Yucatán Magazine’s Holiday Dining Guide 2021
This time of year, when the holidays are so close, and everyone is so preoccupied, it is easy to forget to make dinner reservations for Christmas.
So who is serving what — and when — in Mérida? This list is certainly not all-inclusive, but let’s start here. Assume reservations are required at each of these restaurants:
Holiday Inn Merida is back, after taking a bit longer than its hotel zone neighbors to reopen after lockdown. They provide a Christmas Eve buffet in both of their restaurants, La Veranda and Arboledas, with indoor and outdoor seating. Live music. 899 pesos, plus drinks and tip.
999-942-8800; Avenue Colon 498
Johannes Comfort Food and Bar’s Christmas Eve seatings start at 7 and end at 10. The evening will begin with a glass of Cava Brut, the Spanish sparkling wine. The appetizer is a salad of mixed greens, cherry tomatoes, red onion, caramelized pecans, blueberries, blue cheese with a vinaigrette dressing. The main course is a beef tenderloin with pistachio crust, sweet potato cream with red wine plum reduction, sautéed asparagus, and arugula salad with green beans. The vegan selection is Vegetable Wellington, stuffed with sautéed vegetables, cauliflower, and Italian squash. The side will be sautéed asparagus with arugula salad and green beans. Edam cheesecake with strawberry compote, sponge bread, or baked meringue for dessert. The cost is 649 pesos for the beef dinner or 549 pesos for the vegan plate.
999-285-4447; Calle 74-A near 59-A #499 Centro
Hennessy Irish Pub serves a special menu on both Christmas Eve starting at 6 p.m. and all day — with live music — on Christmas. Start with mushroom soup or Thai shrimp salad, a full turkey dinner with the trimmings and mince pie with a scoop of Christmas pudding and ice cream for 395 pesos, or just the turkey dinner for 245 pesos plus drinks and tips. Additionally, a New Year’s Eve party is planned with live music from Los Twangs for a 150-peso cover.
999-509-7089; Paseo de Montejo x 41 y 43 Centro
Lou’s Restaurant is closing early on Christmas Eve and is closed on Christmas Day, but they are doing a New Year’s Eve meal that sounds delicious. They are serving an appetizer of salmon bruschetta on artisan bread with spicy cream cheese and oregano oil. That is followed by pork tenderloin smothered in a red wine sauce, zucchini casserole, and mashed potatoes with gravy. Caesar salad, sautéed tofu with mushrooms, white wine, and pea puree are vegan options. Dessert is a mixture of oatmeal, coconut, and strawberry truffle balls. The price is 499 pesos plus drinks and tips, and a 50% deposit is required to hold your reservation.
999-461-4654. Calle 55 #522 x 64 y 66 Centro
Hotel Palacio Maya / Balam Restaurant has a Christmas Eve buffet from 8 to midnight. Caprese salad, antipasto bar, traditional Christmas salad, strawberry salad, and canapés. Roast beef, turkey, pork, spiced potatoes, Mexican rice are among the main courses. The dessert table has tiramisu, chocolate tarts, apple strudel, and a selection of fresh fruits. The cost per person is 999 pesos and for children 499 pesos.
999-345-2757; Calle 62 #327 x 37 y 39 Centro
Provecho 66 Merida is offering something different for Christmas Eve. They will deliver an Italian feast to your home. The menu consists of Italian wedding soup, rosemary bread, Caesar salad, traditional lasagna, with a side of sausage with peppers and onions and tiramisu or pumpkin roll to top it off. A family-style serving for two people is 1,000 pesos. Deposit required.
999-331-2745; Calle 66 #494 x 59 y 61 Centro
The Hyatt Regency is offering a Christmas Eve buffet in both their restaurants, Peregrine Bistro and Spasso Cucina Italiano. The buffet provides salads, breads, entrees, and desserts from 7 p.m. until 1 a.m., 1,500 pesos for adults and 775 pesos for children.
999-942-1234; Calle 60 #344 x 35 y Avenue Colón
Casa Maya Restaurant offers a more traditional Mexican meal on Christmas Eve dinner, starting with veggie and dips, house salad with crumbled ham, a chicken leg with a rice souffle, and a slice of sandwichon, followed by fresh fruit and cookies. Choice of three beverages, including the house wine, for 810 pesos.
999-924-7022; Calle 62 #492 x 59 Centro
Maggie Cale was born in the United States and has lived most of her life in Pennsylvania. She has a social work degree from Penn State University and finished her career in Washington, D.C. working with families. She moved to Yucatán in 2017 and has worked part-time ghostwriting for bloggers. She lives in Itzimná with her two dogs.