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Restaurants & More

Playa del Carmen:

We hardly know where to begin.  Restaurants come and go in Playa nearly as often as the ferry to Cozumel.  With so many new restaurants opening, moving, or closing, chefs are in high demand and many bounce around more than you would expect.  As a result what was great last month, just may not be so fabulous this.   The good news is that there are too many options to list here, it is increasing monthly, and it is easy to discover your own special place.  The tough part is deciding which one to try.

 
To get you started, here are a few we know about.

Pizza & Italian    RISTORANTE AMBASCIATA D' ITALIA     located on corner of Avenida 5 and Calle 24.  Good Italian food, nice atmosphere and the street side tables are pleasant.  This restaurant is in the newly developed 'North' end of Playa which is quickly becoming the place to be.
                       

DA BRUNO     located on corner of Avenida 5 and Calle 12.  More good Italian in what has become the heart of Avenida 5.  The street side tables are a good place to watch the crowds stroll by.

IDEA PASTA     located on Avenida 5 between Calles 12 & 14. 
Small unassuming place that puts out very good Italian meals.

                              CASA MEDITERRANEA  located on Avenida 5 between Calle 6 and 8.  located in a courtyard off the street down a narrow walk way.  Watch for sign for restaurant and 'Mayan Art Gallery'  A quiet restaurant in a small courtyard with excellent Italian dishes and an intimate atmosphere.  Check out the Mayan Art Gallery while there.  This guy lived with the Mayans for years and collected an impressive representation of masks.  Although the best pieces are gone, (you will find a wonderful jaguar on the 'wall of masks' at Brisa Caribe) there are still some wonderful paintings and other Mayan pieces of art.
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Mexican              LA PARRILLA   located on the corner of Avenida 5 & Calle 8.   A Mariachi band is almost guaranteed to show up at this lively restaurant.  Not exactly traditional Mexican, but suits most gringos and the place is fun.

PANCHO VILLAS   located Calle 10 between Avenida 5 & 3.   More like the real thing should be.  Try the mole sauce.

Las DELICIAS   located Avenida 5 Calle 22.   More traditional Mexican fare in the quickly developing 'North' end of Playa where you can still drive your car to.
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Mayan              YAXCHE  located on Calle 8 between Avenidas 5 & 10.     Try it, you won't be disappointed..  
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Tacos & More    LA FLORESTA     on the west side of the highway between the traffic lights.  Even after the recent upgrade, this place looks like nothing more than a palalpa roof and a few plastic tables.  HOWEVER, just ask anyone who lives here where to get the best shrimp tacos and they will tell you "La Floresta."  They are only open for lunch and only serve shrimp tacos, fish tacos, seafood cocktails, ceviche and cold drinks.  You have to try at least one shrimp and one fish but we recommend it all. 

El OASIS MARISCOS   located on Calle 12 between Avenida 5 & 10.  Seafood & fish tacos, seafood cocktails, ceviche and seafood stew.  Easy location at a good, cheap, local fast food joint.
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American            McDONALDS located on Avenida 5 between Calle 4 & 6  Also located on the highway just south of Juarez in the Chedraui parking lot.  OK, we admit it, we have been there 

                              BURGER KING located on Calle 2 between Avenida 5 and the beach.  When you just have to have an American burger                             

                                        DOMINOS PIZZA located on Avenida Juarez near the highway, across from the Pemex gas station 
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Argentine          BUENOS AIRES  located on Calle 6 between Avenidas 5 & 10.   Argentine food means beef and the steaks here should not disappoint you.
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Brazilian             PICANHAS STEAK HOUSE located on Ave 5 between Calles 14 & 16.  A fairly good representation of a true Brazilian "Churascaria" with 12 types of meat prepared brouchete style and served to your table.  A true carnivores delight.  
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Sushi                   CABALOVA SPORTS BAR  on Avenida 5 between Calles 12 & 14  We don't often think of sushi and a sports bar, but then this is Playa and you will see stranger things than this.
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International      MEDIA LUNA located on Avenida 5 between Calles 12 & 14.    Numerous interesting dishes which are typical of 'fusion' cuisine.  Very reasonable prices.  This is always a favorite with us.   

                              THE GLASS BAR  located corner of Avenida 5 with Calle 12  This wine bar and restaurant won't go undiscovered for long.  Simple but good wine selection and delicious food.  Great corner for people watching too.    

SUR  located on Avenida 5 between Calles 12 & 14  Excellent selection of well prepared dishes in an open relaxed atmosphere.  This is currently one of Playas favorites with the locals who appreciate good food.    
 
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French                BYBLOS on Calle 14 between Avenida 5 & 10.  Yea, we know the name has nothing to do with French food, but this is Playa and things change.  New location, new menu, old name.  Excellent chef, mediocre and slow service.
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Asian                   BABES NOODLES & BAR  located on Calle 10 between Avenidas 5 & 10  Good and reasonably priced Asian-Fusion.  Another local favorite.  
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Vegetarian         100% NATURAL  on Avenida 5 between Calles 10 & 12   Juices, vegetarian and not so vegetarian.  Very relaxing courtyard or we like the upstairs terrace facing the street. 
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Mexican Seafood       RESTAURANT y COCTELERIA La BAMBA JAROCHA II  located on Avenida 30.  Take the Constituentes exit off of the Highway, turn left on Avenida 30, follow past first Glorieta (traffic circle/round-a-bout), watch for it on your left.  Seafood dishes from Veracruz.  Popular with the local business men at lunch.  3 years ago you would never find a 'gringo' here but word of the great food and reasonable prices have spread.
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                                 El GUSTO JAROCHO located on Avenida 30. between Juarez and Calle 2 Notrh According to Kelle (see review at bottom of page) "They have the best shrimp cocktail, order the large.  The shrimp are sooo fresh.  And the locals were all ordering the sopa de mariscos"

Seafood             CAPTAIN BOB  located on Avenida 5 between Calles 12 & 14  We haven't been in here since the new management but it used to be good if not a little expensive.  They now have a sign out front telling you that they are so sure you will enjoy the meal that they are prepared to give you your money back if you don't agree.  Guess it's only going to cost you some time on the toilet if they are wrong.

BLUE LOBSTER  located on Calle 12 between Avenida 5 & 10.  We haven't eaten here but it is always full so something must be working.

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Coffee, Dessert        CAFÉ SASTA  located on Ave 5 between Calles 8 & 10

& Breakfast           'HOT' BAKING COMPANY  located on Calle 10 between Avenidas 5 & 10  Excellent fresh baked breads, cakes, etc and nice breakfast. 

                              La CUEVA de CHANGA  located on Calle 33 between Avenida 3 & 5  Open from 8:00 AM - 2:00 PM and only serving breakfast.  This funky restaurant is in the midst of a jungle like setting and provides a tranquil, unique atmosphere.  Natural juices, crepes, vegetarian specialties, omelets and more, using the freshest of ingredients, help make this one of the places we like to take visiting friends.  The arrival always makes them skeptical, but they always leave with a good memory.
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Live Music & Food        This is a sore spot with many locals.  Noise restrictions have shut down some of the best live music venues.  Some bar owners got tired of fighting and have given up trying to have bands, others have been able to build screens to keep the noise to the street down.

BLUE PARROT  located on the beach at the end of Calle 12  The crowd gets younger as the evening carries on. This place often rocks into the early morning.
 

                                        PALAPA HEMINGWAY located on Avenida 5 between Calles 12 & 14.  This place used to rock into the early morning but is getting quieter all the time.

                              APACIANADO  located on corner of Avenida 5 & Calle 14.   Upstairs, nice atmosphere and cool jazz.  Food can be good or bad. 

                              BOURBON STREET  located on Avenida 5 between Calles 6 and 8.   Nice bar that often has live music. 

                              KAREN's GRILL & PIZZA  located on Avenida 5 between Calle 2 and 4.  On the south end of Quinta, this place has been a regular watering hole for a long time.  Good food & good music.  Nice Andean flute music during happy hour, then the tempo gets more up beat in the evening. 

                              PEZ VELA  located on the corner of Avenida 5 and Calle 2.   This is a long standing Playa favorite.  Loosing some popularity with all of the newer places further north, but still a good place for a cold drink, snack, a little music and some fun times.
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Bars & Clubs         There is no end to the number of little bars in Playa.  Wander around and you will have no trouble finding one that looks inviting for your mood.  Here are a few that we either know or have heard are good.

KEGS  on Avenida 5 between Calles 10 & 12.  Hard to find from the street because it is small and upstairs.  A favorite with the locals 

                              CABALOVA SPORTS BAR  on Avenida 5 between Calles 12 & 14.  Besides baseball, American football and hockey, you can find the Euros here watching their own brand of football and Formula 1.
                             

TEQUILLA BARREL on Avenida 5 between Calles 10 & 12

                              AJUA SALSA CLUB & TEQUILA BAR  on Calle 4 between Avenidas 5 & 10  Tequila, Mayan Dining, Salsa Dancing, wild waiters.  Hey this place is fun.

DESEO  located upstairs on Avenida 5 near the corner with Calle 12  This place is 'the' trendy place in Playa right now. 
 

                              FLY  located on the corner of Avenida 5 with Calle 12  The food is not great but this is a very popular place to have a drink and hang out .

                              CASA TEQUILA  located on Avenida 5 between Calle 4 and 6  Tequila has been savored for many years in Mexico like fine whiskey.  Stop by and find out why you want to sip a Chinaco Anejo, bury a Jose Cuervo Gold in a margarita and leave slamming shots to the kids in Cancun. Live Mexican music from time to time. 

                              SENIOR FROGS on the water at ferry landing  Loud and crazy place to go wild.  Quieter during the day.

 

 

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We hope that this Maya Riviera information guide to the many Riviera Maya Restaurants, bars and clubs, helps make your Mexico vacation villa or condo rental experience better.  If you have information on any Mayan Riviera restaurant, bar or club in Cancun, Puerto Morales, Playa del Carmen,  Puerto Aventuras, Akumal, Solimon Bay, Tankha, Tulum, Punta Allen or anywhere else in the Cancun to Tulum corridor that you think would be of interest to others, please contact us so that we may include it here in our Riviera Maya info guide.

Brisa Caribe offers Mexico vacation & holiday villa & condo rental accommodation on the Mayan Riviera in the resorts of Akumal, Playa del Carmen, Puerto Aventuras, Tulum and Cancun.  We have luxurious Riviera Maya villas and condos for rent by the week in Puerto Aventuras, South Akumal, Solimon Bay, Jade Bay, Tankha, Playa del Carmen, Tulum and Cancun.  Please contact us for any of your Mexico Maya Riviera vacation and holiday villa and condo rental needs.
  


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