Cozumel Restaurant List

[ggunn]

It has been a long time since Sandi and I stayed there (13 years?) and I don't remember the particulars but it was a positive experience.

Likewise, it was a few years ago - 2018 or 2019, maybe? We stayed there for a few nights waiting for rooms at Blue Angel to be available. We liked it fine; we just wanted to be on the water.

 

[cozcharlie]

I checked in with our local source today and she says things are still very slow and some businesses are closing (didn’t ask which kinds of businesses). Honestly, I’m curious about the cause. Meanwhile, they’re still building more condos on the island.

Kimela,
I know you are generally aware of this given the frequency of your visits , but right now is the heart of low season—it is always slow unless there is a specific event going on. This is low season because it is peak hurricane season , weather in Cozumel is usually hot and humid, kids in US and Canada are in school , and weather is generally quite nice in US and Canada (too early for people to head south fleeing the cold). Things are still better then they once were—Both United and American used to sharply pare their Sept/Oct schedules back to one or two flights a week so it was tough to get to Cozumel even if you wanted to (bag drag).

This is typically the time when marginal businesses that didn’t make enough in high season fold and people complain about it every year. It might be worse this year (I hear real estate is pretty slow also) , but the seasonal pattern has been there forever. As long as there actually isn’t a hurricane in the vicinity, it is one of my favorite times to dive since water is usually calm and warm without much Norte risk.

In terms of more worrisome permanent trends (as opposed to just seasonality), Southwest cutting service to Cozumel in August 2024 clearly hurt , although it hadn’t been serving Cozumel for very long (tried to start service right before pandemic , cut service during pandemic, then had service for a couple of years with post-pandemic travel ). It is also possible that far flung destinations like Indonesia could be taking some business from Cozumel (Indonesia seems to be crowded with divers year-round with volumes up exponentially relative to 15-20 years ago according to operators, though the hot spots within Indo move around based on season ). That said, I don’t really think more people heading to far-flung destinations is a big issue for Cozumel since it is usually a long weekend or a week trip for most North American travelers, where Indo is basically two weeks minimum including travel time.

As other people have noted , Cozumel isn’t as much of a bargain destination anymore . Peso has strengthened considerably over past few years relative to pandemic lows. Wages on island have been increasing in dollar and peso terms . Governments have also been adding various fees for tourist arrivals as well as dive specific fees and marina costs. Individually all these changes are fairly small , but when you stack them all together they add up and may be weighing on tourism . Rising costs are an issue regardless of whether you are in the US or anywhere in world , so while Cozumel is clearly getting pricier , its relative position may not have changed too much .

 

[lionfish-eater]

Since this thread seems to be pretty active I thought I’d ask a non-restaurant related question.

If you have stayed at Villablanca (the hotel), how did you like it? Pluses and minuses? Thanks!

I have stayed there a few times over the last few years. I can usually get a room for around $60 per night.
I would not recommend it given the many other budget accommodations.
The rooms are fine and have an old charm with lots of marble.
The issue I have is that the water in the shower is salty.
They have a cenote access hatch in the floor of the hallway by the 'superior" rooms, with a loud pump that draws water for the guest rooms.
Since they are so close to the ocean, their cenote water is brackish.
The A/C units are old and noisy.
The beach across the street is the best part about staying there.
You can leave everything in the room and snorkel without having to worry about your stuff on the beach .
If anyone does stay there, don't take one of the rooms close to the street, or you will be woken up by the sound of tanks being unloaded at 5 in the morning.

 

[morecowbells]

For the past 15 years, we have done an October dive vacation in Oct. Great deals, comfortable water temps and fewer crowds. Initially, it seemed like a sleepy town with very few tourists. For the past couple of years, it has appeared much busier. I don't know if word got out about the great deals, lower crime than other parts of the country, or the tail end of hurricane season, but definitely more people than in previous years. I wonder if this is a new slump in the number of visitors, or if my perception was incorrect.
While I cannot make it to the island this Oct., it is such a great time to visit!

 

[Kimela]

I have stayed there a few times over the last few years. I can usually get a room for around $60 per night.
I would not recommend it given the many other budget accommodations.
The rooms are fine and have an old charm with lots of marble.
The issue I have is that the water in the shower is salty.
They have a cenote access hatch in the floor of the hallway by the 'superior" rooms, with a loud pump that draws water for the guest rooms.
Since they are so close to the ocean, their cenote water is brackish.
The A/C units are old and noisy.
The beach across the street is the best part about staying there.
You can leave everything in the room and snorkel without having to worry about your stuff on the beach .
If anyone does stay there, don't take one of the rooms close to the street, or you will be woken up by the sound of tanks being unloaded at 5 in the morning.

That’s great info - thanks!

 

[Bookworm11]

The issue I had with the Villa lands was the total lack of Wifi. The WiFi did not work at all my entire trip there. I missed my scheduled snorkel trip because of it. The breakfast was incredibly stingy as well. When I was there, the snorkeling that was promised was not even available. It is also pretty far out of town. If I was going that cheap again, I would do the Barracuda. I cannot recommend the villa Blanca at all!

 

[ggunn]

The issue I had with the Villa lands was the total lack of Wifi. The WiFi did not work at all my entire trip there. I missed my scheduled snorkel trip because of it. The breakfast was incredibly stingy as well. When I was there, the snorkeling that was promised was not even available. It is also pretty far out of town. If I was going that cheap again, I would do the Barracuda. I cannot recommend the villa Blanca at all!

I don't know what snorkeling Villablanca could have promised you; it is across the road from the water. The time I stayed there the wifi worked although it was pretty slow. The restaurant there has changed hands at least a couple of times since I was there but when I stayed there it was fine. I do not remember if breakfast was free.

I wouldn't consider Villablanca to be far out of town; it's only a little past Blue Angel and closer to town than La Ceiba. It's a budget hotel and was for me pretty good for what it is. YMMV

 

[mcpowell]

Anyone have an update on Portosal (formerly Rolandi's)?

I saw on a Cozumel Facebook post where they had closed. There was a debate as to whether they were remodeling, closed permanently, or were purchased by the Kondessa owners. I'm hoping they will be open in early November when we return.