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Everyone loves a good taco, right? But tacos are even better with seafood (my favourite!). Whether you prefer a hard shell or soft, there is no better place to get fresh seafood tacos than directly from the source in Mexico.
An excellent place for fish tacos is at Fabulous Fish or El Fabuloso Pez (Av. Andrés García Lavín 360, San Antonio Cucul, 97116 Mérida) where the mixed pineapple ceviche is delicious, as are the tortillas made entirely of cheese and filled with tuna fish, shrimp or cod, especially when accompanied by a chilli-beer.
Another restaurant that should be at the top of the list of all seafood lovers is the Kraken (Calle 23 407, Cd Caucel, 97314 Caucel), known by many to be the best restaurant in Merida. From midday on, you can enjoy colourful cocktails and both fried and toasted tacos, as well as soups, broths and guacamole to your heart’s content.
Another charmingly-named place, also in Merida is called the Fat Fish or el Pez Gordo (Avenida García Lavin 253 B Plaza Monaco, Fraccionamiento San Ramon Norte, 97125 Mérida) and has been so successful that it opened branches across Mexico, so this is certainly worth looking into if you spend two mealtimes in Merida.
The tacos of the Yucatan peninsula have even inspired Danish chef, René Redzepi of Noma fame, to start a pop-up restaurant in Tulum for just two months. Even if you miss out on his pop-up, there are still plenty of places to eat in the vicinity, and Redzepi having become enamoured with the location only exemplified the quality of local cuisine.
Beyond the food, Mexico makes for a great weekend away because unlike many tropical and warm locations most of the Yucatan and Quintana Roo coastline is easily accessible by bus or car from the airport. Cancun has international flights at all hours so you can get to your destination and start relaxing in no time. It’s usually even cheaper to fly to Cancun than to the capital city, where most of the country’s business is based, as the eastern coast is 100% designed around tourism.
When planning the accommodation, consider choosing an all-inclusive resort if you’re only visiting for a few days. It’s easier than trying to get to know the whole area and much more relaxing when things are organized for you. The Finest Playa Mujeres has special offers available in the winter time if you’re looking into a luxury mini-break in Mexico to escape the grey and cold of winter. There on-site you will find 12 restaurants, two of which are called Duke’s Lobster and Seafood where you can eat the freshest catch of the day. For efficiency’s sake, picking an all-inclusive is the simplest way to plan a relaxing holiday. Plus it gives you more time to just enjoy your brief time away and relax.
If you’re looking for a mini-break mostly involving fantastic food, try the Mexican coast and relax on white beaches even if you can only get away for a long weekend. While you’re there, try to properly concentrate on getting into the coast mentality (like not checking in with your office!) because all time spent working is only distracting you from the variety of seafood on hand to enjoy while you’re visiting!