The Cafe I Went to Three Times this Week

Ah Cacao Chocolate Cafe is a chocolate store and coffee shop that has a solar-powered factory in Playa del Carmen. They have five locations, all on the Yucatan Peninsula, and sell products in the U.S. as well.

I was immediately charmed by their well-designed cafe in Playa del Carmen, which had an attractive display area to buy their chocolate as well as a pastry stand. I was immediately intrigued by their torta de elote, or corn cake. I love corn-based desserts and this one just looked like a winner. Three minutes later when I received it with my coffee, I was hooked. It was sweet but not too sweet, had an amazing texture and a subtle corn flavor that reminded me of grandma's cornbread back home. It was perfect. I had this cake for breakfast, along with their coffee, three times this week.

Sev was not at all a fan of this cake for some reason, but tried their other pastries and liked them, especially the brownies, which had a very nice not-too-cooked, slightly gooey texture. The coffee is very good and, while I take coffee with the regular milk, you could get soy or coconut milk instead.

One of the best things about Guatemala and Colombia, which we traveled to for 2.5 months before coming here, were the really amazing pastries. It's been a bit disappointing to not find the same kind of offerings in Playa del Carmen, so I was thrilled to find a pastry I liked so much so close to the hostel. Since we're leaving the Yucatan Peninsula in two days, I think I'll go back again at least once more. Five snacks for sure!