Mexico’s Riviera Maya is full of bombastic resorts with huge footprints and incredible sights. of Xcaret boutique offer, Beach Houseis the exception. The 63-key, adults-only lodge hides along the northern edge of the sprawling resort’s sprawling campus, and on the other side, into untouched jungle. Its multi-level structure makes the most of the unobstructed view of the Caribbean Sea.
The meticulously ‘crafted’ eco-hotel – a deft blend of rough, site-sourced natural materials and uniform industrial components – forms as a fluid matrix of indoor and outdoor spaces, hugging a coastal cliff and nestling beneath its idiosyncratic formation. Designed by award-winning architect David Quintana, the thoughtfully positioned hotel highlights the spatial distribution of climate-responsive tropical modernism and the colorful geometry of the seminal Mexican architect Luis Barragán.
On offer: many Michelin-starred fusion-cuisine restaurants. an underground cellar with an impressive local selection. a self-service tequila and mezcal bar with even more variety. a comprehensive multi-level spa. a 130-foot infinity pool jutting out of the water; and a range of yachts ready for special excursions along the coast and up to Cozumel. The kicker: the grand suites—not just furnished with private pools overlooking the Caribbean and rock-hewn bathtubs—come with bedside aquariums of jellyfish. The level of attention from the staff – personal butlers and others – is second to none and yet subdued.
These lodgings, spread over three floors and separated by massive “white earth” stone fortifications, are accessed by a series of straight split-level concrete tunnels. Locally sourced wood and red brick inlays create a striking contrast. Some ceilings are rendered in a collage of successive branches.
The constant presence of particularly lush native plants grown in the semi-indoor, semi-outdoor spaces is an added touch of grounding, as is the meticulous collection of custom-made Mexican furniture and artwork—much of which was made in the surrounding Quintana Roo region. The overall composition is a feast of visual and visceral contrast, accentuated only by the turquoise sea that emerges below. Although eclectic and bold, this confluence of texture and detail is cohesive, imbuing every public and private space with a rooted, calming effect.
While Xal – led by celebrity chef Andoni Luis Aduriz – reveals the unexpected culinary connections of the ‘global south’ between Mexico, the Basque Country and the Philippines, Martha Ortiz’s equally famous Tuch de Luna serves up local dishes in a relaxed restaurant setting. Nestled along an interior courtyard that seems to have emerged from the busy streets of Mexico City, the Lumbre/Centil restaurant has a chameleon-like decor. A suite of custom furniture easily changes nightly to reflect the respective haunt’s signature Northern and Southern Mexican menu. Here, wooden bar stools flip over and become low dining chairs, and the aforementioned red brick is formed into a three-dimensional patterned wall.
As at these various restaurants, the Muluk Spa—filled with massage booths, salt rooms, mud rooms, saunas, steam rooms, and more—uses as many local ingredients as possible.
What: Beach House
Where: Playa del Carmen, Mexico
How many: $1,736 per night
Design drawings: An eco-friendly boutique hotel boldly crafted from locally sourced ingredients, located along Mexico’s Caribbean coast and boasting an extensive offering of ultra-sophisticated culinary experiences.
Make a reservation: Beach House
Photo courtesy of Casa de la Playa.
