We had Thai pasta and curry chicken for lunch. The pasta was good. The curry chicken was okay but could have used more time in the sauce. The sauce was very good but the chicken was dry and bland. The service was good and the venue is very nice. read more

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They had a $10 Sunday brunch. This is a good deal. It's a large entree egg dish, croissant and jam, a fruit yogurt bowl, coffee, a mimosa, and beans. That said, as you might expect from a prix fixe brunch, most of the items were fairly average. The croissant was soft and buttery but in a comes-from-a-plastic-bag sort of way. The coffee was a bit too bitter. The Chilaquiles were fine. The Rojo sauce basically tasted like an arrabiata. If you're really hungry and want a decent deal for a full mexi-american style brunch, I'd think you could do worse. read more

PapaCharly - Sunday Brunch Chilaquiles Rojo - Italian Near Me - Playa del Carmen, ROO

One of our favorite go to restaurants. We get it to go sometimes or dine in. The food is great. The ambience is laid back México feel.

+extremely close to airbnb +migo eggs pretty good +off menu wagyu burger is hit or miss +maya lemonade +lots of fans (airflow ONLY) -no take away cups for tea, they want to watch you FINISH THE TEA in front of them -arbitrary cutoff for breakfast/lunch menu, despite significant dish overlap -owner didn't invite me to their house party last wednesday read more

Blown away by my experience here!!! All of the dishes my group got were amazing- highly recommend the coconut chicken and eggplant moussaka substituting pomodoro for arrabiata!! read more

Off the beaten path in a land far far away from the tourist is amazing Italian food a fair price. Highly recommended!! read more

PapaCharly - Shrimp Ceaser - Italian Near Me - Playa del Carmen, ROO

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When visiting Playa del Carmen I'd recommend venturing off of 5th Avenue to places like PapaCharly. Not only are they cheaper but offer better service and food quality. PapaCharly is on the smaller side; I would recommend a reservation for larger groups. They did accommodate us immediately when we showed up, removing a reserved sign from a table, but there was quite a line on the street about an hour later. After-all, they have a sign out front saying if you want food quickly they recommend going to McDonald's, Burger King, and some other fast food joints. I got the Traditional Cannelloni split between beer and ricotta and spinach. At least one person at your table must get a combination of one of the Cannelloni's! They come out with blow torches to melt the cheese at your table. Between both of our dinners and their 'premium' wine we spent about $35 before tip - very affordable compared to 5th Ave. read more

PapaCharly - Cannelloni - Italian Near Me - Playa del Carmen, ROO

The food here is really, really good and well priced. I like the location as it's on a quiet street away from the hectic bustle of 5th Avenue. Super well priced. Honestly, no complaints at all! Oh! And def check out their desserts! Their cakes and pies are soo good! read more

Love love love!! My favorite lunch spot in Playa. Cannot beat the lunch special. Great service Andrew wonderful vegetarian/vegan options. We come at least once a week. Lunch specials are superb! Great value and plenty of food!! Just come! You won't regret it read more

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Oh wow...what a gem this place is. When they claim they make the best pasta in Playa, they sure back it up with deliciousness. For start I had the caprese salad and for my main, the most stunning filled cannelloni pasta, one with Papa Charles own cheese and shrimps and the other with beef, both beautifully layered with cheese on top and then charred with a gas power burner at the table. The flavors were stunning and the meal sizes plentiful. Don't show up without an empty stomach :) Great place!! read more

We found this cute little place walking around Playa and after reading the reviews, we've decided to give it a try. Our breakfast was divine, perfect Latte, delicious egg benedicts and fresh juices. Last night, we also came for dinner and I had the best cannelloni of my life. The staff is incredibly nice and the prices are super affordable. A must try in Playa, a little off the crazyness of 5th av. read more

PapaCharly - Addictive! - Italian Near Me - Playa del Carmen, ROO

Papa Charly and the dog- We were lucky last week to be invited to dinner with some new, cool friends near their chic pad around 30 & 30. After sharing some really nice wine and enlightening conversation about all things ex-pat near and far, we left their trendy low-rise condo for the aforementioned dinner. It was a short stroll as it was literally right across the street. And let me say, especially at night, this neighborhood was SoHo-like in its illumination and feel. Extremely cool vibes. And then there was Papa Charly. I know what you're thinking, with that name its 1/2 off margaritas, all-you-can-eat popcorn shrimp and loaded potato skins- "So come on down to Papa Charly!" Wrong. The warmly lit, bistro-ish Italian eatery was nearly full with assorted diners, both locals and non, dining, chatting, laughing and have a generally fine time. Our new friends were greeted graciously and affectionately by our hostess and waitress as they were certainly regulars. The menu was big, offering assorted pastas, sandwiches, fish, chicken, salads, etc. My gregarious new friend claimed Charly had the "best grilled octopus in town" and ordered one. My loquacious and unborable wife ordered the Pollo Milanesa covered in queso blanco and I tried the Gnocchi with cuatro quesos. Our ultra-stylish and already thin Fem-friend had the Chicken breast with a beurre blanc sauce. We all shared a bottle of crisp and chilled Mexican Sauvignon Blanc, which disappeared way to quickly. Verdict- thumbs way up! The octopus was perfectly charred, smokey and delisioso. It just may be the best in town. My cheesy gnocchi was almost too rich but superlative. My esposa deluxe's Milanesa was huge and tasty and I was surprised she finished it all. That's a very good sign, as was our lovely friend's smile while enjoying her chix & vino sauce. No complaints were registered. Please note-It's a dog friendly establishment, which, for bad or good, is also frequented by a rather large, neighborhood street dog. It quietly roams from table to table rubbing against your leg and occasionally laying it head in your lap, if available. Careful petting this one though, not groomed and bathed this century, need I say more. Pricing is very acceptable, even low, as most entrees are in the $100-$150 peso range. Responsive, super friendly service and large potions. Go find this little gem and disfrútalo. 63Gloria Turski, Phil Holland and 61 others 14 Comments Like Comment read more

Wow this place was so good and affordable. I wish it wasn't so far away in another country or this would be my go to Italian restaurant. The pasta is homemade and amazing. I loved that you could customize your pasta and sauce to get the perfect combination that you want. I had the basil ricotta ravioli with a bolognese sauce It was fantastic. My boyfriend had a meat and a spinach/ricotta cannelloni which were even better and they melted the cheese with a blow torch in front of us. We had both those dishes plus a decent bottle of wine for about 35 USD. The place was pretty busy but we got a table right away. There was also some live music during our dinner which was nice. read more

Fantastic... and at these prices it is can't miss. Spinach cannelloni and the chicken parmesan were excellent. Already have plans to go tomorrow. read more

PapaCharly - Chicken parmesan with steamed veggies - Italian Near Me - Playa del Carmen, ROO

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We had lunch there and the food was not good. The chicken on my salad was so dry when the waitress ask if everything was ok I told her about it and we expected that they would have taken the chicken off the bill but no. We came to to eat dinner here in 2020 and it was wonderful. read more

A solid Italian joint run by an Argentinian family who renamed the place from "Util" when the namesake "Papa Charly" passed away a few years back. It's a cute little restaurant with just a few tables in a courtyard setting. The menu is a giant grid that allows you to pair up each pasta with your favorite sauce. Everything's cheap, tasty and oh so filling. When you order a salad it's served family style, so don't worry about filling up too much before your pasta arrives. The spinach and Ricotta ravioli with arrabbiata sauce was spot on. If you don't get wine you can easily get out for 200 pesos a person. read more

PapaCharly - Spinach and ricotta ravioli - Italian Near Me - Playa del Carmen, ROO

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Delicious hand made pasta in a cute restaurant. Just by the name I wouldn't have thought to go here. The name sounds like a chain restaurant in the US with fast cheap food. This could be no further from the truth. I'm glad I actually took time to read some reviews rather than immediately passing over it. It is located on 25th ave and 30th. The front with seating area is facing 30th. It is a small place with 4 tables outdoor seating. The tables accommodate parties up to 4 or 6. The night we were there was a mon and only 1 other couple. The menu was a little confusing at first but basically you choose your pasta which is on one side (look at the whole chart. I didn't and missed out on several options) and then choose your sauce which is on the other side. The appetizer and desert are not on the menu. For appetizer you can choose either Caprese or Caesar salad. We chose the Caprese and just check out the pic. It's huge and very good. My husband who is very critical of this dish wherever we go said that it was very good. To him it's all about the mozzarella & he said their mozzarella was right. I ordered the spinach ravioli in the fungi sauce and he ordered the spinach and ricotta cannelloni which only comes in the pomodoro. We both thought are dishes were very good. There is something about hand made pasta that is so good. This was very fresh food. I believe it is made to order. We were both full & had no room for desert but we ordered the cheesecake to go. That was a good decision. It is one of the best cheesecakes I've ever had. The service was perfect. It was actually the cook who served us. I'm not sure but it is likely that she is the owner. She spoke very little English but we got along okay with my little spanish. Our bill was $440 pesos for two mineral waters, Appetizer, 2 entrees and dessert. That comes out to $35 US which is a great deal. We will definitely be returning & I will pass it along to my friends & family who are visiting soon as I know they will love it too. read more

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Great place, great service and awesome Canelones and Pescadores beer! Kitchen open til 11.30pm so thats convenient for late eater like me :) read more

GO HERE. I suggest making a reservation to guarantee a table. It's small and we had a party of 9 so I was really glad I called in advance. My sister and her boyfriend recommended this place from their stay in Playa del Carmen. It did not disappoint. Be prepared to be there for a while. All the food is fresh and made to order so it can take a while but all the more time to drink and enjoy time with your friends! Extremely kind waitstaff. And the vibe here is great. If you're looking for a good local spot to enjoy some Italian food (yes, Italian food in Mexico) I would 100% recommend. read more

Best breakfast I've had in a while! I happened upon this place our fourth day in Playa and we decided to check it out. After asking the concierge at our condo if it was okay to walk there, we set out on our adventure. It's nestled in a cute, quiet neighborhood. Very inviting atmosphere with an extremely kind staff. Food portions are pretty large and very reasonably priced. I had the chilaquiles with chicken and eggs, French toast, a vanilla chai latte, and a bottle of water for under $20 usd. I would definitely recommend. Wish I could have tried their lunch and pasta! read more

PapaCharly - Chilaquiles - Italian Near Me - Playa del Carmen, ROO

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I had this place on my to-do list for my most recent trip to Playa del Carmen with my sister, and it was so good that we ended up going there twice. The first time we got a Caesar salad and spaghetti carbonara, and the second time we got a Caesar salad and spaghetti aurora. The Caesar salad is incredible - I think often they're really plain and boring and treated as an afterthought, but the tomatoes were so sweet, the cheese was so fresh, and the dressing was so delicious I was cleaning the dressing bowl out with bread. The carbonara overshadowed the aurora sauce for us - it was hands-down the best meal we had during our trip. The atmosphere here is very cozy, intimate, and romantic but casual at the same time. We were served very quickly, and everyone working there was really helpful and friendly. It's also incredibly affordable considering the quality of the food. Don't hesitate to check it out if you're considering going! read more

One of the best meals in playa! Came here for lunch and I was very impressed! The decor of this place is very welcoming and pleasant. Ordered the red lemonade (strawberry, watermelon and mint I believe) it was blended and refreshing. For my entree I ordered the Parmesan chicken which was delicious. What is great about this place is that they have combos that are included for free when you done here during lunch hours. You get to choose either a salad or a soup and your entree and then you get a piece of pie or cake for dessert. Will definitely be back! Oh ya, I forgot the best part. It cost me $6 for my meal! That's unheard of! read more

PapaCharly - Parmesan chicken - Italian Near Me - Playa del Carmen, ROO

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I almost thought I was in Italy!! Such a good Italian restaurant in Mexico. My husband got their lunch special combo: Caesar salad, chicken teriyaki that ended with a cheesecake. I got myself Caesar salad along with caprese salad. This restaurant is definitely a hidden gem! Great price, attentive waiters and cozy atmosphere. The restaurant is tiny, but don't be fooled by the size! No AC, but they've got several fans to keep us cool. Highly recommended!! read more

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Hidden gem. Better than anything I've found on 5th. Quiet but buzzing. Comfortable and open. Great spot for a date. Food was excellent. Sangria lemon was terrible tho, but I loved the Sangria orange which I had first. They exchanged it no problem. read more

PapaCharly - Italian Near Me - Playa del Carmen, ROO

Lunch special: best value ever. Seriously...quality of the food is top notch! Appetizer and main course and dessert with drink for $5-6 USD. It's also located away from the touristy 5th ave trap which is refreshing--this is a gem of a place where the locals dine. read more

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Fresh pasta, great pricing, had the spaghetti and meat sauce excellent, I will definitely come back bill just over 200 for pasta and wine... read more

PapaCharly - Italian Near Me - Playa del Carmen, ROO

Simply delicious affordable eats! The staff are down to earth friendly and helpful. Wish I was in Playa another week so I could return. Now looking forward to my next visit read more

Mixed feelings. Waited forever for the food and our entire group was visibility agitated and the staff did nothing to makes things better. After 90 minutes the god arrives... again mixed feelings, some pasta dishes good and some average. The waitress was very rude! Part of me wants to give 1star but will give 2 cause the food was ok! read more

This is a gem in Playa del Carmen. You won't find PapaCharly stumbling around on La Quinta. It is a few blocks inland, just up from Av 25 on Calle 30, on the other side of the athletic field from the action along the beach and La Quinta. Fresh, hand-made pasta really does make all the difference in the world, and theirs is to die for. You choose a sauce to go with your pasta, which is promptly served after ordering. Ambiance is kind of boho, which is a nice contrast to the beach vibe permeating almost everything in Playa. They open early and do a mean breakfast too. I always am a pain in the ass here, and order the limonada roja, a sort of blended strawberry lemonade. Delicious. I spent a few months living right around the corner from PapaCharly, and they saw me at least three times a week. There aren't many places I've been outside of Italy that get pasta this right. read more

On my vacation this year to Playa del Carmen, I went to visit a friend who was living in the city. She promised to take us around town and try to avoid all the touristy traps and restaurants in the area. Located in a little subdivision 4 blocks north of Calle 5 (5th avenue) is the amazing Papa Charly's!! This is one of those spots...if your local..you know about it...if your a tourist..you will never know about it (unless a local tells you or you use Yelp!). Almost an open air concept, the dining room is small and it opens up to the street. The decor has a hipster urban vibe, a big parachute type covering is the ceiling..pillows and wood benches along with wood tables are scattered in the dining area. Chalk boards explain the specials and features. Our friend suggested we try the "Menu Ejecutivo" which was a 3 course meal. We arrived about 30 min before the menu actually started so we just started out with some drinks. Papa Charly's does not serve alcohol..kinda weird huh? But they do have freshly squeezed juices that they feature. Everything ranging from blends of Pineapple and Watermelon with mint to Hibiscus flower with honey...soo tasty. They also make a pretty damn good Cappuccino as told to me by my father. We finally got to order from the "Menu Ejecutivo"...basically you can choose from a special menu..Your first choice is your starter, soup or salad or a pasta dish...(by the way its not a small appetizer pasta or salad...its a full size meal!!). The next thing you choose is your entree..no burgers here...we are talking Short ribs on a potato puree and homemade bbq sauce or vegetarian moussaka or how about chicken cordon blu? After plowing through your entree how about a dessert? Cheesecake, Flan, Apple pie with ice cream. Oh by the way you also get the chosen freshly squeezed juice included to wash it all down!! This meal was better than some of the a la carte restaurants at my 5 star resort!! The kicker is ....all of this was $175 pesos including tip...works out to be $10 dollars US. The quality of the food was excellent..the presentation..5 star quality..the service and atmosphere.....high quality..while maintaining the awesome homey vibe. If you ever in Playa Del Carmen...and your looking for food...forget 5 Calle (5th avenue) Find Papa Charly's and eat there...5 stars...hands down.. read more

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I totally recommend this Italian restaurant. The service is top notch. This a family run joint and I was treated like family. We were a party of 11. Also you have to taste the coffee. read more

PapaCharly - Italian Near Me - Playa del Carmen, ROO

Excellant! Second time here- also in 2014. Started with capers salad, was huge and so fresh. Shared spinach - cheese cannelloni, along with pesto linguine.huge portions also and oh so good. Two bottles of Argentina wine topped off by perfect service, all for about $65 u.s. Only complaint- unisex bathroom, with no toilet seat- maybe it's on back order? Lol read more

Alguien pleeease tell the cook not to use faucet water on the salad!!?? I've lived in Mexico for over 6 yrs and not once gotten sick until yesterday i had a salad at PapaCharly. My stomach and head is in pain and inflamed for over 24hrs.. Otherwise i love this place!! Salad guys, no uses la regadera para limpiar tus vegetales no maaaa! read more

No one does Cannelloni like Papa Charlie's! Nice outside dinning, great service! Friendly neighborhood restaurant that is out of the tourist frenzy! Don't miss eating here while in Playa! read more

Awesome Argentine-Italian food and amazingly good cappuccinos (I'm very picky about my espresso drinks). Cute "covered patio" dining area and very friendly service. Highly recommended. Definitely worth the short walk off 5th avenue. If I had been in town longer, I would have become a regular. read more

This place was so good we came back twice in our 5 day visit. The local beer that they serve is fantastic and the pasta is homemade and incredibly good! read more

PapaCharly - Italian Near Me - Playa del Carmen, ROO

Very good restaurant, good price. We went there for lunch, we had a combo. The food was out quickly and very tasty. Staff was also very friendly. read more

If I could give them 100 stars, I would! We had our rehearsal dinner here on a Saturday evening and hosted roughly 40 guests. The restaurant was the perfect setting - the size of space, unique atmosphere, large portion sizes, etc. This was Charly's first big event and he pulled it off flawlessly. Our guests raved about the food the entire trip. The portion sizes were extremely filling and equally delicious. We decided to have a set menu of 4 entrees and the appetizers included hummus, Caprese salad, and Caesar salad. The presentation of the dishes was perfectly detailed but not overwhelming. The staff delivered each person their food without error and made sure our drinks were never empty. I recommend this place for any occasion from a simple lunch for 2 to a large group outing. Charly is sure to accommodate any reasonable request and make sure you leave with a smile on your face. Thank you Charly for an unforgettable rehearsal dinner we are sure to never forget! read more

Excellent! We had great service - didn't need a reservation. You can choose what type of pasta you want (spagy, fettuccine, ravioli, gnocchi etc) which lots of different sauce types.. all broken down by ingredients on the back of the menu. Delicious food, good service, cheap! And we got a complimentary shot of tequila at the end of our meal. Definitely recommend - wish I had found it earlier on my trip!! read more

Had a great combodeal for only 6 euro! 1st a nice pomodore pasta with extra chicken, 2nd chicken with pamarzane cheese, brocolli and beans and as desert a carrotcake. Perfect price quality! read more