Eat & do

Tacos & street food · Centro

Pedritos

A father-and-son evening stand on Calle Gaviotas, open 7 to 11pm, known for shrimp tacos cooked on the grill rather than fried, with a spicy red salsa. Grilled beef tacos too; a little dearer than other stands, and worth it.

Tacos & street food · Centro (Plaza)

Tacos Al Pastor Diaz

Late-night al pastor spot by the plaza with multilevel seating. Fast, cheap and always busy.

Tacos & street food · Centro

Tacos Al Pastor Tal Ivan

Ivan's al pastor stand on Calle Marlín, with the trompo turning out front and a family recipe for the pork. Tacos run about MX$24 to 35, with quesadillas and gringas; open until 2am, closed Tuesdays, and busiest after 8pm.

Tacos & street food · Centro

Tacos Prieto's

Hole-in-the-wall with juicy tacos, great burritos and quesadillas, and handmade tortillas. Street-side seating.

Tacos & street food · Main Beach

The Real Fish Taco

Tiny family-run stand for grilled fish tacos with a loyal following. No posted menu or prices, and it isn't fast.

Tacos & street food · Centro

Bichos

Taco spot on Pelícanos with handmade corn tortillas, a salsa bar and cocktails. The wood-fired brisket taco is the house pick; smoked tuna, shrimp and mushroom tacos also stand out.

Tacos & street food · Centro

Kahlo Restaurante y Bar

Restaurant and bar that pours only Mexican spirits, with guided tastings of tequila, mezcal, raicilla and sotol. Pork belly, brisket and catch-of-the-day tacos; on the pricier side.

Tacos & street food · Centro

Naty’s Cocina

Counter-service taco and guisado spot on Marlín, steps from the beach; chicken mole, chipotle chicken, machaca, pork with nopales and vegetarian fillings, with good salsas and agua de jamaica. Few seats.

Seafood · Main Beach

Don Pedro's Restaurant & Bar

A two-level palapa on the main beach since 1994: Mediterranean cooking with Mexican touches off a mesquite grill, red beet ravioli, spicy tuna tostadas, and tables on the sand at sunset. Mondays bring a salsa class at 7 and a Cuban band at 8.

Seafood · Centro

Tierra Viva Restaurant y Bar

Long-running spot that will cook the fish you catch, with a strong tequila list and sopa de mariscos.

Seafood · Centro

Barracuda Sayulita

Busy upstairs seafood spot for ceviche, tuna tartare and tacos, with street music below. Expect buskers and vendors.

Seafood · Main Beach

Maika Sayulita Seafood Grille

Recently renovated beachside grill for octopus, ceviche, fish tacos and mango margaritas. Can be slow when busy.

Seafood · Centro

Matiz

Family-owned, open-air upstairs spot near the beach; tuna tostadas, octopus carpaccio and fried fish tacos, all from scratch.

Seafood · Main Beach

Ruperto's Beachfront Seafood & Grill

Little tables steps from the sand for homestyle aguachile, steak tacos and burgers.

Seafood · Centro

Tukari Restaurant Bar

Fresh, lighter fare with a frequently changing menu: fish of the day, tuna sashimi, jicama salad and habanero margaritas.

Seafood · Centro

Emiliano's

Mexican bar and grill on Av. Revolución known for coconut shrimp, grilled seafood and margaritas at fair prices.

Breakfast & coffee · Centro

Alto Alto Rooftop Restaurant

A two-level rooftop over Avenida Revolución serving Mediterranean plates with Mexican touches: mezze, spanakopita, zarandeado snapper, and Sayshuka at brunch. Two-for-one spritzes from 5pm and live music most evenings; come up for sunset. Brunch closed Wednesdays.

2-for-1 spritz 5–11pm

Breakfast & coffee · Centro

Anchor Cafe

A small café half a block from the plaza on Calle Marlín, open from 8am for smoothie bowls, sourdough toast, bagels and cold brew, with plenty for vegans. Free wifi and seats inside and out make it an easy morning stop.

Breakfast & coffee · Centro

Miscelánea Sayulita

Popular café with a tucked-away patio and AC inside; chilaquiles, gluten-free pancakes and specialty lattes.

Breakfast & coffee · Centro

Orangy Smoothies

Fresh juices, smoothie and açaí bowls, chia pudding and wellness shots, beautifully presented.

Breakfast & coffee · Centro (south)

Sur38

Upscale and air-conditioned; French toast at breakfast, short ribs, tuna and tapas at dinner. A top date-night pick.

Breakfast & coffee · Centro (south)

YAH-YAH Sayulita Café

Modern café with AC and a shaded porch; gluten-free and vegan options, waffles and specialty coffee. On the pricier side.

Breakfast & coffee · Centro

Gourmet House

French-style bakery for almond croissants and baguette sandwiches. Service can be slow.

Breakfast & coffee · Centro

Café El Espresso

Long-running café in a yellow building by the plaza, serving breakfast all day; green chilaquiles, steak and eggs, mango smoothies and lattes, with patio seats facing the square.

Lunch & dinner · Centro

Hula Sayula Sushi & Gyozas Bar

Stylish upstairs lounge for bao buns, gyoza and cocktails. Music can be too loud for conversation.

Lunch & dinner · Centro (Plaza)

Kabuki

Treehouse-style upstairs dining over the plaza with creative rolls (dragon, plantain) and excellent cocktails.

Lunch & dinner · Centro

La Rústica Sayulita

Big, popular wood-fired pizza house with a rooftop, plus pasta and steak. Tiramisu is a favorite; some crusts come out underdone.

Lunch & dinner · Centro

Sayulita Café

A family-run restaurant on Avenida Revolución, a block from the plaza, cooking since 2001 and known for its chiles rellenos (with shrimp, or vegetarian), fajitas flamed at the table and tortilla soup. Take the upstairs terrace over the street; open from 1pm, late on Saturdays.

Margarita happy hour 4–5pm

Lunch & dinner · Centro (near arroyo)

The Embers

Elevated dinner from an Italian chef: bone marrow, tuna tartare, lamb chops and Basque cheesecake, with a strong wine list.

Lunch & dinner · Centro (Plaza)

Xochi

Special-occasion spot overlooking the plaza with tableside salsa, fire-ritual fajitas and yellowfin tuna.

Lunch & dinner · Centro

Baby's Burgers

Thin-patty burger counter in a small food court; the falafel burger and fries are standouts, plus craft beer.

Lunch & dinner · Centro (Plaza)

Brasa Grill

Open-flame grill with plaza views: picanha, parrillada, molcajete and a burger that holds its own.

Beach clubs · Main Beach

GOAT Beach Club Sayulita

A beach club where Calle Delfines meets the main beach, open daily 9am to midnight. A lounger is a MX$750 day pass, all of it credit for food and drink; cocktails run MX$200 to 320, with DJs at sunset and surf lessons from the sand.

Beach clubs · Centro

Capitán Pablos

Beachfront restaurant on Gaviota with tables and loungers by the sand; fish and chips, chiles rellenos, ceviche and mango margaritas, with friendly English-speaking staff.

Beach clubs · Centro

El Costeño

No-frills beach restaurant off Delfines with sand underfoot, grilled fish, shrimp cocktails and some of the biggest margaritas in town. Service can be slow when busy.

Sweet stuff · Centro

Buonissimo Cafe and Gelato

Gelato, crepes and bubble waffles at low prices. Paying in pesos avoids a poor card exchange rate.

Sweet stuff · Centro

ChiChilí Helado Vegano

All-natural vegan ice cream and paletas good enough for dairy lovers. Hours can be irregular, so check before you walk over.

Sweet stuff · Centro

Wa Kika

Ice cream with chocolate-dipped cones that kids love. Flavours aren't labelled, so ask.

Sweet stuff · Centro

Choco Banana

Long-standing plaza café open from early morning, named for its chocolate-dipped frozen bananas; big breakfast and lunch menu, French toast, good coffee and people-watching from the patio.

Bars & nights · Centro (Plaza)

Sayulita Public House

The pub on the plaza, with tables outside and a second floor looking over the square: four big screens showing whatever game is on, Angus burgers and wings from MX$240, poutine for the Canadians, and a long tequila and mezcal list. Kitchen until 11pm.

Bars & nights · Centro (near beach)

Aloha Sayulita

Small two-storey bar a few steps from the beach, with tuna sashimi and ceviche at good prices. Takes cards.

Bars & nights · Centro (Plaza)

La Katrina Restaurant & Bar

Tequila bar with a big selection and tastings, sports on TV, smoked wings and ceviche. Check your order and bill.

Bars & nights · Centro

Maddux Sports Bar

Friendly sports bar in the middle of town with good drinks, pub food and a resident dog.

Bars & nights · Centro (near arroyo)

Hidden Cove Tiki Hut

Sayulita's one tiki bar, tucked down Calle Gaviotas near the arroyo: Hawaiian decor, rum cocktails in tiki mugs and pupu starters from about MX$160. Come for the 5 to 7pm happy hour with appetizers.

Happy hour 5–7pm

Bars & nights · Centro

Wild Iris Bar

Small cocktail bar on Gaviota known for fresh-fruit margaritas; the pineapple-basil is the favorite.

Bars & nights · Centro

Aaleyah's Nachos and Wings

Small, friendly sports-bar spot just off the plaza with a handful of outdoor seats; wings, loaded nachos and cold beer with games on TV.

Bars & nights · Centro

Atico Hookah Bar

Café by day and hookah bar by night on José Mariscal, with live bands most evenings, swing seats at the bar and a few vegan plates like jackfruit nachos. Street-side, so expect traffic noise.