An Exceptional Food Scene
By Sarah Etinas
An Exceptional Food Scene
By Sarah Etinas
From Michelin-starred Mexican eats to tucked-away speakeasies, Hotel Xcaret’s properties shine through their food and drink offerings.
The all-inclusive Hotel Xcaret line—featuring Hotel Xcaret Mexico and Hotel Xcaret Arte—has put thought and care into crafting the best dining experiences for its guests. With over 20 restaurants and bars across the two side-by-side Playa del Carmen properties, you’re sure to find a fantastic food option for every meal, no matter what you’re craving.
Michelin Star-Awarded Mexican Eats
If there’s just one restaurant you need to try across all of the Hotel Xcaret properties, it’s Ha’. Located within Hotel Xcaret Mexico, Ha’ recently received a Michelin star in 2024, and again in 2025. Beyond that, the restaurant’s head chef, Carlos Gaytán, received a Michelin star back in 2013 for an entirely different restaurant venture, so it’s safe to say that the food at Ha’ is award-worthy. Across the nine-course tasting menu, elevated Mexican flavors are the star of the show, with global influences here and there helping the ingredients shine their brightest.
A Subterranean Dining Experience
The ambience plays a big role in any dining experience. At Las Cuevas within Hotel Xcaret Mexico, you’ll dine within a series of limestone caves, lit by thoughtfully placed twinkling lights—a truly one-of-a-kind setting. As for the food, Las Cuevas serves a Brazilian-style steakhouse buffet, laden with just about every type of grilled meat you can imagine. On Sundays, the subterranean restaurant is transformed into a high-end brunch hotspot, with all of your favorite breakfast, seafood, and liquor offerings.
Plant-Based Plates
Vegan and vegetarian guests will have no shortage of tasty meals to enjoy on the Hotel Xcaret properties either. As a matter of fact, each of the two properties has its own plant-based eatery. At Hotel Xcaret Mexico, Bio offers a classic, healthful spread of salads, sandwiches, bowls, and smoothies for both breakfast and lunch. Hotel Xcaret Arte’s Apapachoa, on the other hand, elevates vegan cuisine into fine dining. Savor dishes like beetroot carpaccio, ravioli with tartufo (truffle) sauce, and Mexican huarache (bean-filled masa cake). Finish off your meal with one of the plant-based desserts as a perfect ending, such as the delectable blueberry cheesecake or the caramel-drizzled Parisian hazelnut flan.
A Tucked-Away Speakeasy
Beyond the hotels’ impeccable food options, the Hotel Xcaret properties have several fantastic bars, including the noteworthy El Deseo. Tucked away behind a street taco cart at Hotel Xcaret Arte, El Deseo is a sort of speakeasy, only found by those who know where to find it. Once inside, you’ll be greeted by dim lighting, a stocked bar, and the sounds of live music—or a DJ if you stop by after 11 pm. Sip a few tropical craft cocktails and listen to fantastic tunes late into the night—and maybe even grab a taco from the entryway cart as a nightcap on your way out.
Want to keep reading?
Kari is a wealth of travel knowledge. Being in the industry for over 30 years and always working to enhance Bon Voyage, it’s easy to see why! Just sitting down with her and talking about travel dreams opens so many possibilities. That’s why Kari feels it is so important to really get to know our clients. Her talent lies in listening and learning about client travel styles, tastes, and preferences. With that knowledge, Kari is able to craft amazing, one-of-a-kind experiences – tailored for each traveler.
Her words of advice: Never critique a destination until you have been there at least 24 hours. In that time, you will find some aspect of the culture, people, cuisine, or architecture that you will fall in love with. That is the secret to successful traveling!
Whether she is abroad with her family or escorting groups of 200+ people, Kari loves to see the friendships that blossom from travel. There is nothing quite like the camaraderie that develops when people come tog ...