Mexican cuisine was recently added to UNESCO’s World Heritage list, alongside French cooking, so it’s no surprise there are lots of great restaurants and hotels in Mexico that offer an array of delectable dishes. While researching and writing a guide to luxury travel in Mexico for Travel Weekly, I came across several mouthwatering dining experiences that include tasty Mexican food, expertly prepared, as well as international dishes from around the globe. Here are a few restaurants to add to your Mexico travel itinerary.
Tempo by Martin Berasategui, at Paradisus Cancun
The recently upgraded Paradisus Cancun Resort hotel is now home to Tempo, a restaurant headed by Michelin star chef Martin Berasategui. This Spanish culinary wizard infuses the menu with Basque influence, much as he’s done at Paradisus hotel properties in Playa del Carmen, Mexico, and Punta Cana, in the Dominican Republic. Guests who book the Paradisus Royal Service or Family Concierge level of accommodations at this Cancun hotel get one free dinner at Tempo by Martin Berasategui during their stay — all you need to do is make reservations. Other guests can dine there too, but they’ll pay extra, and the restaurant is also open to the public.
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Aldea Maya, at Maroma Resort and Spa
In the Riviera Maya, one of the newest dining options is at Maroma Resort and Spa, a luxury Orient-Express hotel. Aldea Maya — which means “Mayan Village” — is described as an “appetizing paradise,” set among the jungle and beaches, with a themed menu inspired by the four basic elements that Mayan culture dictates are the building blocks of the universe. Locally sourced ingredients work their way into dishes like black bean stew with sour cactus fruit salsa and lion fish cooked with banana leaf and mint.
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Don Manuel’s, at Capella Pedregal
In Los Cabos, the luxury resort called Capella Pedregal is home to dining venues including Don’ Manuel’s, which specializes in nouveau Mexican cuisine and El Farallón, a Cliffside terrace with stunning views of the Pacific Ocean and dishes that make good use of freshly caught seafood. But for a truly personal experience with the hotel’s upscale cuisine, consider spending a “day in the life’ of its executive chef. This one-day cooking class allows guests to accompany the chef as he shops at the local farmer’s markets and meets the fisherman at the pier with their daily catch. Afterwards, you’ll return with the chef to the resort’s hacienda-style kitchen and learn how to prepare ceviche with the fish bought at the pier that same morning, while enjoying a delicious breakfast and lunch.
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Pujol and Biko, Mexico City
Two restaurants in Mexico City have made it onto the San Pellegrino and Aqua Panna list of the World’s 50 Best Restaurants: Pujol and Biko, listed as number 17 and number 31, respectively. They aren’t quite new, but they’re truly worth a visit. Pujol serves reinvented classic Mexican food, experimenting with a variety of flavors and ingredients. Biko offers a fusion of Mexican and Spanish culinary heritage, mixing classic Spanish dishes with local Mexican ingredients.
SPECIAL MEXICO CITY HOTEL DEALS: Best hotels in Mexico City
MORE MEXICO TRAVEL TIPS & CULINARY TRAVEL IDEAS:
• Exotic Travel & Luxury Vacations: 5 Ways to Live it Up in Mexico
• 3 Must-See Rio de Janeiro Restaurants, from Menumixx.com
• Tasty: Hotel Restaurants with Local Flavor & International Flair
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