Playa del Carmen Restaurants + Activities, Day Trips and More

The small town of Playa del Carmen, about 40 miles south of Cancun, is a jewel in the Riviera Maya. We’ve visited Playa many times over the years. Its small-town highrise-free charm and location on the ocean away from busy Cancun are what keep us going back. We think it’s the ideal gateway to the Riviera Maya, with its beaches, great snorkeling, theme parks, and sparkling cenotes to explore, not to mention Tulum and the pyramids of Chichén-Itzá and Cobá. In addition to the beaches, Playa del Carmen restaurants will ensure you do not go hungry. There’s also loads of good shopping. It’s just fun to walk around, especially up and down Quinta Avenida (Fifth Avenue).  

Getting Around

Whenever we go down to the Riviera Maya, we’ve always stayed at a resort without renting a car. We would use taxis to go wherever we wanted.  Sometimes we’ll sign up for a day trip where they come pick us up and drop us off. However, renting a car will give you lots of flexibility when you want to visit parks or other attractions.

Transfers to and from the Cancun Airport

Since we don’t rent a car, we like to pre-arrange a round-trip transfer from the airport. Arriving at the airport in Cancun can be quite chaotic. There are loads of vendors and taxi drivers vying for your attention. We like the ease of someone holding a sign with our name before they whisk us into their air-conditioned vehicle and off to our accommodations. Here are the two car services we use; both are quite affordable:

* Happy Shuttle

We love Happy Shuttle and you can book online.

* Kalido Travel

If Happy Shuttle doesn’t have availability, we go with Kalido, which also does a nice job.

Restaurants in Playa del Carmen

We love to eat, and there is no shortage of great restaurants to enjoy. Some of the restaurants in Playa that we prefer include:

Breakfast | Brunch

• La Cueva del Chango – Located on 38th Street near 1st Avenue, this restaurant offers a unique jungle atmosphere and serves a variety of Mexican breakfast dishes like chilaquiles and fresh juices​​.
• Chez Céline – A French bakery on 5th Avenue and 34th Street, known for its delicious pastries, sweet tarts, and freshly baked bread​​​​. Nice place to sit outside and watch the world go by.
• El Hongo – Situated on Calle 19 Sur, Ejidal, this community-focused restaurant serves hearty Mexican breakfasts such as gorditas rellenas de frijol​​.
• Lido Beach Club – Located on 1st Avenue between Calle 10 y 12, this beachfront spot is known for its chilaquiles, pancakes, and superfood smoothie bowls​​.
• Chou Chou Café – Found on 20th Avenue and 24th Street North, this chic French café offers a variety of breakfast options, including a 3-cheese tartine​​.

Lunch

• El Fogón – Famous for its tacos al pastor, it’s fun to watch them slice the pork off a rotating spit and top it with grilled pineapple.  We always order the arrachera con queso, which is a really nice steak and queso mix. Great drinks too.
• Mercado 30 – An open-air complex housing Bajo Cafe and Peace & Bowl, perfect for a light lunch with options like bagels, pancakes, and healthy bowls​​.
• La Cueva del Chango – In addition to breakfast, it also serves lunch with a focus on local Mexican cuisine in a lush garden setting​​.
• Los Aguachiles – Known for its ceviche and seafood tacos, this casual spot is great for a quick and tasty lunch​​.
• Don Sirloin – A local favorite for its affordable and delicious sirloin tacos, located throughout Playa del Carmen​​.
• La Vagabunda – authentic Mexican food, quesadillas, tacos and burritos

Dinner

• Alux – Dine in a cave at this unique restaurant offering Mexican and international dishes, with a magical atmosphere and exquisite menu.
• Blue Lobster – great seafood restaurant, especially if you like lobster
• Cenacolo – An Italian restaurant known for its homemade pasta and elegant dining atmosphere, offering a taste of Italy in Playa del Carmen.
• Aldea Corazón – Located right on Quinta Avenida, this restaurant interior is open to a cenote so you can dine at the edge. Very cool setting right in downtown.

Splurge Dinner

• Oh Lala! – A small, intimate restaurant with a diverse menu that includes dishes like filet mignon and seared tuna, perfect for a romantic evening.
• Axiote – Specializing in contemporary Mexican cuisine, this restaurant offers dishes made with local ingredients and modern techniques.
• UMI Rooftop + Tokyo Kitchen – A new fine dining restaurant on the rooftop of the Thompson Hotel, this place serves sushi and Japanese fusion dishes.
• Harry’s Prime Steakhouse & Raw Bar – A top choice for steak and seafood lovers, this upscale restaurant provides a luxurious dining experience with impeccable service.
• Sonora Prime – Fine dining restaurant overlooking Quinta Avenida offering nice cocktails, steak and seafood, plus upscale Mexican specialties.

Snacks and Treats

• Kaxapa Factory – Venezuelan place for quick arepas and kaxapas (sort of like empanadas) to sustain you until dinner.
• Ah Cacao – Really good coffee and chocolate drinks.

Open Table (reservations app) is widely used here and it makes it easy to get restaurant reservations.

Activities in Playa Del Carmen and the Riviera Maya

There is so much to do in Playa and the Rivera Maya and beyond. We like to book tours and excursions in advance whenever we can.  It’s not always necessary, but we personally like having things set up prior to arrival so we have a structured schedule and don’t have to think about it when we get there.  Also, we don’t want to risk there not being availability. For most things you can wait until several weeks out.

Take a Food Tour

Authentic Mexican cuisine is one of our favorite foods in the world. Here in the Yucatán, they have loads of fresh seafood and other ingredients, and you can find regional Mexican dishes, plus all types of international cuisines.

Eating with Carmen’s Walking Food Tour in Playa was really enjoyable. It started a few blocks removed from the main touristy strip of Quinta Avenida and took us to markets, stands and small, local places we would have NEVER found on our own. We sampled lots of delicious and authentic local dishes, including suadero tacos, pozole, paletas, and mole. Highly recommended!

➡️ Playa del Carmen Walking Food Tour (Eating with Carmen)

Theme Parks: XPLOR, Xcaret and Río Secreto

Next time you are in Playa del Carmen, Xplor Park by Xcaret is definetely a must: An adventure park where you will ride the highest zip lines, drive amphibious vehicles, rafts and explore natural underground rivers! Includes buffet meal.

Xcaret operates 8 different eco-theme parks (Xplor, Xcaret, Xenses, Xavage, Xoximilco, Tour Xenotes, and Xel-Há). They all vary by theme and activities. For example, XPLOR includes zip-lines, amphibious ATVs, and rafting on an underground river, while Xcaret focuses on the culture and wildlife of the Riviera Maya with a side of cenotes you can swim in. The parks are beautifully designed and well-organized, and they all include a really NICE buffet lunch.  We’ve done them 3-4 times over the years and everyone always has a terrific time.

Río Secreto is a fun half-day excursion.  We did it in 2015, scarcely seven years after this subterranean river was discovered, then went again in 2024. It was much more built out, with multiple paths through the river, but it was just as awesome.  They outfit you in wet suits and gear, then lead you down into an underground river and cenote. It takes a couple of hours but it’s immersive and really well-done. Your ticket also includes a really delicious buffet lunch with hand-made tortillas that they make right in front of you.

Nature and Wildlife

Croco Cun Zoo is a small zoo we really enjoyed.  It’s interactive and you can hold or pet some animals, which is fun and makes for great photos. The zoo features lots of local wildlife – birds, snakes, alligators, coatis, Mexican hairless dogs (Xoloitzcuintle), and monkeys, for example. There’s a 60-75 minute English language guided tour. It’s great for kids but enjoyable for adults as well.

Snorkeling with Sea Turtles

If you enjoy snorkeling, I highly recommend Ocean Tours’ half-day snorkel tour in Akumal with sea turtles that also included a visit to a cenote. I did this with my daughter and we really enjoyed both parts of the tour. They outfit you with the gear you need, and photos are available after.

Snorkeling with Whale Sharks

May through September is whale shark season – the time when these gentle behemoths feed off the coast of Isla Mujeres. I did an excursion with Ocean Tours during which we were able to swim alongside these giant fish, and it was one of the coolest things I’ve ever done. First they outfit you with a wet suit and gear, then you take about an hour-long boat ride out past Isla Mujeres to find them. Once they spot a shark, you jump in and swim like hell while they capture the magic on their Go Pro. The sharks don’t mind you; they are too busy sucking loads of krill into their giant maws. They weren’t very intimidated by my swimming skills.

Entertainment in the Riviera Maya

JOYÀ is the Cirque du Soleil show at the Vidanta Resort.  We’ve seen it twice and it makes for a nice evening.  It’s pricy so it’s definitely a splurge, but it’s in a nice purpose-built venue on the water, dramatically lit with fire torches. There are options for Show Only (around $107); Show with Dinner and Champagne (around $252); or the full-on VIP experience (even more).  We’ve done the Show with Dinner and it was very enjoyable – great food, creatively and theatrically presented, with props and smoke and the like. Very fun and great for a special occasion.

Day Trips from Playa del Carmen

Tulúm

Tulum is a fantastic day trip destination due to its stunning combination of natural beauty, historical significance, and vibrant culture. Located about an hour south of Playa, Tulum is renowned for its well-preserved ancient Mayan ruins perched on a cliff overlooking the turquoise waters of the sea. Visitors can explore the UNESCO-recognized archaeological site, which includes the iconic El Castillo, a lighthouse-like structure offering panoramic views.

After delving into history, you can relax on Tulum’s pristine beaches, known for their soft white sand and clear, warm waters, perfect for swimming and snorkeling. Additionally, Tulum boasts a lively town with charming shops, local crafts, and delicious cuisine, offering a taste of authentic Mexican culture.

Cobá and Chichén-Itzá Pyramids

The Mayan pyramids of Cobá and Chichén-Itzá (also a UNESCO World Heritage Site) are fascinating artifacts from this great civilization and should not be missed. We had a group so we did this private day trip which I highly recommend:

Full Day Chicken-Itza, Coba and Tulum with a Cenote Swim and Lunch

It was a long day, but it included visits to Tulum, both pyramids, a nice lunch in Valladolíd, plus the opportunity to swim in a beautiful cenote.

Cozumel

This island off the coast of Playa del Carmen makes for a fun day excursion.

Catamaran Cruise

Another great way to spend a day is with a catamaran cruise. Some include snorkeling, snacks and drinks and beautiful sunsets.

Summary: Playa del Carmen Restaurants and Activities

Playa del Carmen is the perfect gateway to the Riviera Maya, and it offers lots of great dining options. This post summarizes our favorite places we’ve discovered over a dozen visits. In addition to the food, there are loads of activities. Beaches, great snorkeling, theme parks, and sparkling cenotes beckon, plus day trips to Tulum and the Mayan pyramids of Chichén-Itzá and Cobá.

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