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Restaurants here vary from quirky beachside affairs with outdoor tables and palapas to more elaborate and sophisticated establishments. Dress is casual at most places, so leave your tie and jacket at home. Smaller eateries may not accept credit cards, especially in remote beach villages. Bigger ones and those in hotels normally
Restaurants here vary from quirky beachside affairs with outdoor tables and palapas to more elaborate and sophisticated establishments. Dress is casual at most places, so leave your tie and jacket at home. Smaller eateries may not accept credit cards, especially in remo
Restaurants here vary from quirky beachside affairs with outdoor tables and palapas to more elaborate and sophisticated
Restaurants here vary from quirky beachside affairs with outdoor tables and palapas to more elaborate and sophisticated establishments. Dress is casual at most places, so leave your tie and jacket at home. Smaller eateries may not accept credit cards, especially in remote beach villages. Bigger ones and those in hotels normally accept plastic. Many restaurants add propinas (tips) to the bill; look for a charge for "servicio." If tips aren’t included, a 15% gratuity is standard. It's best to order fresh local fish—grouper, dorado, red snapper, and sea bass—rather than shellfish like shrimp, lobster, and oysters, since the latter are often flown in frozen from the Gulf. Playa del Carmen has the largest selection of restaurants.
Basic Foodie is that cool bakery we all wish we had in our neighborhood, as its artisan bakery has no equal in town, and the rest of its menu caters to organic-minded, vegan, and gluten-free customers. A modern design and laidback atmosphere (plus a reliable Wi-Fi connection), mean the place has become a magnet for hipsters, digital nomads, and the like.
Avenida 25, Playa del Carmen, Quintana Roo, 77710, Mexico
Follow your nose to this Mexican grill house, where locals gather for some of the best-tasting steak in town. Far from romantic, the open-air restaurant is filled with the sounds of mariachi music blaring from the radio; a mounted bull's head hangs above the plastic tables and chairs. The main draws are the huge cuts of beef, pork, and chicken served with baskets of corn tortillas, baked potatoes, and ripe avocados. This might just be the tastiest arrachera you'll find on your vacation. There is a second location on Constituyentes, between Avenidas 25 and 30.
Calle 1, Playa del Carmen, Quintana Roo, 77710, Mexico
Rub shoulders with cab drivers, local government officials, and expat regulars over coffee at Tulum's favorite family-owned and -run coffee shop, where espresso drinks are made with 100% Mexican-grown coffee from places like Oaxaca and Veracruz. Upstairs you'll find a small bakery, out back a quiet jungle garden, and up front a relaxed beachy bar space, all serving up coffee, baked goods, and Mexican dishes like mollete—spiced toast over black-bean puree with pico de gallo (pro tip: add a fried egg for something special). Eco-friendliness is important here and the plumbing is a composting system.
Centauro Sur MZ05 LT11, Tulum, Quintana Roo, Mexico
Two blocks north of the town square, this "restaurant" is actually made up of plastic tables and chairs shaded by mini palapas and tarps. What it lacks in charm is more than made up for by the food and prices. La Petita en la Playita is where locals go for seafood soup, fried fish, shrimp tacos, ceviche, and fresh guacamole—but plan to either practice your Spanish or use sign language because this family-run business focuses more on quality cooking than customer service. You should plan to eat early, too, as it closes at 8. La Playita is the perfect place to sink your toes in the sand and enjoy a refreshing rice-milk horchata.
Av. Rafael Melgar, Sm 02, Puerto Morelos, Quintana Roo, 77580, Mexico
This colorful hangout on the corner of the main plaza is the best place in town to watch the world go by (or take advantage of free Wi-Fi) while lingering over coffee and a pastry. Most items are organic, and the fruit smoothies are delicious. Come prepared to practice your Spanish; the staff doesn't speak much English.
Av. Tulum at Av. Rojo Gomez, Puerto Morelos, Quintana Roo, 77580, Mexico
This collection of plastic tables under a tarp may not look like much from the outside, but it's where the locals go for some of the best (and cheapest) tacos in town. Grab a seat and order up some pork or vegetarian tacos, priced at just MX$15 to MX$17 each, and a bottle of agua fresca (water mixed with fruit and sugar). Tables and salsas are shared, so get ready to make some new friends.
If you're looking for the favorite expat and local hangout by the beach, look no further than Taqueria La Eufemia—a simple, come-as-you-are taco bar on a wooden deck under a palapa with beachfront views. Head here for cheap, simple, no-frills tacos, coffee made with coconut water (and served in recycled glass with eco-friendly straws), and tasty garlic shrimp with homemade ketchup (known as Shrimp Cesare).
Tulum-Boca Paila, Km 8, Tulum, Quintana Roo, Mexico
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