7 Best Places to Eat in Holbox

Last Updated: January 3, 2024

Holbox is a hidden gem on the north of the Yucatan peninsula and although it is relatively small, you will have no problem finding plenty of amazing places to eat in Holbox. Holbox has become increasingly popular in the last few years, attracting hordes of tourists from around the world. Most of the places to eat in Holbox match the laid-back vibe of the island. When it comes to food, however, they take it very seriously and most of the restaurants in Holbox have nothing to envy from those that you find in the tourist hotspots in Yucatan, such as cosmopolitan Tulum and Cancun. 

We have compiled a list of the 7 best places to eat in Holbox that offer a variety of cuisines and they are suitable for any budget. No matter what food you crave, one thing is for sure, your taste buds will be satisfied. 

Let’s dive in and find out which are the best places to eat in Holbox.   

BEST PLACES TO EAT IN HOLBOX

1. FRESCO – BAR & GRILL

Located right on the beach, this beautiful restaurant is perfect if you love grilled food and fresh fish. Fresco Bar & Grill is part of a hotel but they also accept walk-ins. All the dishes are incredible but we feel that the reason this is one of the best places to eat in Holbox, is their mouthwatering fresh fish. It is a great spot for breakfast, lunch, and dinner but if you can dine only once here, we’d suggest that you do lunch. We love the feeling of the sand between our toes and the warm sun rays on our faces while savoring great food. It doesn’t get more summery than that! 

2. MAIZTRO – LOCAL FOOD

Maiztro is the perfect spot for taco lovers. It is your typical boho place, following the vibe that many other restaurants in Holbox do, but that’s where the similarities end. Maiztro serves epic tacos and grilled meat and has great service. We are always fascinated with open-kitchen restaurants, from where we could see the food being prepared and we think that it’s something that makes a dining experience extra special. What’s best, prices are budget-friendly too, so it’s a win-win! If you’re looking for places to eat Holbox, don’t miss out on this amazing restaurant. 

3. CLANDESTINO COFFEE SHOP

We have a feeling that this will be one of your favorite places to eat in Holbox, especially for breakfast. Clandestino serves the BEST coffee on the island and although the coffee shop may lack space, it certainly doesn’t in quality. You want to come here early in the morning to beat the crowds, order a cup of coffee and one of their divine cakes and enjoy the bliss of being in a beautiful space with A/C. We must highlight that because not many restaurants in Holbox have A/C. Be sure to try their cacao smoothie bowl; you can thank us later! 

4. MANGLU WAFFLE HOUSE

We went twice to Manglu for two reasons; their waffles were phenomenal and so was the fresh watermelon juice. Manglu is one of the best places to eat in Holbox, great mainly for breakfast and brunch. We have a soft spot for waffles and this place didn’t disappoint, offering an extensive menu of sweet and savory waffles. Fair warning, however, the portions are huge, so either come here hungry or order just one waffle to share if you want to avoid wasting food. Word of advice, although many people on the reviews suggest that this place has good wifi, we weren’t fortunate enough to experience that. We were prepared, however, seeing that wifi on the entire island is almost non-existent. So if you need a place to eat in Holbox from where you can also work, your safest bet would be a hotel. 

5. ROOTS – PIZZA

Holbox is famous for its lobster pizza and the best place to try it is at Roots. Roots is an open-air restaurant, perfect for lunch or dinner, with friendly service and a great lively atmosphere. While all the other dishes are remarkable, their wood-fired pizza is out of this world! The dough is thin and crispy and they’re using the freshest ingredients for their toppings. It tends to get very busy but the place is quite big, so you’ll likely have no problem finding a table. This is one of those places to eat in Holbox that you definitely don’t wanna miss out on.

6. PAINAPOL – VEGAN FRIENDLY 

Painapol is one of the most famous and Instagrammable places to eat in Holbox. It is a bustling restaurant, almost always packed with people; you will most likely have to queue for a few minutes to get a table. From the fantastic food to the beautiful boho decor and from the excellent service to its great location, eating at Paianapol is an experience in itself. Keep in mind that the restaurant closes at 15:30 and opens up again at 18:00, so be sure to avoid these hours. We learned that the hard way; the first time we attempted to have lunch here, we arrived at 15:32 and they didn’t let us in. 

7. VIVA ZAPATA – AUTHENTIC MEXICAN CUISINE 

There’s nothing better than traveling to a new destination and discovering new flavors. Viva Zapata is the ultimate place to eat in Holbox if you’re looking for authentic Mexican dishes. Indeed their ceviche and their blue corn tortillas are divine but the fresh fish is sensational and not to be missed. The restaurant is like a little oasis, with indoor and outdoor seating and beautiful murals decorating the walls. The portions are big (which is always a plus) and their cocktails are fantastic! Viva Zapata is one of the best places to eat in Holbox and we can’t recommend it enough.