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What are the best places to eat? Who has the best margaritas? Where is the best beach? Please send me your input and do explain WHY you think that particular place/business/activity is the best (or the worst) and I can list the information here for others to use. In some cases there have been several nominations but a "best" has not yet emerged, so I am still needing your input. Feel free to create new topics. tom@tomzap.com

For you foreign visitors, I should mention that Huatulco has a growing expatriate population. Naturally these folks develop a longing for the things they miss, like a hamburger, pizza, sushi, etc. When these are available locally, they are appreciated and perhaps recommended by the local population but if you are coming from a metropolitan area outside of Mexico, such items found here may not match your experience. What you are more likely to enjoy here is Mexican food when prepared by Mexican cooks. Two items often overlooked at Mexican restaurants are the aguas and the soups. An agua is a fresh fruit drink (whatever fruits are in season) with water and sugar added which is often not on the menu but available in most restaurants. My favorite is agua de sandía (watermelon). Order a pitcher (una jarra). And the soups in Mexico are fantastic. But if you do eat at an Italian or French restaurant, for example, it is generally better to go ahead and order the dishes they specialize in rather than their Mexican entrees.

This is your page. Please send in your input so I can keep it up to date. And don't forget to include the reasons for your selections.

• Best Accommodation Value:   Huatulco Trailer Park Stay in the upscale part of the resort for $5 a night.
• Best Bar:   Cafe Dublin. Also, Tipsy Blowfish is nominated; the owners are very helpful to English-speaking travelers.
• Best Coffee:   Casa Mayor. Also, The Italian Coffee Co. across from the Barcelo for their coffee and lattes.
• Best Sangria:   Hotel Castillo Beach Club and Kristal Rose are both mentioned.
• Best Restaurant:   Viena Restaurante Bar, Austrian-managed, and L'echelote, with its international cuisine, and preferred.
• Best Mexican Restaurant:   Sabor de Oaxaca is a strong contender. Tostados has been nominated, with its Sopa Azteca.
• Best Palapa Restaurant:   El Huayucan on Playa Santa Cruz, with seafood cooked to perfection and service to match. Ay Caray, located on Playa Maguey and on Palma Real in La Crucecita, is also nominated.
• Best Romantic Restaurant:   Lots of nominations but a clear winner has not emerged. Onix has been nominated, with its view of the square. Azul profundo in the Camino Real Hotel Zaashila has also been nominated. Ve El Mar is nominated. Also Quinta Real (I can see that). And Casa del Mar.
• Best Chinese Restaurant:   Pollo Chino has been nominated, but closes at 6pm.
• Best Italian Restaurant:   Rigoleto is nominated.
• Best Hamburger:   We can't seem to arrive at a consensus but there are choices: Alley Boy Park Bugambilia, near Ocotillo. Large hamburger with the works served with a few fries for 24 pesos or so (2/12). Agave has been nominated, because it just tastes good. La Cuija Beach Club at the Quinta Real Hotel has been nominated. El Arbol near the Super La Fuente, operating out of a family home, is nominated for excellent and very inexpensive burgers. Cafe Dublin and Tipsy Blow Fish, on the La Crucecita zócalo, are nominated.
• Best Steaks:   Tostados Grill is nominated, great service too.
• Best Pizza:   La Crema has been twice nominated for its thin crust pizza and atmosphere. Rigoletto Restaurant in La Crucecita has been nominated.
• Best Burritos:   Los Burritos on Ocotillo is nominated for outstanding burritos, fresh, unique in Huatulco.
• Best Breakfast:   Cafe Bertina has been nominated because of its most amazing pastries and fresh juice. Los Portales is nominated for its huevos de caballo. Terra Cotta for french bread stuffed with creamy sweet cheese, and Cafe del Mar are nominated. Can we make up our minds?
• Best Taco Stand:   The square in Santa Cruz near Ocean Park the man selling tacos from the trunk of his car in the mornings, usually sold out by 11am. El Arabic in Santa Cruz has been nominated for the best arracherra around. Doña Paula in front of El Pata restaurant in La Crucecita has been nominated.
• Best Sushi:   Gala Hotel has been nominated.
• Best Seafood:   Ay Carray is nominated for its phenomenal Pineapple Relleno, filled with a white cheese and savory seafood medley. El Chacal, near Copalita on Hwy 200, is nominated. Also Ve el Mar. For freshness, the palapa at Playa Conejos, run by the fisherman's co-operative. You pick your fish and it is prepared to order served with rice salad, tostadas, salsa. (2/12)
• Best Taxi Driver:   Marcos Lopez (958) 106-1687, is confirmed as the best for being polite, good English, showing up on time even on New Year's Day, and can drive you all the way to Oaxaca. Other nominees are Lazaro (958) 107-0355 for his knowledge of the area and reasonable prices, Saul in car #8666 for being helpful on day trips, speaks quite a bit of English, Juan, the guy who used to work at Oasis, and Esteban Monje.
• Best Abarrotes (grocery):   Super Che, the big discount grocery, has been twice nominated. Autoservicio on Gardenia is nominated. Also Coco Solo on Chahue Blvd. and La Fuente (twice nominated).
• Best corner store (convenience):   El Rincon De Sol, Corner of Mitla and Boulevard Santa Cruz, Sector A, is nominated because of friendly, long-time proprietor, always open with cold beer ready.
• Best Furniture Store:  
• Best Guide:   Mario Cobos cobosmario@hotmail.com is nominated because he is fluent in English and Spanish, knowledgeable, honest, friendly. Also Jose Louis of Blanquita. And Carlos Herrera. And Adelino Olea, who is knowledgeable on flora, birds, history, geography, ttchahue@hotmail.com.
• Best Fishing Guide:   Sergio on the Blue Light vessel is nominated. Manny from Santa Cruz is nominated. Tereso (958) 100-4580 has also been nominated. Jesus, with his boat, White Shark. Isidro Cruz.
• Best Boat Captain:   Tereso has been nominated. Also Jesus, with his boat, White Shark. And Valentino. Isidro Cruz.
• Best Live Music:   Negro Perla, Salvaje and La Peña are nominated.
• Best Hardware Store:   Casa Pepe on Jazmin in La Crucecita is the one.
• Best Dive Shop:   Everyone agrees, it's Hurricane Divers.
• Best Massage:   Esmarelda at Osho.

• Worst Food:   The Barcelo gets a nomination (except for the omelet girl).
• Worst Car Rental:   There may be some competition for this honor, but Thrifty gets my nomination. Reasons are for failing to honor my reservation by declaring me a "no show" as I was standing before them at the appointed hour, and for their policy that "Credit Card insurance coverages are not accepted in Mexico" and requiring you to purchase insurance even though you may already have the coverage through your credit card company. Eurocar gets similar complaints for non honoring reservations and requiring that you purchase additional insurance, in addition to meticulous searches for new dents and scratches for which they may charge their customers. Received a February 2011 update saying that this is still the case with Eurocar.

Help keep this information current. Email tom@tomzap.com with updates and additions.

Ayúdenme a mantener ésta información al día. Envía tus actualizaciones y adiciónes por e-mail a tom@tomzap.com.