The Best Restaurants in Puerto Escondido
For a special dinner, Almoraduz and Atarraya, both selected by the Michelin Guide. For fish tacos, La Punta. For seafood at sunset, the cliffs above Carrizalillo. This is the list we share with our own guests at Casa Leah, Puerto Escondido, Oaxaca.
What are the best restaurants in Puerto Escondido?
Puerto Escondido has grown from a town of beach palapas into one of the most rewarding places to eat on Mexico's Pacific coast. Oaxacan tradition, the day's catch, and cooks who came for the surf and never quite left.
The table below is the short version. The details follow.
| Restaurant | Area | Best for | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Almoraduz | Rinconada | A special dinner, tasting menu | Michelin Guide |
| Atarraya | Brisas de Zicatela | An easy dinner, cocktails | Michelin Guide; close to Casa Leah |
| Espadín | Carrizalillo | Seafood at sunset | Clifftop terraces |
| La Olita | La Punta | Fish and shrimp tacos | Beachside and casual |
| El Cafecito | Zicatela and Rinconada | Breakfast after a surf | A Puerto institution |
| Benito Juárez market | Town center | Local food at local prices | Near El Adoquín, 4.6 km from Casa Leah |
Almoraduz: contemporary Oaxacan cooking
In Rinconada, opened in 2013 by a husband-and-wife team of chefs, Quetzalcóatl Zurita and Shalxaly Macías. The Michelin Guide describes the cooking as having an Oaxacan heart and a traveler's spirit.
There is an à la carte menu and a tasting menu. One dish the guide singles out: a corn tostada with confit pork belly, refried beans, guacamole and chapulines. Ask for the mezcal pairing.
This is the table for the evening that matters most. Reserve ahead.
Atarraya: dinner beneath an old tree
In Brisas de Zicatela, a few minutes from Casa Leah, and also in the Michelin Guide. A courtyard where the branches of an old tree reach over the tables, a softly lit bar, and Mexican cooking that is straightforward and beautifully seasoned.
Try the rib-eye tostadas and the sesame-crusted tuna. The cocktail bar is one of the best in town.
Espadín: seafood and the long view
Terraced into the cliff above Carrizalillo Bay. Whole grilled red snapper, chicken in mole negro, and fresh, simple salads.
The tuna tostadas and aguachiles are worth the trip as well.
Arrive an hour before sunset and let the sky do the rest.
Where to eat tacos in Puerto Escondido
In La Punta. La Olita is known for its tempura-battered shrimp and fish tacos, crisp and bright with fresh salsas. It is a barefoot sort of place, right for the end of a long day in the sun.
After dark, La Punta fills with stands and palm-roofed kitchens. Walk slowly, follow whatever smells best, and sit down.
Where to have breakfast in Puerto Escondido
El Cafecito, on Zicatela, has long been the morning ritual of the surf crowd: chilaquiles, fresh bread and strong Oaxacan coffee.
There is a second branch in Rinconada, and a bakery window for coffee and bread to go.
If you would rather not go anywhere at all, the poolside bar at Casa Leah serves coffee and breakfast from 8 to 11. The Leah breakfast brings chilaquiles, entomatadas, enfrijoladas or waffles with egg or tasajo, fruit, agua fresca and coffee. And every suite has a kitchenette for slow mornings of your own.
Eating like a local
The municipal market near El Adoquín is where the town eats: set lunches, tlayudas, fresh juices and fruit, at the most modest prices in Puerto.
This is the Benito Juárez market, 4.6 km from Casa Leah (about 14 minutes by car).
What to eat in Puerto Escondido
- Tlayuda: a broad, crisp tortilla with beans, quesillo and tasajo.
- Mole negro, the great dark mole of Oaxaca.
- Aguachile and ceviche made with the day's catch.
- Whole fish, grilled or a la talla.
- Chilaquiles and entomatadas for breakfast.
- Mezcal, neat or in a passion-fruit mezcalita.
Bars and evenings out
Zicatela has beachfront bars, and La Punta has mezcal bars and live music. The scene shifts from season to season; ask at our front desk and we will tell you what is good that week.
Quiet hours at Casa Leah run from 10 pm to 8 am, so the walk home ends in calm.
Let us make the reservation
In the busiest weeks the best tables go early. Tell us what you are in the mood for, and reception, open 24 hours, will suggest a place and book it for you.
FAQ
What is the best restaurant in Puerto Escondido?
For a special dinner, Almoraduz in Rinconada: contemporary Oaxacan cooking with a tasting menu, selected by the Michelin Guide. Atarraya in Brisas de Zicatela is also in the guide and more relaxed.
Are there Michelin restaurants in Puerto Escondido?
Yes. The Michelin Guide Mexico includes Almoraduz (Rinconada) and Atarraya (Brisas de Zicatela) among its selected restaurants. Neither holds a star; both are recognized for good cooking.
Where can I get fish tacos in Puerto Escondido?
In La Punta, at the southern end of Zicatela. La Olita is known for tempura shrimp and fish tacos, and in the evening La Punta's stands and palapas offer plenty more to try.
Where can I have dinner with a sunset view?
At Espadín, on the cliff above Carrizalillo, with grilled whole fish and seafood. Arrive about an hour before sunset for a good table.
Where should I eat breakfast in Zicatela?
El Cafecito is the classic surf-morning stop. If you are staying at Casa Leah, the poolside bar serves coffee and an Oaxacan breakfast from 8 to 11, 47 steps from the beach.
What local dishes should I try in Puerto Escondido?
Tlayudas, mole negro, aguachile, fish a la talla, and chilaquiles at breakfast. To drink, mezcal or a passion-fruit mezcalita. The municipal market is the best place to eat simply and locally.
