Playa Del Carmen Restaurant Guide
The Best Food by the Playa!
Updated April 2021
Welcome to Playa Del Carmen
Playa del Carmen is a sunny ocean paradise on the Yucatán Peninsula in the Mexican Caribbean. You can find mouthwatering food everywhere you go in this vibrant city. The vast majority of the city’s restaurants are in Centro (downtown) and the North End (the area just north of Ave. Constituyentes). Here are our choices for some of the best restaurants in Playa del Carmen, so get ready to start your food adventure!
Contents
Where to Eat
The Top Neighborhoods
CENTRO
Centro is the “downtown” neighborhood and is the liveliest tourist area. Shops, restaurants, bars, hotels, nightclubs and more envelope you here and everything is walkable. The primary pedestrian street is the broad La Quinta 5th Ave which is lined with vendors, tour shops, performers, tequila tasting rooms and everything else you’d imagine. Stretching up and down the beach from Ave. Constituyentes in the north to Calle 1 (1st Street) in the south, Centro is where the action is.
THE NORTH END
Following the beach north from Centro, you’ll enter the North End after passing Ave. Constituyentes. This residential, Airbnb and condo area is quieter but still provides easy walking access to Centro. If you’re renting a vacation home for a large group, this is a popular area as it’s fairly hip and on the rise.
PLAYACAR
Playacar is a large-scale residential development south of Centro. Great beaches, a few hotels and restaurants and a quieter, more laid-back vibe. Golf courses, parks, and shopping centers define these “suburbs” of Playa del Carmen.
Budget Options
El Fogón
El Fogón is the #1 rated restaurant on Yelp in Playa del Carmen for a reason. This wildly popular eatery serves delicious tacos al pastor right off of the trompa (vertical meat spit) and other tasty Mexican treats.
Located in the North End
Cocina Doña Paula
If you want to feel like someone prepared a homecooked meal for you, try Cocina Doña Paula. Slow cooked traditional specialties are the featured attraction here. Three talented ladies serve up meal combos with soup and a beverage. Large, hearty meals for low prices.
Located in Centro
La Brocherie
Come for the famous and sumptuous Mexican rotisserie chicken at this delicious eatery. Combos come with a variety of fixings and rice and tortillas. Since one of the chefs is Parisienne, you can sometimes catch French classics, like beef bourguignon if you’re lucky.
Located in Centro
El Nativo
Stop by El Nativo to satisfy all your breakfast cravings. The restaurant has lighter fare like fruit smoothies and fresh fruit plates or more hearty American or Mexican style breakfasts including homemade pancakes and chilaquiles.
Located in the North End
Midrange Options
Restaurante Patanegra
If you want to change it up and try some Spanish food, head for a unique dining experience at Patanegra. This restaurant serves up delicious paella, tapas and more. If you’re lucky, you can even catch a live flamenco show with your meal!
Located in the North End
Los Aguachiles
Los Aguachiles is an excellent spot for seafood and upscale Mexican cuisine. You can enjoy delicious dishes such as grilled octopus, seafood tacos, and tostadas at this open-air restaurant.
Located in the North End
El Pirata
For all things seafood, pay a visit to local favorite El Pirata. You can choose your fish at this local eatery and have it fried whole right in front of you. They also serve delicious shrimp cocktails and ceviches.
Located in the North End
La Cueva del Chango
While this eatery serves lunch and dinner, its main draw is its breakfast and its beautiful patio. You can find quality regional breakfast platters such as huevos rancheros and chilaquiles, as well as refreshing fruit salads and tuna toast here.
Located in the North End
High-End Options
Alux
Dining at Alux is a unique and unforgettable culinary experience. The dining room of this restaurant is in a spectacular underground cave/cenote and its food is a mix of Mayan, Mexican, and international upscale cuisine.
Located in Centro
Oh, La La!
If you’re seeking fine dining in a stylish setting, Oh La La! checks all the boxes. Plates are pieces of art in this contemporary, quaint restaurant serving refined European cuisine packed with high-quality ingredients and delightful flavors.
Located in Centro
Catch Restaurant
Located on the top floor of the Thompson Hotel, this stunningly chic restaurant has sweeping ocean views and an art deco bar to boot. Widely considered one of the best restaurants in Playa del Carmen, this eatery serves a broad range of trendy fusion dishes with a focus on fresh seafood.
Located in the Thompson Hotel in Centro
Staff Picks
El Hongo
Staff Pick – One of my favorite Playa del Carmen eateries is the quirky El Hongo. This family-run business is a bit off-the-beaten-path but is well worth the trek for its delicious classic Mexican food, ridiculous pancakes and live music.
Located in Ejidal
The Traveler’s Table
Staff Pick – Traveler’s Table is not a restaurant; it’s a 5-course, interactive culinary learning adventure, seated under a thatch roof around a few seaside long tables. This is an experience. I thoroughly enjoyed learning about Mexican food’s Spanish, African, and Middle Eastern cultural influences through every bite I took.
Located at the Punto Venado Beach Club
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Thank you for the great information. We will be in Playa next month and are very excited!
La Brocherie was a great recommendation! Thanks!
Playa is always our favorite place to visit in the Riviera Maya. We look forward to trying out some of these places we haven’t been before.