It’s morning in Tulum. Do you know where your huevos rancheros are?
Searching for the best place to have breakfast in Tulum can be a bit of a treasure hunt, especially if you are traveling with picky eaters or your idea of breakfast begins before 8 a.m.
Tulum prides itself on its natural, relaxed approach to life. That means you’ll find lots of smoothies, juices, whole grains, and fresh fruits and vegetables.
Here are just three of our favorites. The best way to discover the perfect place to have breakfast in Tulum is to put on your shoes and walk. The fun is often in the discovery.
Tunich Brings the Best Breakfast Items in the World to Tulum
Brandy and Blaine Schwing traveled the world searching for the perfect brunch. They have taken what they’ve learned and applied it to their restaurant, Tunich.
Tunich is on the jungle side of Beach Road. Its extensive menu includes continental favorites such as omelets, eggs benedict, pancakes, and French Toast, but with a Mexican flair.
The Mexican Eggs in a Pot, for example, are organic eggs cooked in ranchero sauce (tomato-based with onions, green chilis, and jalapeno), cilantro, mushrooms, and chorizo on a corn-flour tortilla. It is topped with melted Manchego cheese.
Thick, fluffy, moist pancakes come in three flavors – plain, apple, and blueberry. Tunich makes the most of its specially-made, bread (pan comido) from a local, German baker for its French Toast. Slices of toast are prepared with fruit and powdered sugar or with peanut butter and a banana.
Juices and smoothies are made with fresh, local ingredients. Vitamin C Punch in the Mouth has mango, orange, and papaya, an instant boost to the immune system. For Howard Stern fans, the “Baba Booey” smoothie is made with milk, peanut butter, cocoa powder, and lots of bananas.
Breakfast is served all day.
The owners recently opened a second restaurant in Tulum’s pueblo, called Paloma. This upscale breakfast experience recalls Mexico’s colonial past in its architecture and design. Many menu items from Tunich will also be offered at Paloma. Photo credit: Bernardo Flores courtesy of Tunich4
Fresh, Healthy, Homemade Breakfast Is Found at Fresco’s
Fresco’s specializes in “healthy, homemade, breakfasts.”
Located further up Tulum’s Beach Road and as part of The Beach Hotel, Fresco’s menu features homemade bread, jams, and cakes, as well as oats with fruits and spices. All ingredients are fresh and made on the spot.
Pancakes Yucca are three; fluffy pancakes served with fresh strawberries, blueberries, and banana. They are so yummy; a friend wanted to meet for breakfast just so that she could have them again.
“Overnight Oats” come in two varieties – apple and cinnamon and banana and quinoa. Both kinds include oatmeal, almond milk, coconut milk, and Mayan honey.
Fresh bread is also a Fresco’s staple and a highlight of the restaurant’s toast and sandwich offerings. Fresco’s doesn’t just serve toast, butter, and jam, although that’s available. Toast can also include brie cheese and blackberries; cream cheese, apple, agave honey, and bacon; goat cheese and tomatoes; or avocado, a hard-boiled egg, and olive oil.
Breakfast sandwiches include a chicken sandwich with chicken, raisins, chili, walnut and orange mayonnaise; and a turkey breast sandwich with panela cheese, turkey breast, and olive tapenade (finely chopped olives, capers, and olive oil).
Smoothies and juices are touted for the health benefits of the superfoods with which they are made. The Antioxidant smoothie is made with avocado, coconut milk, vanilla, celery, honey, ginger, and green apple.
An expansive selection of “detox” waters, freshly-squeezed juices, fresh waters, as well as coffee and tea are also available.
Eat Like a Local in the Heart of Tulum
Breakfast at Ginger Hotel & Restaurant is a great place to eat like a local.
Ginger is located in the heart of Tulum’s pueblo and away from the noise and tourists of the beach scene. Chef-owner Javier Ornelas is a master at creating an innovative take on traditional Mexican recipes.
One favorite is Chilaquiles, as seen above. It’s a time-honored Mexican dish that is prepared differently depending on which part of Mexico you are visiting. Ginger restaurant’s version starts with the essential chilaquiles template in which corn tortillas are cut in quarters and lightly fried. These “totopos” are then bathed in red salsa and sprinkled with goat cheese.
You can eat chilaquiles plain or top it with shredded chicken or a fried egg, a mix of mushrooms, or with chorizo, a type of pork sausage.
A sweet potato waffle with eggs is made with sweet potato, onion, bacon, bell peppers, broccoli, zucchini, and spinach-topped. Eggs are cooked to order. Whole-grain pancakes are made with oat and whole wheat flour and pecans.
Traditional breakfast staples like fresh fruit, yogurt, toast, orange juice, and coffee are available. Eggs are prepared any way you like them, including fried, scrambled, sunny-side up, poached, or rancheros.
The restaurant opens for breakfast at 8 a.m., and it is served until noon. Photo credit Javier Ornelas for Ginger.
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