The best restaurant in town is Super Carnitas (tel. 504/665-4215, 11 a.m.–midnight daily) at 2 Avenida and 13 Calle on a large wooden deck above a dirt lot, highly recommended for its generously portioned grilled meat dishes. This simple but good restaurant offers a tasty pollo asado, served with tortillas, beans, cheese, and a salad, for US$3. A second branch has opened on Playa Cienaguita, by the Hotel Palmera Beach.

Another good choice is Mr. Baleada’s (2 Av. at 1 Calle E), clean and popular with locals, offering baleadas for US$0.60–1.25, as well as a few other items like burgers.

The local favorite seems to be Plata (3 Av. and 2 Calle E, 6 a.m.–7 p.m. Mon.–Sat., 6 a.m.–noon Sun.), a very clean buffet restaurant and bakery. A plate at the ample buffet runs about US$4.

If you’re after a juice or licuado, head to Licuados Gladys (2 Av. near 6 Calle, tel. 504/665-2777, 7 a.m.–6 p.m. Mon.–Sat.). Blended drinks run about US$1, fresh juices US$0.50, and light snacks (including baleadas and sandwiches) US$0.50–1.

San Pedro’s tasty Pastelería Skandia (corner of 2 Av. and 7 Calle E, 7:30 a.m.–8 p.m. daily) has a branch here, serving up pastries and licuados all day long.

Caffeine jolts and refreshing granitas are available at Espresso Americano (2 Av. and 3 Calle E, 7 a.m.–7 p.m. daily).

For picnic fixings or other supplies, Despensa Familiar (7 a.m.–7 p.m. Mon.–Sat., 7 a.m.–6 p.m. Sun.) just down the street is a full-service supermarket.

On the Beach

Next to the Hotel Playa at the far end of Playa Cienaguita is Ancla Bar y Restaurante (tel. 504/665-2331), with a good selection of fresh albeit pricey seafood (US$10–13 per entrée, less for snacks, US$24 for lobster). The main part of the restaurant is built on a pier out over the water, although there is also dining room on the sand for Semana Santa crowds.

If you prefer meat over seafood, there is a branch of local favorite Super Carnitas right on Playa Cienaguita as well.

Tasty meals are also available at the Hotel Playa, with tables spread across the property, including several under gazebos right on the beach.