Even though it’s become a chic beach haunt in recent years, Tulum’s lack of tourist traps and fussiness makes the town still feel remarkably unadulterated—especially when it comes to the food. Next door to Tulum’s famous Mayan ruins there’s no shortage of breezy outdoor dining where you can experience a fresh kind of Mexican cooking that doesn’t always stick to classic Mexican recipes or tropes. At places like Burrito Amor and Hartwood, chefs play with regional ingredients like Mayan spinach, Xcatic peppers and tropical fruits like papaya to showcase flavors native to the Yucatán peninsula. If that's not enough, there's also plenty of tequila cocktails. The food is so intriguing, it’s enough to distract you from the balmy beaches for a while. Here’s proof in 14 photographs from my recent trip to Tulum town.
Hartwood Restaurant
Around 2:00 each day, the line for dinner reservations at Hartwood is already winding down the street. Expat Eric Werner has built the acclaimed restaurant around local product and ancient ingredients, creating a sort of jungle version of farm-to-table dining. Werner’s inventive dishes are all cooked in their lush open-air kitchen, entirely in the wood-fired oven or on the grill. The atmosphere at Hartwood exemplifies much of Tulum—mellow and rustic, but elegant.
Papaya Empanadas at Hartwood
The first course at Hartwood included papaya empanadas—a smoky and sweet dish that paired well with the spice of our tequila cocktails. Although the Mexican papaya is not quite as sweet as a common papaya, its natural sweetness coaxed out by a few drizzles of honey.
Grilled Octopus at Hartwood
All of Werner’s food comes from the dock that day—this tender, crispy octopus included. The dish, flavored with coriander, purple basil, chili, and mustard, included tart pickled onions and crispy potatoes.
Even though it’s become a chic beach haunt in recent years, Tulum’s lack of tourist traps and fussiness makes the town still feel remarkably unadulterated—especially when it comes to the food. Next door to Tulum’s famous Mayan ruins there’s no shortage of breezy outdoor dining where you can experience a fresh kind of Mexican cooking that doesn’t always stick to classic Mexican recipes or tropes. At places like Burrito Amor and Hartwood, chefs play with regional ingredients like Mayan spinach, Xcatic peppers and tropical fruits like papaya to showcase flavors native to the Yucatán peninsula. If that's not enough, there's also plenty of tequila cocktails. The food is so intriguing, it’s enough to distract you from the balmy beaches for a while. Here’s proof in 14 photographs from my recent trip to Tulum town.
Hartwood Restaurant
Around 2:00 each day, the line for dinner reservations at Hartwood is already winding down the street. Expat Eric Werner has built the acclaimed restaurant around local product and ancient ingredients, creating a sort of jungle version of farm-to-table dining. Werner’s inventive dishes are all cooked in their lush open-air kitchen, entirely in the wood-fired oven or on the grill. The atmosphere at Hartwood exemplifies much of Tulum—mellow and rustic, but elegant.
Papaya Empanadas at Hartwood
The first course at Hartwood included papaya empanadas—a smoky and sweet dish that paired well with the spice of our tequila cocktails. Although the Mexican papaya is not quite as sweet as a common papaya, its natural sweetness coaxed out by a few drizzles of honey.
Grilled Octopus at Hartwood
All of Werner’s food comes from the dock that day—this tender, crispy octopus included. The dish, flavored with coriander, purple basil, chili, and mustard, included tart pickled onions and crispy potatoes.