Where to Eat in
Nayarit
9 restaurants across the Riviera Nayarit — from legendary fish tacos to organic farm-to-table. Sayulita, San Pancho, Punta de Mita, and the towns nobody visits.
The Riviera Nayarit is where you'll find the best pescado zarandeado in Mexico (fish marinated in chili and achiote, grilled over wood coals) and where battered fish tacos are a religion. But the scene goes well beyond: in San Pancho, chefs cook with organic ingredients from their own gardens; in Sayulita, beachfront terraces serve restaurant-quality food; and in fishing villages like Lo de Marcos, you eat what they pulled from the ocean that morning for $8 USD.
Sayulita — From Sea to Taco
Don Pedro's
Sayulita beachfront
The institution. Beachfront tables, fresh catch, proper cocktails, and a sunset view that justifies the price premium. Order the ceviche and whatever whole fish they caught that day. Reserve ahead for the beach-view tables — that's where you want to be.
Sayulita Fish Taco
Central Sayulita
The name is the menu. Fish tacos, shrimp tacos, marlin tacos. Battered or grilled. Loaded with salsa, cabbage, and crema. Eaten standing at a counter or on a plastic stool on the sidewalk. Under $3 USD per taco. Go twice a day.
Mary's
Off the main drag, Sayulita
Slightly off the main drag, which is why tourists sometimes miss it. Mary's does creative Mexican cooking with serious technique — mole that took three days, fresh pasta, and a chile relleno that regulars plan trips around. No view, full flavors.
San Pancho — Organic & Farm-to-Table
Cielo Rojo
Calle Tercer Mundo, San Pancho
Boutique restaurant with a weekly menu that changes based on what's at the market and in the garden. The chef uses French techniques with organic Mexican ingredients. Intimate space (10 tables) with local art on the walls. The mezcal cocktails with seasonal fruit are an experience apart. Reservations required — it fills up every night.
La Ola Rica
Calle Asia, San Pancho
The best breakfast in San Pancho and possibly on the entire Riviera Nayarit. Chilaquiles that change your day, huevos rancheros with comal-made salsa, fresh-squeezed orange juice, and locally roasted coffee. Terrace with tree views. Where every San Pancho resident starts their day. Arrive before 9 AM in high season.
Punta de Mita & Bucerías
Si Hay Olitas
Playa Anclote, Punta de Mita
A beach seafood joint with tables literally in the sand. The name says it all: yes, there are waves, and you watch them while eating your ceviche. The camarones a la diabla and pescado zarandeado are the hits. Reasonable prices for the area. Perfect for a long lunch with beer after paddleboarding.
Mark's Bar & Grill
Central Bucerías
Steaks and grilled seafood in a tropical garden with string lights. Chef Mark (Canadian, 20+ years in Mexico) commands the fire like few others. The ribeye with chimichurri and coconut-crusted shrimp are memorable. The wine list is surprisingly good for a beach town.
Lo de Marcos — Village Food
Beach Palapas
Lo de Marcos Beach
Not one restaurant — these are the fishermen's palapas on Lo de Marcos beach that serve you whatever they pulled from the ocean that morning. Whole fried fish with rice, beans, and tortillas for $8–10 USD. Zero pretensions, zero Instagram, zero tourist markup. If you want to experience coastal Mexican food as it was before tourism, this is the place.
The Nayarit food route
Breakfast in San Pancho (La Ola Rica), lunch at Punta de Mita beach (Si Hay Olitas), dinner in Sayulita (Don Pedro's). All in one day, all incredible, all within 30 minutes by car.
If you have time, escape to Lo de Marcos for lunch: the beach palapas serve whole fried fish with rice and tortillas for $8–10 USD. It's coastal Mexican food as it was before Instagram.
Frequently Asked Questions
Don Pedro's in Sayulita for the classic beachfront experience. Cielo Rojo in San Pancho for organic farm-to-table. Sayulita Fish Taco for the best taco. Si Hay Olitas in Punta de Mita for seafood with your feet in the sand.
Much more affordable than Tulum or Los Cabos. Tacos from $1–3 USD, full meals for $8–15 USD. Premium restaurants (Don Pedro's, Cielo Rojo) run $30–60 USD — half what you'd pay in Tulum's hotel zone.
Pescado zarandeado (fish marinated in chili and achiote, grilled over wood coals) is THE dish of Nayarit. Si Hay Olitas and Lo de Marcos beach palapas prepare it authentically. Also try the marlin tacos and sierra ceviche.
Sayulita has more variety: from $1 tacos to beachfront dining. San Pancho is more intimate, organic, and focused on quality over quantity. They're 5 minutes apart — dinner at one, breakfast at the other.
La Ola Rica in San Pancho (life-changing chilaquiles). In Sayulita, ChocoBanana for fresh juice breakfasts. In Bucerías, Mark's on Sundays does brunch with live jazz.