Restaurants

There are only a handful of restaurants on Isla Holbox [1], so anyone staying more than a day or two could easily sample them all. It wouldn’t even take much effort, as virtually all face the central plaza or are less than a block off it. A quick stroll around the plaza lets you whet your appetite while sizing up the options.

Considered one of the best restaurants on the island, Los Pelícanos (Av. Palomino near Porfirio Díaz, no phone, 6 p.m.–midnight daily, closed Sept.–Christmas, US$8–25) is a fine Italian eatery known for its fresh seafood dishes and homemade pastas. Located a half block off the main plaza, with a classy but low-key ambience.

Chonchi’s Papas y Los Pelones (central plaza, Av. Benito Juárez btwn Avs. Porfirio Díaz and Igualdad, cell. tel. 998/212-4850, 6:30–11 p.m. daily, US$6–16) is a small 2nd-floor restaurant overlooking the central plaza and featuring mostly Italian dishes, including great handmade pasta. Grab a table on the balcony for the best view and sea breeze. The peculiar name—Chonchi’s Fries and The Bald Ones—comes from the location’s original fry shop, the clipper-happy owners, and bureaucratic rules that make altering a restaurant’s name easier than changing it outright. Go figure.

A half block east of the park, Tiki Tiki (Av. Igualdad, no phone, 4 p.m.–midnight Wed.–Sun., US$7–17) serves terrific food, even better cocktails, and features live music every Thursday—what more could you ask for? (Well, perhaps a larger space—it can be hard to get a table.) The chef, formerly of CasaSandra resort, is known for inventive creations—the camarones coco-chipotle (coconut chipotle shrimp) are to die for and a favorite among repeat visitors.

Cueva del Pirata (central plaza, Av. Benito Juárez at Av. Porfirio Díaz, tel. 984/875-2183, 8 a.m.–11 p.m. Mon.–Sat., US$6–20) is a classy place with soft jazz filling the room and spilling out to the candlelit tables on the front porch. It offers a handful of homemade pastas, a dozen sauces to choose from, and a decent wine list. Try the lobster marinara sauce—it’s worth the premium price. Meat, poultry, and seafood dishes also are featured.

Pizzería Edelín (central plaza, Av. Palomino at Av. Porfirio Díaz, tel. 984/875-2024, 11 a.m.–midnight daily, US$4–12) manages to stay busy even in the low season, serving decent thin-crust pizza—try the lobster or olive-and-caper ones for a treat—plus a smattering of fish, pasta, and Mexican dishes. The ovens can really heat up the place, so nab a table on the porch for the breeze.

A colorful clapboard structure houses La Isla del Colibrí (central plaza, Av. Benito Juárez at Av. Porfirio Díaz, no phone, 8 a.m.–1 p.m. and 6–11 p.m. daily, US$4–9). A good breakfast place on the central plaza, it offers fresh fruit juices and big licuados, egg dishes, and Mexican classics. It’s open for lunch and dinner, too, but there are better places for those meals.

Groceries

Supplies ebb and flow in Isla Holbox [1], so you might have to go to more than one store to find everything you’re looking for.

Super Monkey’s (Av. Benito Juárez near Calle Escobedo, 6:30 a.m.–11 p.m. daily) has canned and packaged food, bug repellent, sunscreen, and toiletries.

The best selection of fruits and vegetables on the island typically is at Frutería La Concepción (Calle Escobedo near Av. Palomino, 7 a.m.–6 p.m. daily). You’ll also find eggs, honey, and spices. Come early for the best selection.