welcome to Casa Jose

While its always risky to recommend restaurants, here are a few that are favorites of our family.  There is no shortage of good restaurants in Playa so be adventurous.

At the end of Calle 2 Norte on the beach.  This is a very local restaurant with tables under the palm trees on the beach - and also some tables indoors.  Don't expect high end amenities......but good, local food especially for lunch....and its very inexpensive.  A couple of our favorites are the frijoles charro (bean soup) and the fish burger y papas fritas (fried fish burger with fries).  The best part is they don't care if you sit there for hours and enjoy the setting.   Cash only.

La Parilla is on Constituyentes and 5th Avenue.   Our longtime favorite - consistent, very good quality food.  Many tables overlooking 5th Avenue.   Mariachi bands every evening around 8pm or so.  Favorite dishes are cochinita pibil, Mayan fish filet, and alambre special (tacos).

On Calle 38 Norte off 5th Avenue toward the ocean about 4 blocks (on north side of street). Great setting "in the trees", famous for special cocktails, and the food is unique and excellent.  Favorite dish is grilled tuna filet but everything is excellent.  A bit more high-end and expensive than many restaurants in Playa.

Located on the northwest corner of 5th Avenue and Calle 5 Norte.   Essentially all outdoor dining with great tables for "people watching" along 5th Avenue.   Seats for the bar are actually swings.   Favorite dish is the beef burrito (enough for 2 people).   Also good for requesting sports on TV.

On east side of 5th Avenue between Calle 8 and 10 Norte.  Our choice for breakfast.  Excellent choices of both Mexican and American breakfast dishes.    Smoothies are excellent. Favorite dish is huevos motelenos, a combination of eggs, beans, ham, peas, plantains and tortilla...sounds like a strange combination but excellent.

Hanging out at Casa Jose and enjoying the pool and beach may be all you want or need.  But if you are looking for some activities, here are some day trips you might find interesting and fun.

Take a roundtrip ferry ride to Cozumel and visit Chankanaab, a marine sanctuary with great snorkeling in a protected bay......very easy even for novices.  Chairside service on the beach for food and drinks.   Other actives on Cozumel include dolphins, sealion show, zip lines, tequila tour and more.

All owned and operated by the same company and they are the "Disneyland version" of attactions in Mexico due to the extreme cleanliness of the parks and the friendliness of the staff. Numerous activities and cultural experiences too numerous to list.  Check out their websites.

A bit of an "artsy" town between Playa and Cancun.   Fun afternoon just wandering around and having a lazy lunch.  If you're feeling brave, visit Zoo Croco Cun on your way.....definitely an interactive zoo and really fun (and educational).  I've taken my grandkids there a couple times and "lived to tell about it" !!!!

Too numerous to mention but there many ruins within an easy day trip of Playa del Carmen......Tulum, Chichen Itza and others.   In Playacar Phase 1, where Casa Jose is located, there are also Mayan ruins.   As the story goes, these were sacrificial sites for Mayan rituals.