane.

I’m incredibly impressed with Doba and the focus on bringing healthy ingredients to the forefront in unique ways without sacrificing flavor. I was also thrilled to be able to purchase their Mexican produced adaptogenic mushroom products in their small store to take back to Oaxaca City where I live full time.

The small menu blends a bit of Spain with a bit of Mexico to create incredibly flavorful dishes, such as sesame-encrusted Mahi served with mashed potatoes and salad. 

To top it off, they often have live music and other performances on the small stage. Whether you’re looking for a romantic date night or a fun time with friends, El Chiringuito is the perfect spot to watch the sunset over the ocean with dinner and drinks.

Mazunte Restaurants for Local Food

If you’re looking for affordable food in Mazunte, these local restaurants should top your list. Neither list hours, although they both open in the evening.

They specialize in tacos al pastor which is evident by the seasoned pork rotating in front of a flame at the entrance to the restaurant.

The menu also includes bistec, chorizo, ribs, and arrachera. All of these can also be ordered on top of a tlayuda, the most popular food of Oaxaca, or as a plate that combines several types of meat with onion, cheese, and other ingredients.

5. El Bajoncito – Best Homemade Food

📍 Location

This small Mazunte restaurant is tucked off the main street that runs through town towards Zipolite. There are just a few tables out front and a rotating menu crafted by the female owner.

It’s labeled as a fusion restaurant which seems accurate based on the menu variety. Sometimes there are Mexican classics like enchiladas verde and pozole. And other days you can find sourdough pizza and shrimp gorditas.

Most importantly, the flavor is rich and the prices are affordable. I highly recommend supporting this female-owned restaurant in Mazunte.

Although the breakfast menu features their homemade breads as well through their eggs Benedict, breakfast pizza, and cazuela which is a Mexican version of shakshuka and served with a side of bread to soak up the delicious tomato sauce.

I also love the breezy atmosphere on the upstairs terrace which is open yet surrounded by trees to give some protection from the street. While Maralto is labeled as a pizza restaurant, the reality is there’s a lot more to the food here.

I expected the menu at Tribu to feature seafood tacos such as seared tuna. But to my surprise, it also includes several interesting vegan and vegetarian tacos. Rather than relying on soy products, they use vegetables to create classic taco fillings such as the sweet potato al pastor tacos.

And while I think of Tribu restaurant for its tacos and mezcal, the menu also includes a variety of burgers, pasta dishes, coconut rice bowls, and other items. This is a great place for dinner in Mazunte that can accommodate a variety of dietary preferences.

Traveling the coast of Oaxaca? You’ll want to read about the best restaurants in Huatulco Mexico next.

As the name implies, seafood is the focus at this Mazunte restaurant. And while the classic coconut shrimp grace the menu, I would argue that the best preparation is in a creamy coconut curry.

There are other French and Mexican classics such as aguachile, shrimp or fish al ajillo, and bouillabaisse (Fridays only). To top it off, they serve wine and highly rated cocktails.

Incredibly, nearly every burger is available to order as a beef patty, the fish of the day, or a vegetarian lentil-oat patty. And potato lovers will swoon over the perfectly seasoned rosemary fries that are served with every burger.

For the best dining experience, head upstairs to the rooftop palapa that overlooks the main street in Mazunte that leads to the beach.

There is no printed menu, so come with an open mind about the dishes they will have that night. When I was there, ramen was the only option. The prices are also on the high side (even for Mazunte), so a printed menu would be a nice way to not take diners by surprise. They also serve local beer, mezcal, and some desserts.

Best Beach Restaurants in Mazunte

Some days you just want to lounge on the beach sipping margaritas and eating overly-priced seafood. Wait, scratch that last part. 

Compared to a lot of other restaurants on the beaches of Oaxaca, these two beach restaurants in Mazunte serve quality seafood dishes.

From fresh ceviche to fish tacos, the menu is small but incredibly fresh and made at the moment. This is easily one of my favorite places to relax and spend the day sipping on mezcal margaritas or a cold beer.

Vegan and Vegetarian Restaurants in Mazunte

Vegetarian and vegan food in Mazunte is becoming easier to find. Below is a handful of strictly vegan or vegetarian restaurants in Mazunte.

I’ve extended the list with the next section, although you should note, there are several restaurants above that offer quite a few options as well.

14. Falafel el Loco

📍 Location

As the name suggests, Falafel el Loco makes the best falafel in Mazunte, and possibly all of Mexico. Plus the pita is soft, the salsas are flavorful, and the prices are incredibly affordable. 

And to top it off, the friendly owners have created a perfect, chill vibe. There’s a reason this is one of the most popular restaurants in Mazunte.

Breakfast is served until midday, at which time the menu switches to veggie bowls, salads, and more for lunch. My only complaint is that the service at Luz del Sol can be very slow, yet a gratuity is added to nearly every bill. While the menu states it is optional, it’s a bit cheeky. I would prefer if they would improve their service instead.

Are you vegan or vegetarian? You’ll want to read about the best places in Puerto Escondido for vegan food.

El Armadillo offers a delicious menu of Moroccan favorites such as falafel, vegetarian kefta, tabbouleh, and hummus. The menu also includes more unique items such as a cauliflower tajine and lib koosa, a tangy zucchini spread. The flavors are bold and flavorful, yet perfectly balanced.

In my opinion, La Colmena serves some of the most innovative vegan food in Mazunte. This restaurant should be on your list if you’re looking for a healthy breakfast or lunch.

Other Mazunte Restaurants with Vegetarian and Vegan Food

There are a few other restaurants in Mazunte that serve vegetarian and vegan food. And although it doesn’t comprise their entire menu, I’ve included ones below that offer a lot of options. That being said, meat and seafood eaters should also pay attention to this part.

The vegan and vegetarian dishes range in flavors including a black bean burger, curry tofu, roasted eggplant, and mushroom tacos. The variety of the menu makes Arena Negra a top Mazunte restaurant to please a variety of dietary preferences.

Their recipes mix mostly vegetables, sometimes meat, and sometimes cheese (manchego, goat cheese, and even blue cheese). Each is available to order as an omelet, crepe (vegan option available), salad, or as a sandwich on their homemade bread. 

And the crepes expand to include a list of sweet crepes that are mostly filled with fruit and cacao. The juice bar is also quite customizable, making El Gecko a solid option for a healthy breakfast, even if they don’t open until a bit late in the morning. 

The menu includes ceviche (with a mushroom option for vegans), aguachile shrimp, salads, and tacos. Although my favorite part is the make your own poke bowls.

The base of the bowl starts with your choice of rice, quinoa, noodles, or lettuce and is topped with fruit and veggies of your choosing, salsa, and protein. Most of the protein options are seafood and while there’s only one vegetarian option, I appreciate that it’s mushrooms instead of a soy product.

To top it off, they often have live music on the weekends and I thoroughly enjoyed the mezcal margarita. It was well balanced without too much sugar.

Best Bakeries and Cafes in Mazunte for Breakfast

With sometimes limited options for food in Mazunte, I wanted to expand this list to the best bakeries and cafes in Mazunte. And while they don’t have a full menu, they do offer snacks, vegan desserts, and other savory items for when you need something to eat.

In addition to the baskets of baked goods, the back wall is lined with freshly baked bread and the fridge is filled with more vegan goodies, protein bars, and other items. They also serve coffee, fresh juice, and other beverages.

To sit, there’s a small but busy patio in the front and a more tranquil garden area in the back. If you’re roaming around Mazunte for breakfast, this is a solid option for a snack to hold you over before other restaurants open in the morning.

El Tiburon has a menu full of smoothie bowls and blended drinks. You can choose from their juice blends, create your own, or add a variety of superfoods such as spirulina, chia seeds, maca, moringa, and more.   

They also serve cold brew coffee, kombucha, ginger beer, and mojitos. Plus it’s located next door to El Baguette (see next) in case you desire something more filling to eat.

But keep in mind, while Ícaro Café is open until midday, the pastries often run out by 10 or 11 and on the weekends, sometimes even earlier. While I enjoyed the pastry, the coffee left a little to be desired. Next time I’d try the dirty horchata or one of their chocolate drinks.

Final Thoughts on Mazunte Restaurants

As you can see, there’s a lot of variety in the restaurants in Mazunte. From fresh seafood to cheap tacos and lots of restaurants serving vegetarian and vegan food.

As this once sleepy beach town has expanded, so have its restaurant options.