Whenever I discuss what I love about Cancun, people are often surprised to learn that the area is a culinary destination with hundreds of restaurants to choose from. While this can be a bit overwhelming, the beauty of the situation is there is a restaurant to fit any budget. Everything from the smallest street-side taco stand, to the finer, haute cuisine establishments, and everything in between can be found in the Hotel Zone and Centro (Downtown) Cancun. Most visitors to the area stay in the the Hotel Zone, where the world famous beaches are located. Tourists seldom visit Downtown where the locals live, which is a mistake in my opinion because there are many things to see and do there, not to mention amazing places to eat.
One of the best neighborhoods in Centro (Downtown) surrounds Palapas Park, from Av. Tulúm to Av. Yaxchilán, just south of Av. Uxmal. This area is home to dozens of what are considered to be excellent "local" restaurants. If you stroll around the park, one can easily find anything from small food carts to cantina style party spots, family-friendly restaurants and high end establishments. Many of these places feature live music at night, including the high end restaurants. One of the standouts that has been attracting tourists and locals alike since 1977 is La Habichuela, located next to the park on Calle (street) Margaritas #25 in Super Manzana 22. This establishment is described in almost every Cancun travel guide and deservedly so, as it is one of the highest-end Caribbean seafood restaurants in town. La Habicheula received a National Best Restaurant Award, has been a part of the DiRoNA Organization since 2001, recognized as one of the distinguished restaurants of North America, and the AFAQ/IQNet Assoociation Française pour l'Assurance de la Qualité. Recently the restaurant received the Five Diamonds Award from the American Academy of Hospitality Sciences; making it one of the most highly decorated dining establishments in Cancun!
Before I continue any further, I want to say that I have had the pleasure of dining at La Habichuela and their sister restaurant La Habichuela Sunset, and both were unforgettable dining experiences! I want to add that we are honored by the owners Armando Pezzotti, and his family, to have the opportunity to include these superb, high end establishments in our growing list of Cancun Discounts. This means that they have made it possible for our readers to receive exclusive discounts when they present PEOPLE'S CHOICE GUIDE CANCUN at either of these fine restaurants.
La Habichuela offers guests an indoor dining room with air-conditioning, surrounded by warm wood decor. However the majority of tourists are drawn to this establishment for its romantic, outdoor garden, surrounded by tropical plants and statues to create a distinctly Mayan motif. For starters, the Caesar Salad for two is prepared tableside and tastes like a proper Caesar Salad should. The signature dish is known as the Cocobichuela, a coconut filled with lobster, shrimp, tropical fruit and rice, smothered in a curry sauce.
While La Habichuela specializes in seafood, the restaurant offers diners a wonderful array of meat and poultry selections as well. Popular favorites include the Roast Duck in Pear Sauce flambé, the 15 ounce T-Bone Steak and the Grilled Tampiqueña Steak with guacamole, refried beans, a chicken enchilada, sliced onions and a strip of poblano chile. The desert drink known as Mayan Coffee, made with xtabentun (anise liquor made from the honey of Xtabentun flowers), brandy, ice cream and ground cinnamon, is a "must have" after dinner drink. The fun part is how the beverage is prepared, tableside, and is definitely a highlight of the meal.
For those who visit Cancun but do not have time to visit Centro (Downtown), La Habichuela now has a location in the Hotel Zone! Centrally located at Kilometer 12.6 (just south of La Isla Shopping Shopping Village), the restaurant's name La Habichuela Sunset, is à propos, as it features oversized windows with extraordinary views of beautiful sunsets over the lagoon. The restaurant is situated on several levels, taking full advantage of the views and offering distinctly different dining areas. The decor is stunning, featuring hand-carved woodwork throughout, including a bannister designed to resemble the Mayan snake god Kukulcán. While the interior of the restaurant offers so much to admire, like its Downtown predecessor, it also has an outdoor garden but with the added bonus of lagoon views. While the menu at the Hotel Zone location is slightly different, with new concepts and original creations, they do not currently offer the Cocobichuela. However there are dishes that are available at the Sunset location that one cannot find at the original La Habichuela, hence the distinct differences between the two. One aspect that is shared by both establishments is that they serve incredible haute cuisine! While I can go on and on about La Habichuela Sunset, and being that a picture is worth a thousand words, here are a couple of short videos that say it all. Notice the Mayan Coffee being prepared at about the nineteen second point of the following video:
Notice the many areas of La Habichuela Sunset restaurant that are featured in this video, enjoy:
For additional information about the Cancun Discounts that are available exclusively with PEOPLE'S CHOICE GUIDE CANCUN Travel Survey Guidebook, visit our Discounts Page. To purchase a copy of our guidebook, there are a few options available on our website's Shop Page. For a significant discount off the purchase of our guidebook, use the coupon code imisscancun on our Buy Direct & Save page. If you have had the pleasure of dining at La Habichuela, La Habichuela Sunset, or any other Cancun restaurant, please feel free to visit our Vote Page to give your ratings and comments. You may also follow us, like us and comment on our Facebook page.
