The Ultimate Guide to Cafes Playa del Carmen is here! We scoured the town and carefully chose the top 5 coworking cafes where you can *actually* get some work done but…
We did something we don’t usually do…
For the 3 months we lived in Playa Del Carmen Mexico, we decided against getting a coworking membership.
I know, it is totally NOT like us! We rented a beautiful apartment on Airbnb that was workspace friendly and we thought it would be a good idea to split our time between working at a cafe and working from home. And if you’re new around here, you’ll also learn we’re big on coffee and we’re not ashamed to say – we need at least a cup every. single. day.
Finally, our digital nomad routine in Playa Del Carmen was starting to take form.
Because of our innate need for coffee, we decided that our morning work sessions would be at a cafe somewhere around the Centro area in Playa. I also love going to cafes to change up the scenery, get my creativity going and maybe even meet fellow digital nomads in the Playa area.
The search begins and our mission was set: Find a cafe that is “digital nomad-friendly”
Spoiler Alert: We found 5 cafes that will work for any digital nomad, remote worker and/or location independent entrepreneur.
Before we get to the list of cafes in PDC, we need to clearly define what makes a cafe “digital nomad-friendly”.
What Defines a “Digital Nomad-Friendly” Cafe?
Not every cafe is digital nomad or work friendly.
We found there are 5 factors that make or break a cafe for digital nomads.
Wifi Speed
The most important thing to have at a cafe is wifi speed. Most digital nomads work online and usually need pretty fast wifi to get their work done. Nothing annoys a digital nomad more than spotty, slow wifi.
For cafes in Playa Del Carmen, we saw speeds from as low as 5mbps and as high as 200mbps.
Plugs
Arrive at a cafe, open your laptop to get started and BAM that notification that says 5% left on your battery pops up.
You wouldn’t want to be in a cafe that doesn’t have or allow you to plug in your laptop to charge.
Friendliness towards Digital Nomads
Hear me out…
Have you ever walked into a cafe, sat down and opened your laptop only to look up and see that the baristas are giving you the death stare? Maybe continuously asking if you want to order more? Yeah, see…it’s totally a thing to have love or hate for digital nomads.
Seating, Coffee, Noise
Good seat and table options are a crucial part of having a productive work session.
Noise doesn’t necessarily bother us as much because we usually work with our Airpods/Headphones unless it’s noisy to the point where you can focus.
Digital Nomad Community
One of the biggest problems digital nomads come across is loneliness. Finding community in a new city you’ve just arrived at is important.
Where do you find fellow digital nomads? Cafes are a popular place for digital nomads to spark conversation and create friendships.
5 Cafes In Playa del Carmen *Almost* Made Just For Digital Nomads
Now that we know what defines a digital nomad cafe, let’s get into the Top 5 Cafes Playa Del Carmen for digital nomads- in order of our favorite ones!
1. MiDogo Cafe
Ahhhh…I have a confession.
We might be a little bit biased towards this cafe but only because it is the BEST cafe to work from in the whole of Playa del Carmen. It was as if this cafe was built with digital nomads in mind. Okay, see that bias going on again?
The wifi speeds are the fastest we have ever seen in all the cafes we’ve been to. The wifi speed average we got was always 200mbps and above. See for yourself below.
There are 2 types of seats in the whole cafe – there are the normal wooden chairs and these comfy padded ones. Guess which ones we tried to nab every day…
From what I could count, there are about 4 plug outlets to charge your laptop inside the cafe and about 3 plugs in the outdoor section. The tables were circular and slightly small – you could probably only fit 1 laptop setup.
What about the baristas? I can’t rave enough about how friendly, fun and welcoming they were of digital nomads. Maria and Joaquin made excellent coffee consistently (probably the best in PDC). They were patient with me whenever I practiced my Spanish and they are not at all scared or worried by our laptops.
MiDogo Cafe started to rise in popularity while we were living in Playa amongst digital nomads because it nailed all 4 factors for a great digital nomad cafe – high-speed wifi, plenty of plugs, not noisy, and friendly baristas.
Overall, we visited MiDogo almost every single day for our last 2 months and it quickly became our favorite cafe where we did our most productive work. You can’t miss this hidden gem in the heart of Calle 10.
- Reliable Wifi Connection: Always
- Best for: Deep Work
- Chances of Spotting a Digital Nomad: Very High
- Best time to arrive: Early in the Morning to nab those comfy seats
- Maximum time before you get uncomfortable: All Day
- Busy: Rarely
- Digital Nomad Rating: 9.5/10
2. Choux Choux Cafe
If you haven’t been to Choux Choux, did you even go to Playa del Carmen?!
But seriously… Choux Choux is one of the top cafes in Playa del Carmen.
You just know when you’ve arrived at Choux Choux cafe. There’s this eccentric, colorful and tropical vibe to the entire cafe.
A popular choice amongst tourists, digital nomads and remote workers because of the amazing brunch selection, the good coffee and the whole vibe.
At the beginning of our 3 months in Playa Del Carmen, we went to Choux Choux almost every day. We made friends with this awesome barista, Christian and enjoyed working from such a cool place.
The wifi connection on the other hand was…hit and miss. Some days we got a good connection and we were able to work well. Other days, we would spend 30 minutes trying to connect to the wifi or simply loading simple photos or videos. The wifi speed average was 30mbps at the time we were there.
Chairs, tables and comfortability were another reason we just couldn’t get a long enough (3+ hours) work session in. The chairs were stiff and the tables were wobbly.
IMPORTANT: Choux Choux is BUSY! The lines of people go out to the street. You’ve got to come very early to sit on the best seats outside or else you’ll have to sit inside where it was just way too noisy to concentrate.
Overall, Choux Choux is a great cafe with a good vibe (I don’t like how much I’ve written the word ‘vibe’ but you know what I mean) that will suit shorter work sessions (2 hours or less).
This is also a great place to meet fellow digital nomads or travelers and join the community.
- Reliable Wifi Connection: Sometimes
- Best for: Casual Work
- Chances of Spotting a Digital Nomad: High
- Best time to arrive: Very Early in the Morning (like…when it opens at 7:30am)
- Maximum time before you get uncomfortable: 2 hours
- Busy: Always
- Digital Nomad Rating: 7/10
3. Basic Foodie
After only a handful of visits, it was clear to me that Basic Foodie could be the next top Playa del Carmen cafe to work from. They were situated on a quiet street further from the Quinta Avenida and a good option for quiet and relaxing work.
The average wifi speed was about 11 Mbps which was enough to do some decent work. Definitely not the fastest we’ve seen around Playa.
Unfortunately, I didn’t see any plugs to charge my laptop outdoors but I think there might have been 1 plug on the indoor section of the cafe.
The cafe has good food options with tasty coffee. The chairs were mostly plastic but surprisingly comfortable. The baristas were cheerful and they didn’t seem to mind when we whipped out our laptops and stayed for a few hours.
Overall, this cafe is great for relaxed and focused work. I remember sitting at Basic Foodie, looking out onto the street and I thought to myself – how peaceful, quiet and perfect was this picture. There’s barely any street or crowd noise and it’s a good place to go into deep work.
- Reliable Wifi Connection: Usually
- Best for: Casual & Deep Work
- Chances of Spotting a Digital Nomad: Moderate
- Best time to arrive: Afternoon when it’s cooler outside
- Maximum time before you get uncomfortable: 3 hours
- Busy: Always
- Digital Nomad Rating: 8/10
4. Starbucks
Ugh, I know. You don’t even need to tell me. You’re probably wondering…” why did she put a large international coffee chain of all the options?!”
Hear me out…
You just can’t beat the reliability, familiarity and comfortability of the stores. There are 5 locations all across the Centro area of Playa Del Carmen. My favorite location was the one inside the shopping mall, Quinta Alegra.
The wifi connection is very reliable (as you’d expect) and the baristas didn’t mind seeing me open my laptop. I felt as if I could stay there a while and not get that death stare.
There were plugs inside the store but only like 1 in the outdoor section. My best advice would be to come with a laptop that’s 100% charged and you’ll avoid any ‘low battery’ problems.
The chairs and tables are comfy for a solid work session. There is a nice outdoor section in the middle of the mall that was usually quiet and finding a spot isn’t always a hard task.
Overall, if all other options fail – you’ve always got Starbucks. A familiar place for any digital nomad that just needs to bang out a solid work session without any distractions.
- Reliable Wifi Connection: Always
- Best for: Casual & Deep Work
- Chances of Spotting a Digital Nomad: Moderate-High
- Best time to arrive: Afternoon when it’s cooler outside or Evening for a quiet session
- Maximum time before you get uncomfortable: 3 hours
- Busy: Sometimes
- Digital Nomad Rating: 7/10
5. Ah Cacao
With multiple locations spread across the whole Centro of Playa, you’re sure to find a spot at Ah Cacao. Known for their specialty chocolate, you can grab a hot cocoa and sit at a comfortable booth to work.
The wifi connection was reliable and had an okay speed of 8 Mbps. The chairs were comfy but the tables were a tad small if you sat outside. If you walk further inside the 5th Avenue location, you’ll find hidden booths that are quite comfy and include a set of plugs each.
This is a popular choice for tourists so you might have to battle the crowds for a seat but it’s oh so satisfying when you get one. The baristas are usually busy so they do not mind that we worked there for a while.
Overall, Ah Cacao is a great backup place if any of the top 3 are busy. You’ll be able to work and have yummy hot cocoa. Just be sure to put in some headphones.
- Reliable Wifi Connection: Usually
- Best for: Casual & Deep Work depending on where you get to sit
- Chances of Spotting a Digital Nomad: Moderate
- Best time to arrive: Early morning or Late afternoon
- Maximum time before you get uncomfortable: 3 hours
- Busy: Most of the time
- Digital Nomad Rating: 6.5/10
Honorable mentions:
Bajo Cafe For Relaxed Work And Good Food
Situated on a beautiful, quiet street just a few blocks from Choux Choux Cafe is the quaint Bajo Cafe.
The cafe has tons of options for brunch and drinks. The seating arrangements may not be the best and most comfortable for those working remotely.
Fresco Habito For Casual Work
We were almost transported back to Bali while having lunch at Fresco Habito. With such cute tropical vibes and interior design, we immediately fell in love. Serving vegetarian/vegan food and drinks – it’s a great place for some healthy food options (after you’ve had enough tacos lol).
You could easily work here as wifi was decent however the only downside was that there was no aircon. It got extremely hot – we were sweating while eating lunch there. If you only need to knock out an hour or two of work – this is a great option!
Marley Cafe For Casual Work
This cafe is inspired by Bob Marley as you’ll see through the wall decor and branding. It’s located at the bottom of the Five Hotel in the Centro Playa area, just a couple blocks from 5th Avenue and the popular coliving/coworking hostel, Selina.
They have reliable wifi, however, the seats are not at all comfortable as they are mostly high chairs and couches.
NOTE: Some Cafes That Have Been Closed or Moved Too Far from Centro
Bendito Cafe was a popular choice a few years ago, however, they seemed to have moved 15 mins taxi ride out of the Centro area and/or temporarily closed down.
Working From Cafes In Playa del Carmen As Digital Nomads
You are spoilt with choice for cafes in Playa del Carmen where you can get deep work done and you might even make some friends along the way. Another reason why we chose to work from cafes in Playa del Carmen!
The tropical, beachy town is quickly becoming a top digital nomad destination because of the cost of living, the community, the yummy Mexican food and the beach being just a couple blocks away.
If you’re thinking of Playa Del Carmen as your next move, you can be rest assured cafes that cater to our digital nomad community exist.
We’re not usually the work-from-home / cafe type because we love the community that comes with signing up for a coworking space.
What about you? Are cafes your thing or would you rather have a fully equipped coworking space?
When you’ve worked way too much and you’re feeling ready for a break to recharge, check out our guides on the top things to do and the best that you just can’t miss in Playa Del Carmen.
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We want to hear from you…
What makes it a cafe ‘great’ to you? For us – it’s good coffee, friendly baristas and fast wifi. And the ultimate question…
- Work from cafes?
- Work from home?
- Work from a coworking?
Comment below the number of your answer and let us know! We read every comment.
