Playa del Carmen’s Top 5 Food & Drink Spots: A Local’s Guide

Playa del Carmen, you see, it’s not just sandy beaches and crystal-clear waters; it’s also quite a delightful hub for foodies and drink lovers alike. And so, having spent several years soaking up the sun and sampling the local delicacies, I feel I’m in a very unique spot to share my top five favorite spots. These aren’t just tourist traps, you know; they’re places where the locals also gather, where the flavors sing, and the atmosphere, well, it’s just totally magical.

1. Alux Restaurant & Lounge: Dining in a Cave, like Really!

Now, if you’re searching for a dining experience that’s really unforgettable, then you have to swing by Alux Restaurant & Lounge. Can you believe it?, this gem, more or less, it is set inside a natural cave! Yeah, really! The setting itself is kind of breathtaking, with stalactites and stalagmites kind of providing this very dramatic backdrop. You know, that romantic date night spot?, yep, this is exactly it, actually. Alux blends modern Mexican cuisine with international influences, and what that produces is food that looks great and tastes even better. As a matter of fact, give their seafood dishes or traditional mole a try, that sounds about right. They always go down an absolute treat, it feels like. That location makes a reservation totally necessary, especially if you’re traveling there during peak season.

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2. El Fogon: Tacos That Taste Like Mexico’s Heart

Right, so El Fogon, in that case, it is an institution in Playa del Carmen. People really adore this place because of its authentic tacos and vibrant atmosphere. Typically, there’s a line outside, which actually lets you know how very popular it actually is, mostly with locals. Is that even something you need to be told? Their tacos al pastor are, arguably, their very famous dish, so you need to watch as the marinated pork gets shaved directly off the spit onto your tortilla. I’m saying they taste unreal, okay! Top them with onions, cilantro, pineapple and a squirt of lime, and that produces a flavorful explosion that totally will knock you into next week! Is that correct?, yeah, absolutely. Plus, that friendly prices make it easier to eat there multiple times. You should make this the first place that you visit on your trip.

Read our full review: El Fogon Playa del Carmen Full Review and Details

3. Plank: Where the Grill Gets Serious

Right then, Plank. If it’s about grilled food?, okay, then you will seriously be in paradise, kind of. In this area you see, Plank is very widely known for serving up delicious meals right on sizzling planks, which provides that totally unique smoky taste, as it appears. Very seriously, everything here tastes great, from their succulent steaks to the tasty seafood, by the way. To be honest, their shrimp is unreal!. Dining at Plank brings together sophisticated vibes and casual charm; I think this spot does that perfectly, so you get a memorable dining event. It may be pretty ideal for an extravagant dinner party with mates, or maybe just you wanting to give yourself a little treat. Now, go there with a hungry stomach, it should be able to fill that up!

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4. Zenzi Beach Bar & Restaurant: Cocktails with a Side of Ocean View

So, for those wanting beach vibes accompanied with very well made drinks and great food, so I give you Zenzi Beach Bar & Restaurant. Is this all making sense? What happens here, I can almost say, you will experience dining along with those awesome ocean vistas and sounds of those waves going back and forth. What I usually want, you understand, is the cocktails with an amazing flavor, and you can almost say, a lot of them seem to give nods to those locally sourced ingredients. And the menu that’s always there does show off seafood meals together with classic bar snacks as well. I think I can say for a fact, that live music always adds some more energy into the relaxed environment, turning that entire event into something pretty enjoyable overall. It might seem as though that sunsets viewed from here really look like postcard perfect scenes that’s what I can say! I mean, you ought to come over, I think. Do some beach hopping!

Read our full review: Zenzi Beach Bar Playa del Carmen Full Review and Details

5. La Cueva del Chango: Breakfast with a Twist

What happens at La Cueva del Chango (The Monkey Cave), arguably, feels much like entering something pretty darn magical in some respects. Right, so, La Cueva del Chango is quite literally located, a little bit, on the northern side from all the normal tourist hotspots. It may seem kind of surprising?, yet what makes La Cueva del Chango just that little more better isn’t really just the amazing jungle spot it is, but similarly all their tasty Mexican dishes that it’s hard to ever complain with, and it gives lots and lots of reasons why this is where visitors from other countries and local lovers also come around here a bunch. And even though this does look sort of hidden from most places it offers many familiar tasty meals at the same level too.

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Read our full review: Top Hotels In Playa Del Carmen Mexico Review and Details