3 Best Restaurants in Tulum, The Riviera Maya

New York chefs cooking New York food for New York prices—in a jungle setting open to the night sky—that's Hartwood. Though the menu changes daily, options might include slow-roasted pork ribs marinated in agave honey or a light, fresh ceviche, and you can always finish with homemade ice cream in flavors like peanut brittle, sweet corn, and cream cheese. Big-city transplants Mya Henry and Eric Werner opened this solar-powered restaurant in 2011, and it has been drawing a full house ever since. Chef Werner has added farming to his list of talents, and the rabbit on the menu comes from his farm. The setting of dark-wood tables on a white pebble floor is remarkably charming, though mosquito-repellent smoke can get heavy at times. The open kitchen and massive oven make for a dramatic, fiery show when the sun goes down. In high season, book ahead by email or get here when the restaurant opens at 6, or risk a New York–style wait.

This jungle-side hangout is laid-back, casual, and comfortable, with an open kitchen and airy layout in a large, traditional palapa. Standout dishes include organic-chicken-stuffed jalapeños and organic chicken in red sauce (so tender that it practically falls off the bone). Paying tribute to local blends is the wine list, on which 80% of the bottles are from Mexico. An international crowd of expats and in-the-know vacationers makes for a lively scene, especially at night. For large parties or special events, book ahead.

With tables under a palapa on the beach, this restaurant is a perfect place to sink your toes in the sand while dining. Chef Sandra offers understated appetizers like tuna nachos (tuna tartare and avocado with tortilla strips) or shrimp and chipotle sopes (corn flour "disks" with different toppings). Veggie fans will love salads made with cooked potatoes, peach, avocado, and sunflower seeds. The fish is about as fresh as it gets—if you’re an angler, the kitchen will even cook up your catch. By day, the menu focuses on sandwiches and wraps; by night the attention turns to ribs and surf and turf. And the bar, where they've traded in bar stools for swings, is just as nice as the table seating. Service can be slow, but it's worth the wait. There's Mexican wine tasting on Thursday and Caribbean Latin Rhythms on Saturday.