3 Best Restaurants in Playa del Carmen, The Riviera Maya

The name says it all at this New York–inspired restaurant where entrées are grilled on wooden planks or Himalayan salt blocks. The smoky flavors of cedar, maple, hickory, and oak come through in signature dishes like grilled salmon or beef filet in mushroom sauce. Sides of roasted cauliflower and grilled asparagus are served in mini cast-iron skillets, and flatbreads are topped with Brie cheese, cherry tomatoes, and arugula leaves. Cocktails such as the Margarita Golden add smolder to your meal. This is the place to celebrate birthdays, as the entire staff will burst out in song with cake and sparklers.

Although this restaurant is a 10-minute drive from downtown, its location in an underground cavern makes it extremely popular. A candlelit rock stairway leads to a setting that's part Carlsbad Caverns, part The Flintstones. Some of the "cavernous" rooms are for lounging, some for drinking, some for eating, some for dancing. Creative lighting casts the stalactites and stalagmites in pale shades of violet, blue, and pink. Although the setting is the highlight, the food—including the xcatic octopus, shredded deer, lobster, and steak—is also quite good. With a packed house, this place can get rather musty and humid.

If you want to try authentic Mexican and pre-Hispanic cuisine, La Perla Pixan is the place for you with its wide variety of traditional specialties such as pozole (and its vegetarian option), barbacoa, enchiladas, tlayudas, and more. Look for the weekend brunch buffet, and the extraordinary variety of mezcal cocktails. At night, live music and pre-Hispanic shows make La Perla one of the favorite spots of locals, expats, and visitors alike.