Last Updated: January 3, 2024
We truly believe that breakfast is the most important meal of the day and so we’re here to help you find the top restaurants that serve the best breakfast in Playa del Carmen; that’ll set the tone for the rest of the day. We spent 4 days in Playa del Carmen and although we didn’t have any difficulty in finding great local food, we sure did have a bit of a challenge finding restaurants that serve good breakfast. With that said, we’ve done the research for you, and based on our experience, we’re very happy to give you our insider recommendations on the best spots for breakfast in Playa del Carmen.
We’ve included a variety of restaurants; whether it is the best American breakfast in Playa del Carmen or the best local eatery, that you’re looking for, you’re guaranteed to find it below.
Without further ado, here are the best restaurants that serve breakfast in Playa del Carmen.
BEST BREAKFAST IN PLAYA DEL CARMEN
MADREZ CAFE
Tacos and enchiladas are great but sometimes all we need is comfort food to start our day. After a week in Mexico, our taste buds were begging for more familiar flavors for a change and at Madrez cafe, we found just what we were looking for. It is a cute, rather humble cafe, very close to the beach, so don’t expect the buzzing vibe that you find in most restaurants that are located on the strip.
The menu has just the right items to make your mouth water as you read it and they also serve fresh juices and excellent coffee. Their waffles with eggs were so delicious, we ate there twice! The owners are super friendly and we found the fact that we could pay with a credit card very convenient. If you’re looking for the best American breakfast in Playa del Carmen, then don’t miss out on this amazing place.
IHOP
If you’re already familiar with iHop, then you don’t need us to tell you that here you’ll find the best American breakfast in Playa del Carmen. IHOP is an American restaurant franchise that specializes in pancakes. We first tried their mouth-watering pancakes during our visit to the USA back in 2018 and we fell in love with their pancakes. So much so that we kept going back over and over again (Harvest Grain n’ Nut was my weakness). If you have a sweet tooth, you’re guaranteed to find your fix here. If savory is more to your liking, then be sure to try their eggs, bacon, and hashbrown combo. Yummy!
BONUS TIP: iHop is located on 5th Avenue, which is the most touristy street in Playa del Carmen, so expect to find a queue if you arrive between 9 am and 11 am. The longest we had to wait for a table was 20’, which we were happy to do.
AY TACO
Okay, you had your break from Mexican cuisine and now you’re ready again to feast on tacos (we don’t blame you). Ay taco is more of a lunch/dinner place but because we love to break the “rules” and have lunch for breakfast (after all everything goes when you’re on holiday), we felt it was our duty to recommend this place to you.
Ay taco is a hole in the wall; more like a food truck with a few stalls, that serves the BEST tacos, we ate during our 2-week tour in the Yucatan peninsula. The service is fast and very friendly and the prices are the cheapest you’ll find in Playa del Carmen, guaranteed. We got addicted to their tacos al pastor but if meat is not your go-to for breakfast, then you could order the vegetarian tacos. Although you won’t find eggs and toast here, we can’t help but highly recommend this place for lunch, dinner, or even breakfast in Playa del Carmen.
ADDITIONAL INFO: As mentioned, Ay taco is more of a food truck, so don’t expect to find Wifi here. Also, sometimes we were able to pay with a card and sometimes not, so we’d suggest that you have cash on you just in case.
CARLOTA BAKERY
Carlota Bakery is a charming coffee shop, located on Gonzalo Guerrero street, only a few minutes from the beach. You’ll find plenty of vegetarian dishes to choose from and it is one of the cutest places to have breakfast in Playa del Carmen. Their succulent cakes will have you coming back for more but we also highly recommend their avocado toast and savory croissants. If you’re looking for a great place to have breakfast in Playa del Carmen then Carlota’s Bakery is a safe choice.
TIP: The cafe has limited seating space, so be sure to arrive early in the morning for your chance of finding a nice table outside. We love adorable cafes where we can sip our coffee out in the open air while enjoying the sunny weather.
EL FOGON
We’ll admit, El Fogon is not much of a breakfast place but we simply had to include it in this article because it truly is one of the best restaurants we ate at in Playa del Carmen. If you’re looking for authentic Mexican food, then there’s no better place in Playa del Carmen than El Fogon. The atmosphere is lively and the service is fantastic! Although you’ll find a few tourists eating here, this place attracts mainly locals (families and couples alike). The food is sensational and the prices very reasonable. You must try the amazing grilled meat and their epic tacos. They also have live music occasionally, which adds up points to the experience. This is hands down one of the best restaurants in Playa del Carmen and the ultimate place to be if you want to feast on authentic Mexican cuisine.
