Sayulita Dining: The Top 10 List

2/18/2018

Due to the large expat community that has settled in Sayulita over the course of the last 20+ years, I was surprised to find that there was lots of good food to choose from in this little town. And I am not just talking about tacos and margaritas (which are also pretty great by the way)! There is a lifestyle of health and wellness which feeds into the food here with many restaurants serving really fresh ingredients. The diverse offering of tastes given it is just a mere surfing village was such a treat. Here is a run-down of my Top Ten spots!

Mary's Tacos

I will start with what I personally think is the best taco in town! The sayulita taco at Mary's is quite possibly the most perfect combination of flavors - fresh corn tortilla topped with grilled shrimp, roasted poblano peppers, corn, sauteed mushrooms, a healthy dose of melted cheese and topped with fresh avocado. You can easily fill your tummy with just one of these darlings, especially if you start off with their fresh guacamole. Mary's is a local restaurant (not fancy) but they serve nice clean food. You can easily walk out of there spending less than $5 for lunch so what more can a girl ask for?
DISCLAIMER: Given the tablecloth is different in each photo...doesn't take a genius to figure out I went there often. The staff kinda knows me (and my order)!

Orangy

Another daily favorite were the smoothies from Orangy. Owned and operated by a husband and wife team, who are the cutest surf couple ever, this small shop pushes out amazing breakfast bowls, juices and smoothies. I went here religiously every morning and loved sitting at the bar chatting it up before getting the day started. With the heat of Mexico and knowing you will be in the water soon, it is nice to have something a bit lighter to start the day. They are super knowledgeable about their ingredients and most things are organic. I have even come home and started making my favorite Orangy smoothie - Cocolada with fresh ginger...definitely not as good as theirs but will hold me over until I return!

La Empanaderia

If you enjoy empanadas, a flaky pastry turnover filled with either savory or sweet ingredients, you must try La Empanaderia. More of a take-out window than a restaurant, this tiny shop with attached kitchen makes them fresh every morning and once they run out, they are out. I loved the mushroom and cheese empanada as well as their shredded chicken. Located directly across the street from Orangy, I must say that a smoothie and empanada make a pretty amazing combo!

El Itacate

Another classic taco spot in town, this tiny restaurant located near the main plaza was started by a chef from Mexico City. They have a great range of tacos to choose from and are always generously filled. Tacos come with grilled veggies and salsas to doctor them the way you like. They also have an option where you can get grilled cheese added to your taco, which is obviously amazing!

Ino

There are a surprisingly large amount of Italian restaurants in this Mexican town. So if you are looking for wood oven fired pizza or home made pasta, Ino is a great choice. They have more of a California-style with simple but fresh ingredients, limited menu, and lovely flavors. Ino is also the new kid the block so lots of people (including the locals) have not heard of it yet, which makes getting a table here a bit easier than some of the other places in town. The design of the restaurant is slightly more elevated than some of the rest, which is also a nice treat. I really enjoyed their gazpacho, grilled octopus, and the mushroom pizza with truffle oil (but frankly anything with truffle oil is great).

Sayulita Wine Shop

Owned by Chef Calixto Gattas, of the very popular Bistro Organico in San Pancho, Sayulita Wine Shop is a must-do in my opinion. Calixto is passionate about exposing guests to the wonders of local wine, mezcal, and tequila and has done a wonderful job curating high quality, sustainable products from Mexico. The wine shop offers a variety of tastings and you can even choose a charcuterie pairing. The staff is super knowledgeable about their wine and clearly proud of their offerings. Whether you go by yourself or with a group of friends, this is a really nice experience when in Sayulita, and stands out from many of the typical activities.

Zouave

The best bar in town, hands down. A beloved favorite of tourists and locals, Zouave is located downstairs to the boutique hotel Petit Hotel Hafa and shares the same owner. They have specialty menu with a variety of margaritas and each one is more delicious than the rest (passion fruit is my fave). As a self-proclaimed margarita connoisseur, the fact they freshly squeeze the lime for each drink is what makes it so delicious! The main plaza has many bars, all blaring loud music, but Zouave is really so different than everything else in town. Super chic, great music, lots of choice when it comes to alcohol and always filled with the cutest people in town. Sometimes it feels like you are in a photo shoot when hanging out there, the people watching alone is reason enough to go!

La Rustica

Ask anyone in town and most people will direct you towards Rustica as their favorite restaurant in Sayulita. They have amazing wood-oven fire pizzas and an extensive range of pastas. I also really enjoyed that you can get gluten free pasta which is equally delicious. The restaurant is always hopping, strategically located on a popular corner of town, it is not rare to have to wait for a table. Because of it's popularity, it doesn't have the charm of one of the smaller restaurants in Sayulita, and felt impersonal to me in a way. But that being said, the food is always consistently delicious!

La Esperanza

A health food cafe & restaurant with the ethos that food is medicine. The are open throughout the day so a great place to start off with a smoothie or juice in the morning or a more substantial meal for lunch/dinner. They clearly care about the food they serve as each of the ingredients is extremely fresh and of great quality. Unlike many 'health cafes', the food has a tremendous amount of flavor and really unique combinations. I loved all of their salads and wish I could bottle their green goddess dressing.

Wakika Heladeria

There is nothing more satisfying in the middle of a hot afternoon than a popsicle! Wakika has the best ones in town, and frankly there is no where else to go. With dozens of flavors, they are frequently changing based on what fruits are in season. As they are pretty inexpensive, I would suggest trying a few before you settle on a favorite. The colors alone create endless photo opportunities!

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