Restaurants and Bars Playa del Carmen :
Restaurants
Bars and Lounges
*Please Note: Many restaurants and bars do not accept credit
cards here in the Riviera Maya.
It is also illegal for them to add a tip to the bill. It is accustomed to
tip between 10% and 20%.
 The
Glass Bar Restaurant
Italian cuisine ... great food
and atmosphere.
This is a nice dinner on a fun corner in Playa. This is my top restaurant in town.
I have enjoyed things such as lamb
chops, filet mignon and risotto. We will also be adding more details from their
menu soon. Nice spot to "people watch" from your table right on 5th Ave.
Best
wine selection in Playa.
Located on the corner of 5th Ave. and 12th street. Tel:52-984-8731245 ext.310
They also have another restaurant across the
street called Di Vino same kind of food but completely
different menu. Tel:52-984-8031270
Il Baretto Restaurant
Best Coffee in Town and great inexpensive
Italian meals. Open for great breakfasts.
Big portions of fresh past starting at 5
dollars to 8 dollars, and lots more to chose from.
Located on the corner of 5th Avenue and 26
street. Open from 7am to 11:00 pm.
Byblos Restaurant
French Restaurant & Wine Bar
We personally believe that this is one of the best restaurants in Playa del
Carmen! It is on the pricier end of restaurants here but it is worth it. We have
gone there for all the special occasions we can think of. It is a treat. Some of
the items we have enjoyed on the menu are the duck, risotto, endive salad and an
unbelievable chocolate desert that is to die for. We will be adding more
specifics from there menu shortly. Nice wine selection for Playa. They are open
from 6 pm to 1 am and closed on Sundays. We recommend that you reserve a table
ahead of time, just to be safe. Phone: 984-8031790. The French chef and owner is
Silvie Goetz and yes she speaks English.
Located on a side street...between 5th Ave. and 10th Ave. on 14th street
Dona Mary - Loncheria Restaurant
 This
is another out of the way place (at least for tourists) but its one of the best
secrets in town for a simple (casual!) Mexican dinner. Sorry they are not open
for lunch but they say that it would cut into their siesta time. (It is the only
thing that stops us from going twice a day.) They are open from about 7pm to
12am and they are closed on Mondays. Knowing a little Spanish or a pocket dictionary would be helpful, it is
all Spanish speaking.
Our favorites are the Tostadas (less than $1) and the chicken soup (called caldo
less than $2) is fantastic. They also have empanadas, enchiladas, fresh juices
and a few other items. Five can eat there and spend about 150 pesos = $13 usd.
It is always full of people which is a good sign. This is another place as a
tourist you would never hear about. Take a taxi, it is easiest and not a problem
to catch one to go back into town. Dona Mary - Loncheria Location is on Avenida
30 and Calle 28 on the corner. Its run by 7 Mexican women. A must!
Media Luna Restaurant
In its 10th year of operation, Media Luna is a favorite of locals and tourists
alike. To insure you of their recommendations they have been praised by these
publications: Fodors, Frommers, Let's Go Mexico, Guide to the Yucatan, Rough
Guide to Mexico, Lonely Planet and has been featured in photo-spreads in Dutch
Marie Claire Magazine(1998), Dutch Men's Health(2000), and has been the talk of
the Miami Herald several times.
Media Luna's Menu was crafted by Carla Cherry, one of the 2 Canadian owners and
is based on full flavours and "world" tastes, a worldwide "fusion" you could
call it. Enjoy the great jazzy music in the background while sampling such menu
items as the Japanese Grilled Calamari with a melon and red onion salad or the
tasty Spinach salad, full of pecans, warm grilled mushrooms with a lightly
tossed dijon-soya dressing. They are known for their unique salads, vegetarian
soups, seafood and delicious pastas. Everything is prepared fresh!
The restaurant itself is open and inviting with a second floor lounge and
space for private parties. They have a wonderful wait staff including Eric and
Martina and many others that are veterans of Media Luna. This is the kind of
place you will want to visit more than once. We have personally gone for
breakfast, lunch and dinner there and would confidently recommend them. Located
on 5th Avenue between Calle 12 and 14. Open Daily 8 am - 11:30 pm.
 Tango Taco
Hours are 2pm to 12am (more or less)
CLOSED MONDAYS!
Located on Calle 10 between Ave 10 & Ave 15
(Right across from Papa Johns Pizza is in a mall across the street)
YOU SHOULD DEFINITELY TRY THIS!
This spot is a great new find for us locals. We highly recommend it! It is run
by Argentineans and they know how to grill meat! They also have some nice sauces
that are typical for Argentina that we don't usually get.
We had heard about it from some local friends and when we went to try it out, we
tried a little bit of everything. Everything was good! Everything. The things we
didn't order, we admired from near by tables.
Simple, casual dining at outside tables. Honestly the service is a little slow,
but this is typical here and when the food is good enough, you don't mind.
Prices are reasonable.
For example they have:
Salads ranging from $23-$25 pesos
Empanadas $12 pesos (we loved)
Grilled meats, like Arrechera $110 (very nice!)
Milanesas- breaded meats $40-$50 pesos
Cazuelitas de queso al carbon $30- $45 pesos. (Very interesting: we also loved
this but you better like cheese).
Fajitas $60-$70 pesos
crepes $30-$35 pesos.
And also in general they had tacos of various meats... they were all nice. they
also had good looking hamburgers. Fries, Baked potatoes and beans.
We also loved the ham and cheese empanadas but you have to get there early, they
sell out usually.
All-around good place to eat, just make sure you are hungry.
Casa Mediterranea Restaurant
Some of the best homemade Italian cooking in town. Owners and operators,
Maurizio and Giovanna will make you feel at home. They are always there and are
eager to cater to your needs. It is in the heart of Playa del Carmen located on
Ave 5 between Calle 6 and 8.(You must go down a walkway across from Lunata Hotel
to get to it, not visible from 5th Ave.). Their specialty is any and all pasta
dishes on the menu. Maurizio also loves to fish and very often fishes during the
day for the nights fresh catch. The atmosphere is quaint and comfortable even
though it is on the busiest street in playa. It is tucked away in a beautiful
hidden little courtyard. Their hours of operation are from 12:00pm to 11:00pm.
Closed on Thursdays. For a reservation call 044-984-8763926.
Babes Restaurant and Bar
The owners of Babes (Per and Lena...great people!) offer you a free
cocktail with your meal if you print this page and bring it with you. This
is a good reason to go there, but the food and the value will make you go back
again!
Franco's personal favorite is the Pesto Noodles with Chicken, and their best selling dish is the Thai Chicken Noodles.
Their daily specials are always good! Their specialties are noodles, tapas and
cocktails. You must try the Mojito (cocktail). The restaurant is open from 12pm
to 12am and closed on Sundays. Located on Calle 10 between Avenida 5 and 10. And
they have a second location on 5th avenue between 28 street and 30 street.
La Floresta Restaurant
This restaurant is not on the main street, it is on the highway (close by)
but is well worth the cab ride! La Floresta has the best shrimp (camaron) tacos
in town. Nothing fancy just good tacos. The price is $1.00 for each taco and you
can eat 4 or 5 and you are stuffed! They have other fish tacos and ceviche but
honestly, we go solely for the shrimp tacos. Location is on the highway (next to
a tire place) - ask a taxi to take you to "La Floresta", they should know
because all the taxi drivers eat there too. It is always full of locals and
anyone else who was lucky enough to discover it. A little knowledge of Spanish
might be helpful but not crucial.
 Agora Restaurant and Bar
This restaurant offers the finest Italian and
 International cuisine,
specializing in local seafood. Try their delicious oven baked seafood Pasta al Cartoccio or honestly, any of the pastas on the menu. Thanks to its laid back and comfortable atmosphere, Agora has now become a
must for most residents and tourists alike. Good music, excellent cocktails and
the best cappuccino in town! They are on Avenida 10th between Calle 12 and 14.
Bars and Lounges
Deseo Lounge and Bar
 Deseo lounge is one of the coolest spots in town. (2nd floor
open air bar) You have to go see it for yourself. It is worth a pricey drink to
be in the atmosphere. They have cozy platforms with large bed-size cushions and
flowing curtains above and usually some hip music tones being served up by the
popular DJ. Although we have not personally eaten there at the bar...we have
heard it is also very good but, pricey. All a part of the style. They
sometimes have old movies without sound running on one of the bar walls.
Location near the corner of 12th street on 5th Ave. Stairs lead you up to the
lounge area.
Om Bar
One of the newer bars. Seems to have a stylish crowd of
varying ages. On the corner at the entrance of the blue parrot hotel on 12th and
the beach.
Tequila Barrel
A locals favorite just to hang out at a bar on 5th
Avenue. Usually good music playing...nice bartenders and of course pretty much
most of the tequilas are available there. Just a good spot. Locals are picky.
Located on 5th Ave between 10th and 12th street
 Blue Parrot
It has been around for a long time. Popular bar centrally
located in town...on the beach. Usually goes later in the night. Younger crowd.
Swings at the bar. Locals also go there from time to time. Located on 12th
street and the beach... If you have hit the water, you have gone too far or had
too many tequilas at the tequila barrel.
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