You'll find a delightful variety of restaurants in Akumal and along the coast. Choose from upscale eateries offering international dishes, casual beachfront palapa restaurants featuring fresh seafood or mom and pop loncherias offering economical local fare. Part of the adventure of travel is sampling local cuisine, so have fun. Check out the sampling of restaurants listed below plus information on area grocery stores and shopping.

Turtle Bay Bakery:
Located on the plaza in Akumal Bay. Open daily for breakfast (7-12) and lunch (12-3); dinner is served Tues., Thurs., Fri and Sat. (6-9) in low season and Mon.-Sat. in high season. (984) 875-9138.

Turtle Bay makes excellent fresh baked goods daily, stop by early in the morning and buy some fresh hot-out-of-the-oven muffins or rolls to have with your morning coffee. MMM . . . MMM . . . GOOD!! The breakfast menu is varied and imaginative; try the fresh fruit plate or egg dishes. The restaurant also offers catering. Lunches are also very good with large portions. Delicious salads, sandwiches and wraps. The fish sandwich is really tasty. Try the smoothies, drinks rich in flavor blended with tropical juices. Dinners are dandy, too. Also . . . try their homemade ice cream. This restaurant is run by Bartley & Jennifer Smith.

La Cueva Del Pescador:
Located on the plaza in Akumal Bay. Open daily for lunch and dinner. (984) 875-9255; (984) 875-9205.

La Cueva del Pescador is billed as the restaurant owned and operated by local fishermen. Naturally, the specialties include fresh seafood (jumbo shrimp, Caribbean king crab, lobster and fish), as well as a selection of entrees "not from the sea." Motto of La Cueva is "Hook it and Cook it;" meaning that if you've been out fishing, you can bring your catch in and have it prepared to your specications.

A festive hangout for locals and gringos; happy hours get happier with each pitcher of Gonzalo's special margaritas.

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Lol Ha Restaurant
Located on the beach on Akumal Bay. Open all day, everyday: Breakfast 7:30-11; dinner 6:30-10 p.m.; snack bar 11 a.m.-9 p.m.; Pizzeria 1-9 p.m. (984) 875-9014.

Lol Ha (means water lily) offers something for every palate . . . beef, chicken, fish, Mexican and Yucatecan specialties. The Caesar Salad and bananas flambe are prepared tableside. The owners have created a truly beautiful place to dine. There is a pizza restaurant attached to the main dining room and a palapa bar on the beach with great tacos, french fries and very cold cerveza among other lunch specialties. The main dining room is open for breakfast and dinner. The food is very good and the prices are moderate.

In addition, you can drop your children at the Kids Club while you enjoy a quiet dinner on the veranda and your kids have a fun meal and meet new playmates.

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La Buena Vida Restaurant:
Located on the beach on Half Moon Bay. Open daily from 10 a.m. on. Don't miss Happy Hour, 5-7 p.m.

Half Moon Bay's most popular hang out; complete with sandy floor and bar swings. Not only will you find a fun and fancy-free atmosphere, but delicious food as well. And great views, to boot! Catch the sunset from the rooftop lounge, swim in the pool, slip into a hammock or kayak or snorkel in the bay. You can spend an entire day!

La Buena Vida offers a wide varieties on their menu . . . beef, chicken, fish, pasta, salads and Mayan specialties. There are a number of dishes that are prepared tableside. The restaurant is open for breakfast, lunch and  dinner. The breakfasts are especially wonderful. Prices are moderate. 

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La Lunita:
Located in Hacienda de la Turtuga, North Akumal. Open evenings for dinner; closed Sundays.

La Lunita is a very popular restaurant on Half Moon Bay located on the 1st floor of La Tortuga Condo building. Offers a variety of food including beef, fish, chicken along with house specialties and daily chef specialties. Favorites are coconut shrimp, special filet mignon in red wine sauce, corn mushroom empanadas, scallops or Mayan style pork baked in banana leaves in the ground. Choose romantic, candlelit dining with seating inside or on the sand under the stars. Prices are moderate to high.

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Que Onda Restaurant :
Located near the entrance to Yalku Lagoon.
Breakfast 8-10:30 a.m.; dinner 5-10 p.m. Closed Tuesdays.

Que Onda has a special ambiance in this open-air, lush garden setting. If you want a leisurely meal in beautiful surroundings and like fresh pasta and seafood, give this a try. The chef is willing to custom prepare pasta dishes to include ingredients of your choice. Everything is made in-house with the finest and most flavorful ingredients available. Prices are moderate. They sometimes offer homemade desserts.

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Mango Cafe:
Located next to Buena Vida on Half Moon bay. Open daily for breakfast, 7 a.m. to 12 noon

Try their fresh juices and coffee, lattes and smoothies and chow down on nummy breakfast burritos, croissants, bagels, muffins, and more. Get your food items to go or eat on the beachfront dining area.

Loncheria:
This no-frills eatery next to Super Chomak grocery store offers inexpensive (and tasty!) meals for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Take out available. Open daily, 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Lucy's Kitchen
Near El Pueblito grocery, Lucy's serves some great food from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday-Saturday. Try the empanadas or tostadas. You can also get vegetarian tacos, fresh fish and shrimp. For ice cream fans, it's homemade, try the mango flavor!

Up and down the coast are some great off-the-beaten track restaurants that have GREAT food:

Leo's Pizza
Located in the village of Chemuyil (south of Akumal). Take 307 south until you see signs for Chemuyil, take a right and follow the road into this little berg. Leo's is a small eatery, usually busy because it's well known for its tasty pizzas, pastas and salads. Open Monday-Saturday, 4 p.m. to 10:30.

This definitely is off-the-beaten track, but you DO NOT want to miss it! Food is incredible, beach is fantastic . . . plus there's a cenote across the road where you can snorkel for hours in water that loops through the jungle. Bring your snorkel gear, or you can rent it at Casa Cenote (you can also arrange fishing boats, sialing and dive trips). Spend the day feasting on some mighty fine food, snorkel in the bay or in the cenote. Have a few cool beers and just play at the beach. Enjoy excellent food at reasonable prices. Casa Cenote also offers a popular Texas BBQ every Sunday, featuring ribs, brisket or chicken.

Blue Sky
Located on Tankah Bay just north of Casa Cenote.
Open daily for breakfast and dinner

A fine addition to the shores of Tankah, Blue Sky serves authentic Italian dishes as well as international cuisine. Nice atmosphere, delicious food and soothing background music make it a great choice.

PUERTO AVENTURAS AREA RESTAURANTS:
Dining is particularly pleasant on the upscale sidewalk cafes along the marina.

Richards: Been around for years. Offers good quality steaks, seafood and pizza, plus a salad bar. Located on the marina. (984) 873-5086

Cafe Ole: from Mexican to American with seafood and daily specials. Breakfasts are "it" here. Enjoy pleasant views of the marina while you have your morning coffee. (984) 873-5125. Open for breakfasts from 8 a.m.

Trebol Sports Bar & Marina Cafe: Sports bar inside and elegant outdoor dining at night. Great dinners, particularly the steaks. On the marina. (984) 873-5381

Italian Bakery: “Not just a bakery” A local favorite offering pizza In PA (eat-in or take-out) and other good, reasonably priced breakfasts and dinners, daily specials and theme nights. (984) 873-5651. Open daily from 8 a.m.

Dos Chiles: Mexican food on the marina with good views of the performing dolphins.
(984) 873-5783

Sole Mio: Italy meets France in Mexico. Good Italian, pizza, seafood and some French dishes overseen by a French chef and manager.

Da Vinci: on the ocean in Omni hotel.

Tirami Su: Vast menu features fresh seafood, tasty pasta, succulent steaks and, for the kids, pizza, chicken fingers, burgers and small-portion pastas. Elegant dining (and extensive wine list) along the picuresque marina. Enjoy a romantic dinner for two or gather with your friends to celebrate a birthday, anniversar, wedding or just the end of the day. Tirami Su will also prepare your "catch of the day" in one of 10 different ways; you catch . . . they'll cook. And, don't miss their delectible desserts! (984) 873-5654. Open daily for lunch and dinner.

Mediterraneo: Italian fare, on the marina. (984) 873-5418

Caribana: Offering the “comida corriente” or plate of the day, this is where many of the locals get a quick, very reasonably priced meal. It is good, try it! Open for lunch; closed Sundays.

Golden Dragon: Caribana by day becomes Golden Dragon in the evening with eat-in or take-out Asian selections.

Arigato: On the marina facing the dolphins. Serving Japanese sushi, crepes and salads. Fresh fish is purchased daily from Puerto Aventuras fishermen.

The Pub: On the marina, offering a wide selection of beers and good pub fare and serving breakfast, lunch and dinner. Good food, daily specials, and reasonable prices make this a local favorite. Thursday evening BBQ ribs are a popular choice. (984) 873-5130. Open 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily.

Manati Palapa: Located near the small fishing boats along the marina. This casual bar/restaurant serves icy cold beer and drinks and light snacks. Seating is under the shade of a palapa or in one of the swings at the bar. Check the grotto to see the manatees, stingrays and sea lions.

Gringo Dave's: On the far side of marina.   Tex-Mex grill and cantina; frequently has live entertainment.   (984) 873-5894

Grocery Stores:
You can buy just about anything you need at the local markets and supermarkets. One of the great benefits of staying in a private villa or condo is that you have more space, including a full kitchen or kitchenette. You can stock up on your favorite foods and beverages for snacks, lunches or complete dinners. If your property has a barbecue, you can throw some burgers, chicken or shrimp on the grill. You'll save a few bucks by having some meals in your rental property, as well as enjoy the convenience of grabbing a quick snack or beverage out of your own fridge. We can also make arrangements in most properties for cook service. Grocery stores most convenient to the properties include:

• Playa del Carmen: Chedraui has an in-store bakery and deli, large selection of fruits and vegetables, fresh meat and seafood, dairy case, beer and liquor. Located along Highway 307 (if traveling south on 307, go east on Juarez, take the first right and Chedraui will be on your right). Soriana Located in the Centro Maya Mall on the west side of Hwy 307 is Playa's newest mega-market. You'll also find a good selection at Sam's Club (south of Chedraui on the main highway); and Walmart (30th Ave. and Calle 8).
• Akumal: Super Chomak and Las Palmas Minisuper are located at the entry to Akumal. Super Chomak has an amazing selection for it's size, with many imported Americans items as well as fruits, cheese, some meats, veggies, soft drinks, beer and liquor. Las Palmas is across the street and offers as sells mostly Mexican groceries (thus, prices are a bit lower). It's very convenient to have these two grocery stores in Akumal, but remember that you are paying for the convenience. If you are buying a bunch, you're better off shopping at the large grocery store in Playa del Carmen or Tulum and use these small stores to fill in as needed. Also in Akumal (on Half Moon Bay), are two tiny "tiendas" that offer some basic snack foods, sodas, and small selection of alcohol. You'll find several small markets with reasonable prices in the nearby villages of Puebla Akumal and Chemuyil. Selection is limited but you'll find the basics plus beer and liquor.
• Tulum has a good size supermarket called Super San Francisco.
• Puerto Aventuras: There are a couple of small shops that offer a VERY limited selection, at higher prices. You'll shop for convenience not for price!
• Or, if you want your villa pre-stocked when you arrive with food and beverages, there is a local grocery service that will do all the shopping for you and have your order waiting in your villa when you arrive. For more information on this service, click here: Riviera Maya Groceries
• Another alternative to restaurants and cooking yourself is to have a cook come in and prepare a few meals during the week in your villa or condo. We can make arrangements for you at most properties.

Liquor:
Best selection of liquor (beer, wine, liquors) can be found in the larger supermarkets (Chedraui, San Francisco, Sam's Club, Walmart). You will also find a limited selection at the smaller grocery stores listed above.

Misc. Shopping
Shopping opportunities are endless! Browse the small boutique shops for beach wear, swim suits, jewelry, artwork and souvenirs. There are also shops selling everything you can imagine; imported rugs, hand-tied hammocks, Mexican rugs, cigars, furniture and more. You can't possibly visit all of the shops along the Maya Riviera . . . but you can have fun trying!

Laundry:
There is a same-day laundry in Akumal (Mulgrew's Laundromat, across from Super Chomak); for same-day service, drop your laundry by 9 a.m. There is also a laundromat in Puerto Avenuras and Tulum.

Pharmacies/Physicians:
Major supermarkets have pharmacies and the smaller store have a limited selection as well. There is also a pharmacy in Akumal Pueblo (across the main highway from the entrance to the Akumal). The pharmacy is in the office of of Dr. Lizbeth Mendoza Morales (fluent in English). Open 7 days a week, 8 a.m.-2 p.m. and 4-7 p.m. Pharmacy phone (984) 875-9334; doctor's office (984) 875-9372; cell 044 (984) 806-4072 and 044 (984) 108-0091. Other physician is Dr. Nestor Mendoza (fluent in English) with office on the main square in Akumal; open 9 a.m.-2 p.m. and he makes house calls as well. Office is (984) 875-9393, cell 044 (984) 806-4616.