3 Best Restaurants in Chiapas and Tabasco, Mexico

This cozy café is inside a former home of city founder Diego de Mazariegos. But that doesn't mean it's a musty museum. It's surprisingly modern, with a curved bar surrounded by vegetation. Start with sopa de flor de calabaza (squash flower soup) or ensalada de nopalitos (cactus salad), then move on to the tongue-twisting albóndigas enchipotladas (meatballs in chili sauce). There's live music most nights at 9.

In an old house with a pleasant patio, this vegetarian restaurant is a favorite of locals and tourists. Almost everything on the menu is homemade, including the daily baked bread. For breakfast, don't miss the muffins and fruit salad with fresh yogurt. You also can't beat the fresh pastas and pizzas or their soups and salads. Going on a day trip? You can buy pizzas, breads, muffins, and preserves to go.

The coffee is good at this sunny corner café, but it's also a great place to stop in for a meal. (Just be prepared for leisurely service.) The menu includes a wide variety of Mexican dishes, including the delicious sopa de ajo (garlic soup). The pechuga de pollo en chipotle al gratin (chicken breast with chipotle and topped with cheese) is also tasty, but if you're looking for a simpler dish, you can also order more American fare—including burgers and fries.