Travel writers used to be a bit condescending about Mérida restaurants. The Centro was considered “sleepy,” and the best meals were said to be served in private homes, not in public eateries.
Bit by bit, especially in the late 2010s, that gradually changed.
Three pioneering restaurants have redefined dining standards in Mérida. Each brings a previously missing element to the city’s culinary scene. In fact, their success helped spark the creation of what is now known as the Corredor Gastronómico — on Calle 47.
Flamante Burgers
Flamante Burgers practically introduced quality hamburgers to the Centro. Photo: Courtesy
Mérida’s Flamante Burgers ended a years-long search for proper cheeseburgers in Centro. Photo: Courtesy
Flamante Burgers introduced Mérida to quality hamburgers that rival those found in major metropolitan areas. Owner Eduardo Vázquez Arvizu opened the restaurant at Calle 64 No. 403 x 47 Centro in 2019, changing local perceptions about what a burger could be.
“I live in Guadalajara and there are no such good burgers there as Flamante’s in Mérida,” wrote one reviewer on TripAdvisor. “Very good quality of beef, and the flavors are very carefully considered. My favorite place for burgers in Mexico.” Another diner praised the experience: “Best burgers of Yucatan! The burger buns were homemade and really soft and tasty.”
The restaurant specializes in handmade buns and premium beef patties, ground fresh in-house. Their signature items include the Holy Guacamole burger and crispy “papas Flamante.” True to tradition, the establishment also serves chocolate, vanilla and strawberry milkshakes made from scooped ice cream.
“This is one of the best burgers I’ve had in my life,” noted a recent visitor. “Very juicy, brioche bun was excellent, and the fries were super crispy.”
Before Flamante Burgers opened, Mérida lacked establishments serving gourmet-quality hamburgers. The restaurant filled that gap, and social media exploded with comments, especially from international visitors and residents who were missing the experience of chomping into a quality burger. (Before Flamante, there was even an ongoing blog about a trio of men from the U.S. on a quest for a decent hamburger in Mérida. Most restaurants missed the mark, with misguided meat blends or frozen patties.)
Update: This summer, Eduardo and his partner, Hannah Hudson, opened a new restaurant called Lalo’s Comedor Casual, Calle 51 near 60. It is open from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. and incorporates the original Flamante talent into breakfast and lunch creations. A beer garden in the rear patio will also be inaugurated.
Micaela Mar y Leña broke new ground offering fresh oysters in Centro. Photo: Courtesy
Micaela May y Leña
Micaela Mar y Leña brought the first truly exceptional raw bar and seafood restaurant to Mérida’s Centro in 2018. Chef Vidal Elias Murillo and his partner Alberto Nacif Figueroa opened the establishment at Calle 47 No. 458 x 52 Centro in 2018, creating what many consider the city’s premier seafood destination.
“Everything was delicious, and the staff was wonderful. I highly recommend Micaela,” wrote one TripAdvisor reviewer. Another diner noted: “The seafood is amazing! We celebrated our Abuela’s 96th birthday, and everyone celebrated with us.”
The restaurant features Centro’s first oyster bar, offering both raw and cooked preparations. American diners are more receptive to raw oysters than Mexican customers, who typically prefer their seafood cooked, according to Chef Murillo.
Micaela specializes in wood-fired cooking, using techniques that honor both the Gulf of Mexico’s bounty and traditional Yucatecan preparation methods. The menu centers on octopus, fish, and shellfish, with the wood-fired octopus emerging as the restaurant’s most popular dish.
“The ambiance is lovely. The service is engaging without being obsequious. And the food is downright superb,” one reviewer wrote. “The shrimp ceviche was cool, refreshing and with loads of shrimp; best ceviche I’ve had in my life.”
The establishment’s name honors a historical figure from a 19th-century diary Chef Murillo discovered, which documented the cooking methods of a former slave who created a new life in Mexico. This connection to regional history influences the restaurant’s approach to local ingredients and traditional techniques.
Oliva Enoteca was Yucatán Magazine readers’ top choice for fine dining in 2024. Photo: Patricia Robert / Yucatán Magazine
Oliva
Oliva restaurants brought authentic Italian cuisine and gourmet pasta to the growing roster of Mérida restaurants, beginning with chef-owner Stefano Marcelletti’s first location in 2018. Raised in Rome, Marcelletti introduced fresh pasta preparation techniques previously unavailable in the city.
“If you are a fan of pasta, Oliva is a must-stop on your visit to Mérida,” wrote one TripAdvisor reviewer. “The food is DELICIOUS… with authentic Italian flavor, the portions are adequate and they have several mixology options.” Another diner noted: “We were hungry for dinner and felt like Italian food… The atmosphere is delightful. I totally recommend Oliva if you’re visiting in Merida.”
The original Oliva Kitchen & Bar created such demand that lines formed outside the small Centro location. This success led to Oliva Enoteca on Calle 47, which became one of the catalysts for the development of the Gastronomic Corridor.
Oliva Enoteca specializes in handmade pasta, risotto, and meat dishes prepared with imported Italian ingredients. The restaurant’s osso bucco and fried calamari have earned particular acclaim from diners seeking authentic Italian preparations.
“Once again, we have had the distinct pleasure of dining multiple times at Oliva,” praised one reviewer. “Even the simplest pasta dishes are a revelation, but don’t overlook the fried calamari and the osso bucco.”
The chain now operates four locations across Mérida, including Oliva Patio on Avenida García Lavín. Each location is committed to traditional Italian recipes while incorporating fresh local ingredients. Interior design is handled by Marcelletti’s wife, Melissa Álvarez de Marcelletti.
These three establishments transformed Mérida from a city known primarily for traditional Yucatecan cuisine into a comprehensive culinary destination. Their influence extends beyond their individual success stories.
The concentration of quality restaurants on Calle 47, anchored partly by Oliva Enoteca and Micaela Mar & Leña, prompted city officials to invest MX$350 million in creating the official Corredor Gastronómico. The beautification project included wider sidewalks, underground power lines, and decorative planters designed to enhance the dining experience.
Modern food tourism guidelines recognize Mérida as an emerging destination that successfully balances traditional Maya-influenced cuisine with contemporary international offerings.
The success of these three pioneering Mérida restaurants demonstrates how individual establishments can reshape a city’s entire culinary identity. By filling specific gaps in the local dining scene, they created new expectations for quality and variety that continue influencing restaurant openings throughout Mérida.
Their legacy extends beyond their menus to the physical transformation of the Centro, where improved infrastructure now supports a thriving restaurant district that attracts both residents and tourists seeking diverse, high-quality dining experiences.
If you go
• Flamante Burgers & Friends – Calle 64 No. 403 x 47 Centro, Mérida | flamante.carrd.co | +52 999 490 9191 | Instagram: @flamanteburgers | 2 to 9 p.m. | Closed Tuesdays
• Micaela Mar & Leña – Calle 47 No. 458 x 52 Centro, Mérida | 999-518-1702 | restaurantemicaela.com | Sunday-Wednesday: 1-10:30 p.m., Thursday-Saturday: Extended hours
• Oliva Enoteca – Calle 47 x 54, Centro, Mérida | olivamerida.com | Monday-Saturday: 1-5 p.m.; 7 p.m.-12 a.m. | Closed Sundays
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Dining and Cooking