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Heater's Places to Eat……Things to Do……..Places to Booze

Tacos and cheap eats

• Dona Mary- This is supposed to be the best place for a Mexican dinner. The women only speak Spanish and most of the food choices are made with chicken. They are only open for dinner. 7pm-12am. 30th ave and 28th st (calle). Taxi or moped accessible.
• El Oasis-A must! The best shrimp tacos you’ll ever eat. Fresh seafood. Ceviche(fish or shrimp marinated in lime juice, onion, cilantro, tomato-served with tortilla chips), guacamole. 12th st between 5th and 10th ave.
• Pizza Pazza- A must! This place has awesome slices of pizza. Located next to El Oasis. 12th st between 5th and 10th ave.
• Aca Los Tacos- Tacos al pastor (pork tacos on a spit…kinda like gyros). Corner of 5th ave and Constituyentes.
• El Sarape- Tacos al pastor and other Mexican grub. Served only at night. Located on Juarez, about 4-5 blocks from the ferry terminal.
• El Fogon- Tacos al pastor. 3 locations: 30th Ave and 6th St; 30th Ave near 28th st; and Constituyentes Av between Av 25 y Av 30 (across from Mega).
• Tacos Israel- Awesome tacos. Tacos arrachera (flank steak) and tacos al pastor. There is a bright blue and white striped awning. Corner of 15th ave and 10th st.
• La Casita de Los Guisos (formerly La Madrina)- I have heard great things about this place. Tamales on weekends, mole, etc. 20th ave and 6th st. (look for red chairs) Closed Tuesdays.
• Doctor Taco- Great tacos and vegetarian selections. 10th ave between 8th and 10th st.
• El Faisan y el Venado- Great Mexican and Yucataenaen specialties. Lots of locals eat here. Close to Juarez and highway 307.
• H & M Butcher Shop- This place is a butcher shop that also serves great food. Grilled flank steak with a baked potato and grilled onion-yummy! 1st st between 25th and 30th ave.
• Food Carts-(very clean and safe to eat) Most of these carts are located at 5th ave and Juarez. The pork tacos served in the morning are supposed to be great. Churros at night. Empanadas, fresh fruit cups and fresh squeezed orange juice.

Breakfast and Sandwich Shops

• La Cueva Del Chango- A must! This place is a little out of the way but well worth it. Homemade granola served with fresh fruit and yogurt. Eggs with cheese and chaya (spinach) served with homemade tortillas. Fresh squeezed juices and great coffee. They are also open for lunch and dinner. 38th st between 5th ave and the beach. Ask for directions, taxi, moped, walk the street from north end of town (Hotel Coco Rio), walk the beach and turn on to the road at Shangri La Hotel (next to las Palapas)
• Java Joe’s- The best coffee and place to gossip with the locals. Breakfast and sandwiches. Homemade grilled Italian sausage in the afternoons. 10th st between 5th and 10th ave.
• Hot Baking Company- Homemade breads and pastries, eggs and bacon, etc. Has two locations. (Calle Corazon) corner of 5th ave and 14 st. 10th st bwtween 5th and 10th.
• Baguiz- Sandwiches and probably breakfast. 20th ave between 6th and 8th st.
• IL Mangiare- Delicatessen with sandwiches, bagels, coffee, etc. 5th ave between 28th and 30st.

Places for Dinner or Big Lunch

• Media Luna- The food is great! All types of food: vegetarian, pasta, seafood. They also have great juices, drinks and sangria. 5th avenue between 12th and 14st.
• Babes Noodle Bar- A must! Great food…thai dishes (pretty mild, but great), spring rolls and Vietnamese rolls are also great. Great mojitos, blueberry margaritas, juices, mint lemonade. 10th st between 5th and 10th ave.
• Casa Mediterranea- Great pasta and fish. 5th ave between 6th and 8th st. (down a walkway across from lunata hotel)
• Yaxche- (ya-shay) One of the nicest restaurants in town. Mayan restaurant with gourmet food. This place has won a bunch of awards. 8th st between 5th and 10th.
• Tango Taco- Supposed to have great Mexican and beef and good prices. 10th st between 10th and 15th ave.
• Magdalena’s Grill House- Have heard great things about this place. Imported meats, dinner menu selected daily. They are also open for lunch and serve breakfast until 3pm. Corner of 1st ave and 26th st.
• Manne’s Biergarten- German pub. Wednesday night is rib night and Friday’s is pork roast. Closed Tuesdays. 4th st between 10th and 15 ave.
• Playa Maya-On the beach, also a great place for breakfast or lunch. Fresh seafood, coconut shrimp, great guacamole. Playa Maya Hotel on the beach between 6th and 8th st.
• La Parilla- This is a really fun place to eat. They have Marachis from 8-10. Good Mexican food. We usually eat dinner here our first night in town. 5th ave between 8th and 10th (or 8th and 6th).
• Sol Food- New restaurant that is supposed to be very good. Vegetarian, meat, pasta, seafood. 8th st between 5th and the beach.
• John Gray’s Kitchen- A must! This small restaurant is located in Puerto Morelos, about 25 minutes north of playa. Take a taxi or car. John Gray, the owner, was formerly a chef at the Ritz Carlton in California. The food is wonderful and the setting is romantic. Hours are Monday-Saturday 6-10 pm. You can call for reservations, but not a must. 998-871-0665.
• Ah Cacaos- This is a place that serves only chocolate. Located on the corner of 5th Ave and Constituyentes.
• IL Duca- This restaurant is a transport from rome (Frommer’s top 10 restaurants in Rome). Mussels flown in on weekends. 10th st between 1st and 5th ave.

Bars, Clubs and People Watching

There are so many of these places-here are some favorites.

• ******- The most famous bar in Playa. Great Place for happy hour. I think that they have live music on Saturday afternoons. Good place to go a little later in the evening. (11 or 12ish)
• Tequila Barrel- One of the most popular bars in Playa. Over 100 different kinds of tequila, great mojitos. 5th ave between 10th and 12thst.
• Bourbon Street- Live music, great drinks. 5th ave between 6th and 8th st.
• Mil Un Alux – (Aloosh)! A must! This place is unlike anything that you have ever seen. It’s a huge bar that is built into a natural cavern. Juarez across from 307. Taxi.(tell the cave bar)
• Captain Tutix- This is the place that you want to go to after 2 or 3 am. Club with lots of stuff going on. On the beach and 4st. Can walk the beach from ******. (Girl’s don’t walk alone on the beach at night…..no matter how drunk you are. Unless it’s from ****** to your hotel at Gran Porto Real).
• Deseo- The bed bar. This place is awesome. Located on the rooftop of Deseo hotel. (look for a set of stairs with a huge screen playing black and white videos) 5th ave between 10th and 12 st. (I think).
• Beer Bucket- Live music, popular with the locals. 5th ave between 10th and 12th st.

Things to do

• Playa Tukan Beach Club- This is usually where Brian and I are during the day. Most beautiful stretch of beach in playa. Restaurant, swing bar, juice bar, chair service, chair rentals, dive shop, and umbrella rentals.
• Itza Spa- (calle Corazon) 5th ave and 14th st. Spa with a great reputation. Massage, mayan healing baths, facials, etc.
• Car Rentals- ask around for rental places off of 5th ave, they are usually cheaper.
• Great Day Trip- rent a car,(if you like to snorkel rent some gear at playa tukan before you leave) Start out in the morning. Head south on highway 307. Stop at Akumal entrance and have breakfast at Turtle Bay Bakery. (great breakfast burrito), Get a map from the dive shop and snorkel at Yal kuul (sp) lagoon.
  
  Drive further south to the Road to Coba sign (it will be on right hand side of the road) drive down road a bit and stop at Gran Cenote (right hand side or road) for a refreshing swim.
  
  Head back to 307 north towards Playa.
  Stop at Xpu-Ha beach with the Café Del Mar sign. Have lunch and some margaritas at the café. It’s a nice quiet beach and a fun place to stop.

There are also some great ruins such as Tulum and Coba, Great Parks such as Xcaret and Xelha.
Grab a tour book from you hotel and look through it.

Travelers checks are a must
Pack comfortable shoes