I was pleasantly surprised on my vacation to Iberostar Hotels & Resorts with the many dining options and quality of food. I know a lot of people research dining at a resort before they go on vacation, so I wanted to share my experience with our “Juice” audience.

I tend to not commit myself to advanced dining reservations in resort.  I don’t like to be on a schedule, especially if I am away for a just long weekend or 3 night vacation.  So a good buffet is a requirement. This is also especially important when travelling with families, as we all know kids can be picky and when in a new country they may need to try a few things before they find something they like.  It’s also not as easy to keep to a schedule with kids, so dining at our leisure, with no reservations, is important.

The main buffet restaurant of Iberostar Cancun is Antigüo Laguito. The selection and quality of food at this buffet was one of the best I have been to.  It was a very large restaurant with both indoor air-conditioned seating, as well as outdoor dining. There was never a wait and the selection at this restaurant was over the top. At breakfast they had everything from Mexican specialties, to fish, to traditional “American” breakfast of cereal, eggs, pancakes and waffles. They even “dipped” donuts while you waited.  Made–to-order omelet stations were throughout the buffet. There was truly not a thing missing and everything was delicious. Lunch and dinner also had a huge variety including fresh fish, shrimp, steak, make-your-own tacos, made-to-order pizzas, a pasta bar and Mexican specialties. The variety didn’t change drastically each night so if you found something you loved, you could have it each night.  There were still enough selections that you could eat here but have something different each time– including dessert!   The staff brought drinks promptly to us and they were very attentive.  If you enjoy a good buffet, and you tend to stick to buffet dining in resort, you will not be disappointed.

One of my favorite restaurants was El Maguey Restaurant because of the unique food and the tranquil view. They are open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. They have a Mexican specialties buffet for lunch each day with authentic carnitas, guacamole, fresh fish, cheeses and so much more.  When in Mexico…you should eat Mexican food! It was delicious and fun to sample local Mexican cuisine each day – again on our own schedule since it is a buffet.  It was a simple restaurant, but the views are stunning, as it is set right off of the beach.  Since it is right between the beach and pool, most guests dined in a cover up and casual shoes for lunch. However, it converts to “fine dining” for dinner.

For informal lunch dining there is also a snack bar that served burgers and sandwiches, so you do not have to miss any time out in the sun.

My family always likes to try a Hibatchi restaurant on vacation when possible. They are usually family friendly, and especially good for groups. Naga Hibachi Japanese Restaurant  did not disappoint.  We did have to make a reservation, but we got the time we wanted and they took us promptly. We were with a group so we were the entire table. They chef was friendly and really entertained us while cooking. The food was wonderful and there were enough menu options for everyone.  We all ordered something different from steak, to shrimp to chicken. The kids were able to be part of the interactive cooking.  It kept them both occupied and entertained. My son still talks about this dinner. Delicious food and a great memory, makes this restaurant tops on my list.

There were so many dining choices at Iberostar Cancun, we didn’t make it to all of them. But there is always next time, so stay tuned!