New Things and Changes in Playa Del Carmen

Every few months we take a look at Playa Del Carmen and combine all the things that have recently changed. Most of these focus on the tourist areas of Playa. Here are some new things and things that have changed in Playa Del Carmen for March 2026.

AM by MU Restaurant Opens on 38th Street

Many of you know Mu Burger House in Playa. They have some of the best hamburgers in Playa. So, when they opened a restaurant for breakfast called AM by MU, we had to go check this out. The new restaurant (featured in the photo above) is on 38th Street between 5th Avenue and the beach. The restaurant has all the typical nice breakfast dishes like avocado toast. Most notably is their unlimited coffee. We were hoping there was going to be more to this place. It is nice, but not standout. Let us know your thoughts in the comments.

The Celtic Cactus Bar Opens on 5th Avenue

The location on 5th Avenue between 20th Street and 22nd Street has seen its fair share of different businesses. There was even a Peruvian Restaurant here at one point. Now this bar will compete with McCarthys across 5th Avenue, another Irish bar.

New Restaurant on 5th Avenue

The latest resident in this spot is Moon Gate Asian Food to Go. This spot is on 5th Avenue between 34th Street and 38th Street right next to the Club de Cerveza. This is another spot that has seen a lot of businesses over the years. There was a 50′ s diner style restaurant here and a Pok Bowl place. Let’s see how this restaurant does in this space.

Wax Museum to Sketchers Store

Back in August of 2023, we told you about a wax museum that was going to open on this corner. By March of 2025 it had closed down. The wax museum lasted about 1 year and 7 months. Now this space has a new look and purpose. The Sketchers Store that was further down 5th Avenue has closed and moved into this new space. It is definitely more eye catching of a location than the old one and they will have more space here.

This is the corner of 5th Avenue and 14th Bis. It is just down the hill from the Quinta Alegria Mall.

Sketchers Playa Del Carmen — What once was a wax museum, is not a sketchers store.

10th Avenue Construction and Road Rerouting

As many of you know there has been a new project on 1oth Avenue that closes one side to bike traffic and makes 10th Avenue starting at Constituyentes one way going north. The construction is coming along and moving farther up toward CTM Avenue. It still is taking some time to get used to the changes. Even google maps does not have them all yet, so be careful driving around downtown Playa and watch for new street signs.

Another Iris Galerie on 5th Avenue

There is another Iris Galerie store on 5th Avenue. These places make art from your eye. They take a high-resolution photo, and you can mount it on the wall or give it as a gift. This store id on 5th Avenue between 26th Street and 28th Street.

Don Sirloin South

Don Sirloin is a favorite taco place in Playa. There is a new location on 10th Avenue between 6th and 8th Streets. This one might be the easiest one to get in. The one on Constituyentes is usually always busy.

New Don Sirloin — Don Sirloin is a popular taco restaurant that has several branches.

La Parilla Location is For Rent on 5th Avenue

La Parrilla Restaurant was located here on the second floor for years. It was a bit of a tourist trap that offered Mexican food and experience. Sometimes you could hear and see mariachis roving around this place. The view overlooked busy 5th Avenue and Quinta Alegria Mall. The space is now for rent.

It seems this restaurant does move around though. For you longer term Playenses you might remember the Parilla Restaurant on 5th Avenue and 8th Street where the Senor Frogs is now.

Business on 5th Avenue for rent — On the second floor there was the restaurant La Parilla which had been there for years and was a well-known eatery.

The Old Reina Roja Hotel Closes Again

Back in the day the Reina Roja Hotel was a trendy and eye-catching design. It had red lights and mannequins standing on the balconies. The Reina Roja Hotel close down a few years ago and was bought by Kavia Hotel Group. This group buys up older hotels and creating a chain of hotels and travel services.

Kavia has opened the hotel under their name but not much had changed with the deteriorating Reina Roja building. The hotel operated for a while, but things were always closed like the rooftop. Now the hotel is totally closed. Perhaps the renovation was going to cost too much, and the slower tourism has changed plans for this building.