Hacienda Teya

Papadzules

Dulce de Papaya

The beautiful and inviting Hacienda San Ildefonso Teya celebrated its 20th anniversary in 2015 as a renowned restaurant of exquisite Yucatecan food and favorite location for special events.

In 1995, at the age of 72, Jorge Cárdenas Gutiérrez opened Hacienda Teya to the public. His goal was to offer the best Yucatecan food and service in an iconic setting that would bring customers from Mérida again and again. He started with only eight tables and no air conditioning! There were lineups at the door so they did an expansion…then another one…and Jorge’s goal became a reality. Today, they can seat up to 280 people.

The hacienda, located just a few minutes from Mérida, was founded in the year 1683 by Doña Ildefonsa Antonia Marcos Bermejo Calderón y de la Helguera, who was the wife of the noble Count of Miraflores.

For two centuries the hacienda was dedicated to cattle ranching, as well as growing corn and other agricultural endeavors, until the 19th century, when it changed its production to henequén.

Later demolished and abandoned, it was bought by Don Jorge Carlos Cárdenas Gutiérrez in 1974, who rebuilt it from 1987 to 1991. Today Hacienda Teya is one of the most popular restaurants in Yucatán. Don Jorge is known as a pioneer in the world of Yucatecan haciendas; he was the first to see their potential and to open a restored hacienda to the public as a restaurant.

Hacienda Teya deserves its standing international reputation as serving the best traditional Yucatecan food in the region, along with consistently outstanding service. Since 1995 its restaurant has been offering authentic and exquisite Yucatecan cuisine, patiently and lovingly prepared by Maya hands. And if you, like so many other visitors to Yucatán, wish you could recreate these delicious dishes at home, pick up a copy of their own recipe book which is available in several languages and formats in their lovely gift shop.

After your meal, take your camera and stroll around the magnificently restored grounds, and look at the installations they have for weddings, banquets and other events. Stained glass windows, lush gardens, a chapel, elegant staircases and their delicious food are key ingredients when you are planning a special event.

The hacienda also has six comfortable rooms available for overnight guests, with breakfast served in the room.