A meal at Ajua Bar

Food is a major aspect of the Mexican way of life. Wherever you are in Playa del Carmen, you're sure to find a place to enjoy an authentic Mexican meal. Restaurants are scattered all over the place, both on and off the beach.

A plethora of restaurants can be found along 5th Avenue. Aside from 5th Avenue, there are also areas on the beach where you can eat and enjoy a Caribbean feast. Various restaurants can appeal to your taste, depending on your preference.

For a traditional Yucatan meal, you can try El Faisan y El Venado, El Pirata, and Yaxche. Mexican restaurants in the area include Aca los tacos, Sueno Guajiro, Le Bistrot and Los Comales. If you want authentic Mexican food, try to find restaurants away from the tourist zones. There are many authentic Mexican restaurants along 30th Avenue, Juarez Avenue and Constituyentes. Typically, authentic Mexican restaurants have menus written in Spanish and only accept cash as payment.

The strong foreign influence in Playa del Carmen is evident in the variety of food available in the area. French cuisine is served by Panam Café, Le Bistro and Byblos. You can eat Italian food at Wine Glass Bar and El Provenzal. Meanwhile, a popular Argentinian restaurant in Playa del Carmen is Buenos Aires. If you're craving Japanese, you can try eating at Bar Ranita and Sushi-Tlan. Xo-Tik, meanwhile, offers Thai food. American food chains, such as McDonald's and Starbucks, are also available.

Since Playa del Carmen is a beach, seafood restaurants are also quite common.

Restaurants in tourist zones offer menus in English. They also hire waiters that speak English. A filling Mexican meal can cost as low as 30 Mexican pesos. On 5th Avenue, a typical meal costs about 100-200 Mexican pesos for one person. Don't forget to add about 10% more as tip.