Where to Eat in Sayulita: 21 of the best restaurants for tacos, margaritas and more!
Sayulita—once just a small fishing village on Mexico’s pacific coast with a prevalent surf culture. The waves still summon surfers from all over the world—but more recently, it’s become a destination for travellers and expats looking to experience a bit of Mexican culture. There is definitely no shortage of authentic Mexican restaurants in Sayulita—but there are also many more great restaurants with delicious International cuisines!
Churros in Sayulita, Mexico
In the mood for sushi or ramen? How about some Thai food? Maybe some pizza or pasta from the Italian restaurant will hit the spot. Whatever it is you feel like eating, we’re sure that we’ve got something for everyone on our list of 21 restaurants you NEED to try in Sayulita!
disclaimer: during your research you may have come across something called the ‘Sayulita Sickness’ (also commonly referred to as Montezuma’s Revenge). This stomach bug causes some abdominal discomfort, diarrhea and possibly nausea and vomiting. Some believe this illness is attributed to sewage water that runs into the ocean. More likely it is from drinking unfiltered water or eating food washed with unfiltered water. We were very careful not to drink any unfiltered water while we were there but we still experienced the wrath of the Sayulita Sickness. Be careful and stay safe!
Now that we’ve got that out of the way—let’s get to our list of the best restaurants in Sayulita!
Don Bonito Café
We were always told growing up that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. The Don Bonito Café will help you start your day off right! Join a morning yoga class on their rooftop terrace and then head downstairs for a delicious breakfast and your daily dose of caffeine!
Our choice: the Sandwich de Jamôn* (Turkey Ham Sandwich) with an added egg or the Pan Francés (French Toast).
*we asked for ours to be made vegetarian by saying “sin jamôn” (without ham)
Pan Francés from Don Bonito Café
Iced Coffee at Don Bonito Café
Poolside Smoothie at Don Bonito Café
The Don Bonito Hotel was one of two accommodations that we stayed at during our trip. Read our full 7-Day Sayulita Itinerary!
Northside Café
Another great breakfast spot with a much larger menu is the Northside Café. Like the name suggests, this breakfast/brunch spot is located on the North end of town. With a vast selection including fresh baked goods, smoothie bowls, breakfast sandwiches, pancakes, vegan options and authentic Mexican breakfast meals—you’re bound to find something that hits the spot!
Our choice: How could a couple of Canucks not choose a fried egg sandwich called ‘The Canadian Girl’? We also recommend their golden turmeric latte!
Chaman Creative Kitchen
Another spot on the North side of town—but the first one on this list that you can go for breakfast, lunch OR dinner—is Chaman Creative Kitchen. Enjoy a colourful smoothie bowl for breakfast or pop-in for a late night margarita!
Our choice: We never got a chance to eat here but we stopped in for a nightcap and definitely recommend the mango margarita!
ORGANI-K
If there’s one thing we became very familiar with during our time in Sayulita—it was the bridge over the river. Located just North of that bridge was ORGANI-K. Here you’ll find a range of healthy and organic options on the menu! Grab something to go or enjoy your meal on their picturesque patio.
Our choice: Grab a poke bowl for lunch! If raw fish isn’t your thing—they also make a variety of great Açai bowls!
Poke Bowl from Organi-K
The DoughJoe
The DoughJoe is technically not in Sayulita, but we still had to include it on this list! This little doughnut shop serves up some classic American style breakfast and obviously has some tasty doughnuts as well!
Our choice: grab an iced latte and a couple of delicious doughnuts to enjoy before surfing at Playa San Pancho!
Delicious doughnuts from The DoughJoe in San Pancho
Le Camion
We promise we’ll get to some locations on the South side of town soon but first we have to talk about Le Camion. This little food truck serves up some seriously delicious burgers! Located near an entrance to the North beach—it’s the perfect spot to grab some lunch and escape the mid-day heat!
Our choice: “The Veggie” was a phenomenal breaded Eggplant Parm burger and the presentation (and taste obviously!) of their guacamole was even better!
Guacamole and Eggplant Parmesan Burger from Le Camion
Mary’s Traditional Mexican Cuisine
Okay, okay, we said this was a post about the best restaurants for tacos and so far we haven’t mentioned a single one yet. You’ll likely find tacos on the menu at some of the restaurants mentioned above—but we doubt you’ll find any better than at Mary’s Traditional Mexican Cuisine! It’s also one of the more affordable options on this list!
Our choice: The fish tacos! We have been connoisseurs of the fish taco since we started dating and Mary’s made the some of the best we have ever tried!
The best fish tacos from Mary’s Traditional Mexican Cuisine!
YamBak
We always try to find a local brewery or two (or five) when travelling. In Sayulita, YamBak is the only one. As craft beer drinkers, we always enjoy trying new beer—but we find that breweries usually have some of the best food as well! Not a fan of beer? That’s okay, they have plenty of other drink options on their menu!
Our choice: A flight of four of their unique beers and the guacamole and chips!
Lucid
This little bar is technically not on the beach—but it’s pretty close. You can take a break from surfing the waves at Playa Sayulita or finish off your beach day with some happy hour drinks at Lucid!
Our choice: The 2-for-1 happy hour tangerine margaritas and the guacamole and chips with fresh salsa really hit the spot!
2-for-1 Tangerine Margaritas at Lucid
Looking for beaches other than Playa Sayulita to visit? Check out our post on the Top 5 Beaches to Visit in Sayulita!
Santa Sal.
In the heart of downtown Sayulita you’ll find Santa Sal. This second floor restaurant overlooks Sayulita Plaza and boasts a menu featuring a selection of both vegan and non-vegan options. You also can’t beat the 2 for 1 all-day happy hour on Tuesdays and Thursdays!
Our choice: The vegan quesadilla platter is a great shareable appetizer and you can wash it down with a frozen margarita!
El Itacate
If Mary’s was our pick for best fish tacos then El Itacate is our pick for best everything else. You may have to wait for a table and this popular spot, but we promise it’s worth the wait! Our only regret was not going back to try more from their delicious menu!
Our Choice: If you’re looking for some interesting vegetarian options the Rajas Con Queso and Quesadilla de Jamaica Tacos were both incredible! The first is filled with a creamy Poblano chile mixture and the other is made with Hibiscus flower!
Margaritas at El Itacate
La Rustica
If you find yourself getting sick of tacos (is that even possible!?) then switch things up with a visit to La Rustica. This eatery serves up a delicious assortment of wood-fired pizzas, salad and pasta! Unfortunately, due to a Dry Law during the election, we didn’t get a chance to try any of their cocktails or their self-proclaimed best margaritas in Mexico!
Our choice: La Picosita pizza. This wood-fired pizza is topped with shrimp, jalapeño, cilantro and slices of fresh avocado!
*With a partnership between the two businesses, when you stay at Don Bonito you will receive a discount to La Rustica. You can also order straight to your room!
Achara
Achara was the last restaurant we tried in Sayulita but it was also one of the best! The owner travelled to Thailand to study different styles of cooking and now provides Sayulita with authentic Thai food that follows traditional recipes. They’re also committed to sustainable practices— which makes them even better in our books!
Our choice: We started by sharing the crispy spring rolls and then ordered the Panang Curry and the Pad Thai. Everything was so good!
Pad Thai and Panang Curry from Achara
Lime and Passionfruit Margaritas from Achara
Henshin Sushi
Attached to the recently renovated Casa Nawalli (as of December 2021) is Henshin Sushi. We consider this restaurant to be more of an experience than any other on this list. With omakase service, all you have to do is show up with an appetite and trust the chef to do the rest. We know it isn’t for everyone—but this was easily the best sushi we’ve ever tasted!
Our choice: With the set menu, there wasn’t really a choice but you can order more of whatever you like most! The buttery smooth bluefin tuna was our favourite!
Atico Café and Bar
If you’re looking for a place with friendly service, good vibes and live music—then Atico Café and Bar might be the place for you. It has vegan options, hookah and a variety of craft beer from all over Mexico. As the name suggests, it’s also open early from breakfast and coffee!
Our choice: Tacos de Yaca. These jackfruit tacos were a delicious vegan alternative!
El Tiburón
After our first visit to El Tiburón it easily became one of our favourite spots on this whole list. Located down an alley—this easy-to-miss restaurant and bar is truly a hidden gem. The great drinks are made even better by the bartenders serving them—especially Carlos!
Our choice: If you like a spicy margarita as much as we do then you’ll love La Diabla. Looking for something a little more refreshing? Try the Watermelon Cucumber margarita! We didn’t eat a full meal here but the firecracker shrimp was a great snack!
Watermelon Cucumber and La Diabla Margaritas from El Tiburón
The Places We Missed
With only 7 days to try all the amazing restaurants in Sayulita we were destined to miss a few! Here are some that we had on our list but never got the chance to try:
Another One Coffee Roasters
Looking for a coffee similar to what you can get from your favourite barista back home? You might want to check out Another One Coffee. They look like they have some tasty breakfast options as well!
YAH-YAH Café
A popular spot for breakfast and lunch on the South side of town is YAH-YAH Café. Serving up specialty coffees as well as delicious looking breakfast sandwiches. This definitely would have been our spot if our accommodations were on this side of town!
Blend Bar
We didn’t find out about Blend Bar until after we returned home—otherwise we absolutely would have started our mornings with one of their smoothies or açai bowls!
Ki’i No Ramen
Asian and Mexican cuisines combine at Ki’i No Ramen. With vegan/vegetarian options and unique craft cocktails this is definitely a spot we feel like we missed out on!
La Fogonera
If you’re looking for a late night meal then you’ll want to head to La Fogonera. Open from 7pm to Midnight every day except Wednesday—this food truck serves up burgers, tacos, quesadillas and more!
Açai Bowl from Organi-K
Final Thoughts
With 21 restaurants on our list of the best restaurants in Sayulita—we’re confident you’ll find somewhere that you love!
The only question is—when you find that special place—will you go back the next night or try somewhere else on the list?
Leave us a comment and let us know which restaurant you’re most excited to try!
Happy eating!
