The nightlife in Playa del Carmen is centered around 5th Avenue (Quinta Avenida), a seemingly never ending street, which in the night transforms itself and caters for every style and taste. Young or old, whether it's exquisite food and a margarita or a clubbers paradise, there is something for everyone!
The beach is also lined with bars where you can stop, relax and have a drink anytime you wish. Dance the day and night away on the warm powdery sand to music that ranges from Caribbean reggae to electronic, as good as any world-class club.
People are always in the mood to party here and 'Playa' has a very bohemian feel with a great mix of foreigners and Mexicans. Many restaurants seamlessly transform into nightclubs in the evening after the dinner hour has passed.
You will find the original, unique style of Playa in your hotel room, in the food, in the stores... clubs and bars couldn't be the exception!
Alux
Alux is a restaurant, bar and lounge constructed inside a cave. It's a great place to eat dinner and stay for the music. Thousands of colored lights sparkling among millenary stalactites help create a truly unique, funky ambience. Alux is territory for the most diverse crowd.
Bali
If you want to dance and sing to the latest music, then Bali is the perfect place for you. With a capacity for over 1200 people and a huge bar in the center, you can dance all night long without going thirsty. It features amazing live performances and you are guaranteed an awesome time.
Bliss
The great ambience of Bliss emanates from a few steps off 5th Avenue. There's plenty of action once you open the door into the bar's busy interior. A real roar comes from people socializing in this mildly futuristic place. The night owls party here until the early morning hoursand what a variety of drinks! Out of this world!
Blue Parrot
In 1998 Newsweek Magazine named the Blue Parrot 'one of the 10 best bars in the world'. Things have just gotten better since then and it is now an obligatory stop when in Playa del Carmen. It is located right on the white sandy beach by the shore of the turquoise waters of the Caribbean Sea whose waves literally lap against the dance floor.
Deseo
Deseo is one of the coolest bars in Playa. An open-air second-floor lounge, you have to see it to believe it: big mattresses among flowing curtains, old time silent movies projected on the wall and smooth lounge music mixed by the resident DJ. It's worth the price for the unsurpassable atmosphere.
Diablito Cha Cha Cha
This place is a fresh fusion of Asian with a coastal Mexican retro vibe, with a super cool atmosphere and the best DJ's spinning the latest tracks from funky to hip hop and groovy to house. The striking retro 50's decor, between wild and extravagant, encourages you to sit back, relax and enjoy an exotic drink. El Diablito is definitely the 'place to be' for the 'beautiful' people of Playa and tourists alike that know the meaning of 'cool'.
El Cielo
This chic minimalist bar, located right in the heart of Playa's pulsating club district, is divided into three areas each with its own distinct atmosphere and flavor. The first area is all white and plays the smoothest lounge music, next there is the red area perfect for the discerning clubber to get their groove on, and lastly there is an outdoor veranda, for chilling out and listening to more mainstream chart hits.
Kartabar
Because of its prime location amongst the best clubs and bars of Playa del Carmen, Kartabar is the perfect choice for those who enjoy a drink in the most sophisticated of atmospheres. All the fun and excitement in Playa centers itself on this corner and Kartabar is witness to it all. Then, when the sun is once more high in the sky, Kartabar morphs itself again into an elegant restaurant serving delectable Mediterranean and Lebanese specialties that you simply have to try.
La Santanera
La Santanera has so much to offer. Spread over two floors: the top part being a comfortable lounge with "kitsch" decoration encompassing facets of Mexican wrestling and "Santeria" (Caribbean voodoo). The bottom floor is much more of a club, with an excellent light show and always a packed dance floor. It has a luminous bar in the middle with small VIP areas that have beds and curtains, perfect for a more private and 'elite' evening out.
Mambo Cafe
The DJ's of Mambo Cafe always play an interesting fusion of music and the club is also host to the best live salsa, merengue, and cumbia bands from Cuba, Dominican Republic, and Puerto Rico. The décor, the music and the atmosphere of Mambo Cafe all add up for a guaranteed excellent night out, that's sure to leave a smile on your face.
OM Lounge
The cosmic vibration becomes apparent as you enter OM, constructed using the principals of Feng-Shui, this lounge bar seamlessly fuses eastern mysticism with the flavor of the Caribbean. It specializes in fruit juice cocktails and it is definitely somewhere you should check out while on your vacation.
The Jam Sessions
If you are a fan of live music, then stopping by the Jam Sessions Bar and Music Club is a must while on your vacation to Playa del Carmen. Located on the famous 5th Avenue, this club offers an excellent alternative to the mainstream nightlife of Playa. The atmosphere has a smooth, relaxed feel and the house band is truly amazing, keeping the lively crowd entertained with music ranging from 50's jazz to 70's rock and everything in between! Many well known artists have jammed here and signed the club's ever expanding "Wall of fame". So, if you are looking for something other than DJ's and laser shows, then the Jam Sessions is the right place for you.