Apoala

Buena comida en la plaza Santa Lucía. Comimos bien y los meseros hicieron más o menos bien su trabajo. Nos hicieron probar unos cócteles para saber cual ordenar, y después nos llevaron sólo uno… Para dos es poco. Y el de los cócteles, después de sacar una foto con unos clientes pasó los dos Terceros del momento de nuestra comida charlando por su celular…
Sino los demás meseros estaban atentos, la comida rica y las cocciones muy bien hechas. Carnes suaves y platillos de buena cantidad también. Me gustó y le recomiendo.

Our favorite restaurant in Merida. The food is excellent with several Oaxaca and other Mexican specialties. The service is friendly, attentive, and English speaking. It serves many tourists and expats, but it doesn’t have a touristy feel. This restaurant and three others surround Santa Lucia Park. At least once a week (Thursday) there is music on the park bandstand.

Simplemente delicioso! Fuimos a cenar y la carne de corta espectacular. Las entradas los chilaquiles con atún y las flores de calabaza rellenas de queso muy sobrosas. Es la primera vez que vengo a Merida con mi familia y es una excelente opción, no te la puedes perder! !

Absolutely excellent. There really is no other place quite like Apoala in Merida. This restaurant features a gorgeous outdoor dining atmosphere, a prompt and highly knowledgeable wait staff, brilliantly executed and highly delicious dishes, and a small but amazing selection of artisanal Mexican beers. High-​quality imported & local wines are available (your waiter would be happy to recommend a pairing for your entrée) as are some of the world’s finest Mezcals (hand-​made in small batches in the neighboring state of Oaxaca).
I’m not going to get into each and every dish that is available there as I’ve tried practically everything and it is — all — seriously delicious! Apoala takes a unique twist on Oaxacan gastronomy by adding a regional Yucatecan fusion, resulting in flavors that are quite unlike anything else I’ve had before. If you could imagine what authentic gourmet Mexican food is like, this is the real deal.
SInce I can’t say enough about Apoala, and since I don’t want to write a book about them, I figure I’ll leave you with a few things you can expect that will surely help you get the idea of what dining here is like.
— Impeccable Service. When I say impeccable, I mean it. It cannot possibly be better, more courteous, or accurate. Expect to be treated like royalty. The staff knows everything about their food & drink; don’t be afraid to inquire as to what they might recommend for a drink, appetizer, or entrée.
— Flawlessly cooked meats. Each and every time I’ve had meat, whether it be fish or red meat, it is cooked to perfection. Never undercooked, never overcooked. Consistently consistent. They know what they’re doing.
— Fresh, high-​quality and often local/​organic ingredients. Really. And you can taste it. This simple fact makes their salads something worth dying for. The tortillas are hand made, and exceptional.
— Amazing flavor combinations. The braised short-​rib appetizer is a prime example. I believe it’s called Tiradito de Short Rib.
— Excellent drinks. Beer, wines, mixed drinks and Mezcal. You can actually get a flight of Mezcal, which lets you sample 4 different regional and/​or Oaxacan Mezcals. They are constantly changing up the available beers, liquors and wines so there’s always something new to try. Their highly unique mixed drinks are a must-​try.
— Stunning atmosphere in Parque de Santa Lucia, especially in the afternoon and evening. (If you don’t want to dine around many people and loud music, avoid Apoala on Thursday or Saturday as there are community events in the park and it can be hard to have a conversation across the table. Some people may enjoy these events, however, so this is just fair warning.)
This is one of the very best restaurants in Merida, it’s is truly world-​class. If you are into food and want to celebrate the rich history of Mexican cuisine by indulging in something that’s truly unique and delicious, make a reservation at Apoala. You will not be disappointed.
-
-

I cannot say enough about how perfect this experience was. The manager greeted us right away and recommended excellent mezcal cocktails that were extremely well crafted by Arni and crew. The food was delicious and I had the best preparation of soft shell crab ever. We went to bar after meal and tasted house mezcal. Wow! Strongly recommend.

Best restaurant in Mérida. Ruben, Sergio, and David were the most gracious and accommodating hosts; truly the epitome of class and excellent service. I had the zucchini blossoms and the top sirloin tacos which were recommended and they were perfectly seasoned and cooked exquisitely. Can’t wait to return. Go here now, if you don’t– you are missing out on the gem of Mérida.

Very good food, nice service, large selection of mezcal and tequilas, unusual local beers. The smoked salmon with peppers and the steak were both delicious.

This is not a 5 star restaurant in any way. The décor and ambiance is almost cafeteria-​like, the service is about 3 star and as far the food goes, they put a lot more emphasis on the presentation than on the quality. They are trying to be fancy, the portions are small… but the ingredients/​flavors don’t mash very well, the food generally is bland. A little overpriced too, a 0.5 liter sparkling water is 80 pesos… If you read the 5 star reviews on this place it’s pretty obvious that some of them are written by the owner or friends & family. You fellow honest Unilocalers that gave this place 5 stars, you need to go out more…

Pros:
–Thin blue corn tostada to eat with a red and green sauce/​salsa before the meal. I love thin chips and this was the best one I’ve tasted in Merida. Also the salsas were really good.
–good quality ingredients and creative dishes
–beautiful food presentation
–friendly waiters and they speak English
Cons:
–my husband and I ordered the sea bass and lobster pozole and both were bland! The lobster in the pozole was not flavorful like lobster usually is, so I’m not sure how they managed that. The sea bass was steamed, so that’s probably the reason why it was bland. But that’s the way it comes, so maybe they should change the way it’s prepared to grilled.
–service was slow
I came here based on the glowing Unilocal reviews but was disappointed. However since the quality was good, I’d come back and try something easy like tacos.

Un lugar muy bonito con una terraza animada, buen servicio y comida excelente.
Para una noche en pareja o con amigos

Amazing meal! Decadently gorged ourselves on exquisite foods for ~$ 25US per person. Sorry, no time for more details. Just GO!

This is gourmet Mexican cuisine by one of Mexico’s top chefs – she’s from Oaxaca but studied in D.F. It’s like you’re in Sonoma or Manhattan, but better, you’re on the Yucatan peninsula! The handmade pasta is to die for and order the ensalada verde for a symphony of flavors. I was treated like a queen by the host and wait staff and even got to meet the unassuming, very kind chef. Treat yourself to this dining experience!

Avoid!!! Do yourself a favor don’t go!!! At all means. I cannot opine about the food because after 1 hour and 10 minutes, and several other tables been served the waiter told us that our appetizers where not ready! If you are up to waiting 2 hours for your food then it could be your kind of place. When the waiter volunteered to let us see the kitchen they had only 3 appetizers prepared. The kitchen was messy and dirty! Needless to say we left with the manager not offering any explanation but to say that if we didn’t like we should leave and pay forrvour drinks. All this on a Saturday night! It definitely is a place unlike any other one in beautiful Merida, where service can be slower than optimal but not disrespectful; AVOID AVOID AVOID

Apoala is a delightful restaurant on Santa Lucia Plaza. The restaurant is very close to a small stage on the Plaza, which frequently has performances going on.
The ambiance of the restaurant is wonderful. There are house musicians 3 nights a week who provide the perfect background accompaniment to the meal.
The staff is outstanding. Friendly, knowledgeable, attentive. The managers keep a sharp eye on everything in the restaurant, the terrace and the plaza.
And, of course, the food. Yes, the food. The «De La Casa» salad, with lightly seared tuna on a bed of greens and grilled vegetables is perfect. ⁵⁄₅. The tuna and pork belly tacos were light, clean, and provided a delicious mix of flavors. ⁵⁄₅. The pork roast, seared black on the outside and fall-​apart moist inside, served on a bed of lentils, was the best I’ve ever had. ⁵⁄₅.

Great new dishes to try from the Mexican/​Mayan culture. The drinks were delish and the food didn’t stand a chance from my belly :-)
The waiter knew English as good as anyone and often joked with us. He was extremely helpful with the menu and drink selections.
Cost…come on, this is Mexico. You’re never over paying if you’re from the USA.

**FAVORITE RESTAURANT IN MERIDA**
AMBIANCE
=========
Romantic, terrace seating overlooking Santa Lucía Park.
Dressy, so make sure to wear something nice.
Guitar band playing nearby.
FOOD
=====
SHRIMP CEVICHE
The freshness and taste were unbeatable.
Probably the best ceviche I’ve ever had.
RATING: ⁵⁄₅
MOLE TACOS
Wow, that mole sauce.
Perfect everything.
RATING: ⁵⁄₅
BEVERAGE
==========
TEQUILA TASTINGS
Requested two good tequilas (of course we didn’t know what they were).
It was like a blind tequila tasting.
They were both smooth and solid.
RATING: ⁴⁄₅
COCKTAILS are solid.
Make sure to request their Oaxacan Old Fashioned.
RATING: ⁵⁄₅
Staff were efficient and friendly.
Bartender and other staff members stopped by our table to check on us.
PRO TIP
=======
— Check out their lunch and cocktail specials.
— Call or e-​mail for reservations.
— Check out their next-​door Speak Easy for another fantastic cocktail.
HIGHLY RECOMMEND for romantic dinners or group gatherings.

Hands down one of the best meals I’ve had, y lo dice alguien muy fan de la comida mexicana .
Con enfoque oaxaqueño y sus instalaciones muy hip es el lugar perfecto para pasar una velada interesante. Como amante del mole puedo constatar que el que hacen a mano es uno de los más ricos y cuidados que he probado.
Permítanse convencer por su amable staff de probar un buen trago de mezcal, no recuerdo el nombre pero el que sirven con un manojito de romero como atracción olfativa es delicioso. Permítanse tomar un segundo.
El servicio es impecable. Todos los meseros conocen bien su carta y comparten sus favoritos y recomendaciones. Muy probablemente sea saludados por el jefe de meseros, la chef y/​o el dueño. Déjense consentir.
Sin duda Apoala es una parada obligatoria en Mérida para cualquiera que guste de la buena comida y la buena música al aire libre.

I had a great dinner at this restaurant! Everything was fresh and tasty! We ordered the guacamole and we had the tuna tartar witch was so fresh:) we also order the short rib tacos they were good, and they serve a very large portion! So if you want to share you can!

Oh baby!
A friend of mine and I tried Apoala a couple of weeks ago when we were down in Mérida for a photo shoot, and hot damn was it good!
We sat outside on the terrace of the little square that the restaurant is situated on, and had a couple of insanely delicious cocktails that I would kill for right now (and this is coming from someone who usually won’t consume any beverage that contains more than 2 ingredients).
The food was a 10 on 10 and the service was impeccable. The taste, freshness, originality and presentation of the dishes were all perfection. Note that I’m a pescatarian and could eat a good 70% of the things on the menu ’cause there was tons of fresh seafood and fish to choose from. Yewwww!
Our waiter was super fun and friendly, and we were made to feel completely at home by Reuben, the restaurant’s associate manager who gave us tons of tips on places to see in the city, and who not only offered us a complimentary Mescal tasting at the end of our meal but personally brought us to the new speakeasy they just opened to give us a sneak peek of the interior.
Seriously this place was so fantastic that it rivals any top tier restaurant in Paris or New York, but because it’s in Mérida, everyone there is 10 times friendlier.
We ate here two days in a row and I regret not going back a third time before coming back home.

I found this restaurant on Unilocal and so glad we gave it a try! It was a very warm night, so we opted to sit inside the very pretty restaurant.
A friendly waiter greeted us right away and offered us drinks. While vacationing in Mexico I discovered that Mezcal is one of the best drinks ever, but I didn’t want to drink it straight with our dinner, so I asked the waiter what his favorite Mezcal based cocktail was and he pointed out a cocktail with pineapple and other tasty ingredients. For my main dish I ordered the fish of the day, which is prepared with a corn based crust and served atop green gnocci, with tartar sauce on the side and avocado on top.
Before our meals arrive we were given large tostada-​like chips and two incredibly tasty salsas.
Our drinks were beyond good and I had to resist the temptation to down the entire thing and order a second! Our meal was also amazing: the sea bass was cooked to perfection and the avocado and gnocci paired very well with it. For dessert the four of us shared the chocolate genache cake, it was really more like a brownie and it was rich and decadent. The brownie cake was served with guava ice cream that was also delicious.
We ended our meal with a Mezcal each
and we enjoyed the way the waiter poured it for us and another service told us the proper way to enjoy a Mezcal; I had already learned this earlier in our vaca, but still enjoyed hearing it again.
If you’re hungry in Mérida, I recommend eating here!

Me venía haciendo ojitos desde hace un tiempo hasta que por fin encontré la ocasión ideal para cenar allí. Apoala es un lugar especial, que se arriesga en su diseño para crear una atmósfera entre romántica y vanguardista. De la comida ni hablar: todo su menú es delicioso, apostando por una interpretación de la comida oaxaqueña con recetas de un toque moderno.
No íbamos con mucha hambre, pero nos deleitamos con unas flores en amarillo. Flores de calabaza capeadas y rellenas de queso, servidas en mole amarillo, ingredientes que juntos forman un sabor espectacular. Además, de sólo verlo te enamoras, el platillo era precioso, que no querías destruir para comerlo.
Probamos también el coctel hecho con mezcal, piña y cilantro, una delicia al paladar en el que podías sentir el saborcito ahumado del mezcal interactuándo con los demás ingredientes.
Esto se verá raro pero… ¡tienes que conocer los baños! El diseño es precioso, no te esperas una decoración así cuando vas a lavarte las manos.
Y por último, quiero hacer hincapié en el servicio, porque te atiende un joven super lindo, atento, amable… ¿ya dije lindo? Y siempre se preocupa de que todo esté muy bien y no te falte nada.

Deliciously expensive and worth it: try tuna tartare or fried zucchini blossoms — you won’t be disappointed. Best Michelada I had yet… We shall return for another special meal before leaving Merida!

Hasta ganas me dieron que Oaxaca esté más cerca de Mérida después de una cenita en Apoala.
Ubicado en el Parque de Santa Lucia, que últimamente se ha convertido en mi rincón favorito de Mérida, es un lugar bellísimo y muy nice para una cena especial o simplemente por el gusto de disfrutar de la vida.
Para cenar lo mejor que puedes hacer es escoger una mesa en los portales, la vista será bellísima e indiscutiblemente hará tu velada muy agradable.
Puedes comenzar tu noche pidiendo unos mezcales, si el sabor del mezcal sólo para ti es muy fuerte igual tienen cócteles que están buenísimos, no soy fan de los cócteles, rara vez lo pido, pero de este lugar ya he probado varios y todos me han gustado, en particular te recomiendo el Chikka.
No dejes de probar la Tlayuda o los chilaquiles de atún, pero la torta de langosta definitivamente es mi favo del lugar.
Los precios son elevados, incluso para la zona, pero por lo bello del lugar, la excelente atención, las bebidas y lo rico de la comida en mi particular opinión muy bien lo vale.

Ubicado en el parque de Santa Lucía, es un exquisito restaurante de comida oaxaqueña, en donde el diseño y la vanguardia son elementos fundamentales del éxito de este lugar.
Con un menú elaborado cuidadosamente, fusionan las delicias de la comida tradicional oaxaqueña con la vanguardia de la cocina actual, puedes degustar desde la clásica tlayuda a base de totopo gigante de maíz con arrachera y chorizo, hasta moles de diversos colores los cuáles reafirman mi fé en la humanidad, y mi gusto por la buena comida.
La carta de bebidas es igual de elaborada, tienen cocteles maravillosos y originales así como cervezas nacionales y varios jugos, sin embargo no hay que olvidar que al ser un restaurante con concepto oaxaqueño el mezcal no puede faltar, el cual es ideal para acompañar tu comida.
Entre mis favoritos para comer en Apoala, están de entrada las flores en amarillo, que son flores de calabaza capeadas y rellenas de queso y bañada de mole amarillo, (es imposible no salivar mientras escribo esto) y después de las flores en amarillo, pido mi tlayuda mixta y una cerveza montejo para acompañar y listo, el día se hizo. Recuero esta comida porque ahí celebré mis 29 añitos, y sentada en una mesa comiendo en un lugar tan lindo y con dinero para pagar lo que comía, me di cuenta que por fin estaba logrando ser adulta con éxito.

El día que fui a Apoala llegamos sin reservación. Era un jueves a las 9 pm, llenísimo. Esperamos a lado de la barra a que una mesa se desocupara y nos atendieron igual; pedimos algo de tomar. Como a los 15 minutos nos tuvieron la mesa.
El menú suena delicioso, y terminamos pidiendo varios platos al centro. Yo me concentré en las flores de calabaza rellenas, que estaban buenísimas. No tenían demasiados platos vegetarianos, pero incluso si este fuera el único yo no tendría mucho problema con repetir.
El ambiente está muy a gusto y el servicio es atento. Tiene una parte cerrada y otra parte al aire libre, ahí en la mera placita de Santa Lucía, y para sentarse y pasar el rato está comodísimo. El servicio estuvo muy atento.
Este lugar queda excelente para invitar a amigxs que estén de paseo en Mérida porque está en medio del Parque de Santa Lucía. Encantador.

El arte de la decoración y el buen gusto son lo que me maravillaron más de este lugar, el Apoala es un lugarcito DELI y todo hermoso, es impresionante.
Las entradas son exquisitas, quiero probarlas todas, y la tlayuda está ¡yum!, si quieres pedir platillo más choncho o como gustes, pero escúchame bien, deja un huequito para el postre, SON SUCULENTOS, la crème brûlée no tiene comparación. Es una experiencia que debes vivir. Es comida fusión oaxaqueña y si así sabe Oaxaca, me lo como en dos mordidas. Los camarones en salsa holandesa son de otro planeta, quiero regresar YA.
Mezcal de Oaxaca todo un winner y no debes perderte la oportunidad de echarte un mojito de mezcal. Te recomiendo ir los fines de semana como para cenar, para que puedas disfrutar tanto de la vista hermosa que tienes en la terracita y aparte hay musiquita para que la disfrutes con todas las de la ley, una súper velada.
Los precios son algo elevados, pero vale totalmente la pena.

Mis largas caminatas por Mérida, me han llevado a hermosos rinconcitos que guardan la gran historia de este pueblo luchador, esta vez mis piececitos aventureros me llevaron al portal de Santa Lucia, donde la arquitectura se mezcla con enormes árboles transformándose en un oasis dentro de la ciudad, aquí se respira la calma, donde podrás sorprenderte con un bello restaurante, Apoala.
Apoala es una cocina estilo Mexicano con toques Oaxaqueños. Es ideal para una buena comida o disfrutar una cena bajo la tenue luz de las velas mientras disfruta la brisa de la noche.
El platillo estrella de la casa es Flores en Amarillo, que consiste en flores de calabaza crujientes, rellenas de queso Oaxaca, cilantro y hierva santa sobre mole amarillo. Describir este platillo se me hace agua la boca.
La carta es amplia desde platillos vegetarianos a productos del mar, aquí todos son invitados a disfrutar una deliciosa comida.
Los precios son algo altos pero vale totalmente la pena invitar a tu pareja a disfrutar una exquisita cena.
Apoala te lleva a un viaje gastronomito, donde cada ingrediente vas a sentir y disfrutar a través de los sabores a México.

Consistently good food, well prepared and served in a beautiful setting. One of the best in Merida!

We really loved our experience here. The food was perfect and the service was some of the best we experienced in Merida.
Sitting outside in lovely open courtyard only added to the experience.
This is one of our favorite restaurants in Merida.