The best breakfast in Playa del Carmen became part of my daily routine for a full year. I was living and working there, and most mornings I’d grab my laptop, find a good spot, order coffee with chilaquiles or eggs, and ease into the workday before heading back to my apartment. Over time, I tried nearly every breakfast spot in town, from the busy cafes on 5th Ave to the quieter local places further west that most tourists never find.
Playa del Carmen is known for its restaurants, but breakfast here deserves its own attention. You’ll find traditional Mexican breakfasts like chilaquiles, huevos rancheros, huevos motuleños, and huevos divorciados (two eggs on tortillas, one covered in red salsa and the other in green) alongside French bakeries, digital nomad coffee shops, and inexpensive local spots where a full egg breakfast still costs about $3. Whether you want a leisurely breakfast, a traditional Mexican morning meal, or just coffee and pastries at one of the many breakfast cafes in Playa del Carmen, there’s something here for every kind of morning.
Below are the best breakfast spots in Playa del Carmen, organized by neighborhood so you can find something close to where you’re staying.
Table of Contents
Playa del Carmen Breakfast Top Picks
Thirteen breakfast spots across Playa del Carmen, from jungle courtyards on Calle 38 to local market stalls on 30th Avenue. If you only have time for a few breakfasts in Playa del Carmen, start with these four.
BEST OVERALL
La Cueva del Chango
The best breakfast atmosphere in Playa del Carmen, tucked into a jungle courtyard on the prettiest street in town. Order the chilaquiles and arrive early on weekends.
BEST TO EXPLORE
El Hongo
A colorful, open-air local spot west of downtown that many tourists might not find.
BEST FOR DIGITAL NOMADS
Choux Choux Cafe
A few blocks off 5th Ave with good WiFi, great quiche and salmon benedict, and a relaxed crowd of longer-term visitors. One of the best breakfast cafes in Playa del Carmen for a slow morning.
BEST LOCAL BREAKFAST
La Ceiba de la 30
An open-air spot attached to the DAC Market on 30th Avenue, where the crowd skews local and the fresh juices are some of the best in town.
Breakfast Spots Uptown
The northern end of downtown, just past Av. CTM, has a more local feel than the tourist strip further south. These spots are a short walk from many hotels and worth the extra few blocks.
La Cueva del Chango
La Cueva del Chango is one of the best breakfast spots in Playa del Carmen and maybe my overall top pick. Walking in from Calle 38 feels like stepping into a small jungle: a narrow path opens into a shaded courtyard surrounded by trees, with tables tucked into the greenery. It’s one of the most atmospheric places to eat in the city, and on weekends it fills up fast.
The menu leans into traditional Mexican breakfast dishes done well. Try the chilaquiles with red or green salsa, molletes (open-faced bread topped with refried beans and cheese), huevos rancheros, or huevos motuleños (fried eggs with peas, ham, and tomato sauce). The food matches the setting: unpretentious, flavorful, and distinctly Mexican.
CALLE 38 | MEXICAN | OUTDOOR SEATING | WEEKEND BRUNCH
Que Huevos
Que Huevos was probably my most-visited breakfast spot in Playa del Carmen, and not just because I lived a block away. It opens at 7am, which made it a natural first stop before settling in to work for the day. I’d grab a table out front, order coffee and either the egg and chorizo tacos or the Mexican scrambled eggs with tortilla chips, and ease into the morning. I could have eaten that combination every day, and some weeks I nearly did.
The menu is extensive for a small spot, with egg dishes, chilaquiles, tacos, omelets, enfrijoladas, salads, sandwiches, bagels, and a full coffee menu using artisanal Mexican beans. It’s casual, reasonably priced, and the kind of place that draws a mix of long-term expats and locals rather than the resort crowd. Que Huevos sits at the northern end of downtown just past Av. CTM, so it’s a bit further from most hotels, but that’s also part of why it still feels like a real neighborhood breakfast spot rather than a tourist trap.
If you’re an early riser or just want to beat the crowds at the more popular breakfast spots further south, this is a reliable go-to.
UPTOWN | MEXICAN | EARLY OPENER
Amate 38
Amate 38 is the sister restaurant to La Cueva del Chango directly across the street, and while it’s better known as a dinner spot, the breakfast menu makes it worth stopping in early in the day. The setting is stunning: a tropical-style space built around natural materials from the Riviera Maya, with local vegetation and even a cenote on the property, giving it a treehouse-meets-jungle feel that makes it one of the most atmospheric restaurants on Calle 38.
The breakfast menu goes deeper into Yucatecan regional cooking than most spots in Playa del Carmen. Highlights include the teko tekoh eggs (slow-cooked inside a tortilla with smoked Temozón pork loin, chiltomate sauce, and avocado), the chaya omelet stuffed with the local leafy green and Edam cheese, and three varieties of chilaquiles: green with xcatic chile, red with chawaik chile, and black with recado and bean sauce. The cochinita pibil tacos, served on handmade tortillas, are also available at breakfast and aren’t something you’ll find at many places this early in the day. Pair everything with one of the fresh green juices or smoothies.
A regular at La Cueva del Chango once described Amate 38 as the better-kept secret of the two: same street, shorter wait, equally impressive food. It’s a fair point. If La Cueva del Chango has a line out front on a weekend morning, cross the street.
CALLE 38 | YUCATECAN | OUTDOOR SEATING | DINNER
Capitan Sandwich
Right next door to Que Huevos, Capitan Sandwich has a lot more going on than the name suggests. The breakfast menu is focused but well executed, with build-your-own omelets and scrambled eggs where you choose three vegetables, a cheese, and a meat from a solid lineup that includes chaya, habanero, arugula, chorizo, and manchego. There are also chilaquiles in red or green mole sauce, an egg sandwich on toasted bread with refried black beans and bacon, and machacado con huevo: scrambled eggs with tomato, serrano chile, and dried beef from Monterrey. Breakfast combos come with coffee, tea, or juice.
Then there are the hotcakes: three whole-grain pancakes stacked with strawberry jam, blackberry jam, Nutella, fruit, banana, walnuts, and maple syrup. They’re genuinely difficult to finish alone and are probably the most photographed item on the menu.
Later in the day, the menu expands into sandwiches, paninis, wraps, pitas, salads, and other lunch-friendly dishes worth knowing about if you end up back in the neighborhood. But for breakfast, the combo deals and generous portions make this one of the better value breakfast spots in this part of Playa del Carmen.
UPTOWN | MEXICAN | EARLY OPENER
Chez Celine
Chez Celine is one of the most popular breakfast spots in Playa del Carmen, and for good reason. It sits right on 5th Ave around 34th Street, making it one of the most convenient breakfast cafes if you’re staying anywhere in the central tourist area. Expect a crowd most mornings, especially on weekends.
The pastry counter is the first thing you’ll notice: croissants, homemade sweet breads, and fresh baked goods that pair well with the full coffee menu of hot and cold drinks. But Chez Celine is more than just a bakery and coffee shop. The breakfast menu ranges from simple egg dishes and omelets to croque monsieur, crepes, quiche, and French toast, with the French influence showing throughout the menu. It works equally well for a quick pastry-and-coffee stop or a longer sit-down breakfast before heading to the beach.
Prices are higher than at the more local breakfast spots further west, but still reasonable for a well-run cafe in this part of Playa del Carmen.
5TH AVE | FRENCH BAKERY | COFFEE
Breakfast West of 5th Ave
Once you head west of 5th Avenue toward 30th Avenue, the tourist density drops and the food gets more local. These spots attract a mix of expats, digital nomads, and Playa residents rather than week-long vacationers.
El Hongo
El Hongo sits in a quiet residential pocket on the west side of Highway 307, removed from the tourist corridor and genuinely easy to miss. It’s the sort of place you have to intentionally seek out, which is exactly what makes it appealing. The open-air dining room has trees growing through it, colorful walls covered in local art, and the relaxed neighborhood energy that tends to disappear closer to 5th Ave.
Breakfast here sticks to the classics: chilaquiles with egg, huevos rancheros, huevos motuleños, omelets, and a handful of simple sides done well. If you’re staying in Playacar you could walk, but most people will need a taxi or car to get here. It’s a good choice for a slower, more local breakfast away from the crowds and one of the better spots in Playa del Carmen if you want to explore beyond downtown.
Come back at lunch and the menu expands into dishes like chicken tostadas, gorditas, and mole.
Nearby: About a block away is Anafre, one of the better dinner spots in this part of Playa del Carmen if you want a break from the 5th Ave crowd.
OUTSIDE DOWNTOWN | MEXICAN | LOCAL SPOT | BUDGET FRIENDLY
Choux Choux Cafe
Choux Choux Cafe sits a few blocks off 5th Ave on 20th Avenue, close enough that it’s still well within the tourist zone but just far enough that the crowd skews different. You’re more likely to find people with laptops working through their morning here than week-long resort visitors, which gives it a relaxed, unhurried vibe that I appreciate in a breakfast spot.
The pastry and bread selection is smaller than Chez Celine or LaBrioche, but the food menu is where Choux Choux stands out. The quiche Lorraine, breakfast tacos, and salmon benedict are all good orders, and the coffee is some of the best in Playa del Carmen for a sit-down morning. The kitchen puts more care into each dish than you’d expect from a casual cafe. If you’re looking for the best brunch in Playa del Carmen on a weekend, arrive early or be prepared to wait.
If you’re a digital nomad or just someone who likes to ease into the morning over a good meal without feeling rushed, this is the spot.
NEAR 5TH AVE | FRENCH BAKERY | DIGITAL NOMAD FRIENDLY
Bajo Cafe
Bajo Cafe sits inside Mercado 30, part coffee shop, part cafe, and part neighborhood market a few blocks west of 5th Ave in the Gonzalo Guerrero neighborhood. The setup is part of what makes it worth seeking out: a coffee counter at the front, indoor seating, and an open-air courtyard in the back with tables spread throughout. There’s even a small pool tucked into the courtyard, and the whole space has a relaxed, unpretentious feel that attracts a different crowd than the cafes closer to the tourist strip.
The menu leans healthy, with smoothie bowls, omelets, sandwiches, and enchiladas alongside good vegetarian and vegan breakfast options. The breakfast combo deals, which usually include fruit, juice, coffee, a pastry, and a main dish, are also a solid value. WiFi is fast and reliable, which is why you’ll consistently find people working on laptops here, some staying through the entire morning, others just stopping in before heading to the beach. Whether you settle in for breakfast or just want to grab a drink to go, Bajo Cafe has some of the best coffee in Playa del Carmen for a slower start to the day.
They’ve since opened a second location on 5th Ave at Calle 68, which is more convenient if you’re staying in the northern end of downtown, though the Mercado 30 original still has more character.
WEST OF 5TH | COFFEE SHOP | DIGITAL NOMAD FRIENDLY | MARKET SETTING
Breakfast in Downtown Playa del Carmen & Playacar
The central downtown area and the Playacar neighborhood to the south have solid breakfast options ranging from a longtime local favorite that started as a street food shack to a French-inspired cafe tucked behind the airport.
Madrez! Cafe
What started in 2010 as a small spot selling antojitos has grown into one of the more distinctive breakfast cafes in downtown Playa del Carmen. The atmosphere is casual and welcoming, with simple wooden tables and ceiling fans, and the menu has expanded well beyond its street food roots while keeping the same unpretentious approach to food.
The gorditas and burritos built the original reputation here, and the egg and chorizo gorditas remain the first thing I’d recommend ordering. The savory waffles, topped with combinations like egg, spinach, and avocado, are also worth trying, along with the Mexican scrambled eggs served with chorizo, jalapeños, beans, and tortillas. The iced caramel latte is a popular pairing. Open daily from 7:45am to 3pm.
The concept has clearly connected beyond Playa del Carmen. The success of the original cafe eventually led the owners to open additional locations in Flagstaff, Arizona and Elkhorn, Wisconsin. I haven’t made it to either U.S. location yet, but if you have, I’d be curious how they compare.
DOWNTOWN | MEXICAN | EARLY OPENER
Lara & Luca
Lara & Luca is a French-inspired cafe and bakery tucked into the Playacar neighborhood, open daily from 7:30am. The space has a small front porch, a compact interior, and a shaded back patio that makes it an easy place to settle into a slow breakfast. It’s slightly removed from the 5th Ave bustle, which is part of the appeal.
The menu blends French cafe classics with local flavors. Eggs benedict and avocado toast with poached eggs are among the standout breakfast dishes, while the pastry counter adds croissants and fresh baked goods for anyone after a lighter breakfast or coffee-and-pastry stop. Chilaquiles verdes and vegetarian omelets round out the menu, giving it enough range to work for both the French bakery crowd and those wanting something more traditionally Mexican. The fresh green juice is also a regular favorite.
The drink menu includes mimosas and Bloody Marys alongside a full coffee selection, making this one of the better brunch spots in Playa del Carmen.
Service gets consistently strong reviews, and the atmosphere stays relaxed and family-friendly. If you’re staying in Playacar, this is probably your best nearby breakfast option.
PLAYACAR | FRENCH INSPIRED | COFFEE
LaBrioche
The 5th Ave location of LaBrioche has closed, but the Playacar location is still going strong if you’re staying in that neighborhood. It was founded by a French baker who figured out how to properly make baguettes and pastries in the heat and humidity of the Riviera Maya, and that still comes through in the quality of the bread and pastry counter.
French bakery staples anchor the breakfast menu, with croissants and freshly baked breads alongside egg dishes, croque monsieur, croque madame, quiche, crepes, and French toast. The salmon and spinach quiche has become a standout for repeat visitors. Breakfast is served all day, which makes this an easy option if you prefer a slower morning or late breakfast.
The Playacar location draws a mix of resort guests and longer-term residents rather than the heavier 5th Ave tourist crowd. Reviewers consistently mention the cheerful staff and relaxed atmosphere, and there’s parking available, which matters if you’re coming from further out. If you’re not staying nearby it’s a bit of a trip, but it remains one of the better French bakery breakfasts in Playa del Carmen.
PLAYACAR | FRENCH BAKERY | ALL DAY BREAKFAST
Local Breakfast Spots in Playa del Carmen
Some of the best breakfast in Playa del Carmen is found on the streets west of the main strip, where prices are lower and the crowd is almost entirely local.
La Ceiba de la 30
The restaurant is open-air and attached to the DAC Market, a local produce market stocked with fresh vegetables, fruit, spices, and herbs. That connection to the market comes through in the food: the ingredients taste fresh, and the juice menu is a genuine highlight. The smoothies and fresh juice combinations draw consistent praise, as does the pumpkin flower omelet for something a little different. Chilaquiles, huevos rancheros, and other classic egg dishes handle the traditional Mexican breakfast side of the menu well, while the salmon bagel has become a regular order for repeat visitors.
It’s also worth browsing the attached market before or after eating for sauces, dry goods, chocolate, and spices to bring home. Prices are low, the atmosphere is casual and open-air, and it’s one of the better local breakfast spots in Playa del Carmen if you’re willing to walk a few extra blocks west.
WEST OF 5TH | MEXICAN | LOCAL SPOT | FRESH JUICES
El Huerto
El Huerto is about as local as breakfast gets in Playa del Carmen. The small green-and-orange building has a handful of seats at an outdoor counter where you can watch your food being made, along with a few tables inside. It’s a mom-and-pop operation built around local repeat customers rather than tourism, so don’t expect much English to be spoken, but that’s part of the appeal.
Breakfast here is simple: eggs cooked any style, tostadas, flautas, fresh juices, and smoothies. Prices are among the lowest you’ll find anywhere in town, making this one of the best cheap breakfast spots in Playa del Carmen if you’re trying to keep costs down. On weekends, the barbacoa de borrego (lamb) with consomé draws a steady local crowd and is worth ordering if you’re nearby on a Saturday or Sunday.
WEST OF 5TH | MEXICAN | LOCAL SPOT | BUDGET FRIENDLY
Breakfast was the meal that made Playa del Carmen feel like home to me. A good breakfast spot, a strong coffee, and an unhurried morning before the day started became a routine I never really wanted to give up, and the places on this list are the ones that made it easy to keep.
If you’re planning a trip and want to keep exploring, check out my guides to the best restaurants on 38th Street, the best tacos in Playa del Carmen, and the full Playa del Carmen travel guide for everything else worth knowing before you go.
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