Banana & Company — Restaurant in San Miguel de Cozumel

12/11/24—I have been visiting Cozumel since 1997, and every time I come back, it feels like a curious mix of change and nostalgia. Some things are completely different, yet others remain exactly as they were—as if time itself decided to take a nap.

One memory I hold close to my heart comes from 2009. My sister and I were staying at a resort in Cancun, and we discovered the BEST hot chocolate. It wasn’t just a drink—it was a heavenly experience. So good that we’d shamelessly hit the buffet just to fill our cups again and again. Forget food—who needs tacos when you have liquid happiness?

Fast forward to my latest trip, I decided to venture out on my own. My son had clearly made “new friends,” and I was no longer part of his itinerary. Parents, if you’ve ever been ditched by your kids on vacation, you know the feeling—like a travel buddy who's suddenly been voted off the island.

Determined to relive my hot chocolate dreams, I hopped in a taxi and asked the driver where I could find the same magical drink. He gave me that look. You know the one—a mix of pity and sympathy. “I know what you’re talking about,” he said, “but that’s something you’ll only find in the countryside now.” My heart sank a little. Great, I thought. I’m on a quest for cocoa, and the treasure’s in the middle of nowhere.

Still hopeful, I decided to check out a nearby mall. (Side note: I had originally been looking for a place called the “No Name Bar.” The name alone intrigued me—it’s like they wanted to be mysterious. But my “peeps” weren’t there, so off I went to wander the mall like a detective looking for clues… or hot chocolate.)

I stumbled upon a cafeteria and thought, What if? Maybe, just maybe, this place would surprise me. And guess what? It did. The hot chocolate was good—not Cancun 2009 good, but close enough to make me smile. Best part? It didn’t send my digestive system into a tailspin. That’s what I call a win-win.

Feeling victorious, I video-called my sister. “Look!” I proudly declared, showing her my steaming cup of chocolatey goodness. We both laughed and reminisced about the “golden age of cocoa” at the buffet. It’s funny how small things, like a perfect cup of hot chocolate, can bond us and live rent-free in our memories for years.

Oh, and did I mention the cafeteria had free internet? Yep. Sipping hot chocolate, chatting with my sister, and borrowing Wi-Fi—honestly, it was perfection. If you’re ever in Cozumel, I highly recommend this place. It’s not just about the drink; it’s about the quiet moments, the unexpected wins, and finding a taste of joy, even when the original recipe lives only in...

While at the port, I decided to stop into Banana and Company before boarding my ship. The ambiance of Banana and Company was so vibrant and inviting.

Walking in, the wall designs are very eye-catching and set the tone for the upbeat service provided by the staff. As there is an abundance of options from smoothies, the coffee, and sweets, it was truly a hard decision to make as I wanted one of everything. LoL.

As I couldn’t get one of everything, I decided on the Chai Latte. I went to the register, placed my order, received my number, and moved to the side.

Once my order was ready, I headed to the pick-up area, provided my number and received my Latte. Babeeeeeeee… when I say wow, I mean WOW!!!!!!

This was the freshest, most profound flavor dominating latte I have ever tasted. The vanilla was so fresh it was as if it was grown in the cup and infused into everything it took to make the Chai Latte. By the time I finished I was almost at the boat but I wanted to turn around and get another one. LoL!!!!

Thank you to the Banana and Company staff for making such a great chai latte. Your skill and use of fresh ingredients is...

Don’t use Fasty for Banana, Banana adds lots of extra fees, they usually don’t have half of what you order.

I paid with Paypal, when the order finally arrived they didn’t have 3 of the five things I ordered.

No one contacted me from Banana. I didn’t see a refund from paypal, and the delivery person from Fasty told me I had to pay in cash.

Fasty fees plus restaurant fees when added up can cost almost as much as the order.

So between delivery fees and added fees from Banana—and then not even getting half the order and accepting paypal then saying I needed to pay in cash? Yikes,...