Bold and Beautiful Brews: Where To Find The Best Coffee Shops in Playa del Carmen

La Vida Local

 

One of the benefits of staying in a vacation rental is that you get to experience the city through the eyes of a local. While staying in your home away from home, you have the chance to venture out and experience the authentic tastes of Mexico most tourists to the Riviera Maya miss out on.

To make it easier to find these hidden gems, we feature our recommendations in ‘Top 10’ lists on our website’s travel blog page. When you visit this great Playa del Carmen resource, you will discover the best the city has to offer. Articles such as The Top 10 Restaurants For Vegetarians and Vegans or Bric Staff’s Favorite Mexican Restaurants point out some of our best suggestions.

La Quinta, or 5thAvenue (Playa ‘s main tourist hub) presents an enticing array of unique dining options. However, there are hundreds of one-of-a-kind eateries tucked alongside streets worth checking out.

But before you set out on a quest to find the best enchiladas in town, you’ll want to start the day off with a great cup of coffee. This blog article highlights not only the best cafes in Playa del Carmen but also its vibrant multicultural spirit. Hailing from interesting places including Italy, France, Cuba, and Mexico City, this medley of coffee shop owners has done well to inject its dynamic flare into the city’s food scene. Luckily for us, we can choose from an exceptional range of global menus and international brew styles.

Choux Choux Café

(20th Avenue and Calle 24)

Opens at 7 am

 

There are so many reasons to love this eclectic eatery. The décor at Choux Choux is artsy, heck even their frothy latte is a pièce de résistance! They have a display case of chocolaty goodness and other sweet treats to go with your fresh coffee and the menu boasts a list of vegan-friendly dishes.

If you fall in love with this place as most locals in Playa have, you may find yourself there again on Wednesday evenings for their open mic night. The owners are all about embracing local talent, creating a welcoming sense of community, and raising environmental awareness with their recycling program.

Bajo Café

(Calle 30 between 25th and 30th Avenue)

Opens at 8 am

 

 

You can recognize this delightful little coffee shop by the massive flamboyant tree at its entrance. Bursts of burnt orange blooms and a maze of branches provide natural shade for the window seats. Artwork and other products from local artisans decorate the rustic café and are available for purchase.

Whether you are a regular or not, the manager is always on hand to welcome you as if you have been a client for years. If you want a little brunch with your coffee, ask for a fresh-made bagel or breakfast sandwich.

Lara & Luca

(On the outskirts of Playacar Fase 2, Avenida Aviacion)

Opens at 7:30 am

 

This popular café and restaurant is such a hit that it has undergone renovations to expand twice and has recently opened a second location in Tulum. The coffee is rich and the pastries have the perfect amount of puff.

For breakfast, they serve a menu of the day, which includes their own natural yogurt and granola blend, the main dish, coffee, and a fresh fruit juice. Try their healthy green drink to accompany the best eggs benny in town. If you’re in a hurry, next door is their deli with ready-made salads, soups, breads, and desserts to go.

Ojo de Agua

(CTM between 15th & 20th Avenue)

Opens at 8 am

 

This newly established gem invites visitors to enjoy a cafecito outside on their verdant, open-air patio or in the air-conditioned dining room. There is plenty of space if you are traveling in a group. Their on-site store is a great place to find fresh produce and organic products. The location is especially convenient if you are a guest of Bric’s at the Elements condos just down the street.

If you desire a savory breakfast, it is a hard choice when it comes to the list of divine selections. But forced to choose, we’d go with the hearty matcha or coco breakfast bowls brimming with seasonal fruit.

Bendito Café

(25th Avenue between Calle 12 and 12 Bis)

Opens at 8 am

 

The aroma of fresh baking and maple syrup is always a welcome touch upon entering this cute little café. Located beside Walmart and behind the ADO bus station, it’s the perfect final pit stop if you are heading back to the airport.

Friendly staff offers organic, free-trade coffee and delicious iced frappe blends such as horchata, matcha, and chai. Even a quick stop to admire their stunning mural is worth a trip inside.

Sabrina

(Constituyentes between 10th and 15th Avenue)

Opens at 6:45 am

 

We are thrilled that the Italian proprietors decided to bring their devotion to fine Italian coffee and cuisine to Playa del Carmen. The menu boasts a vast selection of sweet treats to accompany one of the best cappuccinos in town.

Open for lunch and dinner as well, you might want to check out their menu of the day or visit for a refreshing Aperol Spritz!

Que Huevos

(5th Avenue and Calle 48)

Open from 7 am – 5 pm

 

One of our favorites on the list, we love the authentic ‘Playaesque’ feel of this inviting neighborhood café. There are only a few tables, so finding a seat at this busy hub can sometimes be a challenge.

They have a tasty, casual breakfast menu with some creative dishes including healthful smoothie bowls and poached eggs in a rich red salsa that is spiced to perfection. If you can’t take the heat of the salsa, try their amazing passion fruit lemonade.

Café, Coco y Miel

(5th Avenue and Calle 48)

Opens at 8 am

 

The care and attention to detail in every single beverage and dish they serve is clearly evident. It’s a unique, hole-in-the-wall eatery serving delicious superfood vegan options such as Acai smoothies, breakfast bowls, and matcha waffles.

Organic coffee beans from Oaxaca, Veracruz, and Chiapas are available for purchase and this commendable, local business is one of the leaders in environmental awareness with their dedication to ban the use of plastics.

The Pitted Date

(CTM in between 1stand Cozumel Avenue)

Opens at 8 am

This incredible vegan café is full of scrumptious surprises to accompany your coffee or creamy turmeric latte. How does a slice of sinfully delicious chocolate cake or mouth-watering macadamia lemon cheesecake sound? These tantalizing 100% vegan pastries are packed with!

The creatives responsible for this menu continuously push the envelope when it comes to out-of-this-world vegan dishes. Take for example the omelet drizzled with a cashew cream sauce, or the Paninis served with homemade ketchup – that’s a lot of pure goodness.

Chez Celine

(5th Avenue & Calle 34)

Opens at 8 am

If you have already walked Playa del Carmen’s famous 5thAvenue, chances are you have strolled by this popular local bakery. A favorite coffee shop for their fresh French bread, pastries, and almond croissants, Chez Celine brings a taste of France to the Riviera Maya.

Additional crowd-pleasers worth mentioning are the coconut flan and house ginger lemonade, which offer refreshing twists on the original versions.

And that’s all folks! You now have the inside scoop on Playa del Carmen’s best-kept secrets as far as coffee houses go. Now grab a friend for the perfect blend.