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Mexico has been undergoing a food revolution over the last decade. In the past, Mexican cuisine was known for tacos, tequila, and not a lot else. Now, with more fine dining restaurants emerging, this country’s forward-thinking chefs and creators are gaining popularity, and Mexico can truly hold its own internationally.
Cancun has also upped its food game, and many resorts in the Hotel Zone (such as the Haven Riviera Cancun), as well as up and down the coast of the Mexican Riviera, are now lauded as true gourmet destinations in their own right.
Here are some of the best resorts for foodies in Cancun and the Mexican Riviera.
Ritz Carlton Cancun
The name Ritz-Carlton evokes a certain sense of luxury, and the quality of dining experiences at this Cancun hotel lives up to the brand’s reputation and makes it a standout for foodies.
Guests can enjoy the hotel’s Culinary Center with a hands-on cooking class from the hotel’s talented chefs, learning how to prepare Italian or Mexican foods, before enjoying a meal at the Chef’s Table, with wine and craft cocktails. Another exciting experience involves traveling with the chef to a Cancun food market to select the food you will later prepare together, sampling some of the city’s best tacos along the way.
The hotel’s other restaurants will also delight guests. Il Fantino, a Mediterranean dining option, offers a sublime tasting menu alongside its regular dishes, The Club Grill offers an extensive wine list, and individual casitas on the beach can be used for an unforgettable private dining experience.
Zoëtry Paraiso de la Bonita
This hotel has only three restaurants, but they are so strong that they’ve won the Zoetry Paraiso de la Bonita resort in Puerto Morelos a place in this foodie-friendly list.
This hotel is home to the flagship AAA Four Diamond-rated restaurant ‘La Canoa’ which offers what is called ‘Cuisine of the Suns’, a novel dining experience based on, and inspired by, spices and chilies. Also located in-resort is ‘El Chiringuito’, an outdoor grill that uses Zapote and mesquite woods to infuse meats with authentically Mexican smokiness. The third restaurant is fusion-focused, adding a hint of Mexican flavor to international food favorites.
Grand Fiesta Americana Coral Beach Cancun
Not only does this luxury resort consistently rank in the Top 10 Cancun hotels on Tripadvisor, but it is also known for its high-quality and inventive food.
Coming soon is an extra special dining event for guests of the hotel – a culinary experience called ‘The Table’. Diners will be seated around a video-mapping table, taking them on a visual journey through the fascinating history of Mexico. The story is split into chapters and will be matched with eight creative gourmet courses, each with a wine pairing. It’s an exclusive 16-person event and one that’s not to be missed.
This resort also boasts the French-Mediterranean ‘Le Basilic’, one of only a handful of Mexican hotels with an AAA Five Diamond-rated restaurant.
Grand Velas Riviera Maya
For something a little different, one of the Grand Velas Riviera Maya’s eight restaurants – and another AAA Five Diamond-award winner – ‘Cocina de Autor’ specializes in ‘molecular gastronomy’. This is the art of using science to deconstruct food. It might sound unappealing – but visitors confirm it’s exactly the opposite.
This hotel, close to Playa del Carmen, offers a range of cuisine styles across its many restaurants, all created by renowned chefs and served in luxurious and refined spaces. Sample Italian food reimagined, modern Mexican cuisine, and French dining in a 1940s -inspired Parisienne bistro.
Garza Blanca Cancun
Described by Forbes as ‘The All-Inclusive for Foodies’, the Garza Blanca is one of Cancun’s newest resorts, yet it has already made its mark on the food scene. It has consistently ranked at #1 in the Tripadvisor hotel charts since its soft launch earlier this year.
The hotel offers three dining options currently, with a further two becoming available soon at the sister resort Villa del Palmar. Bianca Blue is the flagship Garza Blanca restaurant specializing in Mexican food with a difference. Its dinner experience is described as ‘six distinct categories that will take your palate on a delicious journey through Pre-Hispanic Traditions and Grandmother’s Specialties’. There’s also a food truck dining option, showing the resort’s more playful side, offering a raw bar serving delicious ceviche’s and seafood cocktails.
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