How to Choose an All-Inclusive Resort by Its Food: Buffet, Restaurants, Snacks and Variety
26 October, 2026 Share
To choose an all-inclusive resort based on its food, look at four things: the quality and rotation of the buffet, the number of à la carte restaurants and how you access them, the availability of snacks outside mealtimes, and the variety of cuisines, including options for specific diets. Two resorts with the same plan can offer very different dining experiences, and those differences rarely show up in the price or in the general description of the rate. This guide explains what to ask in each case before you book.
What does the food in an all-inclusive resort cover?
The “all-inclusive” label alone does not tell you what you will eat, where or when. At some resorts, the plan is limited to the buffet restaurant and the main meals. At others, it includes themed restaurants, snacks throughout the day and service at different points around the resort. Before comparing options, it helps to confirm three things: whether the à la carte restaurants carry a surcharge, whether there are time slots with no food service, and which items fall outside the rate. At resorts with RIU’s All Inclusive plan, à la carte restaurants are part of the rate at no additional cost.
How do you evaluate an all-inclusive buffet?
The buffet accounts for many of the breakfasts, lunches and dinners during your stay, so its value depends less on its size than on its rotation. A buffet that changes its offering throughout the week, includes local cuisine and hosts themed nights avoids the feeling of repetition on longer stays. Live cooking stations, where dishes are prepared to order in front of guests, and clear labeling of vegetarian options are other useful indicators.
The Hotel Riu Cancun, an adults-only resort in the heart of the Hotel Zone, is an example of this approach. Its main restaurant, Miramar, combines an international buffet with live cooking stations, vegetarian options and themed nights three times a week.
À la carte restaurants: how many are there, how do you book them, and do they cost extra?
Themed restaurants are what separate a basic all-inclusive from a complete one. When comparing resorts, ask how many à la carte restaurants the property has, what cuisine each one serves, whether they require advance reservations and whether there is any additional charge. It is also useful to know whether any restaurant has a dress code or an age restriction, which matters if you are traveling with children.
The Hotel Riu Gran Canaria, in Maspalomas, complements its buffet with themed restaurants serving Italian, Asian and grill cuisine, among others, where dinner is booked in advance. At resorts with this setup, reservations are usually made during the first days of your stay, through the RIU App or at reception, especially in high season.
Is food available outside restaurant hours?
Vacations rarely follow the schedule of the main meals. A flight that lands in the afternoon, an excursion that runs long or a late lunch at the beach can leave you outside buffet hours. That is why it is important to check whether the resort offers snacks between meals, or whether it runs a 24-hour all-inclusive plan, in which drinks and snacks are available at any time.
At the Hotel Riu Paraiso Lanzarote, on Playa de los Pocillos, the 24-hour All Inclusive plan keeps drinks and snacks available with no time restrictions. For a closer look at how late-night options work, see our guide on whether you can get dinner late at an all-inclusive resort.
Variety of cuisines and specific diets: what should you ask?
Variety matters more on stays of a week or longer. A resort that combines international cuisine, local dishes and restaurants from different culinary traditions lets every meal be different without leaving the property. If someone in your group follows a vegetarian, vegan or gluten-free diet, or has a food allergy or intolerance, ask about it before booking and mention it again on arrival, to confirm what each restaurant offers and how allergens are labeled.
The Hotel Riu Palace Kukulkan, in Cancun, illustrates this well. In addition to its main buffet, Don Julio, it features an Asian restaurant (Sunakku), a Mexican restaurant (La Casa de las Flores), an Italian restaurant (Rossini) and a gourmet restaurant (Krystal), among others, so you can try something different every night without leaving the resort.
What does a premium service like Elite Club add to the dining experience?
For travelers who see food as one of the highlights of the trip, some resorts offer higher service tiers with reserved dining spaces. At RIU, that service is Elite Club by RIU, available at selected RIU Palace hotels.
The Riu Palace Kukulkan itself, the first hotel in the chain to introduce Elite Club, offers these guests à la carte breakfast at Rossini, dinners at the Elite Club Restaurant and premium-brand drinks. It is designed for those who want a more relaxed and personalized dining experience than the buffet.
Questions to ask before booking
- À la carte restaurants: how many there are, what cuisine each one serves and whether they carry a surcharge.
- Reservation system: whether bookings are made through the app or at reception, and how far in advance.
- Hours: what time the buffet closes and whether snacks or drinks are available afterward.
- Diets and allergies: what options the resort offers and how allergens are labeled.
- Restrictions: whether any restaurant has a dress code or an age limit.
- Exclusions: which items fall outside the plan, such as certain premium drinks.
How to compare the dining offer between resorts
The food at an all-inclusive resort can matter as much as the location or the room type, and checking these points before booking helps you avoid surprises during your stay. To widen the comparison to other criteria, see our guide to the six things to compare before booking an all-inclusive hotel in Spain. Each hotel’s page on riu.com details its full dining offer.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
It depends on the company. Some resorts charge extra for them. Under RIU’s All Inclusive plan they are included at no additional cost, although they usually require advance reservations.
The buffet offers a wide selection of dishes during set hours, with no reservation needed. Themed restaurants specialize in a specific cuisine, with à la carte table service, and generally open for dinner by reservation.
At resorts with a 24-hour all-inclusive plan, yes: snacks and drinks are available at any time at the hotel’s bars. With a standard all-inclusive plan, you need to check the hours of each service point.
Contact the hotel before booking and mention it again on arrival, so you know what each restaurant offers and how allergens are labeled.
At most resorts, yes, especially in high season. Reservations are usually made during the first days of the stay, through the hotel’s app or at reception.
