Xcaret Arte Restaurants Guide

An in-depth guide to the ten Xcaret Arte restaurants, detailing the good, and the bad of each one, as well as recommendations on which to visit first and which to skip if you're short on time!

One of the biggest features of Hotel Xcaret Arte is that it has ten separate restaurants to eat at. In this guide to the Xcaret Arte restaurants, we'll go through all the different restaurants and cuisines available, which ones are available as part of your all-inclusive package, and which ones are most worth your valuable time.

We'll even go over the bars/wet bars, and cafes at Hotel Xcaret Arte.

Jump to:

• General Information on Xcaret Arte restaurants
• Mercado de San Juan
• Cayuco
• Encanta
• Cantina Vi. Ai. Py.
• Tah-xido
• Apapachoa
• Chino Poblano
• Kibi Kibi
• Arenal 
• Xaak
• Xcaret Arte Cafes 
• Xcaret Arte bars
• Room service
• Food carts
• Final thoughts

All-inclusive resorts tend to have a bad reputation when it comes to the quality of food. Xcaret Arte is an anomaly here as it's known for having exquisite cuisine in addition to being a beautiful resort with plenty of fun activities included as part of it's all-fun, all-inclusive package. Here's a full guide to the Xcaret Arte restaurants (and then we'll move on to bars, cafes, and stalls).

General Information on Xcaret Arte restaurants

While all all the Xcaret Arte restaurants are located in the resort, not all the restaurants open all day, nor are they always available for walk-ins. One restaurant (Xaak) is not included in the resorts all-inclusive package and must be booked and paid for separately.

Operating hours

A few of the restaurants noted below are open all day. All day doesn't mean 24 hours a day (though room service is available 24 hours a day). In most cases, these restaurants are open for breakfast from 7am to 11am; lunch from 12pm to 5pm; and dinner from 6pm to 11pm. 

Most of the restaurants are close at 11pm. However, Cantina Vi. Ai. Py and El Deseo are open very late. 

However, the restaurant timings at Xcaret Arte are adjusted from time to time, so be sure to check when you book your visit.

Casa de los Artistas

The restaurant Kibi Kibi is only included for guests for Casa de los Artistas - guests of other buildings are permitted to visit, but must pay per person. Additionally, guests of Casa de los Artistas are permitted to visit and dine at any of the restaurants at Hotel Xcaret Mexico. That's 11 additional restaurants!

Reservations

About half the restaurants in Xcaret Arte do not require reservations. However, the higher end restaurants (as well as the exclusive ones) all require one. If you're hoping to dine at any of these spots, it's best to make your reservations before arriving at the resort as the restaurants do get booked up in advance.

Dress Code

All the hotel restaurants have a basic minimum dress code. Guests are expected to be wearing proper clothes and will not be permitted entry if you're in your swimming gear (even if the dress code listed is 'casual').

If you're planning to wear your swimsuit, and throwing a t-shirt or sarong over it, you may not be permitted entry to even the casual restaurants. Sandals, however, are fine.

The hotel does provide you with details of dress code, but not everything translates well into English. I've adjusted the wordings so they make a bit more sense based on what the hotel guide suggests, as well as what we witnessed while actually dining at Xcaret Arte's different restaurants. 

As a rule of thumb, you'll probably be welcomed everywhere and not stick out if you opt for smart-casual (that is, relaxed-but-not-distressed trousers and shirt for men, and a dress or trousers and blouse for women). 

There is no dress code for the cafes or any of the stalls.

Don't forget to check out our guide to visiting Xcaret Arte for tips and advice to make the most of your stay!

Mercado de San Juan was the first restaurant we ate at, and honestly one of our favorites. It's designed to look like a traditional Mexican marketplace with a rotating buffet (which includes a few staple items, such as freshly made tacos, tortillas, and pastries), curated by Chef Juan Licerio.

It's easily the most fun of all the restaurants at Xcaret Arte. Colorful, spacious, with plenty of variety. During our visit, this was one of our two favorite breakfast spots in the resort. 

There is no separate menu for dinner, but the massive number of options means there's always something for everyone here.

Located next to the resort's main infinity pool, Cayuco is a great poolside option. It was one of our preferred breakfast spots with a Mexican and continental breakfast option.

Following the morning, the buffet is closed, and the restaurant operates a la carte. While the dinner here is tasty, don't expect anything particularly unique. This is a great base spot that's a little more elevated than Mercado de San Juan.

As Cayuco is attached to the main infinity pool, the bar is very popular (with an attached swim-up bar). There are plenty of delicious drink and snack options. 

Encanta is located at the bottom of Casa de la Musica, and comes with a lovely view of the performance theater stage. If you sit in the outdoor section, you'll probably be able to watch the live music that takes place there.

It's one of the most beautiful restaurants within the resort. And the food looks great too.

One of the more premium restaurants at Xcaret Arte, Encanta is operated by Michelin Star  chef Paco Méndez (owner of Hoja Santa, his Michelin-award restaurant in Barcelona, Spain). The restaurant provides a 10-course set menu, with suggested wine pairings, or cocktail pairings.

The majority of the dishes were great, though the ones that weren't felt very off the mark for us. 

Please note: If you have any dietary restrictions, Encanta is not really able to make many substitutions. Even if discussed in advance. The staff are accommodating and friendly, but vegetarians may want to give this Xcaret Arte restaurant a miss. 

Cantina Vi. Ai. Py (Cantina VIP...get it?) surprised me. It's nestled away from the busy center of the resort, as part of Casa del Patron, so I assumed it may not have had much to offer. I was very wrong. It's a beautiful and spacious location, operated by Chef Alejandro Ruiz.

There are plenty of good dishes to be found. Our favorite tacos from our visit were eaten here. But I do have to give you a little warning about the menu. Cantina Vi. Ai. Py. uses traditional Oaxacan ingredients, and that includes insects. If that's not your thing (it's certainly not mine, I'm boring.), know that insects are not present in every dish, and the restaurant menu does point out which dishes they're used in! 

The restaurant becomes a lot lively in the evening though I must admit, I preferred its more relaxed afternoon vibes.

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Tah-xido is Xcaret Arte's Japanese restaurant, overseen by Chef Luis Arapaho. The restaurant has three menus. There is the teppanyaki (live cooking), which is a lot of fun though the food is nothing special here; the a la carte menu, which is delicious; and the omakase menu which is incurs an additional charge (USD 200 per person) and is not always available. 

The teppanyaki takes place at a large table so do be aware that if you're a smaller party, you will likely be sharing the experience with other guests at the resort. The chef does an excellent job of making you all feel entertained. 

The a la carte Japanese menu is where the restaurant really shines. We found that the teppanyaki booked out faster than the a la carte seating, but if you're interested in trying it, I'd recommend reserving well in advance.

Something we didn't expect - Tah-xido has by far the best signature cocktails in Xcaret Arte. 

Located on Casa de la Paz's roof, Apapachoa is the latest restaurant to arrive at Xcaret Arte. It's a vegan spot, and is a great option for a lighter breakfast option. It's the least busy restaurant, and generally has the least interesting menu (unless you're vegan, of course!). 

We had no complaints, but there was nothing that would really make us go back there (even though we were staying in Casa de la Paz).

Truth be told, Chino Poblano is my pick for the worst restaurant at Xcaret Arte. To be completely fair, the restaurant helmed by Chef Jonatan Gomez Luna, with cuisine from Puebla and China is not terrible. It just didn't really work for us. Chino Poblano's tasting menu is six courses (with a couple of extras). 

Like Encanta, the restaurant is not really able to accommodate any dietary restrictions so it wasn't the most inclusive dinner for our party (it always sucks when you have to split up with your group because a restaurant has no options for those with dietary restrictions).

Kibi Kibi is located in the exclusive Casa de los Artistas, under the care of Chef Roberto Solis. It is one of the few restaurants in Xcaret Arte that is not included for all guests. Guests not staying in Case de los Artistes who wish to try the cuisines of Lebanon and Yucatan must pay separately: dinner at Kibi Kibi costs USD 120 per person.

This leaves me a little conflicted. I believe Kibi Kibi is one of the best restaurants at Hotel Xcaret Arte. However, is it worth paying an additional USD 120 after you've already paid the expensive of prices of staying at Xcaret Arte? I don't think so. 

Arenal is one of the most popular restaurants at the resort, it was certainly the most popular amongst the guests we spoke to - most of whom raved about it. The location is a large, open-air, and waterfacing. Chef Orlando Trejo is the guiding chef helming Arenal.

Technically, the resort calls it "comfort food" dining, but it's a slightly elevated steakhouse. We enjoyed our food and the experience here, but it wasn't something we personally raved about. That said, I do feel like we were in the minority as most guests seem to love it. 

We also felt the signature cocktails were the weakest here. 

Lastly, reservations aren't required at Arenal, but we did experience a bit of a wait to get a table. The restaurant is super popular so keep that in mind!

Xaak is the only restaurant at Hotel Xcaret Arte that is not part of the all-inclusive package for any guests: to visit Xaak costs USD 149 per person. For an additional cost, there is also a wine pairing option for this seven-course tasting menu. 

We didn't try this one, but based on reports of those that did, I'd gather that Xaak is good but isn't worth any extra cost. 

Xcaret Arte Cafes 

Before telling you about the cafes at Xcaret Arte, I should mention that all the rooms in the resort come equipped with a Nespresso machine and free pods for you to use at any time of day. Furthermore, all the restaurants serve coffee too. 

There are technically two "coffee shops" at Xcaret Arte though in reality it's one coffee shop, and one automated coffee machine. 

Cafeteca

Cafeteca is a small coffee shop conveniently located near to the shuttle pick-up and drop-off zones at Hotel Xcaret Arte. The baristas here are able to prepare your standard array of coffees (think: lattes, mochas, etc.), and there is a selection of soft drinks, juices, as well as some pre-prepared sandwiches, baked goods, and desserts.

Cafeteca is opens at 6.30am and is the best place to grab a quick bite if you're heading out before the restaurants open for breakfast. 

Cafecito

Catecito is a nook in the resort with coffee machines that can be used to make your own drinks. It's a convenient option when you're out and looking for a coffee once Cafeteca has closed. That said, be aware there is a more limited coffee machine located just outside of Cafeteca that is available at all hours.

Xcaret Arte bars

There are a number of bars spread around Xcaret Arte. As the overall drinks program is overseen by Maycoll Calderón, all the bars offer similar array of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages. They also each have their own signature drinks, which are worth checking out.

Changarrito

Changarrito is a tiki bar located in Casa de los Artistas. As you might expect, it is only for guests of Casa de los Artistas. It has a menu unique from the other bars, as well as specialty tiki mugs in which the drinks are served.

It's very popular with guests of Casa de los Artistas.

El Deseo

El Deseo is Xcaret Arte's late-night speakeasy. It's a bar quietly tucked away behind a taco cart, near Casa del Diseño. The resort will tell you that its location is a secret for you to discover...but the staff will also happily point you to it in case you can't find it! For a late-night bar, it gets pretty crowded, and with some lively music playing, is a good spot for those looking for a bit more party and nightlife at the resort.

Don't be discouraged if there isn't a wet bar at your favorite pool. The staff are fantastic and will happily bring you a drink or a snack.

Which is the best poolside bar? That's a good question. Personally, I liked the wet bar at Cayuco the most. I felt it had the best balance of convenience, great service, and great pool.

The rooftop pool bars are nice, but the respective rooftop pools get crowded quickly. 

Room service

There is a limited 24-hour room service menu at Xcaret Arte. It's great for if you're hungry late at night or whenever you don't feel like leaving your room (understandable, the beds are comfy).

Casa de los Artistas

Room service at Casa de los Artistas stands out from the room service at the rest of the resort. The reason for this being that the food is prepared in the Kibi Kibi kitchens and includes menu items from Kibi Kibi, which are not available to anyone else staying at the resort.

Food carts

Throughout the resort, you'll find a rotating selection of food carts providing sweet and savory snacks. Our favorite is one that pops up near the main pool serving Mexican street corn, but the taco stand near El Deseo is excellent too. 

Final thoughts

There is no shortage of food or drink options at Hotel Xcaret Arte. Between the coffee shops, restaurants, and bars, you'll always find some flavors to tickle your taste buds.

Now the question is, which ones are you most excited about? Let us know in the comments below.

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