Written by Harriet Sleath
MID CityBeat team has gone out of the Centro to find some great breakfast/brunch spots. There are some incredible restaurants all over the city and the following are our 5 recommendations.
Siqueff Restaurant (Norte)
The Siqueff family came from Lebanon to Mexico almost 100 years ago. Their culinary journey started in Motul, home of the famous huevos motulenos. Inspired by the interesting and flavoursome cuisine of Yucatan, they created a fusion of Mexican and Lebanese food. The result is a delightful twist on some traditional Mexican dishes such as chilaquiles and, of course, huevos motulenos.
The Siqueff Norte branch was opened 3 years ago and you will notice the peculiar Lebanese choices on the menu. A very clear essence of Lebanon can be tasted in one of the breakfast specials, the huevos arabes con kafta which is fried eggs served with Lebanese ground beef. This unique combination is presented in a dark bowl accompanied by cream to make a rather mysterious-looking dish. The flavours are excellent and the portion size is perfect for breakfast.
Another great choice (though it might fit better under the ‘brunch’ bracket) is the incredible sandwich barra de pierna de ajo. This is an incredible mouth-watering pork baguette served with avocado, melted cheese and gravy. The pork is super tender due to being marinated for a whole week. It’s definitely worth a try. A refreshing drink option to accompany this would be the fija orange, strawberry and pineapple.
The food quality is second to none. Chef David Diaz has joined the Siqueff family and together they’ve managed to keep up with a fast-changing Merida. It’s not easy to evolve at such speed but this fusion of Lebanese and Yucatecan food is giving Siqueff an edge over other local establishments.
The restaurant itself is decorated with colourful and interesting artwork. One wall is a gallery of work produced by female artists and students who studied with painter Ariel Guzman. It was the idea of the customers themselves which makes it even more special and it definitely contributes to a very homey atmosphere. The commitment to the food quality and providing excellent service to their customers can be seen in every detail. So step through the regal archway and come and try some of the interesting flavours from Lebanon and Yucatan.
Need to know info:
Opening hours: Monday to Saturday 8.00-18.00, Sunday 9.00-18.00
Address: Av. Andrés GarcÃa LavÃn 349, Montebello
Contact: 999 406 3763
Facebook page:Â https://www.facebook.com/Siqueffnorte/
Volta Café
Tucked away behind Altabrisa in a sleepy plaza you will find Volta Café, a slice of sophistication, perfect for your next breakfast trip. Volta serves delicious Mexican dishes and breakfasts in an upmarket space with a 1920s European vibe. You will be welcomed at the door with a smile and seated by the window where you can smell the wafting scents of fresh coffee and pastries.
The coffee is aromatic and smooth and perfect first thing in the morning. Their coffee is actually a special blend of flavours made especially for Volta by Manifesto Café. If you’re a true coffee lover and you enjoy trying different and alternative types of coffee Volta also offers some delightfully different ways of serving their coffee. For example, the Japanese siphon is a delicious speciality beverage brewed using a method over 100 years old and served at your table on an unusual apparatus so you can watch your coffee being prepared. In addition to their coffee, there are choices of fruity and flavourful teas or tisane infusions, for example the enamora moras secas and luche petalos de rosas.
Breakfast at Volta is truly exceptional. Served until 1pm (2pm at the weekend), their menu offers an extensive variety of breakfast dishes. Try the divine Benedictos California, lightly cooked poached eggs served on a waffle with sides of sausage and bacon drizzled in hollandaise sauce. A marvellous vegetarian option is the Pita with scrambled eggs (cooked to perfection), pesto, panela cheese, onion, avocado and tomato.
For a slightly more European style breakfast, after all it does feel like you’re sitting in a coffee shop by the Eiffel tower, there are delicious sweet breads, pastries and slices of cake and the fruit salad is a perfect combination of mouth-watering fruits served with natural yoghurt and granola.
We cannot recommend Volta Café enough. Inspired by the desire to serve good coffee and a restaurant which appeals to all types of coffee-lovers, Volta has hit the nail on the head. Whether you’re coming with family or friends, for an overdue catch-up or a business meeting, in search of light or substantial breakfast options, Volta Café is absolutely perfect.
Need to know info:
Opening hours: Daily 8.00-22.00
Address: Calle 20 x 15 #235, Col. Altabrisa
Contact: 999 429 9840
Facebook page:Â https://www.facebook.com/voltacafemid/?rf=321929958207423
Dalia Café Bouquet
Tucked away in the corner of the small and pleasant Plaza San Angelo, close to City Centre, you can find this beautiful little café which makes you completely forget that you’ve just stepped inside from the humidity and glaring sunshine typical of Merida.
It comes as no surprise that this pocket-sized establishment used to be a florist. The ceiling can’t be seen due to all the hanging flowers and vines – it feels a bit like you’re having breakfast in a wood in a fairy-tale. What adds to this magical element is that the decoration changes with the seasons. As the changing of the seasons is something that is not that obvious here in Yucatan, it’s a really nice touch that one can come to Dalia and feel very autumnal or spring-like.
The breakfast menu is positively delightful and works in perfect harmony with the tranquil atmosphere. The dishes are extremely well presented and dainty. A particular favourite is the waffle avocado which is deceivingly light. For a plate consisting of both bacon and steak, the fluffy waffle makes it a nice surprise. Another highlight is the huevos pochados, fluffy eggs served on soft muffins with a perfect spreading of hummus and topped with tomatoes, pepper and mozzarella – a really delicious combination. And, it would appear that you can’t have a breakfast establishment in Mexico without offering a version of chiliquiles; here it’s combined with the staple mole to make an extremely tasty fusion – this is 2 epic Mexican classics wed in epic fashion.
Our favourite thing about spending a morning at Dalia is by far the enchanting spectacle of the dragonball tea. This spellbinding beverage is a perfect addition to a foliage-themed cafeteria. You can sit and watch as the dragonball seed slowly opens in the hot water creating a spectacularly delicate and vibrant flower. It’s very natural and also extremely soothing.
We highly recommend this gorgeous café, perfect for a Sunday brunch away from the crowded centre and excellent for you next food-related Instagram post! ‘I must have flowers, always and always’ is printed on the wall and we couldn’t agree more!
Need to know info:
Opening hours: Daily 8.00-20.00
Address: Plaza San Angelo, Calle 39 x14, San Ramón Norte
Contact: 999 241 6979
Facebook page:Â https://www.facebook.com/daliacafe/
Hacienda Teya
Okay, technically this doesn’t come under the breakfast category as Hacienda Teya doesn’t actually open early enough for us to class it solely as breakfast. So we are including it as a brunch option, for those who are looking to get out beyond the periferico of Merida. Yucatecans eat later anyway so why not join them?
This is perfect for a weekend day out. If you’re heading to some ruins or a cenote and you’re in search of a laid-back morning breakfast stop on the way, stop at Hacienda Teya.
Founded in 1683 the hacienda was an agricultural ranch which later joined the production of hennequin which continued until the 1970s. Now, Hacienda Teya is known for its wonderful restaurant and surrounding gardens and halls and people come from all over to visit.
The food is truly Yucatecan and super-authentic. There’s no fuss, no gimmicks and no twists on tradition. What’s served is simply top quality, traditional, local food and during your visit you will see the pride and dedication that each member of staff has to giving you the best experience.
For our late breakfast we enjoyed some classic dishes: papadzules, homemade tortillas filled with hard-boiled eggs and topped with a pumpkin sauce, panuchos, round tortillas stuffed with refried black beans and topped with pulled chicken and a sprinkling of vegetables, pok-chok, slices of pork marinated in an orange and achiote sauce, and the incredible longaniza de Valladolid, bright red smoked pork sausage. Yucatecan food can be heavy, but the portions here are perfectly sized and you don’t feel like you’re overindulging. You may even have some space for a dessert after. Take it from us, you will find no better flan in Merida (they’ve won national awards for this) and the dulce de papaya con queso de bola (slices of sweet papaya with small squares of Dutch cheese) is exquisite!
So if you’ve got visitors coming from overseas (or other parts of Mexico), you’re craving a trip out of the city, you’re looking for an entirely different breakfast option or you simply fancy some excellent quality Yucatecan cuisine, choose Hacienda Teya. We can assure you, you won’t be disappointed.
Need to know info:
Opening hours: Daily 12.00-18.00
Address: Carretera Merida Peto Suarez, km 12.5, 97370, KanasÃn
Contact: 999 988 0800
Facebook page:Â https://www.facebook.com/HaciendaTeyaMX/
100% Natural
This is the only chain restaurant that we’ve included but that’s based on the fact that we feel it really deserves a spot on our list. If you’re looking for a good quality, super tasty, healthy breakfast then 100% Natural is a superb choice.
There’s more than one 100% Natural in Merida but we recently visited the establishment on Prolongacion opposite Sam’s Club. If you’re running some errands in this area of the city or you’re heading to beach for the day, stop in here on your way. The restaurant has an airy, outside area surround by bamboo and palm trees and inside it’s light and relaxing, even when it’s full of hungry customers! What’s pleasant is that you really do forget that you’re on a busy road, next to Sam’s Club and Gran Plaza. It even feels beach-like on the terrace with the foliage and basket lampshades.
Looking at the menu at 100% Natural is a bit like reading a book. They pride themselves on being organic and providing top quality vegetarian and vegan dishes. The juice list is extensive! A particularly refreshing option (and great to wake you up in the morning) is the tahiti consisting of grapefruit, strawberry and orange or the exhilarating poder verde, a super drink with celery, spinach, carrot and parsley.
There’s lots of fruit and vegetables in the menu and particularly in the breakfast section. Even the salt in the middle of the table has sesame seeds – a very cute and organic touch. The fresh bread is delicious and the smell that drifts from the kitchen is delightful. The muffins are ‘moreish’ and the coffee is perfectly smooth. We can highly recommend the Hot Cakes del Bosque, deliciously fluffy pancakes made from whole-wheat flour, raisins and oats and topped with forest fruits, and the vegan Tai omelette, made from soya beans with tasty vegetables. The Tai omelette is one of their ‘cocina spa’ options, which means it is high in vitamins, minerals and fibre.
This is an extremely colourful way to have breakfast and you feel very content after. If you’re seeking a break from Yucatecan food, which can be somewhat heavy for those not from this region, 100% Natural offers basically the opposite!
Need to know info:
Opening hours: Daily 8.00-17.00
Address: Calle 8, #306, Gonzalo Guerrero
Contact: 999 948 4590
Facebook page:Â https://www.facebook.com/100NaturalMerida/
