If you are a ceviche lover, then Placencia will be paradise for you! Chunks of the freshest seafood citrus-cured in delicious marinades with lots of tomato, onion, cilantro and spice. Over the several weeks I spent in Belize, I took myself on a self-guided ceviche tour with a ceviche stop every day. I’m confident that I found the BEST ceviche in Placencia!
To me, a great ceviche is freshly made with sizeable chunks of seafood, a good ratio of seafood to vegetables, and a balance between the lime, cilantro, and spice. A just-ok ceviche may have a bland flavor or taste like the shrimp was pre-cooked on its own. Or, it may have an underwhelming amount of seafood that leaves you with just a sad bowl of pico de gallo at the end. A bad ceviche…well, the good news is that I never experienced an actual bad ceviche in Placencia!
So without further ado, I present to you the winners of this very unofficial Official Best Ceviche In Placencia tour!!
Best Ceviche (Tie): Sunset Sweet Stop
It’s not a surprise that Chef Myra’s ceviche is delicious, because all of her food is!! Sunset Sweet Stop is an open air restaurant on Sunset Pointe Road on the lagoon side. It’s a great place to go with friends or alone. Jordan will be tending the bar and he’ll make you feel like you’re eating outside at your best friend’s house. Myra’s ranks as the best ceviche in Placencia because it is made fresh to order with large chunks of seafood, a perfect balance of veggies, and the spiciness to your liking. It’s so good that I never remember to get a nice picture before devouring, so Myra had to provide me with one!! Check it out, you will not be disappointed!
Best Ceviche (Tie): The Galley Restaurant
Dawn is another great chef in Placencia! You can find The Galley Restaurant behind the football field off Placencia road. This is another restaurant that doesn’t have a bad option, everything I have eaten there has been delicious. I travel during the slow season so I’ve had the opportunity to chat with Dawn over my meal. Make sure to introduce yourself, you will enjoy her company as much as her food. Her ceviche ties for best in Placencia because….well, just look at those chunks of shrimp! Each is a perfect citrus bite and all the veggies are really fresh and crisp. Try the Galley early in your stay because it will be a repeater for sure!
Runner-Up Ceviche: Mariposa
Mariposa Beach Resort is a bit north in Placencia, almost to the airport. It’s a nice setting with a pool overlooking the beach. I went there to try the ceviche on the recommendation of Chef Myra, and she was right, it was one of the best in Placencia! The presentation was unique with the whole shrimp and the julienne veggies. Extra points awarded for the plantain chips served along with the typical tortilla chips.
Best Lunch Ceviche: The Shak
The Shak is my favorite place to have lunch in Placencia. It’s right on the water’s edge near the point with a large bar that has swings for seats! It’s a great place to meet both locals and travelers. I like their ceviche because you can get it mixed with both shrimp and fish–conch too, when it’s in season. Along with the fresh fish, the marinade is the star of this show–the perfect balance of limey and salty and cilantro-y. I’m not too proud to pick up the bowl and drink the leftovers! Make sure you spend some time sipping a cold Belikin Stout with lime and enjoying the people (and occasional dolphin) watching!
I hope you will visit these four wonderful restaurants on your own to sample the best ceviche in Placencia! Here are some pictures from some of the other restaurants I tried. You can tell from the pics that you’d be doing OK to have any of these in front of you! It’s seriously hard to have a bad meal in Placencia, so go visit and spread your love around. ❤️
