Sanborns Acapulco | Mexico's Famous Diner Chain and Eatery

Sanborns, thriving since 1903, serves Mexican and international diner classics like enchiladas suizas and molletes across its Acapulco chain. Known for its soda fountain origins and department store charm, it’s a retro haunt with a shopping twist.

Dining

Sanborns serves a menu blending Mexican and international diner fare, featuring dishes like enchiladas suizas, chilaquiles with chicken, Swiss-style breaded steak, and molletes, alongside desserts such as tres leches cake and flan. Operating as a chain with a department store twist, its restaurants offer a soda fountain vibe with coffee refills, juices, and cocktails like margaritas, praiseworthy enchiladas and fresh cappuccinos. Locations feature open-air patios or air-conditioned interiors, often with TVs airing sports or news.

Amenities and Services

The restaurant chain provides the following features and services:

Open-air patio seating at select branches
Indoor air-conditioned dining areas
Takeout and delivery via Uber Eats or Rappi
Wheelchair-accessible entrances and seating
Free parking lots or valet at most locations

Restaurant Details

Hours: Open daily, typically 7:00 AM to 11:00 PM; some branches adjust post-hurricane
Reservations: Accepted via phone or website, not typically required
Dress Code: Casual attire common among guests
Parking: Free parking or valet, varying by branch
Payment: Accepts cash and major credit cards; average cost per person ranges from MXN 250 to MXN 500

Locations

Sanborns operates several branches across Acapulco, each tied to a department store with distinct characteristics:

Av. Costera Miguel Alemán 209, Centro – The historic downtown branch near the Zócalo, known for its bustling Costera perch and gift shop appeal.
Av. Costera Miguel Alemán 3111, Costa Azul (Oceanic 2000) – Inside Plaza Oceanic 2000, this spot offers bay views and a cinema-adjacent vibe, with a pharmacy and updated interior; praised for coffee.
Av. Costera Miguel Alemán 1260, Fracc. Club Deportivo (Calinda) – A smaller, modernized branch near Hotel Calinda, noted for consistent breakfast specials and ample parking.
Blvd. de las Naciones 1301, Diamante – In the upscale Diamante zone beside Mundo Imperial, it’s larger with valet service, catering to tourists.

What to Expect at Sanborns

Sanborns has been an Acapulco dining and retail chain since 1903, founded by Frank and Walter Sanborn as a soda fountain that grew into a Carlos Slim-owned empire, blending casual meals with shopping. Its branches offer a retro diner feel. It draws families, tourists, and locals for its enchiladas and coffee, with its gift sections remaining a draw.