Breakfast @ El Taj Oceanfront & Porto Playa Hotels | Playa del Carmen, Mexico

A daily buffet breakfast, plus a choice of one a la carte item was included as part of our stay at the El Taj Oceanfront & Beachside Condo Hotel in Playa del Carmen.  As much as I love breakfast & brunch, it is hard for me to eat first thing in the morning.  Hence, prior to eating breakfast, my husband and I would take a walk on the beach to build up an appetite.  I couldn’t possibly resist delicious and authentic Mexican specialties with freshly squeezed orange juice.  Our breakfast was so incredibly filling that we would remain full for the following 6 to 7 hours, and thus we only ended up dining out once a day for either a late lunch or an early dinner.  In a way it worked out since I saved on calories, but I missed out on trying new restaurants. 

Furthermore, we were given breakfast vouchers that could be substituted at El Taj’s sister property, Porto Playa Condo Hotel & Beachclub, hence we ended up dining at El Taj’s Indigo Beach Club restaurant three days, and Porto Playa’s Imprevist restaurant one day.  The owner & chef, Juan Diego, of Imprevist is a professionally trained chef from the famed London Savoy, a Fairmont hotel.  The impressive menu at Imprevist changes every few months to provide the best seasonal produce and ingredients.  Everything here is home made from scratch including ice cream and sorbet desserts!

1. Indigo Beach Club @ El Taj Oceanfront & Beachside Condo Hotel (buffet breakfast + 1 a la carte item)
Oceanfront dining with a delicious buffet breakfast + 1 a la carte item. 
The cost is 150 Mexican Pesos (or $12 USD) if you aren’t a guest at the hotel or its sister properties.  Great deal!

Each morning we started with freshly squeezed orange juice.  So delicious.

In addition to a choice of tea (left) or coffee (right), the tea tasted so great, but the coffee was so diluted and lukewarm. 

The buffet breakfast included breads, Danish, cakes, fruits, and condiments.

I skipped most of the buffet portion since I can’t really eat a huge breakfast so early, but my husband took full advantage of all the buffet goodies.  Admittedly though, I enjoyed the Onion Rosemary Focaccia Bread.   


We also had the choice to select one hot item from the a la carte menu.  Here is what we ate…


DAY 1 
Huevos Rancheros – I ordered the fried eggs on lightly fried corn tortillas topped with a red sauce.  A side of black beans and a hash brown sealed the deal.  So delicious, but the red sauce could have been seasoned a little better, regardless, still delicious!


Huevos Divorciados (literally means divorce) – My husband ordered this dish which consists of two fried eggs on top of a crispy tortilla served with black beans and a has brown, and then topped with a red and green sauce. I’m assuming adding both the red and green sauces to this dish is where the divorce factor comes in.  In any case, a really yummy dish, and no different from the Huevos Rancheros above aside from incorporating two sauces.



DAY 2 
Chilaquiles – I ordered the Chilaquiles which was prepared in a red or green sauce, served with fried egg, cheese, cream, red onions, and topped with coriander.  This dish was such a surprise, it was basically fried corn tortillas drenched in a red sauce.  I wanna make this at home.  Simply outstanding!
Scrambled Eggs – And my husband opted for a simple breakfast with eggs that came with a choice of 2 ingredients – tomatoes and green peppers… so well made, but the portion on this was so small in comparison to the others.  Skip this, unless you want a small meal.


DAY 3
Maya Enchilada – This dish sounded interesting which was spinach and cheese wrapped in a corn tortilla and then topped off with enchilada sauce.  This dish was amazing, and one that I have to replicate at home.  Muy Delicioso! 


My husband opted for the Chilaquiles, as shown above. 


LOCATION: 1st Avenida Norte y Calle 16 @ El Taj Oceanfront Condo Hotel
COST: $$
CUISINE: Local Mexican
VERDICT: 4.5 / 5 
The food at Indigo Beach Club was very good, but the stunning oceanfront views are even better.  And let’s not forget about the friendly and attentive service, the waiters here are so warm and welcoming.  Seriously, nothing beats having breakfast on the beach with your feet touching the warm sand.  Starting my day right with a great Mexican breakfast here was easily one of the highlights of my trip.  My favorites were the Chilaquiles and Maya Enchilada, and the red sauce that accompanied all the dishes was so light and flavorsome.  

2. Imprevist @ Porto Playa Condo Hotel & Beach Club (a la carte) 
Limited indoor/outdoor dining with street views.  A la carte exceptional breakfast with delicious coffee and beautiful presentation.
The cost is 145 Mexican Pesos (or ~ $12 USD) if you aren’t a guest at the hotel or its sister properties. Great deal!

As part of the a la carte deal, we had the option of tea (left) or coffee (right), and fresh orange juice.  The tea was so lame and lacked boldness, but the coffee was AMAZING! 

We were served a bread basket which consisted of croissants, muffins, and brownies which I loved.  I especially loved the bottles of jam, but I didn’t bother opening them since I was so psyched for breakfast.   

Additionally, they gave us fresh fruit with toppings… granola, sweet yogurt, and honey.  Sweet and savory!  I can so easily eat fruit if it is cut up and served in fancy plates. 

Now for our entrees, my husband went for the Huevos Rancheros… fried eggs with tortilla & red sauce.  His dish was light and so delicious, the sauce was more authentic than at the Indigo Beach Club.  Notice the difference in color?  An orangey color as opposed to bright red above.

I ordered the Egg White Omelet with onions, peppers, mushrooms, tomato, spinach, and manchego cheese which was accompanied with sautéed potatoes on the side.  I can honestly say I have never eaten a better omelet in my life, let alone an egg white omelet.  I have to replicate this dish at home soon so I don’t forget.  Just incredible with so much flavor.  Phenomenal!

All our food came with a side of pico de gallo, red, and green sauces. 


LOCATION: 1st Avenida Norte y Calle 16 @ Porto Playa Condo Hotel
COST: $$
CUISINE: Local Mexican
VERDICT: 4.5 / 5 
The food at Imprevist is slightly better than the Indigo Beach Club, however by dining here you really miss out on the incredible oceanfront views.  At Imprevist you can opt for indoor seating or street view seating, but unfortunately outdoor seating was limited and full when we arrived.  Regardless, it is worth dining here once or twice for the great food and outstanding coffee.

Other Breakfast Recommendations:
Chez Celine – French breakfast
Karma Bagels – bagel shop, sounds appealing.



TELL ME: Have you been to Playa del Carmen, if so, what are some of your favorite breakfast spots?  
What is your favorite Mexican breakfast to order/make?