Playa del Carmen eating and drinking
I thought Playa was booming before, but now it’s almost completely out of hand. Countless super-chic condo buildings are going in—this is definitely the next South Beach. The construction noise—even in “quieter†Playa Norte–is a real drawback to what has been one of my favorite vacation places along this stretch. And everything is changing so fast it makes me want to give up guidebook writing.
Another drawback: tons of great restaurants are now shut.
Hot (p. 109) is shut at its C 10 location, but you can still find its other location at C 12 bis off Av 5.
Pan y Pasta (p. 110) is shut, as is El Olivo (p. 110), Osteria la Rucola (p. 110) and Carmencita (p. 127).
Tutix (p. 111) has also closed—this leaves the Blue Parrot (also referred to as the Dragon Bar, p. 111) as pretty much the last old-fashioned beach bar.