Apoala

We had dinner here last night. It is located outside in Parque de Santa Lucia. It was a little warm to sit outside but the breeze made it bearable. The street vendors do go table by table trying to sell things so if the bothers you, there are a couple of tables inside as well. The appetizers were wonderful, and the fish of the day with gnocchi, was fantastic!

This is the best meal we had in Merida. The food was delicious, each dish was rich with flavor and very fulfilling. I was surprised to eat every bite from my plate but it was so good, I just could not stop eating. I enjoyed the ensalada Verde most as there was no lettuce in sight but rather a flavorful blend of green vegetables that worked amazingly on the palette. The braised beef is also very good, loved the flavor profile. The service was good and they have a wide selection of dishes. Overall it was a pleasant experience and I would definitely recommend it.

We had the best meal of Merida so far. Each one of us (4 total) had different meals and preferences, and we were all blown away by the food. One in our group was recovering from the stomach bug and the waiter was able to get a lime + bitters + club soda mocktail made for him because bitters help to settle the stomach. Each part of our meal was delicious and muy bonito! I loved my octopus and scallop ceviche!

The food is delicious. Had a beef soup with lime and ginger that was spectacular. Price is high. About the atmosphere... Sitting outside in the evening, we heard music from 3 different restaurants, each trying to be louder than the other. Wasn't nice. Would recommend sitting inside if possible.

Restaurant is inside a fun little square. No A/C but the ambiance was nice! There are local people who walk up to the table to try to sell you souveniers, but if you wave them off they walk away quietly. Food: Picana tacos were a hit, especially loved the green tomato garnish on the tacos. We tried the verde salad which was very good and a seafood appetizer which was also tasty. Drinks: the mezcal drinks are on the light/weak side, but have good flavor and fun presentation (mine had flaming rosemary). Will return and try more items.

The food here was fantastic, really great attention to detail. The spicy margaritas were the best ones we had in all of Merida!oat restaurants won’t really make the margarita spicy but they showed they cared by listening to our needs! It’s pricey but great value. Definitely would recommend

The food was excellent. Complementary thin tortillas were fun and tasty, grilled octopus tacos were larger than expected and cooked well. Local sea bass was flavored nicely. We had a large meal and drinks 3 hours ago so weren’t hungry but decided to try this place anyway given it’s our last night. It feels that the waiter was disappointed that we didn’t order more so the service was lukewarm but polite in general. This appears to be an upscale restaurant and they do expect at least 15% tip.

Fabulous food. Service was good not great. Drinks were very good. Definitely recommended. We had the fried zucchini flowers, the braised short rib for appetizer. Then we had the fish of the day and the sea bass. Both were very tasty. The bean gravy on the sea bass was rather salty so I’d take it on the side instead of them pouring it over the dish.

Fantastic service. Waiter places napkin on your lap, lights your cigarette, doors get opened for you, great drinks and delicious food. Couldn't have asked for a better fine dining experience.

My husband and I had dinner at Apoala last night - our last dinner in Merida! We really enjoyed ourselves! The menu spans Yucatecan and Oaxacan dishes - which was great since we love both! We shared: the ceviche de camarón, maíz y calabaza asada; the pesca del dia (that came with Mexican herb gnocchi and a tartar sauce); the memelitas; and a dessert (panna cotta with passionfruit sauce). We also had a few cocktails each (all of them were great). No complaints about the menu, food, or drinks! The location is wonderful! The restaurant is one of several that overlook the Parque de Santa Lucia. Great outdoor/al fresco dining. There was live music while we enjoyed our meal, and it just had a great ambiance overall! The service was also great - very friendly and helpful! Definitely a great place for dinner out in Merida! I'd be happy to repeat it!

and foremost, the service was amazing! Julio, our waiter, was excellent at recommending dishes. We kicked things off with mixology--ChicTana, a unique creation featuring an Oaxacan ant, and Mayahuel--both incredible drinks! When our dishes arrived, we were so hungry that we devoured them instantly. We had memelas de lechón, tacos de picaña, and octopus ceviche with scallops--the last one was absolutely outstanding!"

We've gotten so many recommendations to come to this restaurant and so we were so excited to visit and it did not disappoint. The menu was limited compared to some of the other restaurants in the area but I appreciate not having so many options. The food and drinks were amazing and the service was on point. Our glasses were always filled and the staff was so attentive. It is a little bit more on the serious side, I wouldn't say it's not family friendly, but just more of an adult environment

Easily one of the most beautiful restaurants in Mérida. People told me, whom had been to Mérida before, that i had to go the Apoala so it was definitely on my list! Buddy and I sat outside and I order a cocktail and the eh brought us out super bomb chips and two different kinds of salsa, the green one was better I think! I hadn't had a piece of meat all week so I went with the steak, it was really great. The black mole sauce on it made it for me but the meat was cooked absolutely perfect. If I was by myself or with a women I would've ordered more honestly, kindof wish I got to try more of the menu... but still had a wonderful experience. The staff was ofcourse super friendly!

Este es el segundo review a Apoala que hago. Hoy no se que les dieron de comer a los chefs pero por favor siganlo haciendo... Tengo una cena mas tarde en otro restaurante y decidí ir a mi consentido Apoala a comer algo ligero, pedí una entrada, Ceviche de Pescado en Leche de coco, MA-RA-VI-LLA tiene chile habanero, me advirtieron que traia una rodaja, no la sentí, el pescado mas fresco que el Principe de Bel-Air tirandole a Sashimi Japones con un tipo "Leche de Tigre" como base con aceite supongo de Habanero, que joya culinaria, haganse una tostada (las dan de cortesia) solo con la salsita verde que les dan y ponganle chorritos de la leche de coco encima y la verdura del aguachile, el pepino y la jicama, OJO, no le pongan el pescado, a la tostada, el Aguachile se come solito solito y ya despues muerden su tostada preparada, majestuoso... No iba a pedir postre porque siempre se les termina la esponja de coco, esta vez la tenian... Un pan airoso super suavecito de coco con una base de salsa de Maracuya dulce, nada acida, granillo de menta, Frutos rojos y Uvas y no quiero faltarle el respeto a la chef pero el granulado ese de chocolate no lo necesita, exploren algo màs, me lo comi todo para acabar con eso pero la joya esta en mojar la esponja en la salsa con un pedacito del helado y un trocito de fruta y preparense para voltear los ojos en blanco. Hoy tuve multiples orgasmos en la boca, no se que estan haciendo pero continúen porfa. Aún sigo teniendo espasmos bucales. Gracias!

The squash blossom dish is yummy. The staff is nice. I had a taco dish that was good, but I ran into some tourists that I happened to know and it got cold yuck. Overall. I don't think this place is worth the hefty price, but I do think it was good.

Riquísima la comida! Me encantaron los tacos tanto que regresé 3 días después. El caldo de res también estuvo buenísimo.

Mezcal mule incredible. Lovely location in centro. Sea bass was solid, bean sauce okay, great verde

We had the best last night in Merida! I ate the most delicious vegetarian Mexican food- maybe ever? At Apoala! We started with stuffed squash blossoms, then a verde salad, and my entree was a quinoa, Amaranth and Pepitas stuffed tortillas with an inky black mole sauce, topped with radish and plantain chips. Holy smokes! It was so good!

We would revisit the Apoala again. It's in a great location but we unfortunately made the choice to sit inside due to 96 degree temps. The interior is small and dark. Definitely recommend siting outside on the patio if weather permits. The food was good but not that memorable. The service was impeccable and it felt very high end.

We have a great batting average relying on Yelp reviews to choose restaurants but boy was this place a swing and a miss. Very nice atmosphere and friendly service but this was the blandest Mexican food that we have ever eaten. The food looked great but literally tasted like nothing. We had one dish in particular that included chorizo and it was bland. Chorizo with no flavor -- how is that even possible? If you can't handle any spice (or flavor), then this is the place for you. Comida mexicana sin sabor!

Very good service, creative food and drink, and an unbeatable location recommend this place at the very top of Merida's vast and varied food scene. From the cloud-like stuffed squash blossom appetizer, battered and fried so light and fluffy, served with an earthy and balanced mole, sautéed onion and potato; to the ensalada verde, served warm with broad beans, green beans, peas, sprouts, pumpkin seeds, squash and avocado in a tangy vinaigrette; to the filete de res con mole negro, with sweet potato mash, nuts and seeds, beet and onion and mild nopal (cactus), cooked perfectly with a deep, rich, roasty sauce; and the roast suckling pig with perfect cracklings, potato and cured onion and a rich black bean purée; bookended with an ephemeral coconut cake and mango ice cream dessert with mescal ice topping and a burnt sugar cookie crumb and mango purée...just...wow! The only detractors were a small bit of dry pork and some initially perfunctory service, quickly corrected. I can't give half-stars, and the food and drink were otherwise so exceptional the problems were all but forgotten by the time dessert hit the table; so be it. There is no, and I mean NO, reason to miss this if you have the luck in your stars to find yourself in this lovely restaurant, in the charming Parque de Santa Lucia, in the heart of the magical city of Merida. Fine dining for the adventurous! Meaning: yes, there are unusual ingredients in both the food and drink that may surprise you, but the rewards are well worth your suspension of prejudice. Highest recommendation!

This has always been must stop when we visit Merida , unfortunately this place has lost it way , we ordered three dishes to share for late lunch/ early dinner and two Mojitos. All disappointed. This plaza was alway active but not so any longer. It appears locals have moved on to more exciting venues with more creative atmosphere and cuisines for the rich price.During our stay in Merida we found several choices for the money.

Food was very good and worth every calorie of the mole smothered chicken ensaimadas. The red tart was equally delish. Add the ambiance and friendly staff, going solo is not an issue.

Friends recommended Apoala highly from a recent trip, but I was disappointed. Service was friendly but a bit stilted, and when our salad arrived it wasn't the one we ordered. They took it back but the correct one didn't arrive for 20 minutes. We had the tomato salad with potatoes, greens, and (cotija?) cheese. This was a delicious and creative salad, and large enough for the two of us. Apoala no longer offers grilled pulpo so I ordered it in a taco, after seeing a photo of it in a Yelp review. Be forewarned, the version they are serving in January 2024 is nothing like that picture. It may have been grilled at some point in the prep process, but then it was sauteed in a brown sauce that had little identifiable flavor, and it ended up tough and stringy. So sad because numerous reviewers raved about the previous versions. It seems the chef didn't know when to leave a winner on the menu. My wife had the sea bass with green sauce, queso fresco, and tamal. She liked it but I thought it was a mish-mosh of flavors and textures that seemed like an ad-lib. Still searching Merida for a good grilled pulpo. The bill was around $80 US with 2 drinks so there's no complaining about the prices, but you can eat much better for much less in Merida.

I ate recently here with my family ( 3 generations: grandparents, parents and kids) and there was something for everyone. Great patio area on the square, in the shade, good for groups. The grilled octopus was excellent!

We love everything about Apoala! We enjoyed being there on Valentine's Day with family. The camarones and pulpo are great along with the mezcal sour and other tasty drinks.

Had mole on beef for the 1st time. It was decent mole sauce. Sweet but not spicy as it usually is. Cocktails are fun with herbs stuck in on fire. Wahaca style food. It was decent.

Hands down the best dining experience I've had in Mexico! This place was recommended to us by one of the hotel owners in Merida. It was a short walk to the Parque Santa Lucia. We did not have reservations, and the seating outside was all occupied, so we were seated inside. The decor inside was to die for! The wall behind the bar was a-DOOR-ned with doors (get it?!), with deep green walls. The tables had lovely black-and-white Mosaic tiling. Now, enough about the decor, because that's not why we're here. We had flat crunchy tortillas offered to us with green sauce and roasted red pepper sauce. We loved it so much we got 3 refills. We were already blown away by the flavor that this had, that we were looking forward to the rest of the meal. As expected, the appetizer did not disappoint. We got raw kampachi, which is a mackerel sashimi in a savory-sweet sauce - simply phenomenal. For my entree, I got the tortellini with pork with green mole sauce. The mole sauce is made hot and poured in front of you. Every bite was DIVINE. We got 2 rounds of drinks. For my first drink, got the chikka (rum, mezcal, pineapple, cilantro, lime) which is a cool, refreshing drink with a nice smoky flavor. My friend and I got the Jamaica margarita as our second drink. To cap off this spectacular meal, we got the warm chocolate cake with guava cream and ice cream and pecan. Every bite was like walking on a cloud. The textures and flavors came together really nicely. Now, here's the kicker. For 4 drinks, 2 entrees, 1 appetizer, and 1 dessert, it came out to roughly $40 USD per person. For the quality, service and ambience that we experienced, this was a bargain and absolutely worth it. Apoala is a must for your next Merida trip.

One of the best meals in Mexico, Mixte ceviche was superb, so was the service and wine

My kids are in love with this restaurant. Each ordered a different type of ceviche. They keep requesting that we return. ‍

Came here with our 2 kids and my husband who is from Merida. The food and drinks were tasty however left with a bad taste in our mouths after the waiter scoffed at our 10% tip on a $1800 bill and straight up asked him if there was something wrong causing such a low tip. We were literally speechless. Thats not a bad tip considering Mexico's tipping standards- We are both from Mexico. The lack of class is crazy to me. We won't be coming back.

We've been here twice. The food, outdoor seating and the cocktails don't disappoint. It is one of the better restaurants in Merida. Highly recommend.

Restaurant in Parque de Santa Lucia square. There are about five restaurants in the square in a really nice outdoor environment. The night we were there the temperature was very pleasant. My wife and I both started with a gin and tonic. It was a rather large drink, especially for $6 USD. The waiter brought us some fried blue tortillas with two salsas. Based on comments we ordered the Flores en Amarillo. It was delicious with a nice spicy sauce. For dinner I ordered the sea bass with a green tomato sauce and my wife got the short rib appetizer. Both were excellent. I finished the meal with a cold local craft beer called Lager Yucateca. Great dining atmosphere in the square. Hope to make it back.

Above all!! The best menu, presentation and creative crazy flavorful lovingly prepared food. Really wonderful! The chef is a dream. Our server Victoria and others were so excellent in every way. Casual yet elegant and friendly vibe. The place is tucked away on a lovely plaza. We will dream of our return! In the meantime, does the chef have cookbook?

Our 2nd trip to Merida, this was our first night out. Excellent drinks, Awesome awesome service! started with Flores en amarillo - our new fav appetizer! Wife had the camarones y callo a la parilla I had the Tacos de picaña Outside seating - plenty of social distancing Already planning our return trip here!

Excellent service. We have been here twice, and both times we never went more than a few minutes without a fresh drink. The place is beautiful and very relaxing, although the toilets are a tough haul up a long flight of stairs. They don't get easier after a few shots of tequila either. That seems to be a thing here in Merida, several places we go to have this oddity. The food is good, but my American palate expects a lot more salt, so I always have to ask for salt. But it's better for me to add it than for them to overdo it and ruin a dish. Prices are pretty reasonable considering the atmosphere. We can get out of here for around 2000 pesos, and that's with me pounding beers and tequila. Give this place a go, it's worth it.

This place was so hard to get to. In the end we were disappointed as the difficulty to get there did not match with the end result. My food was good, I took 2 cocktail and they were OK. My partner took a salad and she was unpleased at the non-fresh vegetables. We had dinner outside and obviously the square is a great place, restaurants are financing the artist playing every night. Bottom line: it's fine, but don't kill your self to get it. Rosa Sur 32 is just as nice (and waiters are very nice)

Amazing food amazing service. Great location great location well worth it must visit while you're in Mérida.

Don't let the $$$ scare you away. We ordered appetizers, drinks, dinner, and dessert and walked away with a $40 USD tab!!!! The ambiance is wonderful here - it is right off of the square where they have music and dancing festivals. In fact the night after we had dinner here they featured a concert in the square. The fried squash blossom was SO elegant, and the steak I ordered was cooked to perfection. Everything comes with tortilla so use that to scoop up the deliciousness.

This was by far my favorite restaurant while in Merida! The food was amazing and the prices were ridiculously affordable for what it's worth. Their craft cocktails took it to new heights. I'm not really a fan of Mezcal, but man, they really knew how to mask the taste of the alcohol, and make it seem like you're drinking an ordinary non-alcoholic drink. I highly recommend the ceviches from the appetizer menu. They're made with coconut milk; it's seriously unlike any other ceviche I've ever had! The langosta pozole was also really good! Our main dishes, which included the short rib and the white fish were absolutely delectable! The short rib was super soft and the white fish was perfectly flakey! This place is centrally located, so if you're staying in Centro, you can easily walk to this restaurant and take a horse carriage ride home for $10 if you're too full to make it back to your hotel (that's what we did)!

Definitely a good spot! Great atmosphere in the plaza and the food is delicious and we'll presented.

I *just* finished my dinner here and loved the vegetarian mole dish so much I wanted to write a review! Loved the Emoladas Vegetarianas

Wow, this place has some delicious food. We came here on my second night in Merida, and we did not regret it. We started off with some red wine and an appetizer. The appetizer's name I forget, but check the pics I uploaded. My main dish was the grilled fish, which was on a bed of veggies. It was delicious, and packed with flavor just as the appetizer was. The staff here is friendly, they took good care of us. The seating was outdoors, which was great because it was relatively cool in Merida at the time. The restrooms are found inside, and are clean. The ambient was nice. It was both energetic and romantic at the same time. A great option in this fine city, I would recommend it.

We had a fantastic dinner here. Their cocktails were arguably the best we had our entire time in Merida (and we were sampling heavily..), service was fantastic, and all the food delivered as people dreamed. It lives up to its high reviews.

What a wonderful surprise Apoala was! We came here looking for a few cocktails and ended up having one of the best dinners we've had during our entire trip in Mérida. Service was beyond excellent, our server was extremely busy (gets really busy here on the weekends) but he made sure we were well taken care of, he was very attentive, polite and made several recommendations on the menu. The mezcal cocktails were top notch and the food simply delicious. Must try the bone marrow broth made table side! I'm vegan and they had more than enough options for me to try

This place was amazing. Highly recommend the margarita, the green salad and short ribs. Sitting out eating on the plaza and beyond excellent service made for a wonderful experience.

This restaurant features Oaxacan dishes and moles as well as local specialties. My wife and I came in for lunch while walking around downtown. It was a beautiful day in January. We sat outside and ordered cocktails, which were excellent. I had ceviche shrimp and my wife seared tuna on chilaquiles with a Oaxacan mole. Both dishes were delicious. The staff was, like everyone in Merida, cheerful, helpful and courteous.

Superb in everything-- outstanding ambiance, revelatory food, and the service is excellent--welcoming, warm, and clearly enjoying their work.

My family and I had a great meal at Apoala last night. My Spanish is terrible and I can't remember go to pronounce what I ordered but it was a thin sliced steak with a relleno and chiliquillies on the side. The margarita was perfect and our server was very friendly. So far my experience with service in Mexico has been fantastic. I wish we had the same experience at home

Had outdoor seating. The food and drinks were DELICIOUS! Excelente! The filet was amazing. I fell in love with their drinks. Definitely going back!

Came here as a new resident here in Mérida to experience centro dining and I was beyond impressed ! Amazing handcrafted cocktails and specially curated food . Our Waiter Alberto was very knowledgeable and helped us make spectacular selections ! Intimate and amazing.

Service was lacking, shrimp was over cooked. flavors of dishes were bland. it's next to several other mini restaurants.

Very good fresh food. Mexican Cousine with a upscale twist. They have dish with crickets. Meat and salad dishes are all fresh prepared. Price are a bit on the higher aide for the area but still affordable. Nice outdoor seating as part of a place. Very friendly staff.

I want to give this place 167 stars. I went back to the plaza the second night thinking I'll find something else, but after browsing, I just went back for seconds.

Excellent food and drinks! A bit pricey, but worth the spend if you want an exquisite meal. The salad is one of the best I have ever had and the flor in Amarillo were to lick your fingers after! Highly recommend it!

Everything was absolutely amazing. We ordered aguachile blanco de pescado y coco, chilaquiles con atun, thlayuda doblada, and the tacos de cangrejo y concha suave. The aguachile blanco de pescado y coco was very light and fresh. Chilaquiles con atun, my least favorite, but still good. Thlayuda doblada was great and the tacos de cangrejo was everyone's favorite. Amazing service and we got a free mezcal tasting!

Very nice dining al fresco in Santa Lucia Parque. Roving singers, friendly and efficient staff, charming setting, and well executed dishes makes this place an enjoyable dining destination. My dad had the Fish of the Day dish with was a thick filet crusted with a crunchy light covering over a bed of gnocchi in a cream sauce. It was fresh and balanced. Creamy and a gentle tart flavoring. The portion was huge enough for lunch the following day. I had the thin steak the size of your head with a grilled pepper on top stuffed with Manchego cheese and to my surprise, a topping of crumbled seasoned and fried crickets. I'm not an eater of anything with more than four legs other than crustaceans, but I made an exception here. I must admit the dish was also generous, with me lunch on the leftover the next day. Steak was smoky, salad was fresh, cheese pepper cricket add nice flavor texture and je ne sais quoi to the dish, as it is pre-Hispanic influenced.