[Bret and Yvonne]

Part 2

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. Located on the beach at the end of Calle 12, they have taken to charging a cover charge at night. Often sited as one of the best bars in the world, which 10 years ago I might have agreed with. Connection to the ethically challenged management of the same-named condominiums nearby is unknown.
• El Pirata – Located on the beach, next to the ****** in the Costa Maya Hotel between Calles 10 and 12, this is a Reggae bar with cheap beer and a good grill where you can hear your conversation over the music.
• Tequila Barrel- One of the most popular bars in Playa. Over 100 different kinds of tequila, great mojitos. 5th Ave. between 10th and 12thst. Great location makes it perfect for people watching on La Quinta.
• 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. Food gets mixed reviews, but for a drink and appetizers, I know you have never seen any place like this. Very cool!! Juarez across from 307. Taxi.(tell the cave bar)
• 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 Avenue between 10th and 12 st.
• Beer Bucket- Good piped music, this local joint is popular with the locals. In the middle of Calle 10 between 5th and 10th Avenues.
• La Ranita – Located on Calle 10 between 5th and 10th, this mellow and attractive bar is a regular hangout for locals. Intimate and friendly place for a drink and to catch up on the local gossip.
• DJ’s Bar – A newer small local hangout with inexpensive drinks and T.V.’s. Located on 12th Street between 5th and 10th Avenues.
• El Inicio - This open air bar on 5th Avenue is in the new Alux condo/retail complex between 36th and 38th. It is beautiful and quiet. A lovely place for a romantic drink.
• Om – Located at the bottom of 12th Street by the beach, and across the street from the ******, this stunning Euro-bar deserves mention for beautiful style and terrific people watching. Hookah water pipes and Persian rugs add a whole bunch of atmosphere.
• El Diablito (Cha-Cha-Cha) - On the corner of Calle 12 and First Avenue, in the middle of the trendy Euro-slick zone, this surprisingly interesting restaurant (see food review above) turns into a bar / dico scene in the later hours. Drinks are good, but at $8 apiece it can get pricey.
• End Zone Sports Bar – Large new large format television sports bar on 5th Avenue at 14th across from Calle Corozon. Lots of screens and snacks. A great place to watch your favorite sporting match.
• Captain Dave’s La Fortuna – A small hole in the wall on 10th Avenue between Calle 6 and 8 with live music every night.
• Bad Boys on the Beach – Sometimes also called Captain Dave’s because of the same ownership as above, but this is just a great beach bar between 2nd and 4th. Live music Thursdays and Saturdays between 4 and 8. You will know you are in the right place by the skull and crossbones in front.
• Santanera – On Calle 12 between 5th and 10th, this late night D.J. club is for the young and beautiful. Cover charge.
• Bali – The newest club as of 2006, it is across the street from Santanera on 12th, between 5th and 10th. Very hip, and very expensive for Playa with a $25 cover charge. Starts late and goes till the sun shines.
• Mambo Café – On Calle 6 between 5th and 10th, this large cavernous dance club has D.J.’s and live music every night. Good music and salsa dancing till the morning comes.
• La Bodeguita del Medio – run by the same name club in Havana, this salsa place is in the Plaza Paseo at the very south end of La Quinta. Live music and a Cuban restaurant. Large, noisy and fun, with great mojitos.

Seafood:

• Oceano – Calle 34, half a block west of Avenida 30. A small fish market where you can buy your fish to take home and cook, or they will cook it for you to eat there or take home. A pescaderia.
• Cocteleria El Pirata – Located on 40th Street between 5th and 10th Avenues. This is another pescaderia where the fish comes in fresh every day and it fills up around 4 in the afternoon. Quite inexpensive and excellent, but a limited menu of fish, chips and beer. But, hey, that’s a great meal! Very local.
• La Bamba Jarocha: Two Locations, both on 30th Avenue. One at Calle 22 and one at Calle 34. Low price with a large menu. Funky and really good seafood. Popular for lunch and dinner. Friendly and cheap. Great Find!!
• Pesca – This seafood newcomer presents a huge surprise with outstandingly prepared fish at reasonable prices. The shrimp and seafood empanadas are revelatory and the fish and shrimp tacos excellent. Across from the Mega on 30th near Constituyentes in an attractive, but spare thatched open dining room.
• Bip-Bip - This ridiculously named restaurant on 5th Avenue just north of Constituyentes is pretty average for most things and would not make this recommended list except for the excellent whole grilled fish that is always on the menu for a very reasonable price.
• Mamitas Beach Club Restaurant – Located on the beach at 28th Street, this trendy and fun beach club has an excellent restaurant of fresh seafood and seviche. It’s great fun to sit and watch all of the pretty people or sit at a table on the beach and run your feet in the sand while you sip a cold one.
• El Cejas – This is a large seafooder that had a long-standing presence in Cancun that lies between 24th and 26th Streets in the middle of the Ave. 25 and Ave 30 block. I have heard it is good and not expensive, but it was closed both times I went to check it out.