Our Favourite Restaurants, Taco Stands, Coffee Spots, and More in Sayulita, Mexico
In Sayulita, beyond the cozy spots and spnsored articles, you need to know where to grab a bite. It’s not easy, even though the food is incredible. You can be easily led in the wrong direction, or get lost in the options that might not look that different from one another.
One coffee usually turns into two. Breakfast stretches into lunch. Nights end with tacos you didn’t plan on. Below are the places that shaped our days. Not the fanciest. Just the ones we kept returning to.
Below are the ones we would recommend to travellers headed to this incredible small town barely a $40 Uber ride from Puerta Vallarta.
Papus Food Truck
Papus sits where Sayulita feels most like itself. Right by main beach. Feet in the sand, board still wet, sun doing its thing. It’s a food truck, sure, but it’s also a ritual. You come here hungry from the ocean and leave happy without overthinking it.
The ceviche is bright and clean, exactly what you want when it’s hot and you’ve already had a beer. It is always the same, with small changes based on available fruit. The burritos are substantial in a way that sneaks up on you, with meat grilled on open flame(to order, by the way). Big flavours, no gimmicks. Order, wait a minute, eat immediately.
This was my favourite spot in Sayulita, hands down.
Tacos Al Pastor Diaz
This is where nights tend to end. Or restart. Al Pastor Diaz is busy in the way good taco spots are busy. People standing around tables or sitting at them on the busy street.
The al pastor is the headline for a reason. Juicy, smoky, properly shaved, dropped onto warm corn tortillas. You order two and then immediately wave down your server for more.
It’s central, it’s open late, and it absorbs whatever energy the town has left. A few bites in and you remember why late-night tacos are a universal language. There are many taco stands that look like this one, but this was our favourite.
Baby’s Burgers
Somehow, a smash burger makes perfect sense in Sayulita, even if it is surprising. Baby’s is casual, exceptionally friendly, and feels like a reward. The burgers are thin, crispy-edged, stacked just right, and unapologetically indulgent.
There’s usually a hum of people fresh from the beach or on their way somewhere else, which makes it feel social without being chaotic. This is where you end up when you’re ready for a taco break.
Miscelánea
Miscelánea feels like a deep breath. Tucked slightly away from the main drag, but still in the centre of town, it has a calmer, more intentional energy. Jungle touches, thoughtful design, and a crowd that’s not in a rush. Brunch here feels like an event you planned, even if you didn’t.
The chilaquiles are excellent, layered and comforting without being heavy, and the coffee is treated with the seriousness it deserves. Go for the corn pancakes or poached eggs on toast…it’s all familiar and all great. It’s a linger spot. One where conversations stretch, phones stay face down, and you remember that mornings don’t have to be frantic.
La Chilaqueria
La Chilaqueria is quiet in the best way. Set by the creek, it feels removed from the buzz without actually leaving town.
The chilaquiles are the whole point, and they take that responsibility seriously. Multiple sauces, all-you-can-eat, and somehow every plate still tastes as good as the first.
You’ll want seconds. We went for thirds. It’s not just how affordable it is, though that helps (like, $7 Canadian?!?). It’s how genuinely delicious it remains, bite after bite.
Bichos
Bichos wins on toppings. Not in a gimmicky way, but in a “build your perfect taco” way. Tacos in Sayu are almost always up to you for toppings, and this spot has the best of them. The tortillas are made properly, the fillings are solid, but the real joy comes from loading things exactly how you like them.
Salsas, cucumbers, beans, jalapenos, crunch, heat, brightness. It’s all there. The vibe leans evening, when the town is waking back up and hunger returns. You can keep it simple or go all in. Either way, it feels personal here, rewarding curiosity and repeat visits.
Sayulita Public House
There are a few places to watch sports in Sayulita. Sports Garden has the best screens. Sayulita Public House has everything else.
This is the spot if you care about service, real drinks, and pub-style food that shows up hot and correct. Burgers, wings, fries, proper cocktails. The staff pays attention. It feels like a local bar that happens to be in paradise.
Schmoutzi
Schmoutzi is the answer to the morning question. Fresh bread, daily baked goods, and the smell that pulls you in whether you meant to stop or not.
This is the best place in town for pastries that feel made that day because they are. Cheesecake brownies, cinnamon buns, rotating treats that change with the mood. The coffee leans playful without losing quality.
Café Coyote
Cafe Coyote is where productivity goes to pretend it’s on vacation. The outdoor patio is excellent. Bright, airy, and effortlessly photogenic. Sandwiches are made fresh to order. The coffee is reliable, the wifi works, and nobody rushes you.
It’s an ideal place to work, meet, or simply sit with a laptop you may or may not open. Everything about it invites you to stay longer than planned. Instagrammable without trying to be.
La Barrita
La Barrita is all about placement and vibe. Right in town, wedged between two adorable shops, it feels like a natural pause point. No real food, just good coffee and a space that knows exactly what it is. Stylish, compact, and very Instagram-friendly.
The wifi is strong, the seating works, and the energy stays steady throughout the day. If you need a coffee, a connection, and a seat without committing to a meal, this is the move.
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