Restaurant, Bar, and Club guide
for the Mayan Riviera - Riviera Maya

   MY FAVORITES:     Everyone has their list.  Those places that you return to eat time and again.  They may not be the best, fanciest, or offer anything particularly special, but they are consistent and have something that brings you back.  Here is my list in no particular order.  Most are listed on the specific location page with directions but....  a few I want to keep relatively quiet so you will have to do a little work  to find them.....

* BABES NOODLE HOUSE in Playa del Carmen:  There are 2 locations and both are excellent.  More often than not, I order the Swedish meat balls which has nothing to do with Noodles but I love it.  The curries are great too.  I always have at least one Mojito because they are consistently good.

* PACO TACO I am in with drawl.  Paco was at the gate to Puerto Aventuras and so a very convenient stop for one of his delicious shrimp tacos.  Development squeezed him out and he relocated just a little further south of Puerto at the next PEMEX gas station.  Although a little further out of my way.  It is worth the drive.  The original 'Paco' has moved on to Guadalajara, but the new Paco has maintained the quality.

* THAT CEVICHE PLACE in the Poblado at Puerto Aventuras:  I don't know if there is even a sign for this little restaurant beside the carpenters workshops, but they serve some of the best ceviche and shrimp cocktail outside of the Gulf Coast of Mexico.  If you are still hungry have the daily special too.

* YAMAMOTO Sushi in Cancun:   I hate going to Cancun and will normally put it off for as long as possible, however I will make an excuse to go if I have been too long without sushi.   Chef Juan is Mexican, but he has been well trained and knows his  stuff.  I always start with the spicy tuna roll or cone and usually ask Juan to create something special for me along with the standards.  (not only do they have ename, but Juan shared with me his source, so now I enjoy this at home.)

* LEOS PIZZA in Chemuyil:  Simply the best pizza around and excellent lasagna.  The surroundings have gone a little (very little) up market over the years but the consistency of the food never falters.  Open for dinner only.

* THE OTHER RESTAURANT in Chemuyil:  Not sure of the name but it doesn't matter as there are only 2 restaurants in Chemuyil.  Leo's pizza is the one open for dinner and this is the restaurant a couple of doors down that is only open for lunch.  EXCELLENT local dishes.  If you are lucky they will have Chiles Rellenos available.  UPDATE: just stopped by and found it closed with a sign that they were opening soon with new management.  That is not always a good thing but will wait to see.

* RED CHICKEN in Tulum:  There are now a number of good dining options in Tulum but my standard remains roasted chicken from one of the street side grills on the east side of main street.  Delicious and cheap..  You have to get your ice cold beer across the street at the agent store.

* MEZZANINE on the beach in Tulum:  Another one of those places I take friends when they are visiting.  You can't beat the location, decent Thai food and exotic cocktails.  Friday nights this is the 'happening' place with top DJ's and the 'in' crowd.

* TIRAMI SU in Puerto Aventuras: Donna & Memo offer consistently good Italian fare & seafood.

 * MASSIMO in Puerto Aventuras:  Fresh, delicious, homemade pasta.

* CAFE CAFE in Puerto Aventuras: Mimi's sandwiches are delicious.  I am not really a desert person, but my friends and guests say that Mimi's are to die for.

* TREBOL in Puerto Aventuras:  Federico & his staff offer up some of the most interesting food in Puerto Aventuras.  Ask about the specials.  You will never go wrong with the steaks either.

* CAFE OLE in Puerto Aventuras: I return for the ribs and live music time and again.

* NATIVO  north of Constituentes on Avenida 30 in Playa del Carmen:  the lunch counter next to DAC fruit and vegetable market is so good that they had to open a second location across the street.  Try the Chiliqueles with a fruit liquado of course. Breakfast and lunch only.

* HC de MONTEREY  in Playa del Carmen on Constituentes across from MEGA:  Most people who enjoy a good steak would not go out of their way to find a flank steak.  Do it... The arachera here is delicious. (tip: after eating here often enough to be recognized, the waiter told me that I should try the Mexican beef rather than the US Grade that I normally ordered.  He was right.  It was better and cheaper)

* COCKTELERIA la BOMBA JAROCHA II in Playa del Carmen on Avenida 30 I almost always have the baked seafood soup.  It is delicious.

 * TURTLE BAY BAKERY in Akumal:  Sunday mornings I like to get on the motorcycle and head to the Turtle Bay Bakery for breakfast.  OR...if I feel like heading in the opposite direction......

* La CUEVA del CHANGO in Playa del Carmen: my other Sunday morning breakfast place.  (They are now open in the evening and just as good.)

* Along with the good, I am sure you appreciate to hear about the bad.  El CIELO on XpuHa beach.  This restaurant is highly rated by some people and I must admit that I have had some very nice experiences there.  However, I have had more bad then good and will now only go there when invited by friends.  NOTE: you MUST make a reservation as this diner learned.  I can say that this is not an isolated case.  I have had a very similar experience except I had a car with me so I could go somewhere else.  "Tried to dine at Al Cielo last night.  Thought you should know our story...  Arrived at 7:40PM.  They refused to serve us without a reservation despite the fact there were only 3 tables occupied and their reservation sheet only showed 1 party of 3 scheduled for the rest of the night.  Our taxi had already departed.  We asked them to call for a taxi for us.  After two feeble attempts he claimed no answer, and declared he was 'sorry' there was nothing else he could do.  We were left to walk back up to the highway, where we had to walk who knows how far in the dark with traffic speeding by until we came to the Xhupa Palace.  The guards at the gate were kind enough to have the front desk call us a taxi.  My family was extremely upset walking along the highway in the dark with the traffic.  Perhaps I should have asked/paid the taxi to wait while we 'dined', but in all my trips down here I've never had a problem with a restaurant like I did last night." August 8,2007

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Restaurant Guide to:

PLAYA del CARMEN     PUERTO AVENTURAS     TULUM     AKUMAL     PUERTO MORALES     CANCUN