Looking for a cocktail you can order back home to bring you back to Playa? First you’ll want to sample a few while you’re here, such as a fresh-squeezed margarita in your choice of tropical flavors, zesty michelada, & minty mojito by the water.
Much like sipping a cocktail, vacation is about relaxing. That’s why they go together so well, as each taste transports us back to where we had the best margarita, michelada, or mojito of our lives. Everywhere you travel has a signature tipple that perfectly embodies its environment. It’s all about the perfect way flavors marry with place, drinks born of local spirits and ingredients. Here in Playa del Carmen, cocktails are a way of life, with an ever-expanding host of creations inspired by the bounty of Mexico, the Caribbean, and a city of creative mixologists always coming up with something new. Here are the can’t-miss basics:
The Michelada
Don’t leave Mexico without trying the nation’s famous beer cocktail, mixing cerveza with tomato juice or Clamato, lime, hot sauce, and Worcestershire or Maggi. The mélange of flavors is perfect morning, noon, or night, while every bar has a different version. For a full menu of options, try La Bodeguita del Medio (5th Ave & Calle 34).
Margaritas
Available in practically any flavor imaginable, Mexico’s most famous drink marries the national spirit of tequila with fresh lime juice, and/or whatever fruits are the house specialties. At Aldea Corazon (5th Ave btwn Calle 14 Bis & Calle 14), the mango and passion fruit are two of the city’s best.
Mojitos
Taste the Mexican Caribbean in this super refreshing mix of white rum, fresh lime juice, muddled mint, sugar, and a splash of soda. Head to the Indigo Beach Bar (Calle 14 & the beach) for the real deal.
A Few More Extravagant Favorites Include:
- The frozen Basil Martini at Piola (Calle 38 btwn 5th Ave & 1a Norte)
- A gin-spiked chamomile Tanqueray Tea at Bar Sala Rosa (across from Piola)
- Citrus and smoke in the Aperol Mezecial at Almirante Pech (5th Ave & Calle 30)