The Best of Puerto Escondido ... and the worst as well Main Index Puerto Escondido, Oaxaca Trip Report 2006 Beach Index City Map City Map, Zicatela/Marinero Regional Map Weather Telephone Calls Puerto Escondido Hotels Puerto Escondido Restaurants Gina, the Information Goddess   Best of Barra de Navidad, Jalisco Best of Huatulco, Oaxaca Best of Melaque, Jalisco Playa Carrizalillo Playa Principal Playa Zicatela International Friends of Puerto Escondido Connecting Cultures (residency services) Visitors' Comments About • Home • Search What's New?

What are the best places to eat? Who has the best margaritas? Where can I find an O-ring? What is the name of that store I should avoid with the surly owner? Well, ask no more. The readers of tomzap.com have ganged up to stamp out mediocrity and announce the best (and sometimes the WORST) that Puerto Escondido has to offer. And if you find that I have got it wrong or left out something, feel free to send me your remarks and do explain WHY you think that particular place/business/activity is the best. And if you agree with something it would be good to hear about that as well. tom@tomzap.com

• Best Margaritas:   El Nene, 15°51.710'N 97°4.608'W, a small restaurant on the Rinconada, #14a. The food is good as well. Also mentioned is the Restaurante Escondido at the Hotel Ben Zaa and Mosquito.
• Best Restaurant:   Las Tugas 044 (954) 103-3499. formerly located on the Rinconada, now in Villas Carrizalillo at Avenida Carrizalillo #125, may be the best. Specializing in Portuguese dishes with an international flare. Curry chicken, pork pot roast, and portuguese fish are suggested. Also Pasqual's on Playa Principal is well-liked for the food, service, ambiance, and cocktails. Right next door is Los Crotos, another good choice, 15°51.667'N 97°3.846'W. Cipriano's on Zicatela is liked for its outdoor clay oven, food, and candlelit tables.
• Best Mexican Restaurant:   Aren't they all Mexican? Not really. With the substantial gringo presence, many restaurants are catering to gringo tastes. That's great for foreign residents but I'm not spending half a grand for a plane ticket so I can eat imitation gringo food. I'm looking forward to trying these places. La Margaritas 15°52.190'N 97°4.360'W, in a courtyard in the same area, with clean restrooms, hand-made tortillas, best comida corrida. Also Juquileña on 8th street between the market and Av. Oaxaca, 15°52.189'N 97°4.324'W. Both are only open only during the day. Also mentioned is Los Vaqueros.
• Best Romantic Restaurant:   Hotel Santa Fé 15°51.495'N 97°3.544'W, on Playa Zicatela. Beautiful, elegant setting and good food. Also mentioned is Los Crotos on Playa Principal.
• Best Hamburger:   All this great Mexican food, but sometimes all you want is a good hamburger. Where can you get one? Split Coconut Also known for its ribs.
• Best Pizza:   Benditos seems to be a clear favorite. 15°51.715'N 97°3.750'W. Located at the east end of the adoquín right at the chain. Homemade Italian sausage, fire brick oven, good drink list.
• Best Breakfast:   Tabachin Hotel, behind the Hotel Santa Fé. 15°51.461'N 97°3.493'W. Also Cafecito, two locations, one on Rinconada 15°51.705'N 97°4.697'W, and the other on Playa Zicatela 15°51.130'N 97°3.301'W. Liked for its French bakery, coffee, and fresh juices.

  La Galera Restaurant on the top floor of the Hotel Arco Iris

• Best Value Restaurant:   La Galera, on the top floor of the Hotel Arco Iris on Zicatela, 15°51.306'N 97°3.401'W. Good food and a spectacular beach view.
• Best Taco Stand:   The guide books will often tell you to stay away from these places but if you do you are missing some of the best food. If it's drawing a crowd it's probably a good choice. La Semilla de Los Arcos, Antojitos Yucatecos, near Parque Idillio near the vet with the stuffed animals on his desk. They have tacos pibil.
• Best Chinese Restaurant:   Located in Chila, between the two paved entrances to the town of Chila. A large sign says "Chinese Food" in English.
• Best Sushi:   Sushi K-Fe, on the Rincondada. There aren't a lot of sushi places in Puerto Escondido, but this one is well-liked and deserves mention.
• Best Pozole:   Las Cazuelas, in El Centro next to the Gym. Rosy's on Oaxaca Ave is also good.
• Best Salads:   El Jardín, on Calle del Morro in Zicatela Beach. Also Punta Paraiso, just opened March 3, 2007, located on the road to La Punta on Zicatela.
• Best Seafood:   Sabor a Mar, at the Las Brisas end of Zicatela in front of Mexpipe. 15°51.059'N 97°3.278'W. (Was Junto del Mar on the Adoquín.)
• Best Goulash:   Moravia Blvd. Benito Juárez, on the Rinconada.
• Best Tacos el Pastor:   Taqueria Alahambres 15°51.792'N 97°4.205'W. next to the HSBC bank on Hidalgo.
• Best Abarrotes (grocery):   Abarrotes 2000 on 8th Avenue. Good service, sometimes have unusual items.
• Best Source for Coffee (beans):   La Casita 3 Oriente. One block up from Benito Juárez market. Super Cafe Andador Soledad. 15°51.662'N 97°3.935'W. The little place at the top of the stairway directly below the church.
• Best Place to buy Frozen Steaks:   Want to buy a good (raw) steak in Mexico. This can be a daunting task for the gringo shopper. Tresele Food Service Av. Perez Gasga No. 303. (954) 104-2336. Located a few doors uphill from the Banamex.
• Best Furniture Store:   Baul de Abuela Blvd. Benito Juarez, on the Rinconada. (954) 582-1682.
• Best Shop:   El Arte de mi Tierra Blvd. Benito Juarez, on the Rinconada. Lots of quality items for home decor: pots, mirrors, wall art, sinks, light fixtures, etc. (954) 582-0576.
• Best Lawyer:   Fidel Chavez y Asocs. (954) 102-0633. Corner of 3a Poniente and la Sur, near the transito station. Does not speak English.
• Best Travel Agency:   Dimar has been mentioned. (954) 582-0259 at Av. Perez Gasga 905B. And (954) 582-2305 at Calle del Morro.
• Best Taxi:   Jesus Ziga (954) 582-1117, cel. 044 (954) 102-0650.
• Best Hair Salon:   Patty's Located on dirt path next to Olas Altas on Playa Zicatela. You must walk up the steep hill and she is in the palapa on the bluff overlooking the ocean. Tell the taxi driver it is across from Dr. Pepe's house. English spoken.
• Best Place to Shop for a Hammock:   Angela Go to Zicatela Beach and Angela will find you.
• Best Fishing Guide:   Rudolpho, Roberto and Stephan have been mentioned. Which one do you think is the best?
• Best Ocean Sightseeing:   Omar, has been suggested for his dolphin-watching excursions.
• Best Bicycle Repair:   A small shop above Las Brisas Hotel (Calle Mariano Matamoros) The same street that the BIG Central Surf Shop Building is on.
• Best Auto Parts House:   Up Oaxaca Avenue, almost to the end near the college, and look on the left for a big yellow building with a Bardol ad on it.
• Best Auto Mechanic:   Turn left off Oaxaca at oil/lube joint and then 1st right at Tinos auto transmission shop. About 50m along is Ricardo Galvan's mechanic shop painted in Bardhal yellow and black. Locals call him Richard.
• Best Room with a View:   Hotel Buena Vista gets a vote for its view of Zicatela and people-watching. On Zicatela beach, Calle de Morro, between Mexpipe and the Merlin store.
• Best Beach for Small Children:   Western end of Carrizalillo Calm waves, a shade tree, and small tidal pools among the rocks provide a comfortable and safe play area. Cold beer nearby for the adults.
• Best Tourist Resource:   Gina, the Information Goddess 15°51.412'N 97°04.158'W, at the tourist information booth on the west end of the Adoquín.
• Best Massage:   Nora (954) 582-3573, 044 (954) 588-2883 (cell). Located at the top of the alley behind Mangos, 3 houses back, on Playa Zicatela. Must have an appointment. English spoken. Also the Themascalli, with Riki, hot rocks, water massage and saunas.
• Best Surf Photographer:   Ruben Piña Quality photographs that can be blown up and retain detail. Find him at Central Surf.
• Best Surfboard Repair:   Miguel Located on one of the streets next to the Agencia Municipal. Also Carmelo, who is located at the Point.
• Best Surfboard Builder:   Roger Located at Oasis Surf Factory, on Calle Bugambilias, Playa Zicatela next to the Hotel Oasis. Also mentioned is Roberto Salinas at Central Surf.
• Best Live Music:   Pascals on the adoquín 15°51.632'N 97°3.856'W, Rockaway on Zicatela 15°51.152'N 97°3.309'W, and Hosteria are all mentioned.
• Best Tourist Newspaper:   El Sol de la Costa Published monthly.
• Best Dentist:   There are 3 candidates. Jesus Abdul Issias Navarez 3A Poniente, north of the market. "Doctor Painless" is meticulous, explains what he is about to do, has own lab and makes crown there, inexpensive 104-2193, (954) 108-2996 (cel). Dra. Olga Livia Cortez Av. Oaxaca #105 on the second floor. (954) 582-1666. Reynaldo Ruiz Carrea 2nd Norte, #301, across from Bancomer.
• Best Doctor:   I've got several candidates: Dra. Guillermina Zarate and her well-equipped, clean hospital facility, Clinic del Sur, offering family care, surgery, emergency services, ultrasound, X-ray, heart specialist, pharmacy. Dr. Max (954) 582-0440. Located on Oaxaca Av. 603, but doesn't speak English. Mario Francisco de Alba (954) 582-3581, 044 (954) 588-4018. Located on the first entrace to the Adoquín area before the chains. Speaks English. Dr. Francisco Serrano (954) 582-0548. Located on Blvd. del Pacifico 508, speaks English.
• Best Farmacia:   I've got several candidates: Superfarmas Oaxaca Av. #102B, next to the Ahorrara annex. (954) 582-0379. When they don't have something, they will call one of their other stores and see if they have it. If the other store has it, they deliver it to the store at no extra charge.La Moderna Just up the road from the Banamex around the curve in the street, one block down from the Hotel San Juan. Open 24 hours, but you may have to wake the guy up. Minor medical services. Farmacia Similares 15°51.795'N 97°04.215'W, at 1st street and 2nd street East, specializing in generic drugs. Also, the one right by the east end of the Adoquín. And the farmacia across the street from Dr. Max on Ave. Oaxaca. And the farmacias right near the HSBC bank.
• Best Refrigerator Repair:   Lalo Refrigeración, 1st Oriente #161. First block down from the post office.
• Best Computer Repair:   Net Pacific (954) 582-2472. 7 Norte #308. They are slow, but otherwise recommended.
• Best Accountant:   Francisco Javier Patino (954) 582-0831.
• Best Bank:   HSBC Mexico (954) 582-1825. 15°51.785'N 97°4.246'W. If this is the best, I would hate to see the worst. I spent 45 minutes in line to cash a $50 check.
• Best Tile Store:   Millie, on Zicatela, across from the orange apartments. Best prices.
• Best Hardware Store:   Several have been mentioned. Materiales del Puerto is convenient (near the Ahorrara) with good service and ample selection. Ferretodo, near the Post Office, has everything hanging up so you can point if you don't speak Spanish, and good service as well. Zimat is favored by contractors with larger orders and is oriented more toward construction materials. The House of Screws (Casa de Tornillos, 15°51.903'N 97°4.251'W) is just the best little screw house in Puerto with a staggering assortment of nuts, bolts, washers, etc. It is in the same neighborhood as Ahorrara and Materiales del Puerto. If you are in the Zicatela area, Materiales Brisas is worth a try, located on the highway next to where the street to the Point intersects. Don Felix on the corner of Av. Oaxaca and 4th Norte, is also mentioned.

• Worst Bar:   Piedra de la Iguana Reportedly this bar drugs and robs its patrons.
• Worst Supermarket:   Ahorrara, 15°51.938'N 97°4.312'W, gets an honorable mention but can't really be the worst because it was the only supermarket in Puerto. Now there is also the Super Che and one reader thinks it's the worst.
• Worst Abarrotes (grocery):   Aborrotes Super 69 on the Rinconada, 15°51.709'N 97°4.623'W. Known for its surly owner and out of date food items.
• Worst Notary:   Lic. Hugo Manuel Felix Garcia Notary 14 in Bacocho. Reported for bad service, rudeness and expense.
• Worst Telephone Company:   Telmex gets an honorable mention as it is the only choice for most people. There is a 5-year waiting list to get a telephone in Puerto Escondido thanks to the "performance" of this competency-challenged organization.

  
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The Pacific Coast of Mexico www.tomzap.com Tom Penick:  tom@tomzap.com