Guidebook for Merida
Food Scene
Favorites as of today: El Barrio, Micaela Mar y Leña and Hennessy's Irish Pub
It offers a sampler of local cuisine an is affordable. Don't wait until you are hungry because it is usually busy.
229 locals recommend
La Chaya Maya
x 62 C. 57It offers a sampler of local cuisine an is affordable. Don't wait until you are hungry because it is usually busy.
Te extraño, extraño.
Paseo de MontejoHealth food.
Micaela Mar & Leña
458 Calle 47Seafood and steak prepared with firewood
Pizza E Core
#408a C. 64Very good pizza
La Recova
471 Calle 60Popular steakhouse in Santa Lucia square that is always packed.
My favorite breakfast place in Merida. They have fresh squeezed orange juice and very good coffee. A nice twist on Mexican classics like Chilaquiles. Friendly service.
21 locals recommend
El barrio
429 Calle 58My favorite breakfast place in Merida. They have fresh squeezed orange juice and very good coffee. A nice twist on Mexican classics like Chilaquiles. Friendly service.
Hennessys Irish Pub
La Tratto Santa Lucía
Pan & Kof.feé
Baretto | Espresso Bar
478 Calle 47Picheta
501 C. 61Yakuza
SOCO Merida
492C C. 51Apoala
471 Calle 60Café Bar 500 Noches Mérida
Great cocktails.
Located in the iconic La Ermita neighborhood, designed as “Barrio Mágico” by the tourism board of Mexico.
Autogiro Ermita Cantina
Great cocktails.
Located in the iconic La Ermita neighborhood, designed as “Barrio Mágico” by the tourism board of Mexico.
La cazona de San Sebastián
Organico Café
CIGNO HOTEL
Nice breakfast place.
Sightseeing
La Ermita de San Isabel is, without a doubt, a charming corner of Mérida. In the Barrio (neighborhood) of San Sebastián in the Centro Histórico, near the old city gate marking the Camino Real to Campeche, with its striking arch at the corner of 64 and 69, is Ermita de Santa Isabel, located at the corner of 66 and 79, named for the mother of San Juan Bautista.
In the center of the park is the plaza with a kiosk beside the church, surrounded by a lovely garden with seating and play areas, watched over by beautiful Colonial-style homes which will surely help you to visualize what this beautiful area looked like in days gone by.
30 locals recommend
Ermita de Santa Isabel Park
La Ermita de San Isabel is, without a doubt, a charming corner of Mérida. In the Barrio (neighborhood) of San Sebastián in the Centro Histórico, near the old city gate marking the Camino Real to Campeche, with its striking arch at the corner of 64 and 69, is Ermita de Santa Isabel, located at the corner of 66 and 79, named for the mother of San Juan Bautista.
In the center of the park is the plaza with a kiosk beside the church, surrounded by a lovely garden with seating and play areas, watched over by beautiful Colonial-style homes which will surely help you to visualize what this beautiful area looked like in days gone by.
The Cathedral of San Ildefonso receives its name from when it was assigned to the head of the Archbishop of Toledo. It is considered the oldest church in the Americas built on the mainland, second only to the one built on the island of Santo Domingo, Hernán Cortés’ first landing point. Its construction, made from the stones of the pyramids of the ancient Maya city of T’hó, began in 1561 and the first stage was completed 37 years later, in 1598.
247 locals recommend
Merida Cathedral
Calle 60The Cathedral of San Ildefonso receives its name from when it was assigned to the head of the Archbishop of Toledo. It is considered the oldest church in the Americas built on the mainland, second only to the one built on the island of Santo Domingo, Hernán Cortés’ first landing point. Its construction, made from the stones of the pyramids of the ancient Maya city of T’hó, began in 1561 and the first stage was completed 37 years later, in 1598.
The Grand Plaza is a true cultural experience. Just sitting in the park and people watching is great. If you can make it there for the weekend instead of a week day, do it. Street performers (especially on Sunday) and live music, awesome street food. They do close off the side streets so you can amble around as you like in the Plaza, or to any of the bars and restaurants surrounding.
175 locals recommend
Plaza Grande
S/N C. 60The Grand Plaza is a true cultural experience. Just sitting in the park and people watching is great. If you can make it there for the weekend instead of a week day, do it. Street performers (especially on Sunday) and live music, awesome street food. They do close off the side streets so you can amble around as you like in the Plaza, or to any of the bars and restaurants surrounding.
Music and dancing. Santa Lucía is a small park a few blocks from the main square, there are plenty of restaurants and boutiques. In front of the church, you will find artisans selling their crafts. On Tuesdays there are Serenades. Arrive early to secure a good seat to enjoy the show.
176 locals recommend
Santa Lucía Park
476A C. 60Music and dancing. Santa Lucía is a small park a few blocks from the main square, there are plenty of restaurants and boutiques. In front of the church, you will find artisans selling their crafts. On Tuesdays there are Serenades. Arrive early to secure a good seat to enjoy the show.
City park with benches, shade trees, food vendors & views of a nearby historic church.
https://www.google.com/maps/place/Parque+de+Santa+Ana/@20.9756259,-89.6271701,16z/data=!4m13!1m7!3m6!1s0x8f56715e44fc6a91:0x26174d4f22bf7b83!2sParque+Santa+Ana,+Centro,+97000+M%C3%A9rida,+Yucatan!3b1!8m2!3d20.9759545!4d-89.6225162!3m4!1s0x8f56715e6dda496f:0x3308664395d01059!8m2!3d20.9757658!4d-89.6211916
16 locals recommend
Parque Santa Ana
City park with benches, shade trees, food vendors & views of a nearby historic church.
https://www.google.com/maps/place/Parque+de+Santa+Ana/@20.9756259,-89.6271701,16z/data=!4m13!1m7!3m6!1s0x8f56715e44fc6a91:0x26174d4f22bf7b83!2sParque+Santa+Ana,+Centro,+97000+M%C3%A9rida,+Yucatan!3b1!8m2!3d20.9759545!4d-89.6225162!3m4!1s0x8f56715e6dda496f:0x3308664395d01059!8m2!3d20.9757658!4d-89.6211916
Located in Calle 72 between Calle 57 and 59. Food, ice cream and WiFi.
https://www.google.com/maps/place/Santiago+Park/@20.9696246,-89.6300471,17.1z/data=!4m5!3m4!1s0x0:0x6789139a5915ec3f!8m2!3d20.9701013!4d-89.6300965
6 locals recommend
Parque Santiago
Located in Calle 72 between Calle 57 and 59. Food, ice cream and WiFi.
https://www.google.com/maps/place/Santiago+Park/@20.9696246,-89.6300471,17.1z/data=!4m5!3m4!1s0x0:0x6789139a5915ec3f!8m2!3d20.9701013!4d-89.6300965
Mayan cultural museum with many exhibits of art, handicrafts & history.
313 locals recommend
Mayan World Museum of Mérida
299 E C. 60Mayan cultural museum with many exhibits of art, handicrafts & history.
City of Merida Noche Mexicana
485 C. 56ᴬMusic, folk dancers and food.
Drinks & Nightlife
Hermana República Centro
472 C. 64La Negrita Cantina
415 C. 49Drinks and local food.
Arts & Culture
On Sundays this museum is free. It’s a beautiful home with artwork and furnishings from the original Montejo family. It’s also air conditioned and there’s a small gift shop as well.
127 locals recommend
Montejo House Museum
506 C. 63On Sundays this museum is free. It’s a beautiful home with artwork and furnishings from the original Montejo family. It’s also air conditioned and there’s a small gift shop as well.
MUSEO MONTES MOLINA
469 P.º de MontejoHouse designed by the award-winning French architect Gustave Umbdenstock, 110 years after its inauguration, Montejo 495 maintains its original design and decoration. Currently it works as a museum.
11 locals recommend
Montejo
House designed by the award-winning French architect Gustave Umbdenstock, 110 years after its inauguration, Montejo 495 maintains its original design and decoration. Currently it works as a museum.
Archaeological sites around Merida
Chichen Itza
Dzibilchaltun
Uxmal
Beaches
27 miles from Merida. This makes Progreso the closest beach near Merida.
426 locals recommend
Progreso
27 miles from Merida. This makes Progreso the closest beach near Merida.
Celestun is a sleepy fishing town on the western side of the Yucatan peninsula. The real draw to Celestun beach is the eco-tour boat trip through the Reserva de la Biosfera Ría Celestun. This is where you can find thousands of wild flamingos that tend to flock here in the winter months and into the spring.
246 locals recommend
Celestún
Celestun is a sleepy fishing town on the western side of the Yucatan peninsula. The real draw to Celestun beach is the eco-tour boat trip through the Reserva de la Biosfera Ría Celestun. This is where you can find thousands of wild flamingos that tend to flock here in the winter months and into the spring.
Chelem
Small little beach town 20-minute drive west of Progreso.
Almost an extension of Progreso, the Chicxulub beach lies 8 km to the east of its more developed neighbor. The beaches around Chicxulub are skinnier here with high tide often bringing the ocean up close to the many beachfront properties that line the shore. Unlike Progreso, the shorter pier here is open to the public.
33 locals recommend
Chicxulub Puerto
Almost an extension of Progreso, the Chicxulub beach lies 8 km to the east of its more developed neighbor. The beaches around Chicxulub are skinnier here with high tide often bringing the ocean up close to the many beachfront properties that line the shore. Unlike Progreso, the shorter pier here is open to the public.
East from Progreso, it’s about a half-hour drive from Progreso to reach the small beach Telchac, which has some facilities and a central pier you can walk out on. There are some other interesting natural attractions nearby. The road from Progreso towards Telchac is along a lagoon, rather than the beach. As you approach Telhac, there are a few spots along the way where you can find pink lagoons and even flamingos
51 locals recommend
Telchac Puerto
East from Progreso, it’s about a half-hour drive from Progreso to reach the small beach Telchac, which has some facilities and a central pier you can walk out on. There are some other interesting natural attractions nearby. The road from Progreso towards Telchac is along a lagoon, rather than the beach. As you approach Telhac, there are a few spots along the way where you can find pink lagoons and even flamingos
Cenotes
There are three different cenotes to explore and a horse-drawn cart brings you to each one.
24 locals recommend
CENOTES DE CUZAMA
x 8 C. 21There are three different cenotes to explore and a horse-drawn cart brings you to each one.
Beautiful cenote located off highway 261, just past Hacienda Yaxcopoil, about 45 minutes drive from Merida.
12 locals recommend
X'batun
Carretera cenotesBeautiful cenote located off highway 261, just past Hacienda Yaxcopoil, about 45 minutes drive from Merida.
Cenote Xlacah
Exposed cenote located at Dzibichaltun.
Blue-water cenote located about 50-minutes drive south of Merida.
23 locals recommend
Cenote Kankirixche
Blue-water cenote located about 50-minutes drive south of Merida.