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Restaurants
Unless you’ve already been to Playa del Carmen, it’s hard to imagine the number of different restaurants that one can experience within a very short distance. Those who dare to tread away from their Playa del Carmen hotel buffet will find exciting dining adventures. Playa del Carmen restaurants offer food of every type and price range. Most menus in the tourist zone along Playa del Carmen 5th Avenue are usually in English and most waiters speak fluent English. Bottled water is also available in every restaurant, and most restaurants use bottled water for cooking.
The majority of restaurants on Playa del Carmen’s 5th Avenue or close to it are owned or co-owned by foreigners. By and large they mostly offer International cuisine and even the “Mexican Restaurants” are more International than Mexican. Reservations are not required in the majority of establishments, but you may want to book a table in advance.
So how does one recognize an authentic and official Mexican restaurant? Well, nobody speaks English, the menus are all in Mexican, the place is filled with Mexicans and it smells delicious! To find authentic Mexican restaurants, simply walk up Juarez to 30th Avenue then walk North along 30th. Along the way you will start to see several odd and authentic restaurants.
As is the case in much of Mexico, the street food is also not to be missed. Simply walk south down Playa del Carmen Fifth Avenue until you reach the pier and taxi stand. There are generally several carts serving tacos of various types. Every seafood taco is usually outstanding, along with the pollo, carnitas, and chorizo. Also, definitely try the stuffed poblano tacos! Tacos are typically in the $2-3 USD range. For the best and freshest tacos arrive mid-morning before the lunch rush as the carts are setting up.
Bars
There is no shortage of great bars in Playa del Carmen, many of which can be found right on the beach. Mexico is well-known all over the world for both its alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks. One of the most popular alcoholic drinks in Playa del Carmen is tequila. Tequila, which is a Mexican drink, is extracted from the sap of the blue agave plant. This plant can be found in and near the area of Tequila, Mexico.
There are basically four kinds of tequila. Silver tequila has no added flavors in it, while gold tequila has an added caramel flavor. Tequila reposado has usually been aged for two months, while Anejo tequila has been aged for at least a year. All varieties of tequila are served in Playa del Carmen’s restaurants and bars. Other popular Mexican alcoholic drinks include mezcal and pulque.
Popular non-alcoholic drinks in Playa del Carmen are fruit juices and exotic shakes. Being a tropical beach destination, cold fruit drinks are very popular with tourists. “Aguas frescas”, which are flavored waters, are also very popular. These are served in most restaurants in the area, especially along the beach.
The wide variety of exotic restaurants and bars in Playa del Carmen will surely make your Mayan Riviera vacation an unforgettable experience. You may even want to try and recreate the Mexican food and drinks once you eventually get back home!
