Javi's Cantina

Absolutely delicious! Some of the best grilled chicken I’ve ever had. And the lobster tacos were fantastic as well. Full of flavor and well priced for the portions we received. It was our third time having Javi’s but our first time in his restaurant, and it definitely won’t be our last! The live music and dancing just added to the whole experience!

Overall, I was extremely impressed with the efforts to help me set this up and organize everything with such ease from so far away. Everything I asked to be set up was. My wedding planner also helped to drop things off after the wedding. Javi himself and his son played complimentary music for over an hour it was so nice and unexpected. They made a menu for me, customized with our names. The service was great the food was great as well. The only disappointment I had was not being able to use the rooftop as planned. It wasn't raining. And I guess they didn't even clean it so I cud take pics. It was my only complaint. Overall the people are so nice, the food is great, even not being on the roof it was a good set up for 10 people. I definitely recommend using Javis for you event on the island as they are very accommodating and at a very very reasonable price. Thanks for everything#

Party of 12 with no reservations...they brought us to a private room and gave us the best service. 2 waiters and a helper, amazing service, outstanding food and wonderful atmosphere. I ordered apps for the table, lobster bites, fried asparagus and tuna tar tar. All were fantastic. My entrée was the parmesan chicken, it was fantastic, my only complaint is the entrée was listed with veggies and potato wedges and I was served french fries. All in all, a WONDERFUL experience.

Awesome place! Amazing cocktails, great food, and dance show was really nice. Highly recommended! Nice vegan option and fantastic music.

Javis never disappoints, We have had the pleasure of eating here for a few years and it is always good. We almost always get the lobster and the blue cheese salad is great too. Javi is always such a pleasure and watching his dad play music is super special! You enter at the street level but then are taken back to an open air courtyard.

Edit: We have now also eaten at the restaurant. The food is amazing! The entertainment was fun and culturally educational. Had a great time, and will definitely go back. We didn't eat at the restaurant. We had Javi's Dinnertainment. He comes to your home and prepares a luxurious meal with appetizers, main course, and dessert. You can choose from many options what you want him to prepare. He also provides entertainment with his guitar. This was so much fun, and wonderful to have after a day in the sun. We will definitely do this again!

DO NOT miss this restaurant. With the most humble, friendly and hospitable owner, you will be welcomed in like family. We met Javi in the grocery store over conversation about southerners and their love for black tea! He quickly informed us we wouldn’t find it on the island, and went out of his way to drive to his house and bring us a box!!! That began our love for all things Javi! That evening we dined at the most quaint restaurant, with personal entertainment. The Lobster bites, salsa, fried jalapeños and shrimp Ceviche started off one of the best meals we have ever had on Isla. We continued our meal with fabulous black grouper, chicken and the most tender Arrachera we have ever experienced. You the food is good when the sides are also stars of the show! The cocktails were absolutely delicious! Don’t miss the grilled pineapple margarita and the Paloma Negro! You will not be disappointed, but fall in love with Javi and his staff. Who, by the way, are fantastic! GO TO JAVI’s!!!!!

We dined in for Javi’s chef’s table experience and it was phenomenal! The dishes were absolutely amazing. There was not a thing I did not find to be delectable! Javi not only explained his dishes he also shared stories and songs with us, along with his dad. Once again we had a memorable experience dining at Javi’s Cantina and Restaurant.

This place was recommended on a Facebook page, so we tried it. Looked like a hole in the wall when we walked in, but they walked us to the back room where the music was playing. The entertainment was great- an authentic Mexican dance and music. The food was amazing. My son and I had grilled grouper which was the special. Tasted amazing! My husband's lobster was delicious too. Our server was very friendly and attentive. Also it wasn't busy at all. Only a few tables sat near us, so it was a very intimate dining experience. Would recommend if visiting Isla Mujeres. A very unique dining experience

Upon a recommendation for Fiesta Night, we made reservations for the courtyard to watch the show and have dinner. First the positives: the dancers are talented and entertaining! They made the night for us. Service is warm, welcoming, and friendly. The courtyard is charming but warm, even with fans (but that's literally the whole island so not really a big deal.) The not so greats: The food is very average and pretty bland. We like traditional Mexican foods and a lot of spice. Our meals felt very catered to bland vacationers palates. The arrachera steak was flavorful but mashed potatoes and veg were meh. Shrimp ceviche was ok but the portion small (considering it says it's enough for 2 people.) Not nearly as good as other spots on the island. Fish tacos were bland. It came with two sauces: green sauce was also bland and a brown sauce (tamarind maybe) that wasn't eaten because it was super sweet. They were out of Dos Equis and only had Dos Equis Amber. Just mildly inconvenient. Favorite moment (in addition to the fiesta night show) was the sangria -- it's DELICIOUS! We are glad we went to do something new (we have been to Isla many times), but we won't go back. There's just too much other good food elsewhere.

While we love this spot and love the entertainment, the food wasn't as good as last time we visited. The dancers seemed less than enthused to be there and the food was just ok. My kids enjoyed the guitar players though they never smiled or made us feel really welcomed.

Everything about this place is excellent. Food was full of flavor and absolutely delicious. The staff was all friendly, attentive, and helpful. But Aza really made all of the difference, he was the best server I have ever had. The desserts were so good we ended up getting three more to go. Get the flan, because OMG it is to die for. I am going to be missing this flan for the rest of my life lol. Definitely go here, you will not be disappointed.

So glad we tried this place during our trip! It was so good we went back for our last night on the island. Everyone was so nice but we had Aza as our waiter both nights and he was amazing. Super friendly, very informed and professional, and super attentive to our large group. The food was some of the best we had on our trip, especially the appetizers and desserts. The asparagus fries, stuffed mushrooms and flan were unbelievable. The only downside is that space is somewhat limited during the rain unless you want to sit on their patio in the rain. Even so the staff were so accommodating and I just recommend arriving earlier if it's raining so you can secure a table!

I was told by several people Javi's is a must try when visiting Isla Mujeres. Wow!!! The food, the staff, and the atmosphere was amazing. I had the grilled fish tacos and my husband had the steak tacos. Both had excellent flavor and couldn't ask for a better meal. The owners are sweet as can be. Their tortilla chips, guacamole, and salsa are too good to pass up. Javi's also has live music and a back patio area. If you haven't been, your missing out!! We will definitely visit again!

Really great food, we had the asparagus which was delicious. The carppacio was awesome and I had the tuna which was delicious. The quinoa salad looks plain but is absolutely delicious. The drinks were awesome and everyone kept raving about their good. The best part was the service by far, they were so welcoming and nice. Great experience

Great food and pretty quick! The service we got wasn't the best but everything else was great! So nice to have a air conditioned place for the summer heat.

Good and Service Excellent! Tuesdays and Thursdays they have a live Hispanic show! So Wonderful. The Food is Excellent. The place is small and Cozy. You definitely need Reservations on Show nights. It is So Worth the Experience!

I had Javi's bookmarked in my "Isla Mujeres" Yelp collection before actually meeting Javi. When my sis and I randomly met him at a local music venue, he told us about his restaurant and we knew we had to pay a visit. First off, it's probably *the* top rated locally-owned restaurant on the Island. For good reason, too. Great food, service, ambiance, live music daily, back patio, and a awesome owner who is happy to share other local spots to check out. My sis and I weren't too hungry on the night we stepped in, but we wanted to have some apps and drinks before, well, having more drinks later that night. The stuffed mushrooms, chips and guacamole, and tuna tower were great. I highly rec those 'srhooms. I wish we had a bigger appetite that night, because all of the photos and reviews praises about the entrees. Don't forget to walk away with a keepsake you purchased from their wall of souvenirs.

Consistently delicious food and drinks. Highly recommend and have yet to have a less than exceptional meal

Good food wish the menu had more selection but definitely liked nice ambiance and had dancers while we ate.

My husband and I travel to Isla annually for the whale shark migration. We are active farmers, and heavily involved in the specialty food/fine dining industries in The States. We have been privileged to work, and dine in Michelin Star restaurants. When dining out, we are processing the experience at every level. We do NOT dine out often. Even while vacationing, we prefer to prepare our own meals. Javis is an exception. Javis a portal; an invitation into Cantina culture. The Folx working here are genuinely glad to be in the space. They care. They get it. The cocktail, and food menus are creative, while maintaining adoration for local flavor. The music is live, well curated, and heartfelt. I love this place, and a visit here on a Thursday, Friday, or Saturday night is always a highlight of our trip. Oh. And ask Javi (he will introduce himself!) about the old tree. Just, please.

I wanted to like you Javi but... it was under flavored, too much oil, and was similar to food you get at a chain restaurant. There are just too many good places on the island with super fresh, well flavored food that is out of this world. The wine is different brands of sutter home, the salad is romaine ice burg, the fish and veggies are saturated in oil. It was really disappointing. That said... maybe they could turn it around. The only reason they got two was because the people were fantastic.

Atmosphere and service were superb. Live music for a Monday night, was very pleasant, and not overpowering the small dining room. Asparagus Fries were excellent, but just a hair overdone. I would prefer they use a hotter oil to cook them faster, and leave the stalks more crisp to the bite. My Beef Kabob was cooked perfectly rare, as ordered, and was nicely seasoned. Javi's may be a bit overpriced for the island, overall, but I was pleased with the experience, and glad I tried it. I would definitely return for a special occasion.

Posting the menu since I did not see a menu posted. You will need a reservation to sit in the outdoor patio. So be sure to call ahead. The food is more American, with a lot of garlic and butter.

Very good food and the atmosphere also , we had the chix tamarind and fillet of fish tamarind

You can't go wrong with Javi's! Excellent food, brilliant atmosphere, incredible hosts, and fantastic entertainment! You can tell they, Javi and Marla, make friends with everyone. There are many repeat customers around and it is a very lively and happy environment! I was lucky enough to have Javi serenade us when I proposed a couple years ago and decided to return on our honeymoon. Get any of the fresh fish, but I had steak because I was eating fish all week and it was excellent!

We've been coming to Isla Mujeres for a decade and first met Javi while he played on Hildago. As the years passed we continued to run into Javi-whether it was playing late night, running around town, or just hanging out. And everytime we saw Javi, he would be full of life- always smiling, humble, hard working, an amazing musician, and his joyful spirit was contagious. After several trips we thought, "hey, if we ever get married- we'll do it on Isla and hire Javi's band to play the wedding!" ...years passed and low and behold- we got engaged and knew- we're going to Isla and we gotta find Javi. We were so happy when we found out that Javi and Marla opened Javi's Cantina! We knew we were not to going to book a cookie cutter hotel wedding package and wanted to piece together our day with local hard working businesses. We reached out to Marla and started planning from afar. Marla and Javi were amazing from start to end! They are very busy and work their tails off, so we appreciated the fact that we met up at the restaurant before our family and friends arrived on the island. Marla is fantastic and her attention to detail is so appreciated and spot on. There were little details my man inquired about that she wasn't sure she had time to make happen, but day of- bam! Marla made it happen. We rented out the back portion of the restaurant and had the dinner served on the roof top patio. Mala and the staff decorated the place beautifully, the food and service was impeccable, and Javi and his band were on point. Honestly, Marla and Javi helped make our wedding reception literally perfect. We will be forever grateful and feel so blessed that Javi and Marla made our old dream turn into a reality. If you are on Isla, Javi's Cantina is a must-whether it's just for a drink, a bite to eat, or for a special occasion. They stay steady rotating local musicians and they are the definition of a local hardworking business on Isla Mujeres. Thank you Marla and Javi!!!!! We will see you soon!

Lovely little place what you can't see from the front is the beautiful patio in the back where the have a lovely bar and live music. The food is really good and the portions are perfect. The staff is very friendly and the service is quick but they don't rush you to leave. We plan to have dinner again before leaving the island.

Nice internal open patio seating was quiet and peaceful. Deep fried asparagus is a specialty of the house and was excellent. Many fish dishes available, mostly Grouper. We both had the Parmesan crusted grouper. It was excellent. Veggies were cooked perfectly, with just a tiny bit of snap left upon serving.

Great seafood, great music and wonderful service. Must try for a trip to Isla!! We had the seafood platter, fish of the day fried and grilled and it was great!!

Great food and even better music. We're going back Saturday as it is our last night here, this time. The fish was amazing and Javi plays a mean guitar.

Fantastic service and mostly great food. We were a party of 12. Everyone enjoyed their meal but one person. My sisters tried each tried a different kind of kebab and they were excellent. My husband had steak and lobster, it was great.

The asparagus was wonderful. Lightly battered. Perfect! The chocolate hazelnut ice cream was fabulous. The entrees were just ok. Our party had Parmesan crusted grouper, steak kabobs & grilled grouper. They were not that good. They seemed to do best with desserts & appetizers. The noise level was horrible. We were in the. Ack room with the blender going full blast & the singers microphone was too loud. It was annoying & hard to have a conversation.

Don't waste your time or money. WORST place we ate at on Isla. Do not believe these 5 star reviews! We should have known the food would be awful after we got served microwaved salsa with chips. The tuna tartare was flavorless, the tuna carpaccio was extremely sugary for no reason, and the chile shrimp entree was smothered in a salty sauce that made the dish inedible. The drinks were good but had little alcohol in them. There are much better places to eat on Isla.

Probably the worst place I've eaten in the last few days on Isla. I honestly have no idea why they ate so highly rated. The live music is nice but it's one guy on a guitar in someone's patio. First off they brought us some great drinks, that was the only good tadting item from the dinner. They brought hot (heated in a microwave?) nasty salsa with chips, then the tuna tartare which tasted old and very bland, no one wanted to finish it. Next came the tuna carpaccio which was soaked in sugar and was unedibly sweet. Then came the shrimp dish which was so salty that you couldn't taste anything other than the hint of chlorine. Finally my seared tuna was completely flavorless and totally unimpressive. Out of the four of us we all could not name a single dish we liked. Everything was bad.

Ok just ok. It's not authentic tacos they are very bland and American. Ten years ago this place would have not been here. The waiter was attentive, but you could tell he was kinda arrogant. Gone are the days of people being happy to get your business on this island. Now you are suppose to be happy they serve you. I don't know why it gets such a high rating. Yes it's clean, and ok but nothing to not miss in Mexico

This is one of my favorite restaurants in the world. Javi somehow manages to put a twist on all his meals. The music and atmosphere are incredible. I had the best pork belly sandwich for brunch today.

Came in with high expectations based on reviews. My husband got lobster and we were very excited about trying it. Unfortunately it was over cooked and over seasoned. It was still ok but for a pricey item I really want it to be cooked appropriately. I got the catch of the day and shrimp. The seasonings were good but again over applied and to salty. We still ate our meals but with a little less cook time and seasoning/salt it could have been great. The atmosphere was very nice. Our server was ok, a little distracted a couple times. Our friends got the bread pudding dessert and enjoyed it. The guacamole was good. I was not really impressed with the tuna tartar. Probably our most expensive meal while in town and far from our favorite.

This place was great. The waiters and hostess were so kind, the food was delicious and the experience as a whole was lovely.

Our hotel recommended Javi's. We had just arrived after a long day of travel. There was no wait and they served us ice cold beer from the island. We started with guacamole which was super fresh. Loved the salsa. We got the lobster pasta special which was delicious. I ordered a fried fresh fish crusted in Parmesan. Friendly staff & would definitely go back!!!

Javi's was the best experience!! The food and drinks were amazing and the staff was so awesome!! They were really on top of their stuff. They just rolled out a new craft cocktail menu. The grilled pineapple margarita was incredible! You wouldn't know it from the street, but there is a really charming patio.

This was probably the best meal I've ever had while on Vacation. We couldn't have asked for better drinks, food, or service even the typical house margaritas were excellent. We started with the lobster bites which were so good that we came back the next day for more. The grilled pineapple margarita and the cucumber/coconut margaritas were amazing! I had the parmesan crusted fish while the other members of my family had steak, lobster, and grilled fish, all smiles across the table! The staff were so friendly and fantastic at their jobs, from the host David, to the server Belin, the bartender Marco, even the owner Javi stopped by to say hello. A+ all around. I never really post reviews but felt I would be doing a disservice to Javi's if I didn't. I've been to Isla Mujeres twice now and from now on I'm never leaving without stopping by Javi's for an amazing experience!

Javi's Cantina on Isla Mujeres is a must! My husband and I frequent Javi's every time we visit the island. Our favorites are the grilled red snapper, the stuffed mushroom appetizer, the grilled romaine salad special and his steaks are amazing. Javi's also offers specialty drinks, as well as beer, wine and the usual mixed drinks. Javi plays music for his guests while his friendly and accommodating staff make you feel like you're home. The food, music, and atmosphere will have you returning again and again.

Very tasty! We ordered lobster, fish, shrimp tacos.... everything was really great! They open from 17-00

Javi's was super good. Friendly service, super fresh fish. Got the parmesan crusted grouper which was absolutely delicious. Also the live music was great too. Overall just excellent.

Absolutely delicious!! My husband and I both had the filet with garlic mashed potatoes and grilled vegetables and my kids all had the cheeseburger and french fries. Everything was perfect and we will definitely be returning next time we visit the island. Oh and the grilled pineapple margarita was amazing!!!

This place was great! We had the spicy tuna salad and the Parmesan crusted fish and it was so delicious! We finished the meal with the ice cream and brownie dessert which was also on point! Definitely recommend coming here! Has a live band in the courtyard that you can't see from the front.

Delicious!!! My husband and I split the seafood platter and it was delicious!!! Grilled fish, shrimp, octopus and lobster. It was a lot of food for the money also!

My husband and I went to Javi's tonight and were blown away by the place. We had the tuna tartare to start, he had the fresh lobster tail and I had an 8 oz filet. Everything was cooked perfectly. Javi came several times to check on us and even brought us a chilled shot of pecan liquor. This place stands out from all the other tourist trap restaurants. We come to Isla often for vacation, and will be back to Javi's after our great experience. Thank you so much!

Actually would give them 4 stars for food but didn't want to ruin their 5 star ratings. Good service and chef / owner came out to greet us. Complimentary chips and homemade salsa was excellent. Most of their food was good but we were NOT a fan of tuna tartare and carpaccio- drenched in nasty sweet sauce. Decent price for being in tourist trap. We were disappointed that we couldn't order their tuna salad special which was only for dinner and we came during lunch between 3-6pm.

One of the best places to eat in Isla Mujeres. That place is clean and the food is delicious! I had the Parmesan crusted grouper for dinner and it was amazing! It was served with rice and green beans, both seasoned to perfection. They also give you complementary chips and salsa, which are the best we have had since leaving Texas.

Great little place off the beaten path. Lobster bites are very good and great staff!

Food was great, drinks were great and Javier & Marla are awesome! A place you must try when you come to Isla!

Read the reviews and had high expectations after few other well deserved reviews in other places. Came in and was taken to a nice back court. We ordered 3 kind of fish dishes . Two fish dishes were inedible. Hard and chewy and not fresh and we had to give them back. Meat kebab was very good! We did not pay for the two fish dishes but didn't enjoy the dinner as a group . 5 stars? not at all. but kudos for working with us on the costs...

I looked in yelp for a place to have dinner and this came up. Such a hospital staff wonderful dinner great wine and cocktails. We had such a good time we ordered dessert. Thank god we each got our own because no one was sharing. I swear they make the brownies to order because they were fresh and warm. But back to dinner we had the fried asparagus which was wonderful. I had the tuna cooked to perfection and the shrimp kabobs were also Devine. But again they made you feel like you were in their home.

We had Javi cater breakfast and a few dinners for our crew of 24 at our vrbo on the South end. Javi and his staff were amazing. Javi is a ball full of energy, and he truly catered to everyone in our group. He took extra time to go through everyone's orders, ensure there were no allergies and customize the food to each individual. Marla was great to work with on the front end setting everything up as well. Definitely a must do if you have a big group on the island.

We, quite literally, stumbled into Javis for lunch on Feb. 10th, 2020. Small, but nicely appointed, we were warmly greeted in English (sadly we did not learn Spanish in the 60's) and engaged in a genuine and sincere way by Javis and his younger brother. Perusing their menu was fun and we chose the ciabatta bread, pork belly sandwich and the spicy tuna poke.We enjoyed our best meal, bar none, in our 14 days in Cancun. At our somewhat senior ages of 70 and 73, we felt most fortunate to have been their guests. Thank you, Linda and Bob

Amazing food from start to finish. Well worth the 5 stars!!! I had the beef that's served on a skewer with a side of the garlic mashed potatoes. The beef and potatoes made my night!!!