They say that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, so where you go to eat it matters! Check out our top picks for your morning fuel. We’ve taken our local knowledge and spoken to the ‘Playense’ community to share with you the 5 spots for the best breakfast in Playa del Carmen.
5 Top Spots for Best Breakfast in Playa del Carmen
Cueva del Chango
Calle 38 entre Avenida 5 y el Mar Col
This Playa del Carmen breakfast restaurant is a favorite of Playenses and tourists alike. It’s been said that you can’t have a trip into Playa without visiting Cueva del Chango for their famous chilaquiles – choose them ‘verde’, ‘rojo’, (or even do for half and half ‘divorciado’!)
Cueva del Chango translates to ‘monkey cave’, so-called as if you’re lucky you may spot the resident monkey swinging through the trees in the rear courtyard as you enjoy your meal. Inside the quaint and unique restaurant, you can also see the small cenote, filled with little turtles. This place gets super busy, but it’s well worth waiting out the line to try some traditional Mexican flavor.
They’re also open for lunch and dinner too!
Lara & Luca
Avenida Aviación
If you’re willing to venture a little further off the usual sights and delights of 5th Avenue, you’ll find great food and great service at Lara & Luca. This great spot is situated close to the airport, on the south side of Playa del Carmen. It’s quaint and homely style is only surpassed by it’s excellent food.
It’s no wonder that this place is always busy and has a ton of great reviews on TripAdvisor. Try their avocado toast and delicious hotcakes topped with berries and cream cheese. They also have delicious pastries – I’m a big fan of their nutella and cream croissant!
Choux Choux Café
Calle 24 y Avenida 20
You’re unlikely to be able to get into Choux Choux Cafe without waiting in line first. This hidden gem for breakfast in Playa del Carmen is found in the middle of the Colonia Hollywood neighborhood.
Famous for its great range of coffee options, with drip, filter, espresso, and every other option you can think of. They also stock their own brew of kombucha too. My personal favorite is the eggs benedict, which can be taken with salmon, ham, pork, or as a vegetarian option.
There’s also a great value breakfast/brunch combo that includes a coffee of your choosing, a fresh orange juice, and a delicious croissant or pain au chocolat, along with your chosen meal.
Such is the popularity of Choux Choux, they also have a second smaller venue, L’Petit Shoux, which has the same delicious menu, on Calle 56 and Avenida 5.
Chez Celine
Calle 34 y Avenida 5
On any given morning you can find a mix of expats and tourists all enjoying a classic French breakfast in Playa del Carmen at Chez Celine. This charming café is in the heart of 5th Avenue and allows you to watch the people stroll along 5th Avenue as you dine. The wafting scent of freshly baked pastries hits you as you walk past. And the lines to get in to the cafe prove that it’s worth coming!
As well as the great varieties of coffees, juice, and eggs in any and every way possible, there are also specialties like French toast.
They also have a great value combo offer here too, which includes a main hot breakfast, along with fresh juice, coffee, with bread, and jams. The difficult part will be managing to leave the restaurant without a selection of pastries to take ‘para llevar’
La Jungla de la Riviera
Calle 70 y Avenida 10
Many people don’t tend to venture into the Colosio neighborhood if they’re only in Playa for a vacation, but for a secretly delicious breakfast spot, it’s worth heading to La Jungla de la Riviera.
This cute little café with its outdoor, tree-covered patio is small, but charming (however, it’s all open air, so be mindful that it may not be open if it’s a wet day!). They make exceptional omelets, including a spinach and goat’s cheese combo which is simply sublime!
Plus they have a wide range of freshly blended juices, each mixed to order and filled with boosting berries, veggies, and fruits to energize your morning.
Support The Local Community
As you enjoy your best breakfast here in the Riviera Maya on your next trip, take a moment to consider how you might be able to help the students who live here.
Many children struggle to be able to continue their education, as unlike in other places, high school education here is not free. Often families can struggle with the admission fees, along with the resources, uniforms, and other costs needed to continue an education.
The great news is it costs less than $2 USD per day to help keep a student in high school – that’s less than the cost of your morning cup of coffee. KKIS is a non-profit charity that works hard with the local community to keep students in school.
For the price of breakfast in Playa del Carmen, you can give a little something back to help the Playa community.
Contact us to find out how to donate or volunteer to support the KKIS students today.
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