This is my city and the music scene is close to my heart, so let me take you through it properly.

The Calle 12 area near 5th Ave has several bars with live bands on weekends: reggae, salsa, rock. My advice? Don't plan too much. Just walk down 5th on a Thursday or Saturday night and follow your ears. You'll find something.

Zenzi on the beach does live jazz and acoustic sets. Get a cocktail, sit in the sand, watch the sunset turn into stars. This is Playa at its best. La Bodeguita del Medio on 5th Ave is the Cuban spot. Live son and salsa, great mojitos, people dancing. It comes alive after 9 PM and if you don't know how to dance salsa, someone will teach you right there on the floor.

For just talking and having a good time without shouting over music: Club de la Cerveza on 5th Ave has over 100 craft beers and the bartenders really know their stuff. The crowd is friendly and international. Dirty Martini Lounge has a rooftop with cocktails, good for a date or catching up with friends. And La Perla Pixan Cuisine & Mezcal Store, this one is special. Incredible mezcal selection, the owner does tasting flights and explains where each mezcal comes from, the agave, the process. You walk out knowing things and also slightly drunk.

For meeting people, the language exchange meetups on Tuesday and Thursday evenings are fantastic. Locals practicing English, expats practicing Spanish, everyone buying each other drinks. The "Playa del Carmen Social" group does weekly dinners, beach BBQs, all kinds of activities. Pub quiz nights happen at several bars, show up solo, join a team, make friends.

And something I love about this city: the sunset gatherings. Groups of people meet near Mamitas or Parque Fundadores with beers and just watch the sun go down together. No agenda, no cover charge, just community. Check Facebook groups to find out when and where.

Best nights are Thursday and Saturday. Happy hours on 5th Ave are mostly 2-for-1 between 5 and 7 PM. And the 12th Street area going south is much more chill and local compared to the tourist party zone.