La Habichuela

La Habichuela is a long-running fine-dining restaurant in downtown Cancun, Quintana Roo, Mexico, at Calle Margaritas 25 in Supermanzana 22. It sits a short walk from Parque de las Palapas and is one of the older sit-down restaurants in El Centro, the part of the city where residents rather than resort guests tend to eat. The kitchen blends Yucatecan traditions with broader Mexican and international cooking, and the menu leans heavily on seafood and on dishes served in or alongside coconut. The emblematic plate is the Cocobichuela, a preparation of lobster and shrimp in a coconut curry sauce served inside a coconut. It is the dish most often associated with the restaurant and the one most first-time diners order. Other seafood served in coconut and a selection of Yucatecan appetizers round out the signature list, making the menu a reasonable introduction to regional flavours in a more formal setting than the taquerias and loncherias nearby. The dining room character is the main draw. Tables are set in a candlelit garden courtyard that feels removed from the traffic of the surrounding streets, with a quiet, romantic mood in the evening. Dress is smart casual in practice, and the noise level is low compared with the lively Hotel Zone venues. Prices sit in the upper tier of the city's local restaurants, rated $$$, so a full dinner with starters, a main and drinks is a considerable step up from a taco meal downtown. Beverage service includes cocktails and wine, and Mexican spirits such as tequila and mezcal are the natural pairing for coconut-based seafood. Hours run from 12:30 PM to 11:30 PM Monday to Saturday and until 10:30 PM on Sunday. Reservations are recommended for dinner and are made by phone at +52 998 884 3158. Booking a day or two ahead is sensible for weekends, high season from December to April, and larger groups. Walk-in tables are sometimes available at lunch or early in the evening.