El Fogon: Cheap, Good Mexican Food in Playa del Carmen
Although they have a couple of locations, all the locals go to El Fogon on Constituyentes in Playa del Carmen. Be prepared – the menus are in Spanish only but the wait staff will help you. There’s a line waiting to get in from 7pm till closing. Food is really good, atmosphere is authentic and thijere’s usually a singer or a band that will pass the hat for tips. It’s a Playa experience and one that I recommend. #PlayadelCarmen #LaurasBeachfrontCondos #PlayadelCarmenBeachfrontCondos.com
Playa del Carmen Beaches
The following Riviera Maya Beach Lover’s Guide
Picture yourself on a white sandy beach, trade winds rustling in the palm trees while you swing in a hammock. Build sand castles with your children, or enjoy evening strolls with your loved one at sunset. Riviera Maya beaches turn your vacation dreams into reality. You’ll be enchanted by the beautiful beaches, warm translucent waters, and picture-perfect weather that lasts all year long.
Riviera Maya Ranks in the Worlds Top 10 Beach Vacations
The photos don’t lie. The Mexican Caribbean is that blue, and the beach sand is that dazzlingly white. With 72 miles (116 km) of beach stretching along the Caribbean coastline, Riviera Maya has something for everyone. The beaches are one reason why we decided to call the Riviera Maya home, and why so many visitors return to this paradise.
Beach areas in the Riviera Maya are public spaces bursting with activities. If you are looking for evening beach activities under an star filled sky, Playa del Carmen offers a vibrant, hip nightlife once the sun goes down. Couples and families looking to embrace the day together from sun up to sun down will enjoy . The magnificent bays that define these beaches provide an endless list of water activities like snorkeling, kayaking, diving, beach combing, or simply relaxing in a hammock.
Sun-worshippers will discover their tropical paradise on any Riviera Maya beach, but
For true paradise seekers, the raw and unspoiled beauty of the unpopulated Caribbean will lure many travelers to Sian Ka’an Biosphere beaches.
No matter what kind of beach holiday you prefer or what slice of the Riviera Maya shoreline suits your needs, you will find what we call ‘heaven’: pearly-white sand, natural shade from slender palm and coconut trees, crystal-clear waters, and fragrant sea air.
Two miles of white powdery sand make the beaches of Playa del Carmen a hot spot in anyone’s book. Enjoy the sunshine at one of the trendy beach clubs or meet up with seasoned Playa visitors on the central beach. Either spot provides ample opportunity to people-watch on the shores of this popular Caribbean destination. Looking for more than the sun? Water sports are in abundance and easy to reserve right on the beach!
Miles of beach in a trendy Playa del Carmen
The beaches in Playa del Carmen are not as tranquil as other Riviera Maya towns, but Playa’s great location, hip beach life and long stretch of beaches puts it at the top of a dream vacation list. Beach clubs, beach hotels and beachfront condos share the shores of Playa del Carmen making these beaches the public place to be during day. When the sunrises, beach goers are on it, picking their favorite spot and getting ready for an all day beach session. When the sun starts to set, the crowds move to 5th Ave for dinner and join up again for some beachfront nightlife. The beach is the center of Playa’s activity and there is lots to do.
Central Playa beach and North Playa beach
The 2-mile white sand beach of Playa del Carmen is divided into two areas; Central Playa del Carmen beach and North Playa del Carmen beach. The symbolic division point is the second ferry pier located at the bottom of Av. Constituyentes, a main traffic route into the city. The feel is very different on each beach, with ‘Old Playa’ felt on the central beach and ‘Trending Playa’ felt on the north beach.
The Central Playa del Carmen beach was the first beach developed in the city. Here you’ll find the Ferry dock to Cozumel, numerous beach clubs, restaurants, dive shops and water sport vendors offering a wide range of fun water activities. There are also a number of snorkeling, dive and fishing boats ready to take you out at the bottom of 14th Street. Popular beach clubs owned by long-time Playa residents are Zenzi, Fusion, and Wah Wah’s.
North Playa del Carmen is known as the location of Mamitas Beach Club and Canibal Royal, two trendy beach clubs with DJ’s, dancing and beach beds. Great food, large beachside pools and music sets these area of Playa del Carmen apart from the central area. The evenings are quiet on this beach, but the days are full of visitors and locals enjoying talked about beach vacations in paradise.
What many Playa del Carmen visitors love about this city is the diversity of beach vibes. We are not sure if anyone gets tired of the beach, and from the look of the daily activity that goes on, we don’t think anyone does. With so many venues to entertain you and over 2 miles of beach to discover in the city limits, (there are more beaches just outside the city limits within walking distance), there is more entertaining than one could hope for.
There is little outer reef break but great protection from the Island of Cozumel making Playa del Carmen a place of tranquil sea
Tulum hotel shut down
Diamante K, a Tulum hotel shut down last week.
Playa del Carmen and the Mayan Riviera love tourists and are one of the top tourist sites in the world, but they work at balancing tourism with ecology and environmentalism. The Mayan Riviera, which merges with the waters of the Caribbean Sea, is a coastal strip that stretches more than 80 miles from Cancun to Tulum and Punta Allen. In Tulum tourism is less developed and it is where most of the Mayan communities in the region live and maintain their traditions, customs and culture. Recently there have been a number of hotel closings in Tulum due to several factors including destruction of the environment, including Diamante, a Tulum hotel shut down last week.
Diamante K has been shut down due to environmental destruction. The Federal Attorney for Environmental Protection (Profepa) said they closed the Diamante K, owned by businessman and actor Roberto Palazuelos Badeaux, in Tulum National Park. According to Profepa, the hotel severely affected the forest and general ecosystem in the area and was built without authorization.
Their office reported that due to complaints by the National Commission of Natural Protected Areas (CONANP) and the community responsible for Tulum National Park, an investigation was launched on the environmental impact of Diamante K.
They discovered that the accredited Quintana Roo inspectors designated for tourism developments did not submit the environmental impact statement as required by the Secretariat of Environment and Natural Resources (Semarnat).
Profepa found that a fence had been constructed around the perimeter of the Diamante K, which in turn, destroyed coastal forest species on the state’s protected list. These types of low shrubs protect the surrounding soil from harsh weather elements and are home to numerous species of small marine life including the striped iguana, which is currently on the state’s endangered species list.
After the violation discovery, Profea closed the hotel to prevent the continuation of any future development. Additional administrative proceedings are also being sought against the owner of the project in order to restore the destroyed ecosystem.
Best Restaurants in Playa del Carmen July, 2016
We are constantly updating our list of Best Restaurants in Playa del Carmen. These are our recommendations for the Best Restaurants in Playa del Carmen July, 2016
1. Romeo, Best Italian in PDC. My husband is Italian and he tells people this is the best Italian food he’s had in his life. I love the Spinach Ravioli with Truffle Oil. We took our family, a group of 12, and they had everything from pizza, to gnocchi, to seafood and everyone raved about the food, and we actually went back one more time before they left. Prices are modest, ($10 US entrees) food is outstanding. It’s a little place, so call ahead and make a reservation 984-141-6507 or stop by after 4 pm. It’s on Calle 4, between 10th and 15th. Good chance for tourists to get off 5th Ave. To-go and Delivery is available.
2. Plank The first restaurant in the Riviera Maya to win a 5 diamond award from the Academy of Hospitality Sciences. Terrific menu, great food and service, lovely place, great location. Open for dinner nightly and weekend brunches. I love the tasting menu! The brunches are the best I’ve ever experienced with the widest variety of food. The chef, Juan Diego is phenomenal. Located on Calle 16, between First and 5th Ave., in the Porto Playa Condo/Hotel Building. Medium priced restaurant (Guests at our properties receive a 20% discount on Thursdays) Plank Website For reservations you can email reservations@plank.mx or call +52 (984) 803 0108 +52 (984) 168 7025
3. Oh Lala, International Cuisine by George is always a favorite, but you need to book at least 3 weeks in advance or be willing to eat after 9 pm. They will only take parties of 6 or less so that they can provide the highest level of service. The restaurant is small, with seating inside and outside, but spacious in that tables are not crowded together. The food is delicious with high attention to service. A bit higher priced, but well worth it. Located at Calle 14 north Bis, between 10th Av. and 15th Av. Playa del CarmenOh Lala restaurant in Playa del Carmen website
4. La Brocherie I love this place! Fabian had a restaurant in Paris, then New York, and now Playa del Carmen. He and his parents and wife bring French chicken to Mexico. It is succulent and the desserts are the best in the Riviera Maya, so save room for dessert! The restaurant is small, with plastic tables and chairs, but it fills up nightly and is not something to miss. It is located on 15th Ave, between 4th and 6th.
La Brocherie is open Monday-Saturday from 10:30am-9:oopm Closed Sundays. Modest prices.
To-go and Delivery is available. Their number is 147 8683 or cell 984-117-7210
5. Nau is fairly new, but great concept, food, and ambiance. Excellent atmosphere with great fresh food (best fish choices! but they do have meat options as well) and some great gin drinks. I’ve never been much of a gin drinker but this place has some great recipes that are fantastic on a hot Mexican night.
Quality meals with top notch service. Medium priced. Nau Restaurant in Playa del Carmen Website For reservations, call Tel: +52 1 984 197 4121 or email correo@nau.mx
6. El Fogon is our favorite authentic Mexican restaurant, and you’ll see it’s where the locals eat. Menu is in Spanish, and the wait staff speaks only a little English, so you look around to see what dishes come out and ask what they are, and use your head and Google translate to decipher the menu. The food is fantastic, service is terrific and the prices are very inexpensive. The folks at El Fogon are extremely friendly and they will do everything they can to make your experience one you’ll remember. Located on North side of Constituyentes, between Calle 25 and 30. No reservations or delivery, but they offer carryout.
https://youtu.be/Yc4kVGzpLS8
7. Imprevist is another favorite and another outstanding restaurant by Chef Juan Diego. They offer an outstanding breakfast and brunch daily with a choice of seating in air-conditioned dining room or outside on an open-air patio, overlooking a quaint and quiet cobblestone street. Very European – like Playa. At night under candles and twinkly lights it becomes a cozy and intimate dining experience. Gourmet menu is comprised of seasonal flavors featuring fine selections of Prime Sea foods, USDA certified Beef and Chicken, Salad Medleys and Risottos. I strongly encourage reservations for dinner. (984) 168 70 25 / 26 or email: reservations@imprevist.mx. Imprevist Restaurant Website
8. Aguachiles is a very inexpensive place to order tacos and has great margherita’s, is close to our properties and is a favorite lunch spot or place to go get a quick bite. It’s changed owners and menus, but is still a favorite. You can order a variety of different small tacos that are very tasty. It’s on Constituyentes, beteen First and Fifth Ave. No need for reservations
9. Wah-Wah is a beach bar/restaurant that we love to go to for lunch. They have the best grouper sandwiches (don’t forget to order the garlic Parmesan french fries). We go here for lunch only, and most days there is someone playing guitar and singing beach songs like Jimmy buffet or Zac Brown. Great way to spend an afternoon.
10. Asi Beach Club. Nothing like having a really nice breakfast buffet on the beach. Great lunch menu and drinks as well . Service is terrific and sometimes you’ll have a celebrity sighting because this is the place to hang out during the day! They can also handle small parties at night – loads of fun, Love the place! They are open from 7 am to 8 pm daily.
Property Site Map
Map showing location of El Taj Ocean, El Taj Beach, Magia Beachside, Porto Playa, Maya Villa and Villas Sacbe (click for full size)