Quite possible the freshest sushi and grilled meats you’ll have anywhere on earth. The wooden bungalow setting adds to the overall experience.

Almacen is an all-day affair, with fresh croissants and breads in the morning, wonderful cheeses in the adjacent deli throughout the day, and dinner (delicious poppy seed rolls with tapenade to perfectly grilled fish and Provençal pastas) served indoors on the lovely, canopied outdoor patio. Gregarious chef Jean Paul Bondoux wanders freely around the patio and dining room. This place is a must.

Widely regarded as a gastronomic mecca, the beachside spot deserves its reputation and should be everyone's first stop. The setting is magical — soft music, neutral wood decks, candlelight after sunset. You can't help but fall in love with it: all these ridiculously beautiful South Americans, eating incredible yet simple food, mostly cooked over fire, drinking caipiroskas, right on the beach. Creative sushi dishes, wood-fired pizzas, and housemade dulce de leche ice cream were consistent winners. (Contributing editor Christina Ohly literally ate seven meals in a row here).

A casual beach club and restaurant from the Vik Resorts group (Bahia Vik, Playa Vik, Estancia Vik) where they serves everything from grilled snapper and pizzas to Norwegian vodka produced by the Vik family. A festive bamboo bar in the sand draws all kinds: Children frolick freely, larger groups spread out, and the party lasts well into the night.

A special, candlelit spot that can be difficult to find in the dark but is worth the journey for braised lamb and the grilled catch of the day. The atmosphere is magical, but you're not the only one to realize that. Book well in advance.