Restaurants in Playa del Carmen
Tiny cafes and fancy restaurants line Fifth Avenue and surrounding streets, and everybody’s got an opinion on what’s best. You can sample Argentinean beef, sushi, fancy pastas, and basic tacos al pastor, but be prepared—dining in Playa isn’t cheap. The least expensive places are several blocks away from Quinta Avenida and close to Hwy. 307. For fish tacos and inexpensive seafood, try El Oasis, on Hwy. 307 at Calle 22 (tel. 984/803-2676). For arrachera (marinated beef) tacos, the place to go is Super Carnes H C de Monterrey, Calle 1 Sur between avenidas 20 and 25 (tel. 984/803-0488).
12 Results
- Mexican
Aguachiles
Tourists who find their way to this locals’ taqueria will be treated to traditional Mexican comfort food with a contemporary twist. Tostadas are made with corn tortillas lightly sautéed in olive oil, loaded with shrimp, tuna, or other fish, and crowned with red cabbage, cucumber,…$Around Town - Yucatecan
Aldea Corazón
Built around a remnant of the ancient Maya jungle containing a cenote and stones left from a long-gone temple, this restaurant’s verdant setting would be worth a visit even if the food weren’t so good—but the fusion of Mexican and Maya cuisine is fresh, creative, and delicious. Try…$$$Around Town - Italian
Casa Mediterránea
Whether it’s as simple as light, buttery spinach and cheese ravioli or a feast such as Spaghetti ai Frutti di Mare (spaghetti with squid, octopus, shrimp and lobster) this intimate restaurant, entered through a courtyard with lanterns hanging from the trees, nails it. The secret is…$$$Around Town - Mexican
Fonda Regina
Don’t overlook this sweet little spot around the corner from Quinta Avenida. There’s usually a bright pink sign outside showing daily specials. Duck through the vine-covered entryway and claim one of the seven yellow, pink, or blue wooden tables covered with purple lace, a floral…$Around Town - Sandwiches
Karma Bagels
This is the place to satisfy a bagel craving or just grab a light lunch or dinner on the breezy terrace. Surprisingly for a region where bagels are scarce, these are fresh, hot and toasty. All come with cream cheese, but their highest and best use here is as a vehicle for a variety…$Around Town - European/Mexican
La Casa del Agua
European and Mexican tastes meet with excellent results in one of Quinta Avenida’s most elegant restaurants. Its water theme extends from the musical waterfall on the terrace, to the flowing traffic pattern of the airy second-floor dining room, to the menu. Seafood, the…$$$Around Town - Organic Mexican Food
La Cueva del Chango
The location at the northern reaches of Quinta Avenida’s tourist zone may be the only reason there’s ever an empty seat at the Swiss-owned “Monkey’s Cave”—which is indeed designed as a cave and has monkeys, mostly of fabric and wicker, in unlikely places. The relaxed, retro-hippie…$$Around Town - Mexican
La Mission
An offshoot of the popular Cozumel restaurant, this open-air place serves Mexican favorites with an emphasis on seafood. The lobster, one of their specialties, is very good, and well priced. They have an especially flavorful version of the traditional Yucatecan sopa de limón, which…$$Around Town - Yucatecan
La Tarraya Restaurant/Bar
THE RESTAURANT THAT WAS BORN WITH THE TOWN, proclaims the sign. The wood hut doesn't look like much, but there are tables right on the beach, and the owners are fishermen. The catch of the day is so fresh it's practically wiggling. If you haven't tried the Yucatecan specialty…$Around Town - Breakfast/Mexican
La Vagabunda
One of the Quinta’s most inviting sidewalk restaurants, the former Las Mañanitas (same owner) wins people over with its delicious breakfasts and brings them back for lunch and dinner. In addition to more than a dozen well-priced combination plates, breakfast dishes run the gamut from…$$Around Town - Mexican
Los Carboncitos
This simple sidewalk restaurant mixes Mexican fusion dishes with Italian and other international recipes. It excels at arrachera (beef) or al pastor (pork) tacos, but the extensive menu ranges from filet mignon to enchiladas to lobster. The traditional Maya dishes are especially…$Around Town - Yucatecan
Yaxché
This ode to native food is Playa’s most intriguing restaurant, with a menu full of unpronounceable Maya dishes redolent with achiote, pumpkin seeds, sour orange, and xcatic peppers. Some hew to ancient cooking techniques handed down through the owner’s family, while others have been…$$$Around Town
