Riviera Maya Foodie News Part II:

Though we were staying in a private villa (and are generally averse to hotels), I had heard much fanfare about the new Mayakoba Resort; an expansive, sprawling, maze-like estate that is a collaborative effort between the Viceroy, Fairmont and Rosewood Hotels. After receiving more than a few “you’ve got to see it” reviews from friends who know the area, I decided that it was certainly worth a swing by.. if nothing else for cocktails and the views!

We headed over to enjoy drinks at the Agave Azul Raw Bar & Tequila Library. The setting is elegant, overlooking the dimly lit lagoon below. The bar is known for carrying the finest tequila labels in the region, but my friend and I were more interested in starting our night with a bit of bubbly; glasses of prosecco played a playful pairing to a ginger spiced salmon tartare served with crisp, toasted bread. The salmon is just one of the many selections from the featured seafood ceviches. With more time, we very well may have tried them all, but there was a progressive to consider!

Our night certainly wasn’t over, as we headed off to our next dining experience.. Though already too full to enjoy a true dinner, we wandered our way into Casa del Lago (Rosewood Hotel’s fine dining setting). The ambiance is unbeatable, boasting tranquil views of the lagoon (shown above), with service that is impeccable (nothing less would be expected of such a high caliber establishment). Casa del Lago offers an extensive breakfast buffet as well as a light lunch menu, ideal for enjoying al fresco on the terrace… but we were there by night, when an enchanted aura floats heavily on the air. Dessert was all we could muster and it was a fantastic experience of pear tatin and apple crumble, all served with house made ice creams and warm cappuccino. It was the first time in a long time I’ve wished I was a hotel guest…

You can check out the Rosewood Mayakoba online for more info…

-bryan