Cozumel - eating/shopping suggestions

[OffToDWD]

We will be exploring Cozumel on our own next month (we have 4 and 9 year olds). Does anyone have suggestions on where to eat or interesting/local shops? Can we bring food back onto the ship? If we want to go to the beach, any suggestions on which one (and how to get there)? Thanks!!

 

[HappilyEverAfter80]

Love Guidos restaurant right along the main strip. Amazing garlic bread, wood oven pizza and pasta with a Mexican twist.
Oh and the best Sangria
They have a website you can look at the full menu. It's a place with great ambiance.

 

[LSUfan4444]

Can we bring food back onto the ship?

No..nothing homemade, precooked, perishable or any open food containers.

 

[mmouse37]

We always just walk around the shopping center right at the end of the pier (Punta Lagosta). Many shops and vendors with some interesting and and some same old, same old stuff.

We usually just head back to ship for lunch but a few times we had lunch at one of the beach clubs we visited. We have been to:

Playa Mia
Mr. Sanchos
Paradise

Here is a good article I just found

http://www.cozumelmycozumel.com/Pages/CozumelCruiseBeachClubs.htm

MJ

 

[Dug720]

My sister is a big fan of Rock 'N' Java. And generally looking at crew faces is a good indicator of good (and usually not too pricey).

 

[texasgingerbread]

We go to Guido's every visit. We usually stay on the island to scuba dive.

 

[CamColt]

We usually spend our Cozumel day at Paradise Beach. It is a 15-20 minute cab ride, that you can pick up right at the port. We have also eaten at Margaritaville which is a quick walk from the ship.

 

[MunFam]

Los Cinco Soles sells authentic Mexican crafts as well as pure vanilla. They have a restaurant called Panchos Backyard and it did not disappoint this SoCal family who is used to really, really good Mexican food. We walked there and back from the ship. The stores in the immediate terminal area are tourist trap shops capitalizing on travelers who want "Mexican souvenirs" but are too afraid to leave the area.

We were there in bad weather. We planed to spend half the day at Paradise Beach and the afternoon in town shopping and eating. But we decided to skip the beach. We live right at the beach in San Diego, so we did not feel like we were missing out.

 

[jiminyC_fan]

We stay on the island every January for 3 weeks. Panchos Backyard is great. The museum has a great restaurant on the top floor. Guido's is always good. All three are on the main street called Melgar. Wet Wendy's and Thirsty Cougar are another couple of favorites. Casa Denis claims to be the oldest restaurant and is excellent. It is on the square.

Los Cinco Soles is always the go to for quality merchandise. We don't mind walking in a few of the tourist stops along the way. The farther you go off Melgar the better deals you will find.

 

[Cackyschmackers]

One big huge vote here for Nachi Cocum. It's a private all inclusive beach day, they only allow 100 guests a day so no crowds. Yummy food, beautiful beach and pool as well. They bring your food to your palapa on the beach or you can eat in the restaurant (outdoor seating available ). Just a nice, clean laid back day, if your kids like the beach. Quick 15 min cab ride. You book on their website and they have a good cancellation policy if need be.

 

[OffToDWD]

Thanks, everyone!!

 

[JW9DVC]

Burritos Gorditos. Rated on Fodors and has been good every time.

JW

 

[OffToDWD]

Heard Cozumel has great fried fish - any recommendations on where to try it?

 

[dreadpiraterose]

We will be exploring Cozumel on our own next month (we have 4 and 9 year olds). Does anyone have suggestions on where to eat or interesting/local shops? Can we bring food back onto the ship? If we want to go to the beach, any suggestions on which one (and how to get there)? Thanks!!

We ate at Machete and loved it. Authentic and cheap eats. Quite delicious!

 

[ChicosWife]

We always just walk around the shopping center right at the end of the pier (Punta Lagosta). Many shops and vendors with some interesting and and some same old, same old stuff.

We usually just head back to ship for lunch but a few times we had lunch at one of the beach clubs we visited. We have been to:

Playa Mia
Mr. Sanchos
Paradise

Here is a good article I just found

http://www.cozumelmycozumel.com/Pages/CozumelCruiseBeachClubs.htm

MJ

So there are places to shop and eat right near the pier?

 

[GoofyLovingFamily]

The pier Disney uses is right in town. Plenty of shops and dining options.

 

[texasgingerbread]

Heard Cozumel has great fried fish - any recommendations on where to try it?

We stopped at Pescaderia San Carlos on the way to the airport (no food there) and it was soooo good we were sad we didn't discover it before we left so we could eat here again and again. Don't be scared of the outside all of Cozumel looks like this

 

[Cackyschmackers]

So there are places to shop and eat right near the pier?

Yes, you walk off the ship, down the pier, and right to what's basically a huge outdoor mall. If you want a taxi, you go through the "mall" and back downstairs to street level, and there will be plenty of taxis to take you wherever. It all seemed clean and safe to us.