When it comes to vegan restaurants in Mexico, you might be thinking of Mexico City as a foodie capital due to its international appeal, rich flavors, innovative creations and vibrating culinary scenes. But did you know that Playa del Carmen is not only a snorkeling & divers dream but also known as a foodie town with a huge variety of all kinds of cuisines?
Therefore it’s no big surprise that more and more vegan restaurants are popping up to serve you the plant-based power. Located at one of the most beautiful Caribbean coastlines in Mexico, these local chefs are constantly inspired to create international cuisine. Influenced by different culture’s authentic dishes and spices, these restaurants and cafes take pride in creating vegan treats using fresh organic ingredients – with their own unique twist.
And trust us, we at Chew & Lush volunteered and tested all of the following for you – these chefs in Playa del Carmen know how to treat your taste buds!
So make sure to check out these restaurants that specialize in plant-based cuisine while exploring the Riviera Maya.
Yummy Vegan Restaurants to Try
Plantivoros
This little hidden gem is a must-try for all our Mexican food lovers! Plantivoros´ welcomes you to relax at their comfy rooftop and choose from plenty of vegan Mexican options. Tacos, Antojitos, Soups, Salads, Tortas and typical Mexican Plates – everything & more your taste buds are looking for. The restaurant is well-known for its organic fresh tortillas (yes you can taste it) and its well-priced menu. Come hungry and try their Kentucky and Pastor Tacos as well as the creamy organic tortilla soup.
As we mentioned before, Plantivoros is not easy to find. The restaurant itself does not display a sign and is located on the 2nd floor. Here are a few major tips: the restaurant is located on the corner of Calle 32 & Avenida 40. On Avenida 40, there is a small door, which is semi-open, that leads to a stairway towards the entrance of the restaurant.
Location: Calle 32 esquina con, 40 Avenida Norte, Centro, Playa del Carmen
The Pitted Date
We are obsessed with eggs for breakfast, lunch, you name it – and of course all vegan. So are you? We highly recommend you to visit The Pitted Date if you are in Playa del Carmen because this restaurant cracked the code for the best vegan egg in town. Well, maybe even in the whole Yucatán Peninsula. You can order it on a bagel, a delicious vegan croissant and it even comes with loads of veggies on a corn tortilla topped with melted mozzarella and drizzled cashew cream. Sounds yummy right? Besides a lot of veganized Mexican dishes, there’s also plenty of choices for your sweet tooth.
Location: Local 6, CTM Av. between 1st Street & Avenida Cozumel, Playa del Carmen
Fresco Hábito
Fresco Hábito’s mission is from the earth to your table and what can we say? We can taste it! Here you can find the freshest, organic ingredients and almost everything in this restaurant is handmade as well. We at Chew & Lush love their Smoothie & Buddha Bowls but mostly order the chef’s specials like the Holly Molly Burger made out of chickpeas, sweet potato and carrots which come with a side of potatoes or salad. Fresco Hábito is not only a restaurant, they also have a small organic store where you can buy their favorite selected vegan snacks.
Location: 1st Avenue, between 20th Street and Av. Constituyentes
Comet 984 Diner
This 50´s Diner-style restaurant makes your wildest plant-based meat dreams come true. As the 1st vegan 50´s diner in the world, they take pride in creating a unique atmosphere as well as extremely tasty eats. Started in 2016, their goal is to make their dishes as authentic as possible. And they are doing it very successfully!
As a typical American diner, they serve a variety of vegan hamburgers, hot dogs, milkshakes, homemade cheesecake and surprisingly yummy mac n´ cheese. If you want to go back in time and satisfy your burger craving, make sure to visit the Comet 984 Diner while you are in Playa del Carmen.
Location: 8th Street between 20th and 25th Avenue
NA-NA
Did you say plant-based pizza? The kosher vegan restaurant NA-NA got you covered. Opening in 2020, NA-NA is one of the restaurants you will instantly feel at home with a warm & welcoming staff that knows all their ingredients by heart.
They not only have a large selection of pizza. Their homemade pasta deserves at least the same amount of attention. Pick your favorite pasta with a selection of 10 different sauces like Bolognese, Three Cheeses or Alfredo. Chew & Lush Tip: Try the Ravioli with vegan Pesto and Walnuts and welcome to Pasta Heaven!
If you have extra room: also put their Quinoa salad on your must-try list. It’s probably one of the best Quinoa dishes we’ve ever tasted. It is beautifully decorated with flowers and veggies, ready to make your Instagram followers jealous and your belly happy.
Location: Constituyentes between 15th and 20th Avenue
Peace & Bowl
If you are looking for the perfect Acaí bowl, Peace & Bowl is your place to go to. They are famous for their mixtures of delicious fresh fruits, seeds and berries in all their different forms and colors. But don’t be shy to give their Hummus Bowls a try. You also can’t go wrong with their Pita Pizzas. Our fav pick is their Pizza Prana with homemade almond cheese, veganesa, spinach, cherry tomato, avocado and black olives – delish!
Another thing we love about the restaurant, they regularly participate in local sustainability projects like beach clean-ups. Another reason to visit this beautiful place!
Location: 30th Street between 25th and 30th Avenue
We hope this list of the top vegan restaurants made you just as hungry as we are now – and you are ready to visit those restaurants. Did you already try vegan food in Playa del Carmen? What was your favorite? Tell us if we missed out on a delicious vegan restaurant!
