Guest Article

Of Wines and Unique Cookery
Cozumel is more than just a diving destination

Traditionally, the locals of Cozumel have never been interested in drinking wine.. Since wine is generally expensive in the "Island of the Swallows" due to shipping fees and import duties, local brews such as rum, beer, and tequila are more affordable than bottles of wine.

However, in the last couple of years, the local demand for wines had incredibly heightened. This was due to the steady and continuous influx of various well known wines shipped from big cities such as Mexico City and Guadalajara. Wines such as Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay from M&S Wine are becoming popular because of the growing interest of the Yucatans towards wines. According to Cozumel My Cozumel, "as of Jan 2010, there is a vastly greater selection of wine available locally than there was even five years ago… You can find some excellent choices in the moderate ($6-12) price range as well as plenty of the high price spread for those special occasions."

Unparalleled Dining Experience
Apart from the wines, Cozumel boasts of an exciting food and culinary scene. In fact, most of its visitors and tourists love its unique and exquisite cuisines which mirror the island’s rich culture and history. To learn more about the dining destinations in Cozumel, we provided some restaurants previously reviewed by The Cozumel Sun below:

1. Buccanos. This restaurant is located in the north hotel zone on Melgar. It is owned by Chef Ines Falkenberg, who is widely known for its interesting inclusion of unique ingredients into his dishes. Known for its traditional Yucatan cuisine and mouth-watering grilled treats, Buccanos is definitely the place to be for tropical lovers.

2. Guidos. Situated in Melgar entre Calle 6 y Calle 8, Guidos is one of Cozumel’s top dining destinations for several years. Guidos is owned by chef Yvonne Villiger, a popular chef that "never rests on her laurels," according to the Cozumel Sun.

3. Ilé. The Cozumel Sun praised Ilé as a "relative newcomer to the evening dining scene, the renovated second floor space on Melgar between Calle 2 and Calle 4 gets high marks for innovation and execution." Aside from mouth-watering Mexican delicacies, Ilé is also swamped by tourists because of the magnificent seaside view especially at night.