One of my favourite parts of travelling is getting to try different cafés and coffee shops in new places. It’s become an essential part of our travel routine- waking up, heading out for a morning walk, finding a local café, and ordering an iced latte. Not only is it a fun way to try a new spot, but it’s also how we’ve gone about finding the best coffee in Playa del Carmen, while exploring more of the area and stumbling across local hidden gems along the way.
We’ve spent several months living in Playa del Carmen, and during that time we’ve been on the hunt for the very best coffee shops in the city. Our only stipulation? They had to be within walking distance of Fifth Avenue, Playa’s main pedestrian street. At each café, we ordered an iced latte so we could fairly compare the quality, flavour, and consistency from spot to spot. As well, we’ve taken into account pricing as lattes can get expensive. We’ve found the best of the best and listed them here, so keep reading for our honest breakdown of the best coffee in Playa Del Carmen.
There are affiliate links in this post. If you make a qualifying purchase through one of these links, Wander Woman Travel Magazine may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Related: Fabulously Fun things to do in Cancun with Kids
Table of Contents
1. Alamo Café
This is our absolute favourite coffee shop in Playa del Carmen. It took us a while to find this local gem, but once we did, we didn’t feel the need to try anywhere else. The coffee is consistently delicious, and the prices are great. We usually order a grande latte, and it’s a generous size for the same price- or even less- than what we’ve paid at many other cafés in the area.
The staff are friendly, and I also appreciate that when you pay, you’re not asked for a tip. Some of the other spots we’ve visited are not only overpriced, but the baristas directly ask if you want to tip, which can feel a bit pressured and uncomfortable. At Alamo, we’ve never felt that expectation, and honestly, that makes me want to tip.
2. Ressio Café – Best Coffee in Playa del Carmen for plant based options
During our first trip to Playa del Carmen a couple of years ago, we stayed in an Airbnb right across the street from Ressio, so we decided to give it a try. It quickly became our favourite spot on that trip, and most mornings we found ourselves stopping in for coffee.
Ressio doesn’t offer regular dairy milk, everything is plant-based, so if you prefer cow’s milk, this might not be the café for you. That said, I usually order a regular latte and was pleasantly surprised by how much I loved mine with oat milk; it was creamy and delicious. Garrett tried a soy milk latte and loved his as well.
This coffee shop is definitely on the pricier side, but the quality is excellent and it’s a great option if you’re looking for really good plant-based coffee in Playa del Carmen.
3. Amaia Matcha & Coffee Shop
This newly opened coffee and matcha spot is cozy, charming, and absolutely adorable. It’s located slightly off the main drag, but still close enough to walk to easily. We both ordered regular iced lattes and thought they were delicious. The prices were reasonable, and we didn’t feel any pressure to tip, which we appreciated. The barista was also very friendly.
There aren’t any size options here, and we found the iced lattes a little small for our preferences, but overall this café still earns a spot as one of the best coffee shops in Playa del Carmen.
4. Ah Cacao Chocolate Café – Best Coffee in Playa del Carmen for Sweet Coffee Lovers
Ah Cacao cafés can be found all along Fifth Avenue, with three locations on the main pedestrian street, making them incredibly easy to find. The coffee is decent, and we ordered a regular iced latte, which was generously sized, but it wasn’t our favourite in terms of flavour.
We noticed a lot of people ordering sweeter, more elaborate drinks, and this spot is always incredibly busy, so it’s likely a better choice if you prefer sweeter, dessert-style coffee drinks.
5. Barista Coffee Nation
Our final pick for the best coffee in Playa del Carmen is Barista Coffee Nation. The coffee here is solid, and we appreciated being able to choose between a regular or grande size. This café was one of the pricier spots we visited, and we also felt the most pressure to tip, which meant we ended up paying the most overall.
That said, the coffee itself is really delicious, making it a good option if you don’t mind paying a bit more for quality.
Where to Stay in Playa Del Carmen
If great coffee and easy exploration are part of your travel vibe, choosing a place that’s walkable to Playa del Carmen’s best cafés and Fifth Avenue makes mornings and afternoons so much smoother. Here are some great options for every budget:
Budget: HM Playa del Carmen or Acanto Playa del Carmen, Trademark Collection by Wyndham
Mid-range: Hyatt Centric Playa del Carmen or The Reef Coco Beach Resort & Spa
Luxury: Paradisus Playa del Carmen – Riviera Maya or Rosewood Mayakoba
Best Coffee in Playa del Carmen: Final Thoughts
There are tons of really solid coffee shops in Playa del Carmen, but these are the ones that truly stood out to us. There are still a few spots on my list that I’d love to check out, so I’ll be sure to update this post as we continue exploring. If you’ve been to Playa del Carmen and have a coffee shop you loved, let us know in the comments!
No Comments