Dining and Entertainment
Here's a list of some of the restaurants/night spots in Cozumel. They range from from simple mom and pop type spots to finer dining establishments. No matter where you dine, there is no need to dress up (unless you want to!). Cozumel's atmosphere is casual and carefree so be comfortable; however, you probably wouldn't want to show up for dinner barefoot in a thong bikini (of course there are places where that would be perfectly acceptable, too, like on east side of the island). These are just some notes from our experiences on the island. Sure we missed some, but we'll update this list. Please e-mail us if you have comments, or would like to add some notes here!
Happy Dining
Pancho's Backyard: In our dozens of trips to the island, we had never tried this restaurant. We made a point this time around to give it a try. We were impressed with the atmosphere in a quiet patio-like setting, complete with trickling water, greenery and pleasant decor. Unfortunately things went downhill from there. The margarita my husband had wasn't terrific, and while the soup I had (gazpacho) was a interesting and pretty good, I didn't think it was worth $6.75. I had a vegetarian chili relleno dish and could only eat a couple bites. My husband ate only a small portion of his fish dinner. We can tolerate pricey if the food is great, however, we left Poncho's feeling unsatisfied. We were very disappointed in Pancho's Backyard. Maybe it was a bad night . . .
The French Quarter: This one is new and located on 5th, just south of the plaza. They serve Louisiana style dishes including jambalaya, Cajun food, stuffed shrimp, crayfish and even alligator. They had some of the best French onion soup I've ever had. You can dine inside or outside on their 2nd story patio. We recommend this one!
Coffee Net: Though they do have coffee and soft drinks, the internet is the magnet here. They have 8 computers ready and waiting for you to sign on. There are a variety of browsers, software, printers (black and white and color). There's AOL, Netscape, Hot Mail and a bunch of others; there's even a scanner. There are several internet cafes, but we've used the one located near the corner of Calle 11 and the oceanfront road .
La Cocay Restaurant. Service is absolutely terrific and food is wonderful. I had the Napa salad which was delightful with crisp lettuce, sliced apples, walnuts, bleu cheese and a slightly sweet dressing. They whipped up a rigatoni dish with sun dried tomatoes, peppers, mushrooms and other veggies, topped with cheese. My husband very much enjoyed the special of the day which was pork with a peach sauce. Dishes were artfully presented and the atmosphere is casual but classy. We didn't think the prices were bad at $60 for 3 main dishes, salad, one dessert (crepes stuffed with fresh fruit, topped with ice cream and chocolate sauce), and a cognac. Menu changes monthly. Open Tuesday through Saturday for evening dinner.
El Turix is next door to the Cocay and serves Yucatecan food. Sample dishes are on display inside and there is a daily special. My husband and son enjoyed the special paella which is a rice dish with a variety of fresh vegetables and combination of meats, including shrimp, sausage and pork. Inexpensive and again, they were very accommodating and made up some special items without meat for me.
Coconuts: You'll have to go all the way over to the east side of the island to find this nugget. Actually the menu (at this time) is limited to lunch and snack items, but the location/views found at this cliffside tropical oasis are worthy of a visit. Stop in for a cold one when you are touring the east coast of the island.
Las Uvas: A newer beach club south by San Francisco beach. It has a pleasant atmosphere, the beverages were cold, next time, we'll skip the food, it was disappointing.
El Capi Navigante: This is an old favorite, featuring fresh seafood delicacies. Located on 10th Ave. S. and Calle 3 (close to the grocery store, La Retrenca). Last time we were there we enjoyed the fish (red snapper) and shrimp.While we were not paying attention, our 13-year-old son ordered bananas flambe for dessert.
Rock 'N Java: Located on the ocean front road north of the Plaza Las Glorias, this place has great sandwiches and quiche plus other tasty treats.
Bakeries: There are a number of bakeries on the island. Zermaat, located on 5th Ave. north of the plaza has great apple strudel as well as other great goodies. Fresh breads and rolls can be found at Los Arcos (which has moved!); now located on 25th Ave. and Calle 7 . The supermarkets, San Francisco and Chedraui, also have a good selection of baked items. And, there's the bread man, who makes his rounds on his bicycle cart, you'll hear him clap.
Grab a snack at the Sunday evening fiesta in the plaza. Local groups serve food items each week; soft drinks, cake, tamales, etc. for just a few pesos. The flan is great.
Fat Tuesdays: Just up from the ferry pier. Drinks are the highlight here, especially the frozen ones. You can get 'em by the gallon here!
Guido's: The atmosphere is pleasant, the prices a bit high and the portions are not huge. However, the dishes are attractively presented and the quality was excellent (at our table we had chateaubriand, fish and a pasta dish). I thought the pizza was terrific.
El Moro is off-the-beaten track on 75th. Taxi is probably your best bet to get there. They have a large menu and specialize in Yucatecan dishes. Frequented by locals and those who know Cozumel quite well. And, yes, they can speak English. We can't go the the island without eating here. The Mayan Coffee is worth every penny of the $9.00 it costs, just to watch them prepare it tableside is a treat.
Pepe's: Located on the waterfront not too far from the Plaza, Pepe's offers fine food, service and ambiance, to boot. This one's been around for years and has earned a reputation for high quality. Unlike some of the trendy restaurants, there's a reason 
Pepe's is busy. They have some of the best lobster around. Shrimp is great. They also have a salad bar and a pleasant atmosphere.
Carlos'N Charlie's: If you are a first timer, you'll want to go here at least once. It gets hopping and can become rather crazy when the sun goes down. They do serve food here, but it's the beer, Margaritas by the yard and other libations that pull in the people. Waiters keep things lively and a disc jockey plays favorite tunes. Located in the Punta Langosta plaza.
La Choza: This is a favorite among travelers and sometimes you'll see a line as people wait to get in (personally, we think the food is good, but not worth waiting in line). They have some tasty dishes and usually offer a couple of specials each day.
Costa Brava: Located on a side street, just up from the ocean on Calle 7, we like their seafood dishes. Try the king crab; it's messy but delicious!
Lobster House: There are other restaurants with almost the same name, but this one is located north of town (any taxi driver will know where it is). They only serve lobster here. You choose the one you'd like, you also get rice, bread, etc. The ambience of this place makes it special. Candlelight, geese and ducks mill about and float on the pond.
Prima's. One of the favorites . . . and another restaurant owned by an American (he's a real schmoozer). Dining is rooftop, just off 10th and Rosada Salas. Their seafood, pasta dishes are absolutely wonderful. Pizza is pretty good, too. Breads are sooooo good. Heard their desserts are delicious, too!
Luigi's Pizza has mainly local clientele. But the pizza is good, price is right. If they don't have someone who can speak English, they'll find someone. This is located off of 10th, north of the plaza just a couple of blocks, then take a left toward the ocean.
Johnny's Gallo Blanco: (White Rooster) has excellent lunch specials for about $4.00. Johnny himself will likely be there to greet you. Located on the corner of Salas & 15th in the former Santiago's Grill location.
Cocina Mexicana is located on the south end of the plaza. You can enjoy sidewalk table or be seated inside. Service was excellent, food tasty and not too expensive. The flaming after dinner drink was interesting.
Casa Denis is one that has been around for many years. It's just off the plaza, the southeast corner. Featured are Mexican/Yucatecan dishes. I liked the camarone empanizado (shrimp with light breading). Large portions, good prices.
Sno Biz stands are found in several locations. I have a passion for these things . . . or the raspados. The shaved ice is available in lots of flavors . . . and yes, they use purified water/ice. The raspados are available right off the plaza (southwest corner). My favorite is fresa o limon (strawberry or lime).
Jeannie's Waffle House is great place for breakfast, huge portions; located on the oceanfront just north of 11th St. Great place for breakfast . . . we've never tried lunch there.
Rotisserie chicken. Pick up a delicious barbecued chicken from one of the places on 30th Ave., there are several. Don't get there too late; they usually sell out. The chicken is grilled over hot wood fires; the good old fashioned way. Great for a beach picnic over on the east side of the island or eat-in at your villa.
Try some of the small loncherias located in residential areas. These are tiny, mom and pop type operations. Some have only a couple of tables. But the food is tasty and cheap! Do yourself a favor and stop at one. You can get some great fish, shrimp, chicken dishes, soup, frijoles, etc. for just a couple bucks. They may not speak any English, but you will manage just fine.
Hot Dog Stands: The are THE BEST hot dogs in the world, wrapped in bacon and slow grilled with carmelized onions-YUM! You'll find them in several locations. One of our favorites is on Calle 11 and Avenida 30.
Street Stands: Maybe everyone shouldn't eat from the street stands, but we have with no problem. You can find inexpensive and tasty empanadas, quesadillas and other goodies. Near the plaza you'll find one of my favorite health foods: Churros (Mexico's version of deep fried mini donuts)
If you must: KFC, Subway, Pizza Hut, Dairy Queen, Domino's
We invite you to contribute to this list! E-mail us your favorites
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