Cetli

My boyfriend and I had dinner here our first night in Tulum, and it definitely set the tone! To start, the music and decor made us feel like we were in a vintage hacienda, feeling like we were on the set of "Like Water For Chocolate". The waiter did a good job of pacing the food, and even brought us a cake for my boyfriend's birthday. Lastly, the food was delicious! Every dish was unique, authentic and beautifully plated. We loved it so much we came back for breakfast. This place is definitely worth the price, compared to some of the over- hyped restaurants on the beach.

Great service, great ambiance with live music but we were super disappointed about the food! Everything is super pricey and we expected more flavors from a Michelin star restaurant...The free appetizers looks so good, but they were most of them tasteless. The fish + vegetables plate was also very disappointing in terms of flavors…The whole plate was cooked without any salt, butter or spices. The vegetables were half cooked and the fish really boring. The rice is also really basic with tiny carrots cubes in it. I do not recommend this restaurant for people allergic to peanuts, they are in almost every plates! I really appreciate though that the server took extra care to bring me food without any peanuts in it. My mom takes the chicken in sauce and was the only person at the table happy with her choice!

Dining at Cetli is a must do in Tulum! While it’s a little further away from the main area in Tulum, it’s well worth the trip. The warm ambiance filled with folk art and traditional decor is the perfect setting to enjoy one of the best meals. The mole is a must try! We also got the “Cetli” for dessert, which was incredible corn cake with melted chocolate on the side. We loved it so much, we came back for breakfast, which also didn’t disappoint. If you leave Tulum without trying Cetli, you’re missing out!

I’m not one to write many reviews…but as I started reading these…I began to take the negative reviews oddly personal. After dining at other Michelin Bib Gourmand restaurants in Chicago - Cetli completely obliterated those prior experiences (which I thought were delightful). My husband and I were there at the weirdest time - Monday at 3pm (2/3). Disheveled after swimming in Gran Cenote, we walked to Cetli on the side of the busy, dusty road. Idk it made sense at the time. The ambiance was spot on, plants out front were being watered on our way in, smiles and nods along the way. Details at every nook and cranny: different mediums of art on the walls, silverware tied together sweetly, pretty cloth napkins, something like a lava rock holding down extra paper napkins, colorful plates and bowls. Right away when they brought the hand-painted menu - I said under my breath to my husband: “Do you think they’d let me have this???” Frame worthy (and available to purchase in the boutique area). The order of events: 1. Margaritas were sublime. Pretty sure the tajin on the rim was homemade. I licked it all off. 2. We were surprised to receive an appetizer snack plate. Totally made my day. House made bread, cheeses, some mini empanadas, garlic-y butter, salsa - all with more nuances I could never articulate in words exactly what they were…but my mouth remembers. 3. Next, the xicamatl salad. I was deep into travel mode at the time and craving freshness. This did it. Plenty to share, the shredded carrot, jicama, and beet combo was relaxed and lovely. 4. Our mains: istak fish with white almond mole sauce, and ixoxoctic chicken enchiladas in green almond mole sauce. Both were flavorful and fun. The sauces were nothing that could ever be replicated at home. There were forks scraping up leftover sauce. 5. Dessert + espresso = the perfect finish. Apologies, I can’t figure out what the dessert was called. Corn based cake with ice cream in the middle and chocolate all over. Both waiters we dined with were beyond professional and accommodating. They were Bib Gourmand level as well, not just the food (maybe even beyond???). We gave the chef on the wave on our way out…even though I wanted to stay forever.

Michelin should take this restaurant out of the recommendations. Apart from the prices being absolutely high even in comparison to the rest of highly priced restaurants in the area. The food is declared as “gourmet Mexican” which is not correct. We ordered a salad for 360 pesos (18€) which was half a coconut shell full with spinach. The taste was ok, but the price??? Then we had a fish with white almond mole and black chocolate sauce and parsley. The fish was supposed to be grouper, but I assume it was Panga. There was not black chocolate sauce and only 1 leaf of parsley. We had ordered to share as we were not going to order 2 mains at once and then find out that it’s not worth the price. The fish was served in a nice corn leave, but it was uncle Ben’s with dried carrots like you know from Cup of Noodles. We had to ask for 2 plates to share and the waiter plonked the 2 small bread plates in front of of us. There was no serving spoon for the sauce which tasted good, but nothing special. The waiter was not interested in asking whether we wanted another drink and hence we left and paid without a tip. I used to work as a waitress in NY and busted my butt off to earn my 15-18%, so I am not willing to tip if I get bad service and no smiles. Also just a reminder that you have to make an effort to get here and drive and the welcome was 0

This place deserves 10000 stars. Beautiful, colorful, staff is kind and the food is simply DELICIOUS. This is what I was expecting and much more from Mexican food: amazing flavours and spices. By far, the best restaurant I’ve been in Tulum. I strongly recommend

Traditional well cooked low key food. We had the appetizer plate, a great salad and then fish with tamarind and sesame sauce. Well deserved Bib Gourmand as is was just delicious. The staff are extremely nice and welcoming. It is like being at home and a very welcomed escape from the hustle and bustle down the road. There is also a little shop were one can by local craftsmanship and mole.

Quite a disappointment to be honest Traveld from south Tulum beach to experience this restaurant and had high expectations as they have been named Best Restaurant in Tulum and are Micelhelin recommended.. Beautiful setup with small open kitchen, lots of authentic local art to purchase and overall a great space... But the food is why we came and why I am disappointed.. Ordered the signature dish of the stuffed pepper with beef and pork.. The sherry liquor in the sauce was not burned off and left an extremely bitter flavor which after 2 bites my wife didn't want to finish the dish...The seasoning of the filling was very bland and needed a ton of salt and pepper and even some acid to balance out the flavor with the sauce.. Also ordered the chicken with mole sauce.. Chicken was poached ahead of time and then warmed up in the microwave, which we saw when standing at the counter watching the lady cook..The mole sauce was very plain and underwhelming for a sauce that is the signature for Mexican cooking..The description said it was a rolled and stuffed chicken breast with plantain, but we got boiled chunks of chicken with 2 small stale, not crispy plantains on the top.. Very disappointed in this dish as well.. We also ordered the fish with a white mole sauce... I asked the type of fish just to see what i was eating, and the server thought about it for a second or two and then said grouper. I watched the cook take the frozen fish out of the freezer and go into the microwave and then a pan or boiling water while fish was still wrapped in plastic.. The fish arrived slightly cold in the center, and lacking and seasoning at all...the white mole sauce was also very bland and needed a lot of help to finish the balancing and depth of flavors required in mole.. The fish I could tell was actually swai(basa), and not grouper...I know because i cook and eat lots and lots of swai in my meal prep.bevause it's low in fat and high in protein...but not a fish that should be served in a restaurant like this...Dish was not good from top to bottom.. Again, it sucks to speak so negatively of our experience, but it is the truth...And in the food and hospitality industry if guests are not able to provide honest feedback, then the owners will not know what improvements need to be made to ensure great food and hospitality for each and every guest during their visit.. I sure hope the owners see this and take the feedback to heart and make the necessary changes as I would love to come back in the future and try the food once again..

To this tourist (me), this feels like a really authentic Mayan/Mexican experience. In terms of pricing and preparation, I would say this is probably one of the more higher end restaurants in the area. In my short time in Tulum, I tried to eat through as many places as I could - and I ate at a lot of wonderful spots - I would say this was my favorite place/ experience. Probably because the food and the atmosphere gave me the biggest 'sense of place' during my visit. Also, I'm not sure if it was a change recently, but I was able to use my credit card. I came in on a Thursday night by myself and there weren't that many people here. The place felt family owned and operated with one server and a few folks in the kitchen. For me, I either wanted the chile en nogada or the istak. I ordered a margarita while I was deciding. The server convinced me to get the chile en nogada by saying it was his favorite, haha. For appetizers, they bring you a complimentary platter with delicious samples of regional cuisine. A note about the chile en nogada: now, I don't have a lot of experience with this dish, but I've recently had it Los Angeles at a place that's known for that dish. Although I really liked it, it was a tad bit sweet. So that's why I was on the fence in terms of what to order. I'm so glad the server convinced me to get it. It had so much more balance at this restaurant and it made me understand why it's such a beloved dish in Mexico. I'm still thinking about that dish as I write this. The place is open air and during the time of my visit, I was told that Tulum was experiencing a heat wave. So it was really warm in there, but they had fans going. There was plenty of parking because it is located further away from the busy central area of Tulum and even further from the beach hotel zone. As a matter of fact, just know that it's not walkable and you would either have to get a taxi or have a car. Or in my case, I had a scooter, but in hindsight, just be careful because on the way home, it was pretty dark and I rode slower for fear of hitting a pothole. Another note: coming in I've had this bookmark near the top of places I wanted to go to but just looking around in some forms about the food in the area. During my flight to Mexico, I saw an article that this place just received a Michelin bib gourmand designation a day before and separately My friend who has a sister that lives locally also recommended this spot to me. So of course my mind was made up and I knew I had to go here. If I ever find myself back in the area, I am 100% coming back and trying the istak.

This restaurant is one of a kind in Tulum. A little bit of a drive from the hotel zone, but totally worth it. They specialize in Aztec cuisine. You could easily plan to spend 2-3 hours for a relaxing dinner. They have very interesting items on the menu. Many kinds of mole! What we didn't know was they bring a huge complimentary appetizer. We ended up ordering too much food. But hey, we were on vacation. We started with drinks, a soup, the cheese enchilada in green mole, the stuffed pumpkin and the pachuiki in red peanut mole sauce and a dessert. The food took a little while to come because it's all freshly made upon order. But we had the big appetizer platter to graze on. So, plan to spend the whole evening! Everything we ordered was beyond amazing. It's $$$ and you get what you pay for. This is a must-visit when you are in Tulum.

Great ambiance! Awesome presentation of food! We got a complimentary bread plate appetizer (pupusa, bread and homemade cheese and homemade butter, crickets and oranges) Got the fish with almond mole Glad I went But kind of $$ for what you get.. Therefore I will not be back

Cetli is located a little bit apart the city area of Tulum, outside of the hotel zone, so it's different from the overpriced, fusion items near the resorts as well as from the cheap tacos in the main city. Most of the items are different types of mole but there are other options for those not a big fan. Few things to note, all prices in pesos and cash only, and the restaurant is open air so beware the mosquitos. Appetizer - Free - 5/5 The complimentary appetizer is a whole meal by itself. It comes with many different small bites that are very different from each other and is quite the experience itself. Chile en Nogada ($500) - 5/5 This is called the specialty of the house for a reason. This is a well sized poblano pepper stuffed with all sorts of ingredients with varying tastes and texture. It is presented beautifully to match the Mexican flag. We only ordered one but definitely should have gotten at least 2. Istak ($350) - 5/5 This is a soft white fish in white almond mole. I've never had fish with mole nor white mole so this was very exciting to me. The fish is cooked perfectly, as in fully cooked but barely. It is super soft and very juicy. Even without the mole, it would not be dry at all. Subtle flavors but very delightful. Pachiuki ($330) - 4/5 Vegetarian with red mole. Similar style to Chile en Nogada above but vegetarian and not as pretty. Metztli ($370) - 4.5/5 The classic black mole with chicken. Cetli puts its own spin on it by adding plantains to add sweetness to cut the bitterness of the mole. Chicken was a tad dry but the excess mole on the dish helped with that. Ixoxoctic ($370) - 3.5/5 Green mole with chicken. Tad dry and underwhelming in flavors. Disclaimer: rating is relative to the other amazing dishes above. If I had this dish alone in the U.S., easily 4/5. I love mole but unfortunately, I only know what I've seen on Netflix shows. However, I can confidently say that Cetli gave a very diverse offering of different types of mole with different flavor profiles and ingredients, pairing different types of mole bases (almond, peanut, classic) to different colors (red, black, white, green) to different pairings (fish, chicken, peppers). Definitely a one of a kind experience in my life and highly recommend to anyone adventurous or looking for something different in Tulum.

Cetli was definitely a simple but eloquent dinning experience. Reminiscent of a home meal the restaurant lack of decor and comfortable vibes was a welcoming embrace of a loved one after a long travel. The restaurant was also well rated on Eater, numero uno. I can understand why. The food here is wonderfully straightforward. Nothing fancy. Cetli doesn't have the fanciful decorations you would expect in high end restaurants, it doesn't need too. The food pays homage to the local cuisine and the ambiance is that of a home cook meal. The appetizers were included and had a variety of items ranging from garlic butter, local cheese and beet jam, empanadas and oranges w grasshopper. We ordered the Metztli and Istak. Both were great dishes. The Metztli was spicy and had an amazing rich flavor from the mole. The chicken and plantains were delicious with the sauce. The Istak was amazing and my favorite. The fish was soft, buttery and the almond mole sauce was creamy. I wanted more of it! The Cetli, cornbread w chocolate, which shared the restaurants name, was delicious. The rich thick chocolate mixed well w the fluffy corn bread. Overall, I really enjoyed our experience. I can see why it was well received. My only criticism was the lack of menu choices and they no longer had the lobster available. Small criticism for a great night.

Walked in at 8 p.m. on a Monday and were the only souls in the place other than the kitchen staff and a server. We debated staying but decided that the raving Yelp reviews warranted trying out the food. So thankful we stayed! The complimentary appetizer plate came out just as pictured for everyone else. The tortilla soup (not pictured) just tasted like spicy tomato so I'd pass on that in the future. The highlights of our meal were the stuffed pepper (house specialty) and a surprise peanut candy with our bill. The boiled peel and eat shrimp in the huitlacoche dish needed something else but this was remedied by peeling them and letting them soak in the sauce for a bit. Go here! Get the stuffed pepper. It was so much better than anything we ate in the center of town and 1/3 of the price of our one dinner on overpriced Tulum Beach.

We had our first dinner meal at this charming restaurant off the beaten path in Tulum and we couldn't be off to a better start. We were welcomed with a complimentary bread, cheese and small bites platter. Everything was tasty, but the orange pieces with tiny grasshoppers were a perfect combination of citrus with crunchy tamarind flavor. For one of our entrées we got the pachiuki, a vegetarian dish composed of a poblano pepper filled with black mushrooms and covered in red peanut mole. I must say the peanut sauce was outstanding, so flavorful and different from any peanut flavored sauce I've had, perhaps only somewhat similar to Thai peanut sauce. We also had the house specialty, chile en nogada, which was fantastic. The meat filling was so moist and flavorful and the presentation of the dish was beautiful. At first I didn't understand why the dish had pomegranate seeds but know I see how it adds a certain acidity that balances the slight savory sweetness of the meat and the creamy sauce. For drinks we had their house agua fresca, made with cucumber and mint, and a margarita, which was frozen, not sure if they can also make it on the rocks. We finished our meal with a delicious corn cake dessert served on top of a chocolate and Kahlua sauce, it was so good! Make sure you bring cash, either Mexican pesos or US dollars as they are cash only. The prices are reasonable for American standards and given the quality of the food but they are higher than your average small Mexican restaurant. They are definitely much less pricey than your average Tulum overpriced, tourist trap restaurant though. They have a little store in the back if you're so inclined to buy some crafty souvenirs. The staff is welcoming, so helpful and accommodating. These are very humble people who love what they do and take so much pride in their delicious food. Visit them, it's worth leaving the strip for some great food and a bit of tranquility!

My friend and I ordered two dishes, both of which were good, but I definitely preferred the fish over the chicken. I wanted to try the chicken with chocolate mole, even though I don't like chocolate. You never know if maybe you'll end up liking the dish and it doesn't hurt to try, but I ended up switching plates with my friend for that reason as well as the fact that the fish was one of the best that I've had. It had almond mole, which was lighter, and everything melted in your mouth. The two dishes were on the heavier side, so we were pleasantly full after those. The service was good and the place was decorated in a very cozy way. Worth stopping here to try the food, and there's a little "gift shop" too. If you're visiting the cenote right next to it, give this place a try.

Love the interior. Great ethnic vibes. Salsa picante is amazing! Unfortunately they didn't have vegan options. But vegetarian options for breakfast that my husband tried was eggs on corn tortilla & hot chocolate are which he loved

The only authentic Mexican food restaurant in Tulum. Finally a decent restaurant. And I didn't even know what anything on the menu was, which was refreshing. Only 12 minutes from holistika. Was amazing from start to finish, amazing drinks, starters, and main dishes. Highly recommended. Usually you have to leave Tulum to find authentic Mexican. Everything in Tulum is touristy and white washed

Walking into Cetli is like entering a living Frida Khalo house. It is an amazing aesthetic and sensory experience. Beautifully decorated with meaningful indigenous Mayan and Mexican arts and crafts. Then there is the food. Truly delicious and carefully plated and presented. This restaurant is not to be missed when in Tulum.

Chile en nogada (under Specialty of the house section)- highly recommend. I wanted to go back to this spot just for this, but sadly didn't have time. Friend ordered Topil soup & a main dish called "Yeyetzi" (fish jn tamarindo sauce), he raved about both dishes, unfortunately i didn't get to try. Metztli (chicken in mole negro sauce)-didn't get to try it. Friend ordered, can't give an accurate review as he is more of a fish guy. Bring cash, this place was somewhat pricey. (3 alcoholic beverages, 1 soup, 4 main entrees, 1 dessert sweet corn cake. Total before tip was $155.00 (USD) (January 4, 2022)

Amazing authentic Mexican experience. The food is extraordinary here. Plus we've got to try the grasshopper for the first time. The staff went above and beyond to keep us happy with a round of free tequila shots and complementary appetizers. We went family style and ordered most the items on the menu. My two favorites were Chile en Nogada (stuffed peppers with mole sauce) and Istak (fish/white mole sauce). This place is a must see in Tulum if you're looking for a great Mexican ambiance.

Acting in stark contrast to the likes of Hartwood, ARCA and NÜ it is perhaps one kilometer from Avenida Tulum that diners will find Restaurante Cetli, a humble space built of adobe where Chef Claudia Perez Rivas prepares historic Mexican fine dining plates in an open kitchen almost entirely by herself. A native of Puebla, her home state represented across Cetli's multi-page menu, it was just past noon Saturday that doors were found open, the Chef and a single assistant seating guests amongst folk art as overhead fans spun to abate heat and humidity. Open early for Breakfast and cash-only, with the whole menu starting at 11:00am, it is while debating choices that a young man acting as server + busser + dishwasher + host + translator + sous gathers Water and place settings, everything decidedly rustic right down to hand-painted stone plates. Happy to accept recommendations, many dishes seasonal including Cetli's now-signature, it is while waiting that diners are gifted a complimentary Appetizer, seasoned Beans and Cheese each memorable while flaming hot Salsa pairs well to a tiny Empanada and Bread ready to be slathered in Herb Butter. Approximately thirty minutes between ordering and eating with only one other table occupied, the love and labor involved in each recipe evident as Chef Perez Rivas works quietly, fans of Mole will be fascinated by an intense version served around rolled Chicken with Bananas and Chaya while classic Chile en Nogada dances across the palate, morphing from unctuous meat to dried Fruits beneath smooth and nutty Sauce. Best compared to eating at the home of a talented and eccentric Abuela, hearty portions justifying prices ranging 200 to 400 pesos, Dessert poses a whole 'nother set of tough choices, though Cetli's eponymous Corn Cake with Chocolate Kahlua Sauce is undeniably delicious, rich, complex and large enough to share.

We absolutely loved this place. The atmosphere, service, everything was wonderful. The food was outstanding. The flavors on the chile en nogada are so insanely good, and we loved the cheese enchiladas. Such delicious sauces. Can't recommend this restaurant highly enough. Our only regret was not going back a second time!

Best dinner on our 10-day visit to Tulum The availability of vegetarian options, I had the Pachiuki, along with the excellent Chile en Nogata, nice linens and decor, and excellent service thrilled everyone in our party. It may also have been the most expensive meal on this trip as well, though. We wanted to go back but closed on Wednesday. :(

One of our favorite places in tulum. A little bit further from the city center and beachfront area but I'd say it's worth the stopover if you're going to the swimming holes nearby. We were surprised it was empty since the place itself and the food were incredible. Would definitely recommend the white mole. My boyfriend who's a chef loved it so much that he kept trying to get the recipe from the waiter LOL. We also went to a cooking class later that week and turns out the Mexican grandma who hosted also recommended this place as she feels this spot could be the closest best mole tulum has to offer.

I love this place. Came here twice while on my honeymoon and it was perfect because im a mole freak. Everything was so fresh. The chefs were amazing and thank you for the appetizer with the oranges and bread cheese. I am going to miss you guys. Only place I ate twice in Tulum, so that should say it all. The staff was amazing and forever one of my favorites

Hoooo my god. If there's one restaurant you go to in Tulum, it should be Cetli. Incredible food, charming atmosphere... it felt more like an experience than a meal. It's a few km north of the hustle and bustle of the dense pueblo, and the whole thing is decorated with Mexican trinkets and art. It feels like a little abuelita's house, even down to the kitchen. We started with a couple of drinks -- I got a piña colada, which was just the right amount of sweetness. Shortly after, the waiter brought us an appetizer plate. I was surprised that it was complementary, because it was a pretty generous portion. It came with cheese empanadas, mini tortillas with beans and cheese, spicy green salsa, homemade bread, garlic butter, pickled beets, tomatoes and cheese, and orange slices topped with (surprisingly good!) chili-spiced grasshoppers. Everything was good, especially the empanadas and tortillas. You could really tell that the dough was handmade. Afterwards, we got a tortilla soup that was perfectly spiced with tortilla strips and some melty cheese on top. For mains, we got the Chile en Nogada and the chicken enchiladas. The chicken enchiladas came with a green almond mole -- I was a little wary about ordering it since I've never really liked traditional mole, but this was something special. It was crazy creamy, savory, and didn't have any cocoa powder in it. The chicken was nice and juicy too. The Chile en Nogada was a sight to behold. It's supposed to represent the three colors of the Mexican flag: a green poblano, white walnut cream sauce, and red pomegranate seeds (although Cetli's version had strawberries instead). The poblano was filled with a picadillo of minced beef and dried fruit with warm spices (cumin, cinnamon, cloves maybe?). The sauce was lick-the-plate good, rich without being heavy and had a nice little touch of sherry in it. The strawberries added some nice freshness and textural contrast. For dessert, we got a bread pudding with a cream sauce and strawberry granita. It was damn near transcendent. We were stuffed, but it was so good we had to finish it. A few last things to note: - This is slow dining -- better suited for a romantic dinner than a quick meal. - It's a quiet, intimate atmosphere -- not the place for loud partying tourists. - There's a nice little courtyard that's perfect for sitting and sipping a drink after the meal. Take advantage of it! - They have a store where they sell handcrafted art and souvenirs, along with jars of their mole sauce. They were expensive, but I had to get a couple of to go! Overall, A effin' plus. I hope I can come back one day.

Pro tip. When you see fish on a menu in a touristy area, don't trust what any restaurant says it is. Ask if it's a fillet or a whole fish. Whole fish is likely local and fresh, fillet is usually frozen and often basa or swai farmed in Asia. This place said it was grouper but it sure looked and tasted like swai. I might rate them a 3 but low quality ingredients (and tiny portions) when you're being charged top dollar is my pet peeve. The specialty poblano stuffed with beef tasted good and was spiced very well but again was hamburger. If you're being charged three times the normal price and getting a tiny portion you at least expect a decent piece of grilled beef which has been shredded after grilling. The moles look good in the photos but are a bit bland and watery. Not bad food but extremely overpriced for what you get. Ambiance inside was great and no typical loud music. Outside it was a somewhat industrial area and rough parking lot so their rent/cost should be way below a good area in town - all the more reason the extreme food prices were unwarranted. Final pro tip, when all customers are foreign and reviews in English it's probably a tourist place and the locals found better value elsewhere.

This place is a hidden jewel of Mexican high cuisine. Pre colonial ingredients prepared at the moment with hand made tortillas and freshly squeezed drinks. The ambiance is relaxed and delightful while it is elegantly decorated. The impeccable service and attentiveness to detail makes you feel like a Tlatoani.

What an amazing place. This spot is a must in tulum. The staff is incredibly nice and the food is amazing. We came for lunch one day then immediately decided to come for breakfast the next. We tried as much as we could all the Moles were delicious and they showered us with extra samples and tastings We also loved the location it's outside of town but not that far 5 mins maybe. Just go

Felt the need to write a review so there was another take on the experience other than the ones I saw that convinced us to go for a celebratory birthday dinner in Tulum. For one, we got there and were the only people there at prime dinner time on a Saturday night. There was no free appetizer that everyone mentioned (in fact, the photos of the app plate look like more food than you'd get with anything on the menu by far). We ordered the "House specialty" and two drinks to start ... and were so underwhelmed by the service and price for what it was that we decided to stop ordering and finish dinner elsewhere. The building was extremely cute - but everything else was a total disappointment.

Visited with really high expectations after a friend told me that Cetli was one of the best meals of her life and felt like she was dining in someone's home. It seems that the restaurant moved to a larger location, which is beautifully decorated, but a very different vibe. I got a reservation by sending a Facebook message to the restaurant, although it didn't seem like one was needed on a Saturday evening around 8pm, because there were still a few tables open. I'll start by saying that my dish, the only house special, a pepper stuffed with beef and covered in flavorful cheese sauce, was really delightful. Excellent balance of spice and sweetness. Everything else we ordered, though, missed the mark. Our drinks were presented nicely, but my mezcal one was blended rather than on the rocks, and thus half of it was undrinkable ice. The complementary appetizer was a nice touch, but all but the bread and cricket-covered oranges had cheese or butter, so my dinner date couldn't eat most of it, and there were no substitute options. He was also disappointed with his shrimp and mushroom dish, which turned out to be lukewarm and pretty flavorless. The rice was also very bland. So if you're with someone with a lactose allergy or who doesn't eat meat (and this can't eat the one house special dish), just don't go. Not worth being disappointed for the most expensive meal of our trip.

A beautifully designed place that makes you feel like you've been invited to someones home for dinner. Delicious Oaxaca-style food that is deserving of well beyond five stars.

Authentic, spectacular, absolutely unforgettable. A beautiful restaurant and a chef who is a one-woman show, a sweet lady who makes carries her family-legacy recipes in her bare hands. The appetizer platter is a small feast, an assorted tray of small delights, some well-known to us and some not so much. Some of my favorites include a chewy seeded bread with mind-blowing garlic butter, crumbly cheese empanadas that come to life in habanero salsa, and a tart orange is topped with feisty fried grasshoppers. Every entree is exceptional, and each has its own unique flavors. The Metztli is a chicken roll with plantain in a lake of fabulous black mole. Sesame enhances this dark, nutty sauce, and I've never had one this good! The Potosi is a chicken roll with chaya, covered with a light cactus fruit jam that errs on the sweeter side. The Chile en Nogada is the absolute best thing EVER! An oven-roasted poblano pepper is full of savory beef and pork, sweetened with nuts and raisins in a sherry sauce sprinkled with pomegrante that I swear is liquid crack. The desserts are optional, but they are as awesome as the entrees. The Nimbe is a dense marble cake filled with ice cream in a dark chocolate and mezcal sauce. The Tzopelic is raisin-bread as a pudding, moist and soaking in a cream sauce much like light white chocolate. The strawberry sorbet is a show-stealing side. THIS is the best restaurant in Tulum. There are none like Cetli, and there are none that come close. Never have I had a meal so inspiring, and I feel I may never find anything this special again.

Just had dinner there last night. Didn't know what to expect and had a fantastic meal. We started with two of the three spinach salads. My wife had carrots as part of her salad and it tasted like a traditional spinach salad, very good & healthy. My spinach had almonds, small pieces of meat with a dressing that I'm still craving today. It was fantastic!! Our main courses were both fish, were outstanding in both taste, quality and quantity!! We shared a desert which was a warm breaded pudding with a scoop of strawberry sorbet sitting in a vanilla cream.....and of course it was scrumptious!! A great meal in a very relaxed environment. We just purchased a condo nearby and will be returning often.....

Wow! The location is now off of Ave. Coba and not in town. Looks modest on the side of the highway but hides incredible Mexican flavors and a lovely open aired courtyard. The begin with complimentary appetizers of bread, cheeses with beets, quesadilla, garlic butter. I had the specialty of the house...a poblano stuffed with meats, figs and spices covered in a brandy almond mole, and stuffed local pumpkin. Amazing flavors! Chaya in all also. Truly a standout. Chef is trained in Mexico City. Vamos!!

A bit on the outskirts of Tulum, this is the place for authentic Mexican cuisine though not from Yucatan. Located in a very cute small hacienda, the cuisine is very flavorful with at its core mollé black, peanut, almond or green. The mollé is the basis for fish or meat dishes accentuated with typical Mexican herbs, spices or vegetables. Delicious ! The desserts are equally tasty. Better make a reservation ! IT's a small venue sitting 20-30 people only so that the cuisine can be done on demand.

This was my most memorable experience in Tulum. Cetli is in the city and off the main strip a bit but totally worth the trip. The restaurant feels like a dream, a very local, humble, perfectly curated Mexican dream. The chef takes such special interest in each dish. Moles to die for and a complimentary starter with many well thought-out tastes attached. I'd go here every time I'm there. ***be prepared to spray mosquito repellent. It's a mosquito haven.

Absolutely delicious Christmas eve dinner was enjoyed by all! Great server, Ananda, who combined great customer service with a delightful sense of humor!

Hands down one of the best meals of my life! Do not miss this experience if you are anywhere near Talum. Where do I begin? This place was recommended to us by the owner of another fantastic restaurant by the name of Carboncitos so expectations were high. We were not dissapointed. Turn off the main highway heading into Talum and three minutes down the road you will find the hacienda of food heaven. There will be a four foot Mexican woman who makes miracles in the kitchen and you will be wishing you grew up under her roof. So let's start with the gratis appetizer tray. Never have either of us come across anything close to this. From the lemon and what turned out to be locally seasoned grasshoppers which magically turned into a completely different taste when combined all the way to the bread and unbelievably tasty butter wrapped in some type of leaf...everything on the tray was top notch. We were so excited to see what would show up next after eating every bit of tastiness that just blew us away. We decided on... The "Chile en Nogada" Poblano stuffed pepper with meat & pork, prune, raisins, pineapple, cinnamon,walnuts,cheese,parsley,cherry liquor sauce, and pomegranates. Do yourself a favor and order this! The presentation alone makes it worthwhile but just reread the ingredients and say you do not want to try...I dare you. Also ordered the Tliltic Shrimp prepared in huitlacoche with epazote and corn. Which was also amazing and fresh as can be. For dessert we had some type of bread/cake that was served on top of a plate of chocolate pudding. This put the icing on the cake. This meal was so amazing and the only thing that had us dissapointed was that we were leaving Talum that night. We really wanted to return the next day to try more of the menu. I can not praise this place enough. Outstanding. P.S. Try the Tamarindo Margherita.

The setting of this restaurant is sublime. And the food is out of this world good. Me and my wife went there three days in a row when we were visiting Tulum. They bring you an appetizer plate gratis that is comprised of a ton of wonderful little treats. I think this woman's cuisine reflects the food of Puebla but I can assure you everything she's doing there, you want to have

This place is super authentic. They have like five kinds of mole!!!! I ordered the fish with mole. The fish seemed like it had been frozen to be quite honest, but what my friend ordered looked pretty good. The mole unfortunately has wheat inside it, and their ambiance is super nice and low key. It's a great place to go off the beaten path

Boy this is great surprise. We came to eat here on the ratings alone and this is wonderful. It is located a little out of Tulum (about a mile). The decore reminds you of an old spanish colonial home. It's small but the food was incredible. What a unique taste, the appetizer was a mix of six unique dishes. Try the white mole enchiladas. Highly recommended. This is worth the trip..

Best Mexican food I've ever had the sausage was so good we asked for things to dip in there after we were done eating. Tremendous

Every item we ordered was delicious! The best mole I ever had. The service was great! Very friendly and went above and beyond to make sure we were satisfied. Highly recommend!

I don't understand why this restaurant is not on the best restaurant list of Yelp for Tulum. Even though the location is not ideal, I think they did great with the decor. I would spray bug spray before coming to this place, as it is open air environment. I had a magarita with Jamaica, Chile en nogada, and nimbe for dessert. Also the appetizer that came with the food was amazing. The chef and waitress were extremely nice and attentive. There were so much flavor and I can't wait to come back to this restaurant! If you are in Tulum, you must go here!

I still dream about this place. I went more than 2 years ago, and my family ate our Christmas dinner at Cetli and it was a wonderful and magical experience. The space has so much character and feels very homey. And the food was so interesting and earthy and cooked to perfection. The best moles I have ever eaten. I especially love the white mole because I don't seem to ever find that in the US. When we were there, they were selling small jars of the mole that you can take home and add water/broth to, and I think we bought every last jar they have. The staff was wonderful and I swear my mom spent half our time there just standing in front of the kitchen and watching them make the food, and they were happy to talk to her about it. I couldn't recommend a better restaurant in the Tulum area. I'm telling you; I still dream about this place! And I'm hoping one day they will sell their moles to the mass market US! Tell everyone you know who is taking a trip to Tulum to visit Cetli at least once!

Seriously GREAT food AND service. Probably one of the most delicious meals we ate in Tulum and would 100% go back when we are in town. I sometimes find myself thinking about the mole when I'm back home... go go go!

The corn cake desert is a must! Great service and very delicate delicious Mexican cuisine. As Mexican myself never tasted those flavors before FYI CASH ONLY

We came for dinner group of 7. They were great in responding to our rsvp via Instagram. I wish the service was friendlier and they explained the items and concept of the restaurant (we had Spanish speakers among us). The salad with grapefruit was good. The mole fish was a huge piece of fish- it was good but wish there were some sides with it. The charcuterie board was interesting too. It was a very quiet restaurant, no one was mean but no one was also very hospitable.

Definitely a must go to place. I was eating tacos every single day and I must say I could not get tired of it because of how good they are no matter where you go but I did want a homey meal and this place was exactly it! It's like entering a beautiful clean home run by members of a family. Although the wait is long for food, it is because everything is freshly prepped and made by this lady and the one other staff member who also waited the tables and seated people and when he had time he would go in and help with cooking. It was the BEST meal I had in Mexico. The ingredients were fresh as they had a garden in the back. Just everything was amazing about this place. If I had to wait hours to eat here, I would.

We loved everything about Cetli. It's a beautiful restaurant and the unique food is delicious. Highly recommend

What a fantastic authentic restaurant. Food was a cultural experience. The Mole was amazing. We came from NY, and didn't like all the American style restaurants on the Tulum main road. Asked for a local food exclusive place and Cetli was it!! The Atsec fish was amazing, the Pepper was amazing, not to mention the bread and many appetizers that come free with the dinner. Soup was great too Lovely people Love Tulum

One of the most beautiful restaurants we found on our trip. Food is amazing, fresh, and delicious. A little ways out of town and easy to miss on your right hand side. Make sure to bring pesos, they only take cash.

Every aspect of this experience was great. The service, the ambiance, the music, the mole! Such a memorable and delicious meal! Portions are not humongous so we each got a plate as well as the appetizers. Highly recommend:)

This off the main road gem of a restaurant was recommended by a friend and was one of the best meals I have ever had. The house special, poblano Chile stuffed with beef covered in a white cream sauce garnished with pomegranate, is the perfect marriage of sweet, spicy, creamy and savory. We came here 2 times on our trip to the riviera. The mezcal margaritas, complimentary appetizers, deserts (bread pudding in particular) and the main dishes in between are the kind of deliciousness you could have on a regular basis and never grow tired of. Please support this beautiful establishment with their gorgeous and quaint decor, open air dining area, excellent service and adorable shop. **don't forget the big spray - mosquitos coin-habit this space**

Great traditional cuisine. The different types of moles were excellent. Very relaxed atmosphere and helpful wait staff. Bring cash though. They accept both pesos and US dollars.