Here are a few of our recommendations to help guide you as you explore the wonderful city of Merida!
Food
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Pancho Maiz — A gem of a breakfast spot that celebrates the tradition of corn! Each recipe is inspired by the mothers and grandmothers of the region, honoring a long tradition of women. Pancho Maiz has helped to revive and preserve native corn. They even provide much of the masa to the restaurants around town. All the food we had here was amazing. Don't sleep on the plantain dessert, folks! Reservations required.
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Holoch — A dinner spot that, just like Pancho main, celebrates corn! In this area of the world, corn is believed to have a connection to god. Holoch honors this idea by creatively using corn throughout the menu. Reservations required.
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Ramiro cocina — A wonderful lunch spot that offers such a unique representation of Mexican food, inspired by the owner’s grandfather. From mole to quesabirra to tostadas de okra, Ramiro uses local ingredients to make beautiful food. The patio is lovely for dining al fresco, too!
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Wayan’e (tacos castacan c/queso) — Tacos and torts. This recommendation comes from our new friend Marta, of Soco. She praises their tacos castacan con queso. There are a few locations around the city but if you are anything like us, we will travel for food!
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Taqueria la lupita — a 40 year old, world famous taco joint, recently documented on the taco chronicles on Netflix. We did not go on our visit but I hear it’s well worth the hype, and the uber. It is not located centrally but damn do those tacos sound like a perfect reward after a day of adventuring around town. Cash only.
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Kuuk — We didn’t make it to this spot on our recent visit, but everything we’ve heard about Kuuk makes me regret that we didn’t prioritize a tasting. Repeatedly named as one of the top 50 resturautns in the world, Kuuk is a modern take on Mexican gastronomy. This is a tasting menu and reservsations are required.
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Soco — Ya’ll. Soco. This place is unreal. We ate here every morning we were in Merida. I once read an article about how sometimes when you travel it can be just as impactful to visit one place over and over, rather than bouncing around to try all the spots. After eating here one time, I finally understood this philosophy. Everything we ate here was INCREDIBLE. They make all pastries in house daily, have amazing coffee, and the most delicious brunch. We sat at the coffee bar every morning and made friends with Marta, the powerhouse who runs the place. She graciously opened up her heart to us and we are forever grateful to her for making our Merida experience one to remember.
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Agua de mar — Are you a natural wine fan? Agua de Mar is a sexy natural wine bar and seafood restaurant. This place was cool, fun, and weird, and we were here for it. The wines and vermouths were delectable and highlighted much of Mexico. The food was unexpected and playful. We made resos but I think we would have been just fine without them.
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Micaela, Mar, y Lena — A wood fired seafood kitchen with cajun flare! There is a cajun history in the Yucatan and MMYL really does it right. The food is approachable, delicious, and soulful. They feature dishes from all over Mexico, too. Reservations are not required but are definitely recommended.
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Nuevo San Fernando Cochinta y Lechon — The most popular and most traditional dish of the Yucatan is Cochinita Pibil, or baby pig that is slowly roasted in banana leaves (often underground). Nuevo San Fernando is a street side food stand that specializes in both tacos and tortas of cochinita. They are known in the area for having the best Cohinita Pibil around.
Pancho Maiz
Ramiro Cocina
Soco
Micaela, Mar, y Lena
Bev
Tizatlan
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Tizatlan — Spoiler alert: This is where some of our wedding food and cocktails are coming from. But dont let this stop you from going!! This bar is wonderful. A mezcaleria with snacks and small plates, Tizatlan also makes their own mezcal. I can say in all honesty it is THEEE best mezcal I have ever had. Arnie, the man behind this project, will make you feel right at home. The space is small, intimate, and communal.
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Salon Gallos — This place is a really cool fusion of so many things we love. It is a Lebanese Yucatanean restruaunt, a cinema, cantina, and a wine bar all rolled into one! How cool.
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El Gato (in El Remate) — Is there anything better than a kitty cat? Dare I say, a Mexican kitty?! El Gato, or the cat, is a cozy cocktail bar located in El Remate. El Remate is a restaurant that also has a busy more ‘cluby’ kind of bar, so keep your eyes peeled for El Gato, the more relaxed cocktail bar. Open 7pm to 3am.
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Maria y Montejo coffee — If you are all about coffee, look nor further than Maria y Montejo! They specialize in Mexican grown coffee and do a beautiful job of highlighting the humans behind the beans. The spot is beautiful and tranquil (it even has a pond)!
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Soco — I know we mentioned it above, but Soco is just that good. The coffee here is amazing. If you are an alternative milk drinker like me, the coconut milk in Mexico is unreal. I highly recommend an iced coconut milk latte wherever you go. My mouth is watering just thinking about it.
Maria y Montejo
Shopping
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Coqui Coqui — IYKYK. Or if you dont, lemme tell ya. Coqui Coqui is a world class perfumery and real treat for your sniffer. Created by a former botanist, Coqui Coqui explores the Yucatan by way of scent. I spent entirely too long smelling every single perfume in this beautiful shop and cant wait to come back and do it all again. It is also a hotel and spa, so if you need a place to crash or a pre-wedding massage, Coqui Coqui can help ya out.
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Mercado Lucas de Galvez — The main market of Merida! If you have never been to a Mexican market before, let this be your first! I really love getting lost in the chaos of a Mexican market because the energy is electric. It is so cool to me that you can buy a live parrot next to a papaya next to a dress that was handwoven by an indigenous community in the area. Galvez spans 45,000 square feet and has over 2,000 vendors. We’ve collected so many treasures and trinkets from markets all over Mexico just like Lucas de Galvez. Highly highly recommend!!!
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Casa Tho Concept House — This spot is fancy! But so fun and highlights emerging artists, designers, and fashion from all over Mexico. It is located in a beautiful old mansion right off of Paseo de Montejo (one of the main streets in the area). There are several boutiques as well as a restaurant / bar located in Casa Tho.
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Xinu Perfumery — By now, can you tell aromatherapy is a love language for me?! Xinu is a perfumery located in Casa Tho and it is incredibly beautiful. They craft scents centered around plants, flora, and fauna of the Americas. Even if you just need a little pick me up, I recommend!
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Carla Fernandez — A Mexican fashion house that is dedicated to preserving and honoring indigenous communities of Mexico by way of fashion. Artists and craftspeople in these communities use their traditional techniques to create textiles and handicrafts that are then turned into garments. It is also located in Casa Tho for a one-stop-shop!
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Vernacular Store — a very cool documentation project turned boutique that sells handmade goods created by artisan families of Southern Mexico. These goods, ranging from textiles to ceramics to jewelry, are created using low-impact, sustainable techniques. You can feel the story of and the hands that touched each and every piece in this special shop.
Coqui Coqui
Mercado Lucas de Galvez
Casa Tho
Museums / Attractions
Chichen Itza
MUGY
Cathedral de San Ildefonso
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Chichen Itza — One of the 7 wonders of the world!! It was and still is considered a sacred city and Mayan pilgrimage center. Chichen Itza was discovered by the Itza who are known as the water sorcerers. It is a truly unbelieveable feat of humanity, especially since it was created in the 5th century AD. Chichen Itza is outside of Merida, almost exactly between Merida and Cancun. So you’ll have to drive, organize transportation, or a tour.
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Uxmal Ruins — A UNESCO world heritage site and another impressive example of Mayan ruins from pre-hispanic times. The site is a city of sorts that dates back to 600-900CE and houses several architectural wonders. Like Chichen Itza, Uxmal is outside of Merida so a car or transportation must be arranged.
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Museo de gastronomia Yucateca or MUGY— A restaurant and museum concept that celebrates Mayan history through food. The Yucatan has influences from pre-Hispanic Mayan, Mestizo, and Creole cultures. MUGY highlights these influences, ingredients, techniques, and traditions.
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Museo de Arte Contemporaneo, Fernando Garcia Ponce or MAYACA — A contemporary and modern art museum in Merida. It houses art from both Mexican and international artists and is the only museum of its kind in the entire state of the Yucatan. And it has free admission!
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Catedral de Merida or Catedral de San Ildefonso — This church, built the late 1500’s, is one of the oldest Cathedrals in all of the Americas, and is the oldest in Mexico. It was built on the site of former Mayan temple during the Spanish Conquest.
Adventure
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Cenotes - Y’all. Cenotes. CENOTES! These are small fresh water swimming holes specific to the Yucatan and they are the most breathtaking experience you can imagine. Super prevalent in the region (over 10,000!), Cenotes can be found in caves, the middle of the jungle, or even outside the Costco. They are an essential part of the Yucatanean culture and we absolutely without a doubt recommend adventuring to swim in them.
Cenotes tend to be off the beaten path in the more rural/natural outskirts of the city. Because of this it can be really helpful to have a local as your guide . When we traveled to Merida last spring, we used Airbnb Experiences. It was our first time trying something like this and we couldn’t recommend more! Our guide was kind, so knowledgable, and made us feel very taken care of. He picked us up in the middle of Centro and took us to two of his favorite Cenotes, both of which were hidden gems (and not crowded with tourists). He helped us to understand the culture and traditions around the cenotes, provided us with snorkeling gear, and even organized a traditional Mayan lunch made for us by a family sthe community of one of the cenotes. It was truly unbelievable.
Here is the link to the Airbnb experience we booked! - https://www.airbnb.com/experiences/280165
Us swimming in a cave Cenote
Jungle Cenote
Lunch being made
