Posts Tagged ‘riviera maya’

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Fusion Beach Bar & Grill, not just another beach club

Friday, August 13th, 2010

by Ellen de Jonge

If you are looking for a great meal or a tropical day on the beach you should give Fusion a try. This colorful bar and grill is located right on the beach of Playa del Carmen and has lots to offer besides sun and fun.

You can enjoy breakfast, lunch and dinner right on the beach enjoying the great view with the sand between your toes.

Fusion Beach Bar & Grill

Fusion Beach Bar & Grill*

The menu has a great variety of fusion cuisine, of course. It is known for serving fresh fish, traditional Mexican specialties and great sandwiches. The cheeseburgers are possibly some of the best in Playa! All served directly on the beach or in the restaurant by friendly staff to help you make your day laid-back and comfortable.

Around 5 pm the beach set-up changes from “lounging on your beach chair” to “lounging on a candle lit beach”. Your entertainment comes from the house band playing live music and fire dancers later in the evening.

Every time I spend a day or night at Fusion I come home feeling I just had a little holiday, well rested and happy. And if this blog post sounds like I copied it from a travel guide or an ad … well, I could’ve but I didn’t, I simply love the place!

You can find Fusion on 6th street and the beach. Open daily for breakfast, lunch, dinner and drinks until late.

Fusion Beach Bar & Grill is also a participant in Taste of Playa, 2nd year in a row!

* picture taken from Fusion website: Fusion Beach Bar & Grill

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Posted in beach clubs, restaurants and bars, things to do | 4 Comments »

Dirty Martini Lounge – a favorite local hangout in Playa del Carmen

Sunday, August 1st, 2010

by Monica Hartlief

Why does one bar become a favorite local hangout and the other one never seems to make it? I don´t know of course, because if I did I would be selling this answer for a lot of money. What I do know is why I keep going back to the same place: location, atmosphere, music, service and people pretty much covers it.

The Dirty Martini Lounge in Playa is one of the places I keep going back to. You could call it my favorite local hangout, and I´m not the only one who thinks so because it is often packed with locals, local expats, semi-local expats, tourists, returning tourist, etc.

Dirty Martini Lounge - Playa del Carmen

Dirty Martini Lounge - Playa del Carmen

The Dirty Martini Lounge is not very big, it has a funky classy (yes, that sounds impossible) European style decor, and feels like a bar more than a cocktail lounge. You can comfortably sit at the bar or on the deck that looks out over the street while sipping your favorite drink. I suggest you try one of their signature martinis like the Cucumber Martini (all invented by Karen Lange, one of the owners). If martinis are not your thing, no problem, they have all the other stuff like beer, wine, spirits, tequilas, etc as well.

Martinis, martinis. martinis

Martinis, martinis. martinis

One of the best things about the Dirty Martini is the music. Greco, one of the owners, is a real music buff and he makes sure there are always great tunes playing in the bar, ranging from blues and jazz to country, pop and rock.

Service is of course very important as well and the Dirty Martini has a small group of staff that knows most people by name and drink, so don´t be surprised if your regular drink is standing on the bar as you´re walking in! Cynthia, Meyssi, Paloma, and Vale know their regulars and their cocktails.

Anyway, I can go on and on describing all the good things you´ll find at the Dirty Martini Lounge. I suggest you come on down and check it out yourself.

Dirty Martini Lounge – 1st Avenue between street 10 and 12, open daily from 1 PM to  2 AM, Fri and Sat until 3 AM.

You can also visit the Dirty Martini Lounge  on November 21st at Taste of Playa 2010.

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Posted in restaurants and bars, what's happening in Playa | 2 Comments »

Playa del Carmen Tequila Festival 2010

Friday, July 23rd, 2010
thumbnail Playa del Carmen Tequila Festival 2010

Tequila and the Carribean

Every year Playa del Carmen hosts a tequila festival. Even better it is completely free! What could be more fun than that? So eat a hearty meal and head on over to 16th street and 5th avenue where you will find a block of booths of different tequilas for you to sample. I have loved tequila even before I moved to Mexico and was thrilled when I experienced my first festival. Most people are aware of Don Julio, Petron and Jose Cuevo as tequilas but the festival features many new tequilas that you can buy on site. I sampled many new tequilas that I may not have bought because I did not know them. I was convinced to try a cream tequila (and I don’t like creamy drinks) which has inspired me to make a dessert out of it! It is called the Berry White…not after the musician but may inspire you to listen to him if you drink enough! We have hosted many a tequila tasting paired with foods and have many menu items that are tequila inspired such as one of my favorites, tequila lime shrimp.

Check out the festival which starts today, July 23rd to July 25th. See you there!
Stay tuned for some of my tequila inspired recipes. I may even get some ideas tonight!

By: Susan de Lima

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Events by Latido de Mexico

Saturday, June 26th, 2010

by Monica Hartlief

As you know Latido de Mexico offers property management and vacation rentals in Playa del Carmen and the Riviera Maya. But did you know that we also offer catering and concierge services and that we can organize your tours and transportation as well? Susan de Lima is in charge of the vacation services side of the business and she is an amazing event organizer and hostess.

What started out as catering services only has grown into Latido de Mexico event and wedding planning services. Recently Susan organized the wedding dinner for a group of 80 people on the roof top of the Illusion Hotel on 8th street. The dinner decorations were beautiful, the food wonderful and the atmosphere festive. Most impressive is that Susan and the staff managed to prepare and serve a 4-course dinner in a location that, believe it or not, doesn’t have a kitchen!

Susan is also part of the organization of the annual Taste of Playa event that will be held for the second time this year on the 21st of November. She is in charge of the operations committee of the event so we can look forward to a well laid out and tasteful setup of this year’s Taste of Playa. Don’t miss it!

If you have an event that needs planning or you want to book any of the other vacation services that Latido de Mexico has to offer please contact Susan de Lima through our website.

Wedding dinner on roof top with ocean view

Wedding dinner on roof top with ocean view

Wine, wine, and more wine...

Wine, wine, and more wine...

Beautiful wedding dinner decorations

Beautiful wedding dinner decorations

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Coco’s Cat Rescue in Playa del Carmen

Saturday, March 27th, 2010

by Monica Hartlief

Coco’s Cat Rescue Playa del Carmen

If you’ve ever spend time online searching and reading forums, blogs, fan pages, articles etc. about Playa del Carmen there is a good chance you’ve run into something about Coco’s Cat Rescue.

Coco’s Cat Rescue is a Playa del Carmen rescue charity focusing on the spay and neuter of feral cats and the care and re-homing of kittens in need of rescue. Coco’s Cat Rescue was founded by Laura Raikes in 2009. In fact the charity just celebrated its first anniversary in the Blue Parrot Bar Sunday March 21st . Needless to say it was a great success. I’m sure Laura will tell you it was a group effort and that she “couldn’t have done it without all the help she got from many volunteers that love cats and kittens as much as she does”, but any one of those volunteers will also tell you it is Laura that is the one that makes it all happen. She’s the brains of the organization, or better said “the heart” of the organization.

The focus of the charity is the spay and neutering of feral cats in Playa del Carmen but the second part of their mission is the one that gets the most attention of the public. And that’s no wonder if you see the pictures of all the kittens posted on Coco’s Facebook fan page. Just looking at the pictures makes me want to get another cat myself, which is exactly what I did in December of 2009. Pumpkin is now an integral part of our family, we’ve all fallen in love with the little orange cat, especially Jack, our other cat that can’t get enough of Pumpkin. Or is it vice versa?

Davids house 101 Small2 300x228 Cocos Cat Rescue in Playa del Carmen

Jack and Pumpkin

Laura must have thought that just posting pictures of kittens looking for a home wasn’t enough to get people’s attention because she has come up with a new way to convince us of the need to adopt a kitten. Kitten cuddling! Every Friday afternoon you have the chance to hold, play, and cuddle with the kittens. Me and my friend Ellen went yesterday and guess what? This little guy will soon be adopted by Ellen.

siamese kitten ellen2 300x225 Cocos Cat Rescue in Playa del Carmen

Kitten Cuddling at Coco’s Cat Rescue is Friday’s from 2 -4, it’s entirely possible it happens more often, I really don’t know, but just become a fan of Coco’s Cat rescue on Facebook and they’ll keep you up to date. But, if you come home with a new kitten … don’t say I didn’t warn you!

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Taste of Playa 2010

Wednesday, March 3rd, 2010

by Monica Hartlief

Believe it or not but planning for Taste of Playa 2010 has already begun. After last year’s success the organizers have decided to involve a few more people in the planning of the event. The Taste of Playa committee meets weekly to plan for the event in 2010.

Welcome to Taste of Playa 2009

The Taste of Playa organizers are planning for an even bigger and better event in 2010 with more restaurants, entertainment, and of course more visitors. The event’s location will remain the same: Parque Fundadores next to the ferry pier to Cozumel. Hopefully many of last year’s participants will return to the event in 2010 because we’re looking forward to more of their wonderful food and drinks.

The date for this year’s Taste of Playa annual food sampling event has been set for November 21st so make sure you save the date, book your travel and invite your friends.

Chefs at work

Chefs at work

Dirty Martini Lounge table

Dirty Martini Lounge table

The pictures were taken from the Taste of Playa website and Facebook fanpage, and were taken by Stuart and www.judylongphotos.com.

For more information about the event keep an eye on this Latido de Mexico blog and our facebook.com/latidodemexico.com as well as the event’s website: www.tasteofplaya.com and facebook fanpage.

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Christmas in Mexico

Thursday, December 17th, 2009

by Monica Hartlief

Christmas in Mexico is a big deal and many people take the last 2 weeks of the year off. So don’t try to get anything done after the 15th of this month because it simply won’t happen!

Christmas is a time to party, to spend time with the family, to travel and to relax. In order to prepare for the Holy Celebration the Mexicans have Posadas which are held every night from the 16th until the 24th of December.

Christmas tree and nativity scene in front of the Palacio Municipal - Playa del Carmen

Christmas tree and nativity scene in front of the Palacio Municipal - Playa del Carmen

A Posada is a re-creation of Mary (on a donkey) and Joseph searching for a “room at the inn” or the posada. They are accompanied by children and teenagers, called Los Peregrinos, that go around singing and knocking on doors asking for lodging for the tired and weary couple.  Traditionally, each family in a neighborhood will hold a Posada in their home during the days leading up to Noche Buena, Christmas Eve. Once the group of guests is let in the home by “the innkeepers” they kneel down around the nativity scene, to pray and sing.  After this it is party time with Piñata for the children and treats for everyone.

Festivities culminate on Noche Buena, when the last Posada arrives at the church where a late night mass is held, la Misa de Gallo.  After La Misa de Gallo families go home for a traditional Christmas supper and more celebrations that will continue until late at night or very early in the morning. Therefore the following day, Christmas day, is reserved for much needed rest and relaxation.

Susan de Lima and Monica Hartlief at Latido de Mexico would like to wish you Feliz Navidad y Prospero Año Nuevo! We hope you will be in Playa del Carmen or the Riviera Maya to enjoy the festivities. If not… there is always next year!

Merry Christmas everybody.

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Posted in Playa del Carmen - general, what's happening in Playa | 5 Comments »

“Canibal Royal”, a new beach club in Playa del Carmen

Sunday, November 22nd, 2009

by Monica Hartlief

Canibal Royal´s official grand opening was on Saturday the 14th of November. Unfortunately, I wasn’t in town that day so we went there for lunch a few days later. It is located on the beach, duh, right next to the Grand Coco Bay, in front of the luxury condominium complex The Elements. Canibal Royal has 3 levels, downstairs there is a funky beach bar with a variety of different chairs and beds you can relax on. The next level has more of a restaurant feel to it, with a large bar, tables and chairs, and a really spectacular ocean view. The top level isn’t completely finished yet, the plan is to make it into a solarium, the Jacuzzi has already been built and it is very impressive.

Canibal Royal beach club entrance

Canibal Royal beach club entrance

Canibal Royal beach bar

Canibal Royal beach bar

Canibal Royal solarium with jacuzzi and spectacular views

Canibal Royal solarium with jacuzzi and spectacular views

According to their blog Canibal Royal is a restaurant, bar, lounge, where you can live the Caribbean life style on the beach, during the day. The nightly Caribbean lifestyle can be experienced in the Santanera, the downtown nightclub owned by the same group. Thankfully the beach club is quite different from the nightclub. Canibal Royal is a very relaxed, laid back, funky, retro style place with nice lounge tunes playing in the back ground. The food is eclectic, you could call it fusion I guess, and the lunch menu has a large variety of salads, sandwiches, home-made French pizza that isn´t pizza (I forgot the name), shrimp and salmon dishes, truffle fries, and much more. It reminded me of the food at Diablito Cha Cha Cha and Aguachiles, which is not surprising because these places are also part of the same group.

Canibal Royal restaurant with amazing ocean view

Canibal Royal restaurant with amazing ocean view

lunch at Canibal royal, spicy shrimp, truffle fries, and French pizza like bread with fresh tuna, coriander, avocado, mmm very nice

lunch at Canibal Royal, spicy shrimp, truffle fries, and French pizza like bread with fresh tuna, coriander, avocado, mmm very nice

I really like this new beach club and I hope they will be very successful. Looking at the owner´s track record in Playa del Carmen I don’t doubt this is exactly what is going to happen.

If you have any comments about Canibal Royal, please let me know, thanks!

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Posted in beach clubs, restaurants and bars, what's happening in Playa | 7 Comments »

lunch at Bermann & Bermann

Monday, November 2nd, 2009

by Monica Hartlief

Bermann & Bermann is a coffee shop annex cafe that opened a few months ago in Casona. Casona is an “interior design center and concept store” with great furniture, fabrics, and art. It is located on Avenida 25 between 26th and 28th street. This means it is away from the main tourist area, and right in the middle of Villas del Carmen, where many expat “locals” live.  A perfect location to build up a clientele consisting of many “regulars”, and a regular is exactly what I’ve become in the last few months.

Casona - interior design center and concept store

Casona - interior design center and concept store

Casona - interior design center and concept store

Casona - interior design center and concept store

Bermann & Bermann terrace

Bermann & Bermann terrace

An interesting fact about Bermann & Bermann is that the owner, Isac Bermann, is the son of the owner of the Babe’s restaurants, a long time Playa favorite. At Babe’s they serve specialty Thai noodles with a Swedish twist and although the menu at Bermann & Bermann is completely different you do taste the Asian influences in many of their dishes.

This is what’s on the menu at Bermann & Bermann at the moment:

soup of the day – 43 pesos

wraps – chicken, salchicha, meatball, or veggie – 48 pesos

lasagna – meat or veggie – 63 pesos

special – beetroot salad with Swedish meatballs – 43 pesos

the special of the day 43 – 68 pesos

the soup combo – 68 pesos

Bermann & Bermann meat lasagna

Bermann & Bermann meat lasagna

The combo is my favorite, it is a wrap with a cup of the soup of the day. I’ve had 4 different soups there so far: spicy carrot-coconut, potato & leek, tomato, and mushroom & broccoli. All four of them were fantastic, but the spicy carrot – coconut is my favorite. I’ve become a real Bermann & Bermann soup-freak and I don’t even really like soup, but guess I can’t say that anymore because the soup is the main reason I go there. The wraps are freshly made, so it does take a while, I love the falafel wrap which, I’m sure, will have a permanent place on the menu soon. It is filled with crunchy fresh vegetables,  hummus, mildly spicy feta or tzatziki sauce, and falafel, mmm very good.

Bermann & Bermann falafel wrap with potato & leek soup

Bermann & Bermann falafel wrap with potato & leek soup

There is one more food item on the menu you absolutely have to try:  the Swedish chocolate truffle! Chocolate at its best. With an espresso or a cappuccino. Fantastic. Yes, I’m a fan. You’ll be a fan too, I promise.

Bermann & Bermann is open Monday through Friday from 11 AM to 8 PM

Casona, Avenida 25 entre calle 26 y 28, Playa del Carmen

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Posted in restaurants and bars | 5 Comments »

Spending the holidays in Playa del Carmen

Monday, October 19th, 2009
by Monica Hartlief
Casa Colandrea front

Casa Colandrea front

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to spend Christmas and New Year’s in a tropical destination? Feeling the warm sand between your toes and the sun on your face while sipping on a cold beer or a margarita? I can tell you it is very different from spending the holidays in the rain and cold.

Of course, there are advantages to that too (although I can’t think of any at the moment) but for me, nothing beats spending the holidays on a lounge chair by the side of a private pool while Christmas dinner is being prepared on the outdoor grill.

So, if you think this sounds like something you’d enjoy, check out this 4 bedroom villa which is still available for the holidays in Playa del Carmen, Mexico. Send me an email at monica@latidodemexcio.com if you want some more information regarding amenities and rates of Casa Colandrea or simply visit my website: www.latidodemexico.com.

Casa Colandrea - Playacar Fase II - private pool

Casa Colandrea - Playacar Fase II - private pool

Casa Colandrea - Playacar Fase II - dining and lounge area

Casa Colandrea - Playacar Fase II - dining and lounge area

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