May 11, 2023
Indulge in the flavors of Mexico at Atelier Playa Mujeres
Atelier Playa Mujeres is a luxurious all-inclusive resort located in the heart of Playa Mujeres, just north of Cancún. This stunning resort is renowned for its impeccable service, stunning surroundings and world-class amenities. It's one of our favorite resorts and ideal for anyone looking for a luxurious, relaxing vacation.
One of our favorite things about Atelier Playa Mujeres is the incredible dining options, making it one of the best resorts for foodies. The resort offers 13 restaurants, 2 coffee shops and 12 bars that showcase authentic Mexican and international culinary traditions. Everything we ate here felt very chef-driven, using fresh ingredients in thoughtful combinations.
The restaurants at Atelier Playa Mujeres are thoughtfully designed, from the interior designs full of character to the menus exploding with flavor. They have been recognized by Wine Spectator, Forbes Travel Guide and even the AAA Four Diamond Designation. Guests can indulge in everything from homestyle Mexican dishes to Japanese fusion, all prepared with the utmost care and obvious attention to detail.
Do we have your attention yet? Let's dive into the restaurants!
We've all been to enough hotel breakfast buffets to make us jaded. "Phenomenal" and "breakfast buffet" simply don't go together, right?
Wrong! Mercado 19 is a relaxing oasis of flavor and service that is the perfect way to start your day. We wandered over our first morning at the resort, skeptical of the buffet, and were immediately intrigued by the huge selection of flavors.
Of course there are the basics: fresh fruit, juices, pastries, omelettes, pancakes (pictured above). But there is also a stewed meat bar, seriously SO full of flavor. Quesadillas and tacos can be made with fresh tortillas as well by restaurant staff. Feel like making your own custom huevos rancheros? They have all the hot ingredients for this at the bar and the taste is exactly what you'd hope for.
For dinner service, Mercado 19 transforms into a Mexican fiesta, serving hearty pozole, steamy from-the-stew-pot tacos, comforting tamales, and much more. Dinner doesn't stop with food either – there's an array of refreshing beverages like tangy hibiscus freshwaters, micheladas, gomichelas, and the heady delight of mezcal-based cocktails.
Maria Dolores is a truly exceptional dining experience and easily one of our top 5 favorite restaurants of all time. It doesn't hurt that they were recently given the AAA Four Diamonds designation. This haute cuisine concept restaurant is the brainchild of celebrity chef Edgar Núñez, whose innovative and creative dishes have garnered worldwide recognition in contemporary Mexican cuisine.
Maria Dolores is the only restaurant at Atelier Playa Mujeres that isn't included in the all-inclusive pricing. You'll need to make a reservation for the restaurant and pay out of pocket for the meal (credit cards accepted). We'd recommend you make reservations before you arrive – and if you're a foodie, you'll want to make two reservations here. Our biggest regret at this resort was not visiting this restaurant until our last night.
The restaurant's motto is to transmit an authentic love for Mexico and that's exactly what they deliver. Through their exclusive signature dishes, we found ourselves googling ingredients and dish names, learning as we went about Edgar's approach to Mexican gastronomy. The menu is also seasonal, so the dishes we enjoyed are likely to have evolved or been replaced. That said, our last meal here in November 2021 was unforgettable.
The staff started us on an unnamed mezcal cocktail (pictured above). I believe this was a mezcal + fresh juice cocktail that was strong and felt... healthy. I think I had about 4 of these each because they were wildly delicious. For starters, we had two soups: chilled avocado soup with chili oil and slow cooked onion soup with a side dish of beef jelly (pictured above). Both were familiar yet surprising – a great quality in cuisine.
Next we tried the the beef carpaccio (pictured above). This was served with seaweed, cambray onion, truffle oil and cotija cheese. What a simple explosion of flavor.
We were celebrating our anniversary, so we tried a few other small items on the menu. What was surprising was the number of palate cleansers that were brought to our table in between courses. The service at Maria Dolores was impeccable. We were continually surprised and delighted.
For entrees, we had the short rib in mole de olla and filet with bordelaise sauce (pictured above). Both were rich in flavor and densely packed with flavor and quality.
From what we can tell, Edgar Núñez's culinary approach is based on an ongoing search for perfection. As an icon of modern Mexican gastronomy, his ever-changing seasonal menu is worth a visit as often as possible. The mixture of flavors and stories from every corner of Mexico set the standard for world-class resort restaurants.
El Suspiro is a culinary gem and one of our favorite breakfast/lunch spots at Atelier for fresh seafood meals that don't slow your day down. It's also located next to the pool so it's a great stop before or after a few hours at the pool.
Guests can start their mornings with an international breakfast. The breakfast menu includes a variety of options to suit every taste, from banana waffles to croque madame to Mediterranean omelettes. You won't find a bad dish in this spot.
For lunch, El Suspiro specializes in freshly prepared fish and seafood dishes. From flatbreads to tuna tostadas (pictured above), you can savor the flavors of the sea while enjoying the beautiful poolside views. There are also giant lizards roaming around the patio – a nice addition to any meal.
As the sun sets, El Suspiro transforms into a Mexiterranean fusion restaurant, serving unique experiences. The dinner menu features a delightful selection of dishes that blend Mexican cuisine with traditional recipes from the Mediterranean region, resulting in an explosion of flavors and textures. You can start with dishes like the palm heart and coconut ceviche, enjoy grilled octopus main, and relax with a number of dessert cocktails to finish off the meal.
If you're looking for authentic Italian cuisine during your stay at the resort, look no further than Cilento. This restaurant takes inspiration from the town of Cilento, located in southern Italy, to create dishes that will transport you straight to the Mediterranean.
At lunchtime, Cilento offers classic Italian fare such as pasta, woodfire pizza (pictured above) and salads, all made with fresh, seasonal ingredients. But the real standout is the terrace with its breathtaking ocean views. There's no better way to enjoy your meal than with a stunning backdrop of the Caribbean Sea.
Come dinnertime, Cilento really shines. With traditional Italian cuisine, you'll be treated to mouthwatering dishes bursting with the flavors of the Mediterranean. From beef carpaccio (pictured above) to homemade pasta to mouthwatering ossobuco, every dish is a celebration of the culinary traditions of Italy.
Cilento does have a long wait for dinner, so we recommend making reservations during lunchtime for dinner seating.
Los Abrazos is a classic, high-end steakhouse experience that is a great introduction to Atelier's food program and warm hospitality.
With dim lights and soft music, Los Abrazos invites guests to settle in for a delicious meal complemented by an award-winning wine cellar and colossal salad bar. This salad bar is really worth noting here – there is a huge selection of aged meats and cheeses, freshly baked breads, dips, and much more.
After the salad bar, guests can order from a wide selection of proteins, cooked to perfection in the firewood kitchen. Beef cuts, lamb, chicken, shellfish, and vegan options are available, with your choice of sauces (our favorite was the béarnaise, but try them all).
We can't miss mentioning the loaded baked potato (pictured above). Sure, you've had these before, but they are truly next-level at Los Abrazos and a must-order side dish.
The dinner experience at Takeshi is romantic, low-lit and nothing short of exceptional. We love so many styles of Asian cuisine and this restaurant offers Japanese, Korean, Chinese, Indian and Mongolian flavors.
You'll want to start your meals with a selection of sushi and some Vietnamese rolls. It's all-inclusive, so you might as well get a soup or salad before the main dish. The green papaya salad (Thai) or Sunomono salad (Japanese) are fresh, clean bites that you can't often find back home.
For the main course, the pad thai is easily the most popular item here. It's tangy, nutty and utterly delicious... and a nice change of pace from the other resort restaurants. The Thai Cashu is a close second so order this as well.
Dessert should not be missed at Takeshi – there are a few very fun options. The gulab jamun is a deep-fried, syrupy milk bread with origins in South Asia. It. is. delicious. The apple harumaki is more or less a dessert egg roll and a first for us. If you want to go straight for the good stuff, simply order the ice cream plate. It comes with a variety of flavores, from matcha to lychee to lemongrass. The perfect flavors to kiss the palate goodnight!
Be sure to make reservation for dinner at Takeshi as it fills up very quickly.
Limón y Sal is an outdoor lunch spot near the pool and perfect for a quick bite in between swimming. The menu's entrees are pretty straightforward: burgers, wings, salmon, ribs, etc. Don't expect high-end cooking here – but it is still delicious.
The real star of the show here is the appetizers. Limón y Sal has a few we'd recommend: the grilled salad is a perfect way to hit pause on swimming. Light, refreshing, packed with flavor. The ribeye aguachile is another elevated appetizer – it combines umami, spicy and sour and is miles better than the frozen pizza most pool restaurants serve.
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paige.winn@fora.travel
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