• Menu
  • Skip to right header navigation
  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

A Taste for Travel

The world's most amazing food, drink and sun destinations

  • Home
  • About Us
    • News and Awards
    • Privacy Policy
    • Disclosure
  • Partner with Us
  • Contact
  • Home
  • About Us
    • News and Awards
    • Privacy Policy
    • Disclosure
  • Partner with Us
  • Contact
  • Destinations
    • Mexico
      • Mexico City
      • Cancun Riviera-Maya
      • Huatulco & Mazunte
      • Morelia
      • Oaxaca City
      • Puerto Escondido
      • Puerto Vallarta
      • Chiapas
      • San Miguel de Allende
    • Caribbean
      • Anguilla
      • Antigua and Barbuda
      • Aruba
      • Bahamas
      • Bonaire
      • Curacao
      • Dominican Republic
      • Grenada
      • Martinique
      • St. Kitt’s
      • Trinidad & Tobago
      • Virgin Islands
    • Central America
      • Belize
      • Costa Rica
      • Guatemala
      • Panama
    • Europe
      • Cyprus
      • Ireland
      • Italy
      • Portugal
      • Spain
      • Turkey
    • Canada & United States
      • British Columbia
      • Nova Scotia
      • Ontario
      • Florida
      • Hawaii
      • Kentucky
  • Recipes
    • Appetizers
    • Breakfasts
    • Drinks
    • Desserts
    • Sauces & Salsas
    • Entrees
    • Soup
    • Guatemalan Recipes
  • Reviews & Tips
  • Types of Travel
    • Cruises & Boating
    • Food & Wine
    • Romantic Getaways
  • Destinations
    • Mexico
      • Mexico City
      • Cancun Riviera-Maya
      • Huatulco & Mazunte
      • Morelia
      • Oaxaca City
      • Puerto Escondido
      • Puerto Vallarta
      • Chiapas
      • San Miguel de Allende
    • Caribbean
      • Anguilla
      • Antigua and Barbuda
      • Aruba
      • Bahamas
      • Bonaire
      • Curacao
      • Dominican Republic
      • Grenada
      • Martinique
      • St. Kitt’s
      • Trinidad & Tobago
      • Virgin Islands
    • Central America
      • Belize
      • Costa Rica
      • Guatemala
      • Panama
    • Europe
      • Cyprus
      • Ireland
      • Italy
      • Portugal
      • Spain
      • Turkey
    • Canada & United States
      • British Columbia
      • Nova Scotia
      • Ontario
      • Florida
      • Hawaii
      • Kentucky
  • Recipes
    • Appetizers
    • Breakfasts
    • Drinks
    • Desserts
    • Sauces & Salsas
    • Entrees
    • Soup
    • Guatemalan Recipes
  • Reviews & Tips
  • Types of Travel
    • Cruises & Boating
    • Food & Wine
    • Romantic Getaways
Home » Destinations » Mexico » Cancun Riviera-Maya » Where to Eat Now in Playa del Carmen, Mexico

Where to Eat Now in Playa del Carmen, Mexico

Posted April 19, 2017, Updated March 9, 2019 //  by Michele Peterson 7 Comments

We may earn income from links in this post. Please read this Disclosure for details.

Wondering which are the best restaurants in Playa del Carmen, Mexico? I just returned from a few months on the Riviera Maya where I had lots of time to explore the food scene up and down the coast.

It’s fast-evolving with new restaurants arriving (hello Hermana Republica soon to be arriving in Tulum) and old favourites disappearing (goodbye Los Hijos del la Tostada in their original Colonia Hollywood location).

The only constant is that you can’t count on the past — last year’s favourite restaurant can quickly become this year’s disappointment if there’s a change in who’s helming the kitchen.

Marvins Burgers is located on a quiet stretch of Quinta Avenida Playa del Carmen
Marvins Burgers is located on a quiet stretch of Quinta Avenida Playa del Carmen

My home base in Playa del Carmen is the Coco Beach neighbourhood in colonia Zazil-Ha. It’s an up and coming zone on the northern edge of town tucked between the beach, the pedestrian walkway on Quinta Avenida or Fifth Avenue, the CTM boulevard and the bike path on 10th.

So it’s people-friendly, walkable, quiet and easy to cycle. It also happens to be hub central for some of the best places to eat in Playa del Carmen.

Coco Beach is a new neighbourhood in Playa del Carmen at CTM and 5th Avenue
Coco Beach is an up and coming neighbourhood in Playa del Carmen at CTM and 5th Avenue

So, after much arduous research sipping margaritas and eating ceviche, here are my seven favourite places to eat in Playa del Carmen ( in no particular order). Most are near Fifth Avenue and the beach.

Note that this list doesn’t include tacos stands which deserve their own blog post.  You can’t go wrong with El Fogon or Don Sirloin if you’re not sure where to begin.

1. Marvin’s Burgers – Best Vegan Restaurant in Playa  del Carmen

A vegan burger is a top pick for a fresh and delicious dinner in Playa del Carmen Mexico
A vegan burger is a top pick for a fresh and delicious dinner in Playa del Carmen Mexico

Playa del Carmen seems to be perpetually under construction so I appreciate the “Let’s be Kind to the Planet” philosophy at Marvin’s Burgers, a hub for promoting eco-sustainable eating and living. This is one of the best casual restaurants for fast food.

Update: Unfortunately Marvin’s has permanently closed in Playa del Carmen, but check out these other fantastic vegan restaurants in Playa del Carmen for other, good-for-the-planet options for vegan food.

2. Puerto Cocina Urbana – Best Tostadas in Playa del Carmen

Puerto Cocina Urbana, one of the best restaurants in Playa del Carmen is located in Plaza San Pedro
Seek and you shall find – Puerto Cocina Urbana is located in Plaza San Pedro Playa del Carmen

This new casual seafood restaurant is a bit tough to find as it’s hidden in the San Pedro plaza off Quinta Avenida between Calle 38 Nte and calle 34 Nte, but it’s worth the hunt. It specializes in street-food from Tijuana and offers a few quiet tables set beneath the trees where you can sip a craft beer and sample fresh-as-can-be seafood.

Your best bets are the tostadas such as the house special that’s a tower of fish ceviche on a crispy tortilla. Or try the Fish Zarandeado, a grilled fish specialty from Mexico’s Pacific Coast you won’t find anywhere else in Playa del Carmen. The owners are super friendly, the servers exceptionally helpful and the seafood prepared to order not in advance.  I wish I’d eaten there more often.

3. El Guero – Best Ceviche in Playa del Carmen

Fresh ceviche at el Guero, one of the best places to eat in Playa del Carmen
Fresh ceviche at el Guero in Playa del Carmen

Best known for its budget menu del dia, a vast parade of dishes that begins with an appetizer and  bowl of crab soup, el Guero is one of my favourite restaurants for an afternoon snack of ceviche.

You get a platter of fresh ceviche with your choice of fish, shrimp or a mix that includes pulpo ( octopus). An added bonus is that the margaritas are icy cold, potent and not too sweet. If you’d like to make your own ceviche, check out our easy recipe for Guatemalan ceviche. 

4. Lido Club de Playa Beach Club and Kool Beach Club – Best Beach Clubs

Fish tacos Baja style at Kool Beach Club
Fish tacos Baja style at Kool Beach Club

If you’re renting a condo apartment or an AirBnB, chances are you’ll be spending some time at one of the many beach clubs tucked on the sand between Coco Beach and the Cozumel ferry terminal. Many people swear by the Wah Wah Beach Club, but the service was so slow I wasn’t able to get served during the day despite returning several times. I did enjoy a fine thin-crust wood-fired pizza topped with jumbo shrimp on a fine evening when the moon was rising over the water and their live house band was playing retro hits, so I do recommend a visit on Thursday evenings.

But for consistently great beach food, I opted for the Lido Club de Playa Beach Club. The grilled shrimp came served with steamed broccoli, zucchini and peppers as well as a basket of potato wedges that were crispy to salty perfection and extra delicious when dipped in the chipotle mayo. Lido Club de Playa Beach Club is also a top choice for families with kids as it offers a play area set in the sand and shade. It’s located between Calle 10 Nte and Calle 12 Nte on the beach.

Swimming pool at Kool Beach Club
Scared to swim in the ocean? Check out the swimming pool at Kool Beach Club

Another fine beach club option is the Kool Beach Club on Mamitas Beach. Since I’m often in Playa del Carmen solo, I really appreciate the lockers as I can stash my iPhone, camera and wallet while swimming and not have to worry about my beach bag getting snatched. Kool Beach Club also has a swimming pool which is handy if you’re not a strong swimmer or if the sargasso seaweed has blown into Playa del Carmen and you’re not keen on swimming in muck.

At Kool Beach Club you purchase a day pass for 350-700 MXN pesos (the cost depends on the section of the beach club in which you sit and the type of lounger) and the cost serves as a credit towards your meal. Lucky for me, the budget loungers also happened to be the ones in the shade and near the swimming pool so that worked out just fine as I could get lunch of tacos or a fish filet (comes wth tacos chips and a salad), a few cheladas ( light lager beer with fresh lime juice) and a bottle of water for 350 MXN pesos (around $17 USD).

5. La Cueva del Chango – Best Breakfast in Playa del Carmen

Breakfast at La cueva del chango in Playa del Carmen
You won’t leave hungry after breakfast at La Cueva del Chango

Eating breakfast out is one of the best things to do in Mexico if you love exploring traditional Mexican cuisine such as platano con crema (fried plantain with cream), chilaquiles and huevos rancheros  in all their classic glory. At La Cueva del Chango, in a rainforest-inspired setting on Calle 38 Nte just steps off Quina Avenida, you get a delicious traditional  breakfast with the added bonus of beginning your morning surrounded by ferns, a gurgling creek and a leafy canopy which makes it an  especially relaxing way to begin your day.

You can’t go wrong with any one of their breakfast mains which include classics such as huevos rancheros served with black beans a la olla and tortillas de maize. La Cueva del Chango is also the place to try Huevos Motuleños or Yucatan-style eggs which is a fried eggs on a crispy tortilla layered with black beans smothered in salsa and topped with grated Gouda, peas and strips of ham.

Other breakfast dishes well worth trying include molletes, caramelized crepes stacked with local ingredients like chaya (a leafy spinach-like vegetable),  nopal (cactus), the fiery xcatic chile and more. Don’t miss the beautifully caramelized plantain. A main dish at breakfast costs between 90-98 MXN pesos which is around $5 USD.

6. Passion by Martin Berasategui – Best Upscale Restaurant in Playa del Carmen

Passion by Martin Berastegui
Dining at Passion by Martin Berastegui is worth the splurge

Passion by Martin Berasategui, a dining experience under the direction of the Spanish celebrity chef Martin Berasategui, has given Playa del Carmen has a whole new identity – culinary mecca. The acclaimed chef’s venture is located within Paradisus, a luxury all-inclusive resort at the end of 5th in Playa del Carmen’s northern edge. Known for his innovative Basque cuisine Berasategui earned his first Michelin star in 1993 and is  highly regarded among globe-trotting food fans. Passion by Martin Berastegui features a tasting menu intended to complement the resort’s philosophy of inspiration for the five senses.

The restaurant décor is sensual, bold and modern–much like the food. Berastagui’s award-winning cuisine is known for being at the leading edge of new culinary techniques and is acknowledged as among the world’s best in gastronomic experiences. Food fans will recognize signature Berasategui dishes – such as oysters imaginatively finished with apple and lemongrass or passion fruit panacota with lemon sorbet and shiso crushed ice. Guests have the choice of wine pairings with wines such as Piedra del Sol and Emeve from Mexico’s Baja wine country, as noteworthy highlights. Don’t miss trying this restaurant. It’s not just one of the best restaurants in Playa del Carmen, but ranks as one of Mexico’s best.

Another worthy all-inclusive resort ideal for foodies is El Dorado Royale Playa Paraiso also in Playa del Carmen.

7. Ah Cacao – Best Coffee Shops in Playa del Carmen

Enjoy Mexican chocolate at one of the Ah Cacao chocolate cafe and shop locations in Playa del Carmen
Enjoy Mexican chocolate at one of the Ah Cacao chocolate cafe and shop locations in Playa del Carmen

I’m a big fan of chocolate and Ah Cacao chocolate cafe was my go-to place for chocolate. Their iced chocolate was rich with just a hint of bitterness, it was the perfect pick-me up after a day at the beach. You can even order it with low-fat milk.  There are several locations in town and you can often score a table indoors and bask in air-conditioned comfort while they whip up your iced chocolate. Another twist on the dessert scene takes place at the region’s five-star all-inclusive resorts such as this beautiful lunchtime dessert finale from Grand Velas shown below.

Mango, chocolate and strawberry desserts at Grand Velas Riviera Maya Playa del Carmen
Mango, chocolate and strawberry desserts at Grand Velas Riviera Maya Playa del Carmen

From beach clubs to breakfast joints, these are the 7 Best Restaurants to Try Now in Playa del Carmen Mexico #food #Mexico

Looking for more travel ideas for fabulous beach and culinary getaways in the Caribbean and Mexico? Check out these posts:

Best Beaches on Riviera Maya: Xpu-Ha Beach 

Unplugged Anguilla

12 Reasons I’m tempted to Drop Everything and Move to Grenada

5 Reasons Nevis Might be Your Next Favourite Island

Michele Peterson
Michele Peterson

Dividing her time between Canada, Guatemala and Mexico (or the nearest tropical beach), Michele Peterson is the founder of A Taste for Travel. Her award-winning travel and food writing has appeared in Lonely Planet’s cookbook Mexico: From the Source, National Geographic Traveler, Fodor’s and 100+ other publications.

Read more about Michele Peterson.

« Best Vegan Restaurants in Honolulu
A Guide to the Kentucky Bourbon Trail in 2 Days »

About Michele Peterson

Dividing her time between Canada, Guatemala and Mexico (or the nearest tropical beach), Michele Peterson is the founder of A Taste for Travel. Her award-winning travel and food writing has appeared in Lonely Planet’s cookbook Mexico: From the Source, National Geographic Traveler, Fodor’s and 100+ other publications.

Read more about Michele Peterson.

Previous Post: «Le Jardin Honolulu Best Vegan Restaurants in Honolulu
Next Post: A Guide to the Kentucky Bourbon Trail in 2 Days A Kentucky Bourbon barrel. Credit Buffalo Trace Distillery.»

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. noel

    June 12, 2017 at 6:53 pm

    So many delicious choices, I would love to visit this corner of Mexico some day, I’ve only been to Mexico City and would love to visit this region.

    Reply
  2. Kaila Yu

    June 10, 2017 at 5:38 pm

    I was just in Mexico, in Loreto, need to consider Mexico as more of a destination shot since I live in California, food looks delicious!

    Reply
  3. Alexa Meisler

    June 10, 2017 at 5:34 pm

    The ceviche at el Guero in Playa del Carmen looks amazing. One of my favorite things when I’m in Mexico.

    Reply
  4. Brian

    June 09, 2017 at 11:56 am

    6 and 7 look and sound the most appealing to me!

    Reply
  5. Doreen Pendgracs

    April 20, 2017 at 8:30 pm

    We enjoyed our time at both Kool and Ah Cacao, Michele. Will have to go back & try the rest of the places on your list, Michele.

    Reply
  6. Sue Reddel

    April 20, 2017 at 5:48 pm

    Your post makes me want to go to Playa del Carmen right now! Warm breezes fruity cocktails and all that delicious food. Bookmarking for our next visit.

    Reply
  7. Donna Janke

    April 19, 2017 at 1:13 pm

    Wow! Arduous research indeed! All of the food looks and sounds delicious. My mouth is watering (and I just finished lunch).

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




Primary Sidebar

Michele Peterson in Tuscany Italy Credit Insight Vacations.

Hi, I'm Michele! Welcome to A Taste for Travel, one of the world’s top culinary travel blogs, welcoming over 1.5 million readers annually! 

Along with a team of expert travel writers, enthusiastic eaters and skilled photographers, we help readers plan incredible adventures and make delicious global recipes at home.

More about me →

Popular Posts

  • Insider’s Guide to Seaweed Conditions in Cancun and Riviera Maya in 2023
  • 19 Best Canned Sardine Recipes from Around the World
  • 20 Bucket List Things to Do in Bonaire
  • Best Caribbean Beaches Without Seaweed: Where to Go in 2023
  • 25 Bucket List Things to Do in Huatulco, Oaxaca
  • Pepián de Pollo – Guatemalan Spiced Chicken Stew

Trending Spring Travel

  • 9 Best Food Tours in Florence
  • The 10 Best Castle Hotels in Ireland
  • 25 Bucket List Things to Do in Paphos, Cyprus
  • The Perfect 7-day Azores Itinerary: Top Things to See and Do
  • 25 Guatemalan Festivals and Celebrations for Your Bucket List
  • The Best All-Inclusive Resorts in Cancun and Riviera-Maya
Download the free ebook with 5 easy to make Guatemalan recipes!
Booking.com

Site Footer

Follow A Taste for Travel

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter

Copyright © 2016–2023 A Taste for Travel

913 shares
  • 511