Isla Mujeres is an island filled with great restaurants, beach bars, and live music. Plus, it is home to Playa Norte, one of the best beaches in Mexico. But before you hit up the beach for the day, you might want to grab breakfast, coffee, or maybe even start the day with a mimosa. If that’s the case, I’ve put together a list of restaurants where you can find the best breakfast on Isla Mujeres.
While there are some hotels that offer all-inclusive packages, it’s an island that is meant to be explored. So, whether you’re craving traditional Mexican fare, health-conscious food, or just a perfect cup of coffee, these are some of the spots you might want to check out.
For more information about this wonderful island, make sure to check out my Isla Mujeres Travel Guide!
My Top Breakfast Picks
Mango Cafe
If you are looking for the best breakfast on Isla Mujeres, then make your way down to Mango Cafe. because its mid-island, I recommend you make this your first stop on a day you rent a golf cart to explore the island.
My favorite dish is the stuffed poblano pepper with egg, onion, bacon, and cheese. The coconut French toast is also one of the most popular breakfast items on the island. They also have a variety of mimosas, such as watermelon, hibiscus, and mango. Don’t miss Mango Cafe this one of your breakfast spots on the island.
Lola Valentina
Lola Valentina features a menu that blends some traditional Mexican flavors with international influences, creating a menu that’s both innovative and rooted in local culinary traditions. This can be seen in one of my favorite dishes, the cochinita pibil eggs Benedict, which blends the traditional Yucatan slow roasted pork with the classic American dish.
I’ve made it no secret that this is one of my favorite restaurants with some of the best cocktails on the island. And the Bloody Mary’s and mimosas live up to that hype as well.
It’s certainly on the more expensive side, but Lola Valentina has some of the best breakfast in Isla Mujeres.
Q'Bravo
Q’Bravo is a gem that many people miss on Isla Mujeres as it’s a little further down Hidalgo on the other side of the basketball court. The restaurant has more of a local feel than some others and is popular with repeat visitors to the island and foreign residents.
Breakfast mixes in both Mexican and American dishes, with some of the standout items being the breakfast burritos, chilaquiles, Nutella stuffed French toast, and the variety of omelets. Prices are quite reasonable for the downtown area.
Q’Bravo is open for just breakfast and lunch every day except Sunday.
Ruben's
Ruben’s is a beloved spot on Isla because of both the food as well as the community spirit of its founder. Unfortunately, Ruben Chavez Martinez passed away during the pandemic in 2020, but his legacy and charitable work continue to be honored at the restaurant.
The food here offers a great value. While all the egg dishes like huevos motulenos or the rancheros are great, I often go for the breakfast burrito and breakfast tacos.
The lunch and dinner menu features Mexican and Tex-Mex items. But Ruben’s is famously known for its crispy hard-shell tacos with ground beef, which garnered a Taco Tuesday following among regulars (they are now offered every day). If you come later in the day, another highlight of the menu is the beef chimichanga with red sauce.
Ruben’s has done through a recent makeover, adding a lovely rooftop patio.
Loncherias at the Mercado
If you want local, it’s hard to get more local than the three loncherias outside the Mercado Municipal.
- Letty’s
- Loncheria San Martin
- Loncheria Alexia y Geovanny
A loncheria is a style of eatery that serves a range of quick and casual dishes. They are only open for breakfast and lunch and are much more affordable than other options in the area. You’ll find a lot of the same breakfasts here as in other spots, but they’ll also have more of a focus on local Mexican foods such as tortas, enchiladas, etc. Grab one of the agua frescas they offer or go into the market for to buy some fresh juice.
Other Great Breakfast Spots
Cafe Mogagua
Cafe Mogagua is easily one of the most popular breakfast spots on Isla. A big reason for this is because it combines everything you want from a coffee shop with a breakfast menu that includes something for everyone.
The coffee menu has everything from hot lattes and cappuccinos to cold frappes. You can find vacationers ordering Irish coffee and digital nomads grabbing fruit smoothies with their laptops open. And the food menu is also pretty large here. So, whether you want an omelet, a healthy acai bowl, or even just a croissant or bagel, you’ll find it on the menu… And this includes vegetarian and vegan options and some Mexican specialties like molletes and enchiladas.
Alternative: Their sister restaurant Aroma Isla is located on Hidalgo and has pretty much the same menu
North Garden
North Garden is just steps from Playa Norte, so it’s a great spot to hit up before spending the day at the beach. They also have the best prices for breakfast cocktails, with various flavors of mimosas, daquiris, and the best Bloody Mary on the island. The breakfast menu is smaller and more Americanized than other places (omelets, Benedicts, hot cakes, bagel sandwiches, etc).
The atmosphere is very inviting, and the owners are fun (I’ve done shots with Fernando next door at their dinner restaurant Grill Garden). Also try their bakery for some quick treats.
Green Verde
If you rent a golf cart, you’ll pass Green Verde in Mid-Island as you head from downtown towards Punta Sur. And it’s worth the stop. The Green Omelet is a favorite (spinach, corn, tomato, peppers, zucchini, and Oaxaca cheese) and the Mexican Bread (pictured above) is also popular. It’s a cute spot to stop for any meal, especially if you are staying in a rental outside of downtown.
Rooster
Located right on Hidalgo, Rooster has breakfast and a coffee bar. They offer a few things that are unique here, like the Peanut Butter & Banana Sandwich (homemade bread with banana, apples, peanut butter, and cranberry sauce) and a Montecristo Waffle. And there’s several Benedict options, but I have never understood why they place the meat on the side rather than under the egg.
But it’s the baked goods like the muffins, banana bread, and cinnamon rolls that I think are the best things here. We were pregnant with our daughter when we were on Isla Mujeres for the first time and Janice had me bring back one of these baked goods pretty much every day.
Isla Mujeres
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