Plaza Kukulcán (Blvd. Kukulcan, Km. 13, Zona Hotelera, Cancún) – For visitors accustomed to shopping at pricey department stores like Bloomingdales and Saks 5th Avenue, Plaza Kukulcán is for them. This retail space consists of nearly 100 shops and four restaurants. The Luxury Avenue section of the mall offers brand names from Cartier, Fendi, and […]
Plaza Hong Kong (between Labná and Av. Xcaret, Sm 35, Mza 2, Lote 6, El Centro, Cancún) – since this is Mexico (not the Far East), Plaza Hong Kong easily stands out with it massive pagoda structure. Here you’ll find Mexican handicrafts, souvenir shops, and a restaurant appropriately named Hong Kong. For women who brought […]
Plaza Hollywood (Av. Xcaret at Rubi Cancún, El Centro, Cancún) — You’ll find several small boutiques and restaurants at this strip mall, as well as a bank, post office, and Starbucks. For the wine connoisseur, there is La Europea Wine Market, which carries a wide selection of imported cheeses and meats, as well as Mexican […]
Plaza Flamingo (Blvd. Kukulcan, Km. 11.5, across from Hotel Flamingo Resort & Plaza, Zona Hotelera, Cancún) — This is a small mall that houses around 80 different shops that sell mainly clothing, jewelry, and souvenirs. The main attractions here are the chain restaurants Jimmy Buffet’s, Margaritaville, Outback Steakhouse, and Bubba Gump, which fill up with […]
Plaza Bonita (Av. Xel-Há 1 and 2, Sm 28, Cancún) — A small outdoor plaza attached to Mercado Veintiocho (Market 28), Plaza Bonita has many wonderful specialty shops carrying Mexican goods and crafts.
Paseo Cancún (Av. Andrés, Sm 39, El Centro, Cancún) — Paseo Cancún was developed by the same company that owns La Isla in the Zona Hotelera, so it has the same open-air design with modern white canopies throughout. Here you’ll find a small ice-skating rink, a movie theater, a bowling alley, a pet store, a […]
El Centro (Av. Tulúm, Cancún) – The “El Centro” area (Cancún downtown) has malls and markets for locals – giving visitors a taste of the “real Mexico”. Avenida Tulum, the main street, has a huge sculpture of shells and starfish in the middle of a traffic circle. This iconic Cancún sculpture, which many locals refer […]
Cancún Gran Plaza (Av. Nichupté, Mza 18, Lote 1, Loc 24, 30 and 62A, Sm 51, El Centro, Cancún) — Cancún Gran Plaza offers jewelry shops, fashion boutiques, and major department stores such as Sanborns and Wal-Mart. There are also cinemas, cafés, and restaurants in the shopping mall, which is mainly frequented by El Centro […]
Roots Jazz Club (Av. Tulipanes 26, Sm 22, El Centro, Cancún) — Locals and tourists mingle here to enjoy contemporary jazz and flamenco music (piped in during the afternoon but live at night). The performances are the main attraction, but salads, soups, sandwiches, and pastas are also served here. This candlelit venue also frequently hosts […]
Parque de las Palapas (Bordered by Avs. Tulum, Yaxchilán, Uxmal, and Cobá, Sm 22, El Centro, Cancún) – Friday evenings are popular here with both locals and visitors for the live music featured there (from jazz to Salsa and even Reggae). Given the less touristy, more native Mexican vibe, this is as much a draw […]