Kiosco Verde

Kiosco Verde is a family seafood restaurant on Avenida López Portillo, the road that runs out of the city towards Puerto Juárez, far from the Hotel Zone. Its quality has not gone unnoticed, though, as it is one of the Cancún restaurants selected for the Michelin Guide Mexico in 2026, and Michelin also included it in its article on the best outdoor restaurants of the Riviera Maya.

The business has deep roots. It is run by Octavio Santiago, who continues a family tradition that began in 1974, when his father opened a small grocery shop. Today you can eat at outdoor tables or in a comfortable, bright dining room under a large palapa roof.

The cooking centres on fish and seafood bought at the local market and prepared with regional recipes, and there are daily suggestions alongside the regular menu, so it is worth asking what the kitchen recommends that day. The dish to order is the pulpo zarandeado, octopus grilled in the zarandeado style, which Michelin singles out as the house signature. Another favourite is the lobster empanadas, made in the Argentine style and served with chimichurri. Michelin's description also mentions baked potatoes, fried leek, avocado and a chile hummus, and portions are generous, so sharing is sensible. Michelin's inspectors also recommend leaving room for dessert, especially the panna cotta.

Kiosco Verde suits food lovers who want something more personal than a resort restaurant, families, and anyone heading to or from the Puerto Juárez area, where ferries leave for Isla Mujeres and the El Meco ruins stand on the road to Punta Sam. Michelin places it in its mid-range price band. Dogs are welcome throughout the restaurant, there is parking on site, and cards are accepted.

The restaurant handles its own reservations rather than using an online booking service, so call ahead if you are coming with a group. Its own pages are kept on a simple blog site, so the phone is the most reliable way to check the day's specials and confirm opening times before you set out, particularly if you are planning a meal around a ferry crossing or a visit to the ruins.