It’s official. I’m in love with One Love. I’m  embarrassed to admit I’ve actually eaten there five times in the past few weeks. In my defence, it is low season in Puerto Escondido which means many of my favourite neighbourhood eateries  ( Luna Rosa, El Sultan, Turtle Bay) are closed.  But One Love is one of those rare places that’s a magical merger of style, charm and taste so I suspect this love affair will continue for awhile.      

One Love, located in La Punta just steps from the now-closed hot spot Guadua, was created mainly to serve the clients at the hostel of the same name. The architecture at One Love Hostal and restaurant is the creation of a recognized architect from  Veracruz.  She’s combined her keen eye for design with inspiration drawn from music icons of the 1960s and 70s. The result is a fun and modern space. 

Those handcrafted bar stools would look great at my place

The open air dining room is filled with so many unique architectural and decor touches — the jute ceiling, murals and custom art featuring Frida Kahlo in a VW van are especially cool – you’ll want to pull up a hand-crafted chair and stay awhile to soak it all in.

Once you dive into the menu, created by a visiting chef from Mexico City and Veracruz and now overseen by the One Love team  who keep a careful eye on the kitchen,  you’ll want to return for more.

Welcome to One Love

Menu items also draw their names from the music world and hippie era, so watch for dishes such as Give Peace a Chance, a fish of the day (usually dorado) breaded in sunflower and pumpkin seeds atop a chile aoili and served with a refreshing tabbouleh salad. Other top options include Groovy Chicken ( chicken breast stuffed with creamy cheese), pizzas and pasta.  If you’re timid when it comes to spiciness, be warned that the pasta dishes  tossed with dried chile pack some serious heat. 

I gave Peace a Chance three times so far

Or, try Woodstock, a grilled tender filet of beef topped with velvety melt-in-your-mouth chipotle goat cheese. It comes with crispy browned baby potatoes and house salad. Menu items are surprisingly affordable and range from 80 – 120 pesos (less than $10 USD)   for a main course. 

Woodstock Filet, one of the dishes at One Love Restaurant, is just $120 pesos

La Punta is developing a serious reputation for good food. They’ve got great Aussie meat pies ( El Lugar) and I’ve been known to trek to Pan y Chocolat Bakery for their croissants.

Now, if I could just convince One Love to open a satellite restaurant on the Rinconada….

Or how about a shuttle bus?

Looking for more great food ideas in Puerto Escondido? Check out these posts:

How to Celebrate Australia Day in Puerto Escondido, Oaxaca Mexico

Salsa Verde ( Green tomatillo salsa)  by the Mexykan Cooking Class 

Chowing Down on huauzontle in Puerto Escondido, Mexico 

 How far would you walk for a chocolate croissant?