Hola!
We are so happy to be back in town after a 250+ day trip around the world. It was terrific, but we are delighted to be home again in Puerto Morelos.
*Click any photo for a bigger, better full-size view*
So many new things in town to share with you! We’ll begin with NEW RESTAURANTS on the beach side of town.
BUBA has just opened its doors right on the square, bringing fresh energy and flavour to the neighbourhood. This lovely new restaurant is the latest creation from acclaimed Chef Daniel Ovadia, the culinary mind behind Muelle Once and the Michelin Guide-recognized Punto Corcho. Named in honour of his grandmother, BUBA is a tribute to the woman who taught him that food is more than sustenance; it’s joy. The cuisine is Mediterranean, with a Mexican Caribbean influence. Look for Buba on the Northwest corner of the square, on the second floor, above the little grocery store, across from the museum. See our PM restaurant guide for more details.
Don’t miss your visit to Puerto Morelos this winter! Stay for a MONTH!
Prime February/March dates are still available at Casa de los Viajeros. Book now: [email protected]
Closer to Casa de los Viajeros is Parilla San Miguel. Located on Rojo Gomez, just a couple of doors north of Yum Yum Wok and I Wanna Pizza, they are all about the grill. Tacos, steaks and a list of Mexican favourites. Prices and reviews are good. (If you’re lucky, you may catch our friend Mario singing and playing guitar.)
Huerto del Puerto Restaurante opened recently on Rojo Gomez. We watched this space build up slowly, brick by brick, over last season on the former site of Spyder Café. They have done a nice job of the space; it’s spacious and airy, with a touch of elegance. They are open all day with a wide menu that starts with breakfast, featuring many favourites, including gluten-free and keto options. As the sun sets, the menu glides into hearty dinners. Think steak, seafood, pasta, and even a dedicated kids’ menu. See their complete menu here.
If there ever were an award for “best transformation of a space”, it would surely go to “Como Quieras Quiero“, who turned a shabby old police station into a fine restaurant. It opened recently at the corner of
Adolfo López Mateos and Niños Héroes, across from Local Café. It’s brought to you by the same people who brought you Maíz Maix, which is kitty-corner on Ninos Heroes.
It’s a good-looking place, with smart-looking wait staff in crisp white shirts and natty bow ties. They offer grilled favourites, seafood and meat, and often, soft dinner music. (Not sure where the police ended up.)
If you have a hankering for tapioca, we have you covered in Puerto Morelos. Blü Tapioca Bar has opened right on the square, right below the aforementioned Buba. Reviews are good, with customers highlighting the delicious drinks, such as the unique Crème brûlée and Lotus Caramel creations. Reviewers frequently praise the variety of toppings for both drinks and soft-serve ice cream, the quality of ingredients, and the stylish, “aesthetic” atmosphere of the location, right on the square. MAP
Jake’s Sports Bar opened in the summer. They are all about music, karaoke, pool and sports. They have a small menu with all the bar favourites: Burgers, wings and tacos. They can be found on northern Niños Heroes, past Black Pearl. They are open afternoons and evenings.
A few favourite places have made some big changes since last season. The biggest change was made by our favourite tiny cafe, Café Mar de Niebla. When they moved, they really moved…the whole building! It landed in a better spot, north of where they were on Rojo Gomez, just a couple of doors down from Yum Yum Wok. With the new spot, they have extended their hours into the morning, now opening at 8:00 am until noon, and then again in the afternoon, 5:00 pm – 9:00 pm. (Long-time PM’ers might remember that the cafe building was the original Puerto Morelos taxi office, and it used to sit on the square.)
Another local favourite, Lola y Moya, nearly gave us all a scare when they announced they were “closing their doors.” Thankfully, it was just a clever (if slightly cruel) marketing twist. They only shut the doors and windows to crank up some cool air conditioning inside. Now you can enjoy their menu in chilled comfort. They also have a brand new rooftop terrace! Remember, they are open for dinner and have a double happy hour, from 6pm-7pm, cold beer and from 7pm-8pm, margaritas.
El Campanario, well known for its steaks, is now open early for breakfast. It’s a Mexican-style breakfast with a wide selection of tacos guisados, omelets and free coffee. Our friend Christian is getting up extra early to make sure you have the best breakfast!
La Sirena is already the “go to” place for entertainment and food in Puerto Morelos, and now they have seriously upgraded their happy hour. Every weekday from 4-6 pm, enjoy half-price domestic beer, house wine and single-liquor cocktails. (Half price is a better deal than 2×1 in my opinion). Plus, they have Happy Hour entertainment, including their Wednesday open mic, where you might catch the owner on the drums. Check the poster above for all the details.
If you are looking for a beautiful place to watch the sunset, we recommend trying Portside Restaurant and Rooftop Bar. They are located on the roof of Areia Boutique Hotel. Just step inside and take the elevator to the top floor for breathtaking sunsets. (Or take the stairs like we do to get the old heart pumping). They have a happy hour every day from 3 pm to 6 pm. They are also offering our readers a discount for larger parties.
We lost a few places in the off-season. Prat’s, formerly called “Oops, Que Chido,” closed. Our sources tell us it won’t be empty long. A new Greek restaurant is planned.
Something new is coming at the site of La Pizza Nostra. The local and well-known folks behind it are very tight-lipped, but assure us it will be great.
Puerto Morelos Fish Market restaurant, aka Paradise Pier, also closed. Hopefully, something new will move in. It’s a great space right on the water with a fabulous view and breeze. Nobody has made a go of it there since the wonderful “La Panza es Primero” closed many years ago.
And, to put it in the language of the decade: WHAM!, Full 80’s has closed. It was a fun little place, but more well-known for its high-volume music, and not necessarily ’80s tuneage. The space has been taken over by the snorkel office next door.
An incredible amount of construction is underway in Puerto Morelos. This is not so unusual, but while they used to build houses here, they are now building condominium towers of at least 5 or 6 stories. On the Colonia side of town, they are creating entire neighbourhoods.
The most surprising build was not done by a developer; it was ordered by the military. The giant vacant lot between Rojo Gomez and Niños Héroes sat empty for many years. The only residents were birds and the occasional wandering cat. Now, an entire neighbourhood of condos has sprung up. It was completed quickly, with a very large crew working early until sunset. Now the development looks pretty much complete, but nobody has moved in, and the places don’t even have electric meters. Hurry up and wait?
In other town news, CI Banco has ceased operations in Puerto Morelos and across Mexico. They lost their operating licence, leaving account holders surprised and confused. Deposits are insured, but you need to transfer your balance to another institution. There’s more info here.
If you did not have an account, but used CI Banco for currency exchange, there are other options in the Aki Plaza in the Colonia, and beachside on the north side of the square beside Circle K, MAP. There are other ATMs all around town. Look for ones associated with banks to get the best rate and lowest fees. (Check with your local bank to see if they have a partnership with a Mexican bank. For example, Bank of Nova Scotia in Canada allows fee-free withdrawals from Scotiabank Mexico ATMs. Bank of America has lower fees with Santander bank.)
In Memory
We lost a few good folks earlier this year.
Jack Leow was an icon in Puerto Morelos. Jack and his wife Jean established the yoga retreat Villas Shanti in Puerto Morelos back in 1988, allowing hundreds of enthusiasts to discover our town. Jack was a fan and supporter of our bookstore in our early years, donating books and never failing to share his opinion on anything and everything. We loved his visits, and he always made us laugh and smile.
You may have known Victor (Vic) Gaitan through his company, Cancun Valet, an early concierge service in our area. Though he was headquartered in Cancun, he loved Puerto Morelos and visited often. Vic treated us like family members when we made our first drive down to PM from Calgary, watching over us and promising he had a cousin in every town in Mexico who could help us if necessary. His beloved daughter Sofia is studying nursing and could use a little help during this time. If you want to help, a friend has started a GoFundMe for her.
She never lived here, but Kathleen McFarland spent as much time in Puerto Morelos as she could. She and her husband, John, were frequent and welcome guests at Casa de los Viajeros. We looked forward to their stays, and they were dream guests. We even caught up with them once on the other side of the world in Sicily.
Hope you enjoyed our InPuertoMorelos.com Town Update. We’re working on a sequel right now, focusing on the many changes in The Colonia and Christmas in Paradise. Watch for it coming soon. Be sure to subscribe to our updates. You’ll find the sign-up on the front page of our website.
You can also follow us on Facebook: In Puerto Morelos and Casa de los Viajeros, or on Instagram: In Puerto Morelos and Casa de los Viajeros
Hasta Pronto!