Nai Restaurant: The flavors of Galicia in Mérida, Yucatán

Nai, the restaurant located within the boutique hotel Delfina, offers an authentic Spanish culinary experience, using the finest local ingredients that Yucatán has to offer. Discover this new Atlantic connection experience.

Since its founding 483 years ago, Mérida, Yucatán, has had numerous connections with Spain; for example, its name, which it shares with the capital of Extremadura, or the Salamanca origin of the Montejo family. However, starting in November 2024, there is a new connection: the Nai restaurant, located on Prolongación Paseo de Montejo x 17-A.

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Nai, which means "mother" in Galician, is not strictly a Spanish restaurant, Chef Álvaro Fuentes, creator of the outstanding menu at this new spot, told me. His intention, he continues, is to celebrate the connection that the Atlantic Ocean establishes between Yucatán and Galicia, the Spanish autonomous community located just north of Portugal. This connection certainly includes elements like fish and seafood, but it also highlights the use of pork and even some beef-based dishes.

The menu at Nai, a Spanish restaurant in Mérida

If you asked me to describe Nai's menu in one word, I would choose "exquisite," as used to refer to something of singular and extraordinary quality. Let me share some examples.

The hogfish with ajada sauce ($430 pesos) is a delicate fish served in a sauce made from olive oil, confit garlic, and paprika.

The tender pork rib with dried fruits ($305 pesos) is exactly what it claims to be, plus crispy on the outside and incredibly tender on the inside.

The octopus in caldeirada ($370 pesos), similar to what you might know as Polbo á feira, is prepared with garlic, potatoes, and confit onions.

As for their flan ($170 pesos), I admit that when Álvaro described it as the best flan in Mérida, I politely nodded and refrained from making further comments. Then I tried it, and I swear, I get it now. It’s flan, but if you’ve tried any other flan in Mérida, let me tell you, this one is in a whole different category. “The secret is in the cooking,” the chef explained when he saw my reaction to its creaminess.

Outstanding culinary experiences at Nai restauran

If you're worried about what to choose, I have good news: the dishes at Nai are perfect for sharing. For example, if you went with three other people, you could order one appetizer per person, such as some papas bravas (which are served with a twist, $90 pesos), a tuna salad ($80 pesos), meat croquettes ($180 pesos), and an order of marrow with shrimp ($140 pesos). If after finishing those, you and your companions have enough room for a main course, you might want to order a fideuá to share among the four of you. The fideuás (calamari, seafood, or rib, $295 - $365 pesos, made for sharing) are one of the most requested specialties at Nai.

At Nai restaurant, all main courses come with four sides: homemade potato chips, fries, sautéed vegetables, and an arugula salad with a honey-mustard dressing that makes it simply outstanding.

Pairings tailored to you at Nai restaurant

Another delightful surprise that Nai has in store for its guests is one of the most extensive wine lists (by bottle and by glass) in Mérida: they offer 94 labels. Of these, 22 (including sparkling wine options!) are available to order by the glass, so you can choose a different one for every portion of your meal.

With such a wide menu, you might be skeptical about the freshness and flavor of the wines by the glass; luckily, the restaurant uses special stoppers with activated charcoal. These allow the wine to breathe and continue evolving without oxidizing or becoming too acidic, extending its shelf life. "Even with these stoppers, we determine a lifespan for each bottle, and when it’s nearing its end, it is taken off the list,” shared Gerardo Agüero, manager of the Delfina boutique hotel. This way, you can be sure that any glass you order will faithfully reflect its true personality.

Nai Restaurant, Atlantic connection between Galicia and Yucatán

Nai Restaurant, located in the Delfina boutique hotel in Mérida, Yucatán, is an outstanding option to enjoy high-quality food with the authentic European touch of the Atlantic.

Nai, Conexión Atlántica

Hotel Delfina

Instagram: Nai restaruante

Photography by Sharon Cetina, for use in Yucatán Today.

First published on the Yucatán Today website, January 2025.