22 Vegan Hotspots in the Riviera Maya
Written by Dena DaSilva.
It seems everywhere you look nowadays in Playa del Carmen and the Riviera Maya, there’s a Vegan Movement upon us. The desire for a plant-based diet is happening all over the world, but the excitement for vegans living in Mexico’s Caribbean is fascinatingly real.
Now there are so many options to choose from that it seems it’s more than just a food trend. It was predicted that “plant-based foods will become the new organic” in 2018, according to restaurant consultancy group Baum + Whiteman in New York. Furthermore, it’s likely this global shift is here to stay.
People from all walks of life, from athletes to celebrities to worldwide organizations like Google and countries as big as China are supporting the vegan movement towards eating more plant-based foods. It goes beyond the idea of #MeatlessMondays, an international campaign encouraging people to not eat meat on Mondays to improve individual health and the health of the planet. Now, although maybe not mainstream yet, this trend is becoming more widely accepted and restaurants are providing more and more vegan options. (Hooray for vegans!) And the best part is you don’t have to be part of the plant-based diet craze to enjoy vegan cuisine. Restaurateurs are finding new and creative ways to make these green options more mouth-watering and delicious as the vegan revolution continues.
We at Maya Luxe have gathered a list of 22 of the most notable and appetizing options for vegan restaurants/stores in Playa del Carmen and Tulum (the Riviera Maya region), as well as some in Cancun too. We hope you find this list helpful if you are searching for vegan fare and please share with others who may be interested as well.
Jump to: Playa del Carmen Tulum Cancun
Playa del Carmen
The Pitted Date Vegan Restaurant Bakery & Cafe • CTM Avenue between 1st and 5th Avenues
Incredibly fresh, amazing, and made-to-order vegan comfort food. Featured in The Gastronomical Wonders of the Riviera Maya.
Clorofila Green & Vegan • On the corner of 20th Street and 30th Avenue
Lovely, open-space vegan restaurant and store offering a variety of vegan cheeses and milks, breads, herbs, and specialty sprouts.
La Senda Vegana • 10th Avenue between 10th Street and 10th Street Bis.
Creative, nutrient-rich vegan food restaurant in the heart of Playa. Find delicious desserts, smoothies, juices, coffee and more to accompany your made-to-order meal.
Ta'consciente • 30th Street between 25th and 30th Avenues (inside Mercado 30)
Inside a gastronomic market which includes a cafe and artisanal crafts market, you’ll find traditional Mexican-style meat-free tacos and delicious vegan desserts.
Bio-Natural • Centro location: 10th Avenue between Constituyentes Avenue and 16th Street
Zazil-ha location: 5th Avenue between 40th and 42nd Streets
With 2 locations in Playa, Bio-Natural was one of the first vegan restaurants/organic stores in town and really has it all. Shop for vegan foods or stay and eat!
Bio-Organicos • 26th Street between 5th and 10th Avenues
Lovely outdoor restaurant good for breakfast, lunch or dinner with a variety on the menu. They also have an attached store filled with vegan, organic, and natural products.
Fresco Hábito • 1st Avenue between Constituyentes and 20th Street
Fresh, made-to-order vegan health food, snacks, smoothies, bowls and other products served in an earthy, open-air atmosphere.
Marvin's Burgers • On the corner of 5th Avenue and 48th Street
Vegan fast food! Burgers, dogs, and sloppy joes made out of yaca or soy protein and chicken tenders made out of seitan, a popular vegan meat substitute. Food combos include fries or sweet potato fries.
Aloha Raw Bar • 20th Avenue between 38th and 40th Streets
Inspired by the tropical surf culture of Hawaii, Aloha Raw Bar features a lot of healthy bowls and smoothies with locally-sourced and organic foods and plenty of healthy options.
Olio Mercado Vegano • 40th Avenue between Constituyentes and 18th Street
Prepared take-home vegan food inside of a store with organic, local artisanal, and natural products also for sale.
Mr. Tofu Playa • On the corner of 40th Avenue and 6th Street
Vegan store offering healthy, delicious, alternative food options to meat including many popular imported vegan brands like Daiya and BeyondMeat.
Néctar Peace & Love Food • On the corner of 4th Street and 25th Avenue
Healthy international vegan cuisine with vegan cooking classes too.
Comet 984 - 50s Diner • On 8th Street between 20th and 25th Avenues (Plaza Mahaual, downtown)
A 1950s American-style diner serving vegan “diner food” surrounded in a fun 50s-like atmosphere.
Tulum
Charlys Tacos • Carretera Tulum - Boca Paila Km 10.5
Super tasty and flavorful vegan tacos and other traditional Mexican food made of plant-based ingredients to replicate the textures and flavors of meat.
Co.Conamor • Avenida Coba Sur, Tulum Centro (across street from Chedraui)
Specialty grocery store and beautiful outdoor courtyard cafe serving a variety of vegan foods, smoothies, elixirs, and more.
La Hoja Verde • Calle Beta Sur, Tulum Centro
Quaint small vegan restaurant in the heart of Tulum town with a variety on the menu serving breakfast, lunch, dinner, desserts, and drinks.
Suculenta Tulum • On the corner of Calle Orión Sur and Sol Oriente (next to the post office)
Traditional pre-hispanic vegan tamales and popular Mexican cuisine. Accompanied by vegan desserts and healthy juices in the heart of Tulum town.
Raw Love Cafe • Carretera Tulum Boca Paila KM 7.5 (on the beach road at Ahau Tulum)
Beachside raw vegan cafe. Everything’s made from scratch and free of sugar, dairy, wheat, and animal products (except for honey).
Cancun
Vegan Planet • Avenida Andrés, Supermanzana 45, Manzana 1, Cancún
A 100% vegan restaurant and store with an enormous menu of delicious, homemade plant-based food, smoothies, healthy juices, desserts and more.
CalaVegan • Avenida Huayacan SM 313 Mz 341 Lote 01 (inside the AMMA Food Park Experience), Cancún
Healthy plant-based fast food and desserts from a fun food truck inside a food park! A real experience for vegans and non-vegans.
Sirena Morena • Avenida Nader 66, Supermanzana 3, Cancún
Lovely indoor/outdoor with garden patio vegan restaurant. There’s also a store with organic, natural and vegan products as well.
Caribe Vegano • On the corner of 6th Ave and 127th Street, Cancún
Vegan restaurant and store with a varied menu. Everything from Mexican-style vegan tacos and tortas to pizza, salads, and more.
Maya Luxe In-Villa Chef Services
We offer in-house professional chef services throughout the entire Riviera Maya. Enjoy a delicious meal in the comfort of your apartment, holiday home or luxury villa, with a menu curated to your taste. In addition we will organize all the ingredients and have them delivered to your property.
Speak to a Maya Luxe Experience Curator today to get started: hola@mayaluxe.com.
Also, don’t miss the outdoor Vegan Market Playa & Mercado Vegano. These fresh air markets take place monthly in Playa del Carmen and Cancun. These are wonderful markets where producers of Vegan food and other products participate to promote veganism and responsible consumption. The markets are chock full of fun activities, music, yoga and meditation workshops, sample tastings, food for purchase, other artisan and organic arts and crafts, clothing and more. It’s fun for the whole family. All ages welcomed.
If you’re interested in checking out any of these places or having some delicious vegan fare delivered to your villa, contact one of our Experience Curators – hola@mayaluxe.com. We’d be happy to help!
