A warm “Fins Up” greeting and a refreshing tequila popsicle. It’s what my daughter and I expected, and received, upon arrival at the Margaritaville Island Reserve in Riviera Maya. What surprised us during our stay was the quality of the food at the adults-only all-inclusive in Mexico. Here’s a review of the overall dining experience with bite and sip highlights, dress code info and tipping advice.
Editor’s Note: The writer was hosted.
First Impressions: Margaritaville Island Reserve Resort
It’s a quick, half-hour drive from the Cancun airport to the Margaritaville Island Reserve Riviera Maya, a 355-room oceanfront all-inclusive resort. Staff welcome guests with a hand gesture popularized by Jimmy Buffett and his fans. If you want to return the greeting, place your open hand on top of your head with your fingers pointing up like a shark fin.
You’ll receive a bracelet at check-in that serves as your key. An Island Ambassador will provide an overview of the property and escort you to your room to begin your stay in paradise.
What We Love About the Margaritaville Island Reserve Resort:
- Food quality far exceeds expectations for a mid-range all-inclusive
- Pristinely clean grounds and rooms
- Friendly staff readily accommodate guest requests
It’s important to note that although you can see and hear the ocean, there is no beach at the Margaritaville Island Reserve. Guests who want to swim in the sea can request day passes to access the Margaritaville in Riviera Cancun.
My daughter and I didn’t mind. We were thrilled that there were plenty of shaded lounge chairs poolside with beverage service.
Dining at Margaritaville Island Reserve
What sets Margaritaville Island Reserve apart from other mid-range Mexico all-inclusives is the quality of the food and ambiance of the dining venues. Other guests confirmed our opinion, including Heather, a Canadian on her 10th visit to Mexico. She was initially underwhelmed by the Margaritaville lobby; it didn’t wow her like other resorts she’s visited. But the food did, and she said she’d definitely return.
“Our culinary team transforms ingredients into moments that linger long after the last bite,” says Daniela Vallejo Serrano, the resort’s Executive Chef. “Our philosophy goes beyond cuisine — it’s about the spirit of hospitality.” Memorable food and beverage experiences such as mixology classes, chef-led dining and the floating Avocado Boat filled with Mexican favorites, “linger long after the last bite,” notes Serrano.
Where you choose to eat at the Margaritaville Island Reserve depends on your mood and the time of day. Here’s how I rank the restaurant vibes from “wear your flip flops” to “shirts and shoes required.”
- License to Chill Bar – tacos and tostadas
- The Boat House – casual buffet bites
- LandShark Brewery & Grill – smokehouse favorites served from 11:30 am – 10 pm
- Frank & Lola’s – wood-burning oven and Italian favorites (dinner only)
- JWB Steakhouse – prime cuts and elegant seafood entrees (dinner only)
SheBuysTravel Tip: Other than License to Chill, the restaurants are indoors and air-conditioned. That’s a huge plus, in my opinion. It’s hot in Mexico and I prefer not to sweat my way through a fine dining experience.
Is There a Restaurant Dress Code?
A dress code is implied rather than enforced on property.
- If you’ve just finished an Aqua Zumba class and crave a taco, head to the License to Chill Bar.
- You’ll feel comfortable dining at The Boat House or LandShark Brewery & Grill in a dry bathing suit and cover-up.
- Wear country club casual for dinner dining at Frank & Lola’s and JWB Steakhouse or glam it up if you’re celebrating a special occasion.
- Want to dine in your robe? Room service is available 24/7.
Reservation Info
Make your required dinner reservations for JWB Steakhouse and Frank & Lola’s using the Margaritaville app. Menus are also available in the app to provide guests with an overview of the food options at each venue. Daily availability during your visit may vary.
SheBuysTravel Tip: You can also make a dining reservation at the front desk or directly with an Island Ambassador, if you’re going offline during your beach getaway.
Are you ready to explore off the beaten path? Let us inspire you!
License to Chill
This was our first stop after check-in at the Margaritaville Island Reserve, because airplane pretzels do not count as lunch. A small menu of bar bites, tacos and burritos are served at this beachside grill and bar.
The bar area is covered and is a great place to hang out with drinks and food during tropical downpours, we discovered by happy accident.
The Boat House: Buffet Option at Margaritaville Island Reserve
The Boat House offers a daily breakfast and dinner (Friday and Saturday) buffet option at Margaritaville Island Reserve. However, Karisma, the resort operator, prefers the term “food display” to buffet. The Boat House is one of the four indoor dining venues with a/c.
The attractive stations tempt diners with a broad range of items that are refreshed frequently. A cooked-to-order option was available for eggs at breakfast and quesadillas during dinner.
SheBuysTravel Tip: Live entertainment is a Boat House highlight. A Mexican folkloric troupe entertained diners with song, dance and an amazing trick roper during a 45-minute show.
LandShark Brewery & Grill
The LandShark Brewery & Grill is an elevated sports bar, with plenty of table, high top and bar seating. Watching the Sunday NFL games was fun. But cheering on the Toronto Blue Jays with a mob of amped up Canadians was off the charts.
The menu features shareable apps, sammies, tacos and specialties from the smoker. You may be familiar with LandShark lager, originally developed by the Margaritaville brand to serve as its house beer, since it is widely available in the US as an Anheuser-Busch product. But at the only oceanfront brewery in Mexico, the lager and seasonal specialties are produced solely for on-site consumption. Beer fans will appreciate the tank-to-tap freshness. Diego, the LandShark brewmaster, conducts tours and tastings several times a week.
SheBuysTravel: LandShark beers are only available in the restaurant. Modelo is on tap at the other Margaritaville bars.
Frank & Lola’s Italian Trattoria
This Italian bistro is lovely to look at and delicious for dining on Italian favorites. My daughter’s eyes lit up when she tasted her first bite of meatball. “It tastes just like Pop Pop’s.” Pop Pop is my 93-year-old Irish father who learned to make traditional Sunday supper from my Italian mother.
Don’t be shy when ordering. If you think you might like an appetizer, order it. The portions aren’t overwhelming, like those found at family-style red sauce restaurants in the States. I suggest ordering several appetizers, the traditional primo pasta course and a protein entree as your secondi. You’ll still have room for tiramisu.
SheBuysTravel Tip: We were asked at every meal about any dietary restrictions. And guests can add this information to their reservation profile by speaking with the resort concierge team.
JWB Steakhouse
The JWB Steakhouse exudes ’40s black and white noir vibes. Within minutes of stepping inside, you’ve forgotten that you’re in a tropical paradise. Jimmy who? It’s more likely that you’ll spot Bogey and Bacall inside.
Want help navigating the steak options? Don’t hesitate to ask the knowledgeable staff. During our visit, picanha was featured on the menu. I wasn’t familiar with the cut, which our server described as a sirloin with a fat cap. My husband would love it. But I stuck with my tried and true tenderloin. It was cooked to medium rare as requested and perfectly seasoned.
Signature Sips
It would be off-brand to visit a Margaritaville resort and NOT drink the namesake tequila cocktail. But beverage options at the Margaritaville Island Reserve are plentiful and include tasty mocktails like the Free Life, a refreshing blend of passionfruit puree, lime juice and soda.
Modelo is on tap for beer fans like me at the swim-up S.O.S. and 5 O’clock Somewhere bars. And check out the seasonal options at LandShark during your stay. The Oktoberfest special, a German kölsch-style brew, paired well with my pulled pork sandwich.
Pre- or post-dinner, head to The Salted Rim, the large lobby bar at Margaritaville, for an expertly crafted cocktail and sophisticated live music.
Morning smoothies and all-day coffee are available at Joe Merchant’s. You’ll also find grab-and-go sweets, salads and sammies.
SheBuysTravel Tip: Margaritaville provides guests with a quantity of points at check-in (based on length of stay and accommodation category). “Spend” your points on snacks and drinks to stock your room’s mini-bar at Joe Merchant’s.
To Tip or Not to Tip
We received outstanding service throughout our stay. Pool attendants rushed to help raise our umbrellas and refill our water glasses. Daily housekeeping includes an evening turndown. When we popped into LandShark for a nightcap, our server asked if we’d like lemon pie or churros for dessert. My daughter shook her head. “I’d really like a chocolate cake,” she wished. Several minutes later, the server appeared with two slices he’d obtained from another restaurant.
The all-inclusive rate at the Margaritaville Island Reserve includes staff gratuities. However, additional discretionary tipping is permitted. I felt it was important to acknowledge the wonderful staff, so I traveled with a quantity of small bills and tipped as follows for our party of two:
- $1 per drink
- $2 daily pool attendant
- $5 breakfast buffet server
- $2 made-to-order chef
- $10 restaurant server
- $5 daily housekeeping
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