Restaurant
Kiosco Verde
A family-run seafood restaurant on the road to Puerto Juárez, listed in the 2026 Michelin Guide Mexico, known for grilled octopus and lobster empanadas.
La Habichuela
Downtown Cancún's long-running garden restaurant, open since 1977, serving Yucatecan and Caribbean dishes among Maya-style stelae and statues.
At a glance
- Type
- Yucatecan and Caribbean
- Area
- Downtown (Centro), Cancún, Mexico
- Price
- $$$ · Upscale
- Official site
- lahabichuela.com
Good to know
- Garden courtyard
- Reservations
- Table-side flambé desserts
Why we recommend it
La Habichuela is one of the longest-running restaurants in Cancún, a city founded only in 1970. It opened in 1977 on Calle Margaritas in the downtown district, and the restaurant says it is still run by its founders more than 45 years on. For many visitors it is the obvious choice for a special dinner away from the Hotel Zone, about 15 minutes' drive from the resorts.
The setting is a large part of the appeal. Tables are spread through a courtyard with wrought-iron furniture, trees and hibiscus, and the decoration draws on Maya culture, with reproductions of stelae, statues and other carvings that give the space the feel of a garden among ruins. The restaurant describes these pieces as a way of evoking the different historical periods of the Yucatán Peninsula, and the Maya theme carries through from the garden to the after-dinner drinks. It is popular with couples looking for a romantic dinner.
The menu mixes Caribbean seafood with Yucatecan and wider Mexican cooking. The house starter is the cream of habichuela soup, and ceviche is the other popular way to begin. The best-known main course is the Cocobichuela, a curry of lobster and shrimp with tropical fruit served in a coconut shell. Other options include lobster, grilled seafood, fine cuts of beef, chicken in mole and beef tampiqueña, so there is plenty for diners who do not want fish. Desserts include regional sweets and dishes flambéed at the table, and the restaurant recommends finishing with a Café Maya. Xtabentún, a Maya liqueur made with honey and anise, is another local way to end the meal.
The restaurant takes reservations through its website and by phone, and it also caters for groups and weddings.
There is a second branch, La Habichuela Sunset, in the Hotel Zone, a modern space with a two-storey window wall overlooking the lagoon. It serves a similar menu at somewhat higher prices, but the original on Calle Margaritas is the one with the garden and the history.
Getting there is easy by taxi from the Hotel Zone, and the restaurant is about five minutes from Puerto Cancún and Plaza las Américas. It was named a Travellers' Choice restaurant in 2021.
La Habichuela FAQs
When did La Habichuela open?
It opened in 1977 and is still run by its founders.
Where is La Habichuela?
At Calle Margaritas 25 in downtown Cancún, about 15 minutes from the Hotel Zone.
What is the signature dish?
The Cocobichuela, a lobster and shrimp curry with tropical fruit served in a coconut shell.
Do I need to book?
Reservations can be made on the restaurant's website or by phone.
Can I eat there if I do not like seafood?
The menu includes beef, chicken mole and other Mexican dishes as well as seafood.
What is the setting like?
A courtyard garden decorated with reproductions of Maya stelae and statues.
Is there a branch in the Hotel Zone?
Yes, La Habichuela Sunset overlooks the lagoon in the Hotel Zone.
What should I order for dessert?
Flambéed desserts prepared at the table, followed by a Café Maya.