 SHOPPING
There is no need to advertize Playa del Carmen's richness in shopping
centers which has multiplied tenfold over the past few years. Indeed,
shopping could be counted as Playa's biggest attraction. Quinta Avenida
which is the main shopping street in Playa del Carmen is a natural place to
start for pursuit of any product. Stylish galleries are dotted throughout
the city, and all sorts of handicrafts from every corner of the country
including furniture, filigree pieces and jewelry can be found here. Paseo
del Carmen is the newest mall and shouldn't be missed for any reason if you
want to look at the epitome of the shopping milieu in Playa del Carmen.
For visitors looking for highest-quality hand-painted Talavera-style pottery in
town, head to Selva y Mar; the store has a high reputation for this
indigeous craft. Rincon del Sol is a good place for browsing as
well as shopping as it carries a collection of Guatemalan textiles, resort wear
and a good range of handicrafts. For wonderful handmade accessories,
tasteful import goods, and a wide range of in-style clothing perfect for
tropical climate of Mexico, don't forget to give Mango Boutique a visit.
DINING
The 5th Avenue (Quinta Avenida) is the traditional starting place for dining
pleasure as there is a cornucopia of restaurants along the ten colorful blocks.
For the traditional Yucatecan cuisine hardly found outside the Mayan Riviera,
pop into Yaxche, Fah, El Pirata or El Faisan y el venado. For
a delicious taco or enchilada meal, there is a number of Mexican restaurants on
offer; Aca los tacos, Le Bistrot, Los Comales, Carlos'n Charlie's and Sueno
Guajiro. For the salubrious calamari, shrimp or fish dishes with
pleasant dining atmosphere, there are La Parilla, Kick Ass Shrimp, La
Floresta, Ajua, Playa Mar and Las Palmeras. Le Bistro, Byblos and
Panam Cafe serve fine French food, and Buenos Aires is a certified
Argentinian restaurant which has always been on the top of a poll of great
dining places in the Playa. Craving for something oriental? Tasty
and nutritious Thai dishes are meticulously prepared inside the kitchen of Xo-Tik,
whereas tempura and raw fish delicacies representative of the Japanese
cuisine are available at Sushi-Tlan and Bar Ranita. General
international and snack bar can be spotted at Alux, Cafe Sasta, Ronny's,
Segafredo Zanetti, 3 Monkeys and Ah Cacao Chocolate Cafe. A
good choice of world-wide chains such as McDonald's, KFC and T.G.I.
Friday can also be found here.
NIGHTLIFE
Many restaurants along the 5th Avenue seamlessly transform into nightclubs
in the evening after the dinner hour has passed. For your consideration, Blue
Parrot is a well-known bar with reggae music and 70's-90's hits,
well-adorned with a laid-back atmosphere perfect for hanging out as well as
observing the beach and the people along it. Captain Tutik's is for
all-night party enthusiasts with unlimited passion and energy for fun.
High beat music accompany the great view overlooking the Mayan beach is totally
worth spending the entire night in this bar alone. To many, Alux is
a restaurant, a bar and a lounge all in one. The color lights filtrating
and vanishing among millenary stalactites enhance a surreal air which is favored
by the most diverse crowd in the Playa. Deseo offers an al fresco
second floor lounge with an ambience barely rivaled by any other bar in the same
precinct with its huge mattresses among flowing curtains and melodious music
spun by a popular DJ. Another recommended open air lounge is Frida Bar whose
setting of a pool, a bridge over the water and palm trees, accentuated by live
flamenco and blues fusion is to die for. At the same time, OM Lounge is
a successful new-kid-on-the-block with provocative house sounds serving a
wonderful profusion of delicious, taste buds-tinkling cocktails.
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