Best Bars in Playa del Carmen

17 BEST Bars in Playa del Carmen Mexico in 2024

Viva La Travelista Disclosure

Looking for the best bars in Playa del Carmen Mexico? You’ve come to the right place!

I’m a travel blogger that lives in Playa del Carmen so I’ve had plenty of time to discover all the best bars, local hotspots, and hidden gems.

Honestly, it can be difficult to find a good drink in Playa del Carmen because the 2×1 drink specials offered on the touristy 5th Avenue are often watered down and overpriced. 

I quickly learned to avoid these tourist traps and now I’m here to help you do the same!

In this post, I’m sharing my top recommendations for the best bars in Playa del Carmen whether you’re looking for beer, wine, cocktails, or simply the coolest atmosphere.

Read on to find out where to drink in Playa del Carmen!

Best Bars in Playa del Carmen

These are the best Playa del Carmen bars whether you’re looking for rooftops, beach bars, craft cocktails, live music, beer, wine, or a crazy cool atmosphere:

Best Rooftop Bars in Playa del Carmen

Head to one of these trendy Playa del Carmen rooftop bars for the best views:

1. Be Roof

Be Roof Playa del Carmen
Be Roof Playa del Carmen
People sitting in the pool at Be Roof Playa del Carmen

📍 Location: Be Playa Hotel (Calle 26 and Avenida 10)

Located on the top of the Be Playa Hotel in downtown Playa del Carmen, Be Roof is a chic boho-style rooftop with a pool and bar.

You can have drinks in the pool, or just chill out on the daybeds or dining tables. Plus, they often have a live DJ spinning house music.  

The relaxed vibe at this Playa del Carmen rooftop bar makes it a great place for happy hour or a night out with friends. And it’s less well-known so it won’t be overrun by tourists.

2. Fives Rooftop

The Fives Downtown Playa del Carmen

📍 Location: The Fives Downtown Hotel (Calle 2 and Avenida 10)

The Fives Rooftop is a chic rooftop bar and pool located on top of the Fives Downtown Hotel and Residences.

With a long infinity pool facing the ocean, it’s a great place for happy hour or late afternoon drinks to enjoy the views before it gets dark.

The Fives Rooftop is also one of the best rooftop pools in Playa del Carmen that you can visit during the day and relax at the pool with a minimum consumption fee. 

Best Beach Bars in Playa del Carmen

Head to one of these Playa del Carmen beach bars to sip on a drink with your toes in the sand:

3. Fusion

Fusion Beach Bar in Playa del Carmen Mexico

📍 Location: Calle 6 and the beach

If you’re looking for the best bar in Playa del Carmen on the beach, head to Fusion!

With low wooden chairs and lantern-lit tables, it has a very chill beach vibe where you can relax with your toes in the sand.  

They also offer live music and an impressive fire show almost every night.

It’s my go-to place whenever I have friends or family visiting and it never disappoints!

4. Zenzi Beach

Zenzi Beach Bar Playa del Carmen
People sitting at the bar at Zenzi Beach Bar Playa del Carmen
People dining on the beach at Zenzi Beach Playa del Carmen

📍 Location: Calle 10 and the beach

Located right on the beach, Zenzi is probably one of the most popular Playa del Carmen beach bars for locals and also one of my favorites.  

Zenzi Bar Playa del Carmen has a large open-air bar with a full service restaurant, along with tables and chairs in the sand.

The food and drinks are not stellar but with live music and free salsa lessons every week, it’s a fun place to enjoy drinks on the beach with friends. 

Best Bars for Craft Cocktails in Playa del Carmen

Head to one of these bars for the best craft cocktails in Playa del Carmen:

5. La Perla Pixan

La Perla Pixan Bar in Playa del Carmen
Margarita and Chips at La Perla Pixan Playa del Carmen
The bar at La Perla Pixan Playa del Carmen

📍 Location38th Street between 5th Avenue and the beach

La Perla Pixan is an upscale Mexican restaurant and mezcal store that has some of the best cocktails in Playa del Carmen.

It offers an extensive drink menu and some of the best margaritas in Playa del Carmen, all crafted with fresh and unique ingredients.

The drinks at La Perla Pixan are definitely a step up from the watered down margs on Fifth Avenue, especially if you’re looking for tequilas or mezcals.  

The restaurant also offers a lively outdoor atmosphere with a live band or local musician.

6. Trujillos Cantina de Selva

People dining at Trujillos Cantina de Selva Playa del Carmen

📍 Location38th Street between 5th Avenue and the beach

Located on the beautiful 38th Street, Trujillos Cantina de Selva is another great spot for craft cocktails.  

Situated in a jungle setting with lowly-lit string lights, it offers a stunning atmosphere for dinner or drinks.

If you’re dining there, be sure to ask your server for a cocktail to best pair with your meal.

They have a unique drink menu with many craft cocktails made with local ingredients like kombucha and cacao. 

Best Bars for Live Music in Playa del Carmen

Head to one of these lively bars for the best live music in Playa del Carmen:

7. Fah

People drinking at Fah Bar Playa del Carmen

📍 Location5th Avenue and Calle 10

Fah Bar Playa del Carmen is a fun and lively spot and is one of the best places in Playa del Carmen for live music.

The restaurant at Fah is open all day but it will be most packed at night after the live music starts at 6:00PM.

You can hang at the dining tables or there’s a small area in front of the band for dancing.

Fah is one of the 5th Avenue Playa del Carmen bars that draws the largest crowd and is a great place to start the night. 

8. Caiman Tugurio

Tables and chairs outside of Caiman Tugurio Bar Playa del Carmen

📍 Location5th Avenue and Calle 24

Just off of 5th Avenue, Caiman Tugurio is another Playa del Carmen bar that is very popular for live music.

They almost always have a live band or solo singer that attracts crowds from Fifth Avenue.

It’s more of a local dive and doesn’t offer a fancy or upscale atmosphere, but rather a casual place to grab a few beers and enjoy the live music. 

9. Cantina La No. 20

People sitting at the bar at Cantina La No. 20 Bar in Playa del Carmen

📍 Location5th Avenue and Calle 12

Cantina La No. 20 is an upscale restaurant and bar located in the heart of Playa del Carmen on the second level of the Calle Corazon shopping center.  

It’s a beautifully designed restaurant and bar overlooking Fifth Avenue that has a lively atmosphere and often has a live band.

Cantina La No. 20 is a fun place for dinner or drinks but will be a little more expensive than other bars in Playa.

Bars with the Best Atmosphere in Playa del Carmen

Head to one of these Playa del Carmen Mexico bars for a unique atmosphere:

10. Alux

A dining table set in a cave at Alux Restaurant Playa del Carmen
Photo Credit: Alux Restaurant

📍 LocationAvenida Juarez and C. Diag. 70 Sur

Alux is probably one of the most notable Playa del Carmen bars thanks to its unique cavernous interior.

It’s located just outside of downtown Playa del Carmen, which makes it a little harder to get to but it is worth it for the atmosphere.  

The restaurant is set in a natural cave, offering the experience to dine in a cavernous setting.

The food at Alux Playa del Carmen is not amazing so I would recommend going there just for drinks and the unique atmosphere. 

11. La Verbena

La Verbena Jungle Bar in Playa del Carmen

📍 LocationCalle 34 between Avenidas 5 y 10

La Verbena is another bar off of Fifth Avenue offering a jungle-esque setting.

The bar has an almost tree-house like atmosphere and they usually have a live band or DJ spinning beats or house music.  

I love the unique setting at La Verbena and it’s definitely one of the lesser well-known bars in town. 

Best Wine Bars in Playa del Carmen

Head to one of these Playa del Carmen wine bars for a more sophisticated night out:

12. Off the Vine

The exterior of Off the Vine Wine Bar in Playa del Carmen

📍 LocationCalle 40 and 5th Avenue

Off the Vine is a wine bar and restaurant featuring a collection of local and imported wines.

You can browse the wine selection inside the store or sit at the tables outside the restaurant on Fifth Avenue, where there is often a live musician.  

Plus, the restaurant offers an extensive menu of cheese and charcuterie boards to enjoy while drinking your wine.

Best Beer Bars in Playa del Carmen

Head to one of these Playa del Carmen cevercerías for the best beer:

13. Club de la Cerveza

People drinking at Club de la Cerveza Playa del Carmen

📍 Location5th Avenue between Calles 34 y 38

Located towards the end of Fifth Avenue, Club de la Cerveza is a great place for craft beer and speciality brews.

It’s a small bar with a just a few tables but it’s the place to go if you’re a beer aficionado.

Club de la Cerveza offers Mexican craft beers as well as a selection of imported beers from the United States, the UK, Germany, and Belgium. 

14. Chela de Playa

People drinking at Chela de Playa Cerveceria Playa del Carmen

📍 Location38th Street between 5th Avenue and the beach

Formerly known as Akumal Cerverceria, Chela de Playa is a newer beer bar located on 38th Street.

With colorful indoor and outdoor seating, they offer speciality brews and a food menu with small bites like tacos, nachos, and burgers.

With a very relaxed atmosphere, it’s a casual place to enjoy a beer flight or craft brews.

Best Bars for Cheap Drinks in Playa del Carmen

Head to one of these more inexpensive Playa del Carmen bars for cheap drinks:

15. Cerverceria Chapultepec

Cerveceria Chapultepec Playa del Carmen 5th Avenue Bar

📍 Location5th Avenue and Calle 8

If you’re looking for cheap drinks in Playa del Carmen, Cerverceria Chapultepec is the place to go.  

Almost everything on the menu is only $37 pesos (~$2 USD).  That includes beers, margaritas, tacos, mini burgers, and much more.  

It always draws a large crowd and you will be amazed at how small your bill is at the end of the night!

16. Bar Loco

Bar Loco Playa del Carmen

📍 Location5th Avenue and Avenida Constituyentes

Bar Loco is owned by a friend of mine and it’s such a fun place for cheap drinks and dancing.

Bar Loco is known for its $30 peso margaritas (~$1.75 USD) and cheap food items.  

It draws a lot of tourists but it’s one of those lively bars to go for cheap drinks to get the party started. 

Best Local Bars in Playa del Carmen

Head to one of these local Playa del Carmen bars to escape the tourists:

17. Jungle Night Club (La Embajada)

La Embajada Playa del Carmen

📍 LocationCalle 10 between Avenidas 5 y 10

Formerly known as La Embajada, Jungle Night Club is probably one of the most popular bars for locals and late night Reggaeton music.

They offer large liters of alcoholic drinks at low prices.  With a second level and open courtyard in the middle, it’s a fun place for dancing after hours.  

It’s definitely a late night spot so it’s doesn’t get busy until after 11:00PM.

Conclusion: Best Bars in Playa del Carmen

I hope my Playa del Carmen best bars guide was helpful if you’re looking for the best drinks in Playa del Carmen! 

Whether you’re looking for beer, wine, or craft cocktails, there is a bar in Playa del Carmen to meet your needs!

Just remember to avoid the 2×1 drink specials on 5th Avenue, as the drinks are often watered down and overpriced.

And if you’re heading out to the bars and nightclubs in Playa del Carmen, it’s important to be careful and always be mindful of your surroundings.

No matter where you end up, you’re sure to have a fun night!

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