Arca Tulum

Most reviews complain about high prices and small portions. Ignore that. The problem is the food. I really wanted to like this place, and have been wanting to go for a while. The service was professional and it was a nice place. Presentation was good. The Dzikilpak was the only good thing we had. The broccolini was more burnt than charred and the sauce tasted weird. Crab esquite tasted like stomach acid. Squash dish was covered in a weird paste that overpowered everything. Grilled mushroom tlayuda was interesting but buried under more strange sauce. The bone marrow was smothered in tamarind paste that killed its flavor and felt like eating just sour fat. The “Chocolate” dessert was sour and mostly banana flavored, but diluted by plantain. Also the floor was wet, so my wife’s feet ended up muddy. The bill was about 5000 MXN for one of the worst meals I have had in Tulum. Huge waste of time and money. I wish things tasted as good as they looked.

The food here is really great. All the dishes taste amazing. Come here in the afternoon to enjoy the wonderful atmosphere with the gentle breeze and warm lights under palm trees. The birthday cake we were given free of charge was even better than the desert we ordered.

This place is insane. We did the tasting for four with the drinks, probably one of the most expensive, but also one of the tastiest and memorable meals I have ever had. This was a true culinary experience. Oscar took amazing care of use with the food and Sierra was a master with the accompanying drink pairings. The whole meal is an orchestra and adventure wrapped into one, building from the time you enter and masterfully moving from one course to the next, complimenting each step of the journey. Every time you had your favorite bite, the next bite was better, yet didn't overshadow the prior one. Make reservations in advance and arrive hungry, there is more food than you can imagine and you will not be willing to waste a bite. My only regret is that I didn't have the name of all the dishes written down, but I have pictures!

The best culinary experience in Tulum. The service, the space, the presentation, the kitchen, and THE FOOD. Everyone leaving the restaurant kept saying how amazing it was in the street; and they were right. Totally delicious and detailed. Book a reservation now. It’s sooo good! Loved the he entire team. They were friendly, and proud of their work.

If Arca is not on your list of restaurants to visit while in Tulum, do yourself a favor and add it. I wish I could give it more than 5 stars. Every dish is beautiful, complex, and executed perfectly, they do not miss a beat. There are few places I’ve eaten at that I’d prefer over Arca. Don’t believe the star rating only, if you don’t come here you’re seriously missing out. My husband and I will be back.

We visited Hartwood nextdoor and stopped by Arca for drinks. I had read its status as a Top 50 world bar. I must agree! The place is beautiful with an engaging and attentive staff that makes incredible drinks! Absolutely wonderful place that I highly recommend if you’re in Tulum!

Get a reservation immediately, you won’t be disappointed! The hostess was holier than thou but the rest of the experience was absolutely phenomenal! Each course was delectable, so thoroughly planned out and executed. The bone marrow was to die for if it wasn’t in a pile of coal scolding hot I would’ve licked the bone clean

An Unforgettable Culinary Experience at Arca Tulum! If you’re considering dining at Arca, stop thinking and make that reservation now! This spot is all about the experience—from the stunning open-air setup surrounded by lush greenery and soft candlelight to the delightful food adventure that awaits you. First, let me rave about the ambiance. The restaurant is completely outdoors, with trees and plants all around, creating a serene and natural vibe. Each table is thoughtfully decorated with candles in modern vases, ensuring no distractions while you soak in the experience. The seating arrangement gives you space to breathe—you’re not crammed in like sardines—and there’s a constant soft trail of copal smoke in the air, adding a mystical touch. Bonus: the copal also works wonders at keeping the mosquitos away! Not a single bite all night. They’ve also set up fans throughout the area, keeping the temperature comfortable and pleasant. There’s even a lounge in the back with a chic bar, perfect for post-dinner relaxation. Now onto the service and food—absolutely stellar. The staff were beyond welcoming and attentive. Most spoke excellent English and happily switched between Spanish and Spanglish with me, making my daughter (who’s learning Spanish) feel right at home. This is a restaurant where you open your mind and palate to new flavors, so don’t expect typical comfort food. This is upscale Mexican cuisine, served tapas-style, and every dish is crafted to delight and surprise. We started with the sourdough bread and coconut oil butter. While the bread wasn’t fresh out of the oven, it was still delicious. Fun fact: despite our lactose intolerance, the Amish butter the brought along with the bread didn’t bother us like it usually would. The mocktails were next-level. I had a passion fruit, ginger, and hibiscus drink served with a coconut leaf straw—refreshing and perfectly balanced. If you like ginger, this one’s a must. My daughter’s hibiscus drink was equally tasty—she practically inhaled it! For appetizers, we ordered the soft-shell crab tacos, which are wildly popular. The “tortilla” is actually a leaf, but don’t be fooled—it’s packed with flavor. The sea bass was next, served with a tropical Mexican fruit that tastes like green apple, topped with coconut and jalapeño shavings. Paired with homemade tortillas that reminded me of the yaniqueques from my childhood in the Dominican Republic, it was pure perfection. The mushroom dish was my daughter’s favorite, full of rich flavors, though I had a texture moment and had to pass after one bite. For dessert, we tried the tamale with cacao, nuts, and kombucha syrup—probably best for serious chocolate lovers, which we aren’t. Overall, Arca is a must-visit for anyone in Tulum who wants an elevated culinary experience. It’s not just dinner—it’s a feast for the senses. Just remember, come with an open mind and a sense of adventure. You won’t regret it!

We went for dinner a couple weeks ago when we were in Tulum. I'm still thinking about the amazing seabass and green mole! It's so unique - doesn't taste like any seabass I've had. And so delicious and flavorful. We also got the Dzikilpak spread. It was unique and flavorful and filling. The restaurant is trendy and outdoors - typical for Tulum. Service was as expected for Tulum.

Pros: The food is actually as good as they say online, and their beverages excel in quality compared to everything on the main Tulum street. Good vegetarian and pescatarian options. My partner has a huge aversion to mushrooms and he inhaled the mushroom ttlayuda. The ambience is amazing, an introverts paradise if you're a fan of dim ambient mood lights. Cons: Expensive! Steep. They were out of most of the mixology options on the menu that we were there to try. While seafood plates were good, the octopus was overcooked and a bit chewy. Crab tacos tasted or were primary just batter, no meat.

ARCA is a well-known restaurant in the Tulum hotel zone. It was my wife's favorite. The outdoor section is more spacious than that of Hartwood next door...which was appreciated in terms of not feeling like we were cramped. Service was reasonable. The waiter was friendly and answered various questions we had about the menu options. We had the pumpkin dip and soft shell tacos. Both were pretty unique and tasty. I must admit, though, that the pricing was (per Tulum standard) beyond absurd. Even for a very sophisticated restaurant, these portions were too small to justify their cost. Just know that going into it.

I recently visited Arca, and it was nothing short of an amazing experience. Arca's menu is a culinary dream, curated to entice and satisfy a wide range of palates. The dishes I tried were nothing less than breathtaking. First up was the scallop crudo, featuring delicate scallops, jungle gooseberries, and sea lettuce, served with aguachile, charred avocado, cucumber, and lemongrass oil. It was accompanied by tostadas sprinkled with some sort of seeds that, while I can't recall the exact type, complemented the dish beautifully. This might have been my favorite dish of the evening, which says a lot because every dish was extraordinary. Next was the grilled broccolini with their unique take on Caesar dressing, fried capers, crispy bread, Parmesan crisps, and toasted seaweed. I would have never imagined this combination for a salad, but it was an absolute home run. I can honestly say I've never had a salad like this, and it continues to stay on my mind. Each dish was presented with such care, with different staff members explaining how to enjoy them and what ingredients were used. When the broccolini came out, the seared striped sea bass also hit the table. It was cooked in coconut oil with green mole and local basil, accompanied by a coconut and jicama slaw to cleanse the palate. The combination of flavors was truly incredible, and I don't have words to fully express how amazing it was. The next dish was the Mexican wagyu tlayuda, featuring grilled flank steak, oxtail carnitas, smoked yuca purée, and huitlacoche mole on separate tortillas. This was another standout - the meat was tender and perfectly flavored, and the presentation was impeccable. For the grand finale, the roasted bone marrow arrived from a wood-fire oven. It came out on charcoal, with tamarind and pasilla glaze, served with grilled pulque sourdough and serrano salsa. This was another hit - the marrow was served with a small spoon to scoop out the rich, flavorful goodness and spread it on the sourdough. Truly fantastic. The cocktails were also excellent, with thoughtful presentation and unique flavors. The service was nothing short of phenomenal - the staff was incredibly attentive, swapping out cloth napkins and utensils more times than I could count. Even the slightest spill from a cocktail glass would prompt them to change things out immediately. The attention to detail was breathtaking. I now fully understand why Arca is featured in the Michelin guide. For anyone who appreciates great service, impeccable food, stunning presentation, and an unforgettable ambiance - all at a great value - this is a must-visit.

It was a mind blowing experience similar yo what I have had in a Michelin star restaurant. The dishes are experimentative yet delicious. Everything we had (5 dishes plus 1 dessert) were extraordinary, very well presented and relishing. I highly recommend it.

Arca has been at the top of my list for must try places in Tulum. It exceeded my expectations in every way! For 2, we ordered the bluefin tuna crudo, soft shell crab taco, striped seabass, Mayan octopus, suckling pig and for dessert we got the cake with lavender ice cream and goat cheese. Everything was a 10/10, the flavor profiles for each were so unique and meshed very well together. My favorite was the softshell crab taco, I've never tried anything like it, it was so tasty! The service was great, our server explained every dish to us when it came out, and he was very attentive and friendly. The ambiance was gorgeous, with lots of trees and it was dark. A must visit for anyone in Tulum. :)

Michelin-listed, and lived up to it! Classy ambiance and impeccable mosquito control, which mattered outdoors! Reservation a must--this place was popping and we could see why. The food: beautifully presented and rich flavor profiles. The drinks: creative and chic. Only a matter of time until ARCA has that coveted star.

Hands-down my favorite dining experience in Tulum. We had a 5:30 PM reservation and were seated immediately. As a family of five, it was comforting to see other families dining there as well, since some restaurants tend to lean on the clubby side. But Arca is not that, you can tell they that their focus is in the quality of their dishes. First off, I must give major props to the spots amazing taste in music, from disco to Feist, I couldn't stop singing when I wasn't sipping from the delicious cocktails. The restaurant is moody and chic, tucked under gorgeous palm trees. All of the food is shareable, and it's more fun that way so that you can taste a bunch of things. We ordered about five dishes, excluding the kids, delicious crispy chicken and potatoes. EVERYTHING WAS 10 OUT OF 10!! We live in Los Angeles and dine out frequently, a lot of restaurants are trying to pull off the Tulum thing..and while they are absolutely delicious and elevated, Arca is top tier. Highly recommend visiting.

Food and cocktail are best we have in Tulum， but the receiption girl（Celing）was terrible.

We went there when vacationing in Tulum. It was a perfect dinner for the occasion. We all loved our drinks, perfectly balanced, not too strong or too sweet. The food was served in smaller portions so we probably ordered 8 items for 5 people. Everything was very delicious. The ambience was amazing. We sat by the open kitchen and it was so much fun to see their actions. They are definitely in the top 50 as awarded.

Solid 4 stars for Arca. Reservations highly recommended just like any other good restos in the Tulum beach strip. Four of us shared the grilled octopus with roasted nuts , warm Mayan salad with Parmesan milk and chive oil. Soft shell crab tacos, bone marrow app, ceviche, coconut crab curry, and dessert. Show stoppers were the soft shell crab tacos - the taco shell is an edible leaf, the crab is halved and breaded lightly. The grilled octopus was also A hit. Drinks / cocktails were pretty strong but nicely balanced. Ambience is great- dimmed lighting outdoors with palm trees scattered around, and pebbled flooring. Lighting is moody and probably can be brightened a bit to see your food and enjoy them with the eyes as well. Our server needed a flashlight to show us what she was serving.

We had a great culinary experience at Arca. The dishes were very creative and flavor! We ordered the grilled pulpo with lentil paste/granola, suckling pig with tortillas & bone marrow served with bread. Our fav was defnitely the bone marrow, best we tasted so far! They serve the bone marrow on coals to keep it warm. The drinks were good and strong, we had a cocktail with a grasshopper in it which was quite an experience. Do note that the portions are on the smaller side and it's recommend to order about 3-5 dishes to share. Also take note of the prices as each dish is on the pricier side. The service was great, very attentive, each dish is decribed/explained on arrival. The restuarant is beautiful, ambience amazing! Will 100% recommend for a romantic date night! *our total was about $3350 mxn ($223) for 3 dishes and 3 drinks.

The amazing service at Arca started when we first arrived. We were excited to have a reservation and arrived at 5:30PM. The hostess offered to take our picture to celebrate our special occasion, then proceeded to show us which areas of the restaurant had the best backgrounds. Really great welcome! From the moment we sat down, each member of the staff made every effort to make sure that we felt like special guests. They each provided recommendations on their favorite dishes, going into great detail to explain each aspect of the plates. We ordered five dishes in total, and everything was incredible. The presentation was impressive, the ingredients were interesting and fresh, and the blend of flavors compelled us to want more and more. It was a top-tier experience that we would recommend to anyone!

First of all, it's got a wonderful atmosphere. This place was absolutely amazing! The food was unreal. Sometimes, I couldn't ever explain it in words, so I laughed. The staff is QUICK, friendly and SUPER attentive. I would go back again tonight, but the Mr. Said we need to try other places.... There's nothing I disliked, except for the mosquitos but they're everywhere.

The food and whole experience was 10/10! Our server was so helpful and answered all our questions. The bone marrow was the most disappointing, it tasted like a bbq burger but everything else was amazing!! This is such a good spot with great food!

Visited Tulum in April 2024 from Los Angeles and I would say this was our favorite dinner in Mexico during our trip. Growing up in San Diego and living in Los Angeles we are blessed with a lot of Mexican food but the flavors down in Tulum are completely different and we were really impressed with everything that we ate. It was a short walk from our hotel Shibari to ARCA and when we arrived, the power had just gone out, but it came back on 10 minutes later. It was a bit warm at first eating outside, but once the breeze picked up, it was really nice. The whole restaurant is dark, but in a romantic way. The kitchen is definitely modern and pumps out delicious and upscale food items. Our waiter was extremely polite, helpful, and very fast with refills. Dishes here are a bit smaller and are designed to share so they recommend everyone ordering 3 to 4 dishes, but I would suggest ordering 2 to 3 because some of the dishes are more filling than others. We ordered many of their items, but some of the most memorable for us were the Soft Shell Crab Taco, the Bone Marrow, The Roasted Prawns, and the Striped Seabass. I would say my favorite of all these were the Prawns because the broth that they came in truly made it for me. Each of the items were exceptionally good and there is something for everyone at ARCA. It's so nice to be able to eat outside and feel the ocean breeze, while having some really elevated cocktails and cuisine. I was really impressed with the meal and would definitely recommend to anyone visiting Tulum.

WOW - we had zero expectations going here... but we were absolutely mindblown by this incredible place. When we arrived it was unfortunately raining so we got sat in the back covered area near the bar which was a little less 'vibe-y' if you will. However that didn't matter to us once we started eating. We got a number of things including the Scallop Crudo, House Pulque Sourdough Bread Octopus al Pastor, Seared Prawns, the Coconut Oil Pan-Fried Fish and for dessert the Goat Cheese Ice Cream. Everything... was truly unbelievable. So many flavor profiles that just worked so well. Our server (I wish I remembered her name, we ate on Mon, Aug 14 ~8pm) explained each dish as it came and we really appreciated it, she had a lot of knowledge when it came to any question we had. I definitely recommend coming to Arca if you are in Tulum- it will be the first restaurant I go back to!

Be prepared to spend your money. Lots of it. Cool place but wow I wouldn't even spend that much money in the states much less Mexico Food was great just so pricey

Omg what an incredible experience! Let me start off by saying we came here on a Friday aka day zero and what should've been a 15-20 minute drive turned into an hour so we were super late to our reservation so make sure you plan accordingly. Fortunately, the staff was able to seat us. We ordered cocktails and literally everything off the menu but I have to say my most favorite item on the menu were the prawns. This place is definitely a must when in Tulum! I'm home now but I'm still daydreaming about this place.

DO NOT GET THE 9:30/21:30 RESERVATION. THEY JUST DONT CARE! Went here for my birthday and had a reservation. First thing they asked if I was celebrating anything and I said "my birthday" (Not that it mattered. More on that soon). They acknowledged and said happy birthday/congratulations. Then they tell us our table is not ready so we wait at the bar. This must be the bartenders first night because we waited 10 minutes for our drinks which she forgot to make. Another bartender took over. We also asked for bottled water and they gave us filtered water out of a carafe. When we asked why she said "it's the same thing." Then the host asked us to move over at the bar so 2 other people can sit. ASKED US TO MOVE EVEN THOUGH THERE WERE 2 SEATS AVAILABLE ON OUR OTHER SIDE. We waited another 10 minutes for our drinks. As soon as they arrived our table was ready but we had to wait another few minutes to pay the bill at the bar before going to our table. Table was at the side of the restaraunt with even less lighting than there already was throughoutthe dimly lit restaraunt. Okay no biggie because even though the candle illuminsting the table was almost out half the meal the food was fantastic. What really ruined it for me was the last 2 things. 1- Because we had to wait an extra 20 minutes before sitting we were told it was last call at the kitchen and if we wanted more food we should order now. How the heck am I supposed to know if I wanted to order more food if all my courses I ordered had not come yet. Idk if the dishes were bite size or not. 2- Throughout the night I see desserts with candles delivered to tables for people celebrating birthdays. At no point did our waiter bring me a candle. On top of everything I felt insulted and that was reflected in their tip. When we left, the hostess didn't even acknowledge us. Even 711 cashiers say "Thank you!" What the heck Arca?! If you are going to market yourself as a top restaraunt you need to do more than serve good food.

OMG!!! Best restaurant in Tulum! You can't miss this place. The dishes are unlike anything I've ever had, so unique and a beautiful presentation. The ambiance is in the middle of the jungle so it's pretty cool. I can't say enough good things about this place. It is on the hotel strip so a close walk if you are staying at Ahau or any of the other boutique hotels. Check this place out for a beautiful dinner in Tulum!

A nice space. They do a good job of keeping it cook. Visited twice this trip. The first time was just for drinks ands we had a lovely time sitting at the bar. The bartender was friendly and the drinks were delicious. I had a gin and tonic. It was perfect. Our secind visit was for dinner. Agains drinks were good. I had the Albariño and it was really nice. The food was a bit mixed. We started with the scallop crudo with in am was really nice and fresh. It was followed by brocollini which might have been one of the best preparations I've had. After that things went south. We ordered the bread and it's bread. For the price I was expecting something more. The Crab Esquites was the lowlight of the meal. It didn't have much flavor. I didn't get a lot of crab flavor. Just bland. We finished off with the pork, it was nice. Maybe a bit to heavy to end the meal, but well done. The service was good but, for the price (close to US$400, I expected more. We should have skipped the bread and the crab.

This is either one of the places you LOVE, or you had an OK OK experience at. Let's start with the basics- If you want to pay for overpriced food, in a very dark atmosphere, and act pretentious and tuluminati, this is your place. If you want to have a decent dinner and leave satisified and full- this is not your place. We had to get street tacos afterward. The dishes were really small and they tasted pretty good, but basically we left still hungry. They do use local ingredients, fresh catch, great presentation, good cocktails. It is not however, a place that I would return to.

What an amazing dining experience! We were a group of 3 that had reservations for a Monday night at 9:30 but we arrived around 8:45 and were able to get seated immediately. I absolutely loved the ambiance which is very moody and romantic and the music keeps the fun going. The food was phenomenal! We had the seared stripped sea bass (5/5), scallop crudo (4.5/5), soft shell crab in amaranth tacos (5/5), roasted bone marrow (2.5/5), venison tartar (4/5) and more that I can't remember. The drinks were also delicious and creative - I had the Mayami Nice and it comes with a straw made of lemongrass leaf! Definitely recommend if you're planning on having a nice, expensive dinner.

A real standout! Unique, creative and utterly delicious menu. The service was extremely attentive and the ambiance, like to many of the restaurants in Tulum was gorgeous. Dimly lit with candles or warm incandescent bulbs. We were a group of 6, so I got to try a wide variety of dishes: Dzikipak, Pink Aguachile blue fin tuna, seared prawns, grilled green beans Cesar salad, Maitake Tlayuda, seared striped sea bass and roasted local squash. All of them were nothing I'd ever heard of or seen before, and like I said earlier, totally unique and wonderful! They were also very attentive to one in our party with dietary restrictions. The portions were not small and prices were not over-the-top, especially for the quality. It was too dark to get good photos of the food, so I just screen-shotted the menu.

Came here on a birthday dinner with my twin and you can tell a chef who worked at Alinea owns and curated this menu. The food did NOT disappoint. Each dish truly respected and highlighted local ingredients and gave them depth and an appreciation for native elements I haven't really experienced with traditional Latin/Mexican cuisine. Truly a textural and flavorful journey and a treat for my birthday. Below is what we ordered ranked by my favorites: 1. Bone Marrow-decadent, not the most innovative flavor wise but damn it's hard to miss with wonderfully crusted sourdough and roasted bone marrow. 2. Venison tartare- I love tartare and this had this delicious clean and refreshing flavor, really melted on the palette. 3. Octopus- Beautifully tender with this delicious purée and crunchy fried lentils which gave the creaminess of the purée such a delicious contrast. 4. Soft Shell Tacos: This was the table favorite, and quite honestly was the most unique dish I have tried in a while. I wasn't a huge fan of the texture at the center of the crab, but the legs were delicious. Definitely a must try. 5. Blue fin tuna hibiscus ceviche - this was also just super delicious, very strong on the citrus front, with very fresh tuna. We also got two desserts, one was this umami dish and another was a dulce de leche based dish. I recommend springing for the dulce one since it was just delicious! This place was a pretty penny, and for around 7 plates and 3 cocktails we got out of there for ~ 100 a person! Well worth it for the extreme quality of the food.

Two stars only because the food was great. I usually only leave reviews about food, but I feel compelled to warn others about the restaurant's pricing practices. Do not pay in USD--they use an unfair exchange rate that takes advantage of American tourists. They charged 15 MXN per 1 USD, when the actual rate was 20 to 1. Including the service fee, that's over a 40% markup. I understand the need to cover transaction costs, but even the airport didn't charge such an inflated rate.

I've noticed that a lot of the restaurants in Tulum are more for partying. You have a late dinner - in a very dark/loud environment and eventually, the restaurant seems to turn into a nightclub. Arca was one of these places. Our group of 11 came in with an 8 o'clock resso for a Thursday night. We had the roasted pepper tartare (the rows of almonds freaked me out a little bit), soft shell crab, roasted bone marrow, suckling pig roulade, seared sea bass, and two desserts - I think something raspberry ish and the other was avocado ice cream. I probably just liked half of the dishes. The outstanding dishes included the roasted bone marrow, the fish, which was very fresh, and the soft shell crab. Everything else was honestly just bites of something - not very memorable. The menu does change so maybe others would have a better experience depending on when they go/what's in season.

One of the best meals I had in Tulum. Setting -- The restaurant is beautiful and felt very integrated with the jungle. Very ambient lighting, but watch out for bugs! I was getting eaten alive since all the tables are open air/outside, but the waitress was really nice and offered me bug spray which helped a lot. They don't have a parking lot but we were able to find paid parking for 200 pesos right across from the restaurant. Service -- Service was really attentive. Our waitress was nice and helped to explain the menu and provided us with recommendations on what to order. No complaints whatsoever with the service. Food -- Everything we ordered was delicious. The octopus, fish, and pork dishes were our favorite. Everything was tender, flavorful, and presented beautifully. I think we ordered pretty much every large plate that was on the menu and we liked all of them. I don't think you can go wrong with the food here. I highly recommend anyone visiting Tulum to eat at Arca. It's definitely on the pricier side but worth every penny!

Ambient and vibey restaurant. I recommend this spot for a special celebration or for a unique culinary experience. It can be quite expensive. I had the grilled octopus and the seabass. The food was fresh and servings were big. My favorite part of the meal was the spicy mezcal margarita.

First of all, the service was not as good. We got greeted and seated very quickly, but our server was busy servicing the next table and we were left 'no-water' for a while. The restaurant was not really busy at the time we got there. One of a few parties came after us even had the foods served. Our server did make it up for us by offering one free dessert tho. The food presentation is on point. Very creative. Love the stone bowl and the burning coal that keep the food hot. - The Sea Urchin Ceviche is good. Very tasty. - The Soft Shell Crab is ok. - The Scallop Crudo is good. - The Bone-Marrow is tasteless. - The Suckling Pig Roulade is kinda salty. Lastly, you might needa bring mosquito repellent if you don't wanna scratch your legs like crazy while having dinner.

This was the best meal I had in Tulum. I went for Thanksgiving day (not that it mattered in Mexico, but it was my excuse for having a nice dinner). 1) the ambiance - this place is built into the jungle and is stunning. The look and feel are novel and fresh, and it stands out even in Tulum. The open kitchen is a bit of a problem since they do a brigade-style kitchen, and you can hear them often. 2) cocktails - I had three different cocktails while I was there. A smokey margarita (which wasn't on the menu but was on Instagram, and they agreed to make it for me anyway), the 'arca-colada,' which was their take on a sophisticated and mature pina colada (it was outstanding). Then honestly I don't recall the third one. Honestly, the quality of the cocktail program shocked me. 3) the food - This is the reason you are here. This restaurant would stand up as a well-respected "top 10" or "best new" in pretty much any city I've had the pleasure of eating in. The food was delicious, beautiful, and inventive. The flavors were familiar to higher-end cuisine but novel. If you are going to Tulum-- book ahead. (and this was better than Atila is other restaurant but I fear I was there on a bad night)

I give this place four stars because everything we had was delicious except the bone marrow and bread were just okay. The soft shell crab taco, the mushroom plate and the suckling pig roulade were an amazing flavor experience. I loved the vibe and decor I loved the intentionality on how to eat each plate A few things to consider before booking: 1. It is very expensive for small plates (it's almost like a tapas experience) HOWEVER, my husband and I were full with the four plates and bread we ordered. 2. You cannot eat the venison if you have a walnut allergy

Amazing food in a beautiful outdoor location! At the waiter's recommendation, we got the soft shell crab tacos, the scallop crudo, and the grilled venison. And we finished off the meal with an interesting dessert - like a "sour cheesecake with dulce de leche", as the waiter described. It was all absolutely so delicious and beautifully plated. We also got two rounds of cocktails - very pretty and yummy! The staff were also lovely - very attentive and helpful. And the restaurant ambience was really nice, even the bathroom entrance had a cool vibe. Really just a wonderful dinner in Tulum!

Amazing drinks, great location, delicious food, but the staff is the star of the show. They were very attentive and accommodating to our large group of 6. Annette is a wonderful bartender, ask her for dealers choice, she won't lead you astray.

Absolutely love this place! I was in Arca 2 years ago when they only opened and unfortunately I didn't have good experience with the service and food... This time I decided to give a second try because of my friends review. I am glad I did! The host was very pleasant and greeted me friendly. The manager Paola and the staff were amazing! The food was delicious! The unique flavors and taste of perfectly cooked ingredients made their magic. I changed my opinion about the place. The cocktails were delicious. I had Casa Dragones and hibiscus mescalita. I highly recommend this place and I will definitely be back to experience their food!

Expensive but worth it. Artsy level 5000. Get the soft shell crab tacos for sure. Broccoli was also an unexpected hit. Bone marrow is overrated. The military style shouts from the kitchen staff were inspiring.

This was amazing. We came here for our first meal in Tulum with very high expectations and it did not disappoint. We got the soft shell crab tacos, prawns, octopus, bone marrow, sea bass, suckling pig roulade, and two desserts: their cheesecake and ice cream. Every single thing was great, and the portions were deceptively big -- this was a ton of food for two people. My absolute favorite, though, was the bone marrow, which was absolutely perfect and so delicious. Definitely would like to come back here on our next trip to Tulum.

If you're in Tulum, you have to check out ARCA! This place is a fancy, upscale Mexican restaurant with great cocktails and food selection. Food is served tapas style and meant for sharing. Between my fiancé and I, we ordered the scallop crudo, soft shell crab tacos, octopus al pastor, and and sea bass. Every dish was phenomenal. My favorites were the octopus and crab tacos. Note, you need a reservation for dining here and they cap you at 90 minutes so that the next party can come. Also, it's definitely on the pricier side so be ready to spend money. Great spot for a special occasion!

More of a tasting experience than a meal, but would definitely come here if you are looking for unique flavor and texture profiles to light up your taste buds! The soft shell crab "tacos" were probably the best bite we had in Tulum, crispy, juicy, and filled with flavor. The bread and shrimp were also excellent. The portion sizes are a bit small for the price so just be prepared to eat a number of small bites or go get something else before or after! Servers were great at explaining the different options on the menu. It does get a little hot outside even with the fans!

My partner and I found this spot while searching for food and quality drinks. We showed up around 7pm and were greeted warmly by the head bartender, Carlos. The craft cocktails were some of the best we have ever had and the experience was one we continued to come back for. We learned about different types of Mezcal and the history behind the brands and ended up ordering food as well (soft-shell crab taco). You can tell the people who work there really enjoy their jobs, the environment was relaxing with a nice buzz of excitement. Highly recommend for anyone staying in Tulum!

Woooow! This restaurant is phe-no-menal. From the service to the food to the vibe, 10/10. One of the best dishes I've ever had were the soft shell crab tacos. Don't think about it, just order this. Best restaurant in Tulum by far!

Excellent! Great place to dine while in Tulum. Visited on a Monday night and it was packed so highly recommend making reservations. Started with the Alta Colada cocktail and it was divine. The pulpo dish was delicious. This place is a must while in Tulum!

We came here for a marriage proposal and let me tell you, everything here is delicious!!!!! And the decoration, I mean the restaurant in general is BEAUTIFUL. It's outdoors and when we went, it was raining but I did not mind it at all. My whole back was wet but I loved the restaurant so much, I did not care. We ordered the entire menu and my favorite dish was the shrimp. It was soooo good, we ordered a second round. The desserts are pretty interesting too in a good way. I would 100000% come back when I get the chance to visit tulum again. Love love love this place

Probably the best dining experience we had here in Tulum! The soft shell crab tempura tacos was great. The batter wasn't too thick. Just right. It had a different type of flavour from the fried chaya. Everything eaten together gave a great texture. YUM! The prawns were fresh, cooked properly, and came with a good sauce. The bone marrow was amazing. Can't go wrong with bone marrow! Hard to mess that up. The octopus was a little tough. Hard to get right without proper experience. Cook it wrong and it can get rubbery. But the lentil purée that came with the dish tasted amazing and I don't usually like lentil! Compared to everything else we'd had in the area, this was by far the best outside of local street tacos. Taste: **** Service: **** Ambiance: *** ---------------------------- ARCA Av. Boca Paila, Tulum Beach, 77766 Tulum, Q.R., Mexico ----------------------------

Beautiful Ambiance food was delicious very tentative staff. Food was amazing moderate portions. Order different dishes and share.

Ambiance is very cool. Food is good though a little strange. Prices are high. Service is very good. Worth it

Arca was just okay for me. Nice decor and cute place. Good service. Portions were very small. To start we had the soft shell crab tacos. Served on a green , for me were a bit salty. We also got the bone marrow which was okay. The octopus was okay. Nothing was mind blowing. The best thing we tried was the striped Sea bass. It was crisped to perfection and I loved the garnishes. Also cocktails were also just okay

Let's start with the highlights: Quintessential Tulum vibe Drinks were delicious (although one had a grasshopper in it and no one warned us) Food review: I found it to be a pretentious wanna be foodie joint. Yes, the presentation is generally well executed, but the flavors are just not it! The soft shell crab taco is just very strange, and this comes from someone that is fairly adventurous when it comes to trying new things. Don't expect ANY of traditional Mexican dishes. I expected some elevated version of what we have in the States, sort of the way New American cuisine has a nice, gourmet ish take on traditional dishes. That was not the case at all!! Everything was just a bit off, and it seems like flavor was sacrificed for the sake of presentation and a wanna be foodie twist on Mexican cuisine.