Cayuco Restaurant view

Grupo Xcaret has always had their keen business eyes set on what attracts vacationers to Mexico and what makes them return.  In regards to their most recent and highly successful venture into the all-inclusive market, it’s not only beautiful and luxurious surroundings with native craftsmen and women providing artwork that attracts and keeps guests, it’s also the emphasis on Mexican cuisine.

I noticed the attention to cuisine detail and taste when I first stayed at Hotel Xcaret Mexico in 2017.  It seemed as if most everything was delicious!  I can honestly say that Grupo Xcaret has turned their attention to food up a notch at Hotel Xcaret Arte with the addition of exceptional chefs, some even Michelin-starred, being in charge of each of their restaurants.

I had the good fortune to be able to make an advance dinner reservation at Encanta Restaurant.  According to resort staff, this is the most popular dinner restaurant at the entire resort and dining slots go quickly.  Do not wait until you get to the resort to make your reservation, you won’t be able to get in even at the latest dining times available.  I made an advance reservation two weeks prior to arrival, and my reservation turned out to be for 9:30 p.m. because that was the only time slot available for the date I requested.  Not when I typically choose to eat, but if that’s the only time I can get a reservation at a popular restaurant then I will take it.  (In a future blog post I will write about how to request and complete a “Wish List” from the resort so that you can reserve some things in advance).  Since I was only at the resort for three nights, I opted to go to other restaurants my remaining nights which did not require a reservation.

Most specialty restaurants are placed in a particular “Casa”–Hotel Xcaret Arte’s guest room buildings have a theme and are named for that theme representing art, dance, music, etc.  Here are the chefs assigned at the moment to Arte’s specialty restaurants and where they’re located at the resort:

• Xaak–Chef Ricardo Munoz Zurita, at Casa de la Pyramide.  This is a Signature Dining restaurant and has an additional fee.
• Encanta–Chef Paco Mendez, at Casa de la Musica.  Michelin Star Chef.  While it won’t cost you an additional fee to eat here, you can turn it into a special dinner which could last over two hours by adding paired wines and tequilas for each course for $55 p/person.  I opted out.
• Chino Poblano–Chef Jonatan Gomez Luna, at Casa del Patron.
• Cantina VI.AI.PY–Chef Alejandro Ruiz, at Casa del Patron.  This is a restaurant which turns into a Latin dance club after 9 p.m.  No reservation needed.
• Kibi-Kibi–Chef Roberto Solis, at Casa de los Artistas.  This restaurant is exclusive to Casa de los Artistas guests.  It is also considered to be a Signature Dining experience.
• Mercado de San Juan–Chef Ricardo Munoz Zurita who also manages Xaak restaurant.  This is the buffet restaurant and it’s not like other resort buffets, believe me.  I’d like to hound him for his recipe for Huevo Oaxaqueno at breakfast, it was fabulous.  No reservation needed.
• Cayuco–Chef Franco Maddalozzo who evidently is a celebrity chef.  This restaurant isn’t located at a specific Casa but it is located poolside at the main pool.  No reservation needed.
• Tah-Xido–Chef Luis Arzapalo, at Casa del Patron.
• Arenale–Chef Orlando Trejo, located basically on the sand below the main pool area.  There are several ways to get get down there from the main pool area.  No reservations needed.

I wound up dining at Mercado de San Juan for breakfast each morning which is a can’t miss, there are various food carts available for lunch if you can find them or you can find comfort food at Arenale for lunch, and I ate at Encanto, Cayuco, and Cantina VI.AI.PY for dining experiences.  I would recommend each one.  I will be posting a separate blog article specifically about my dining experiences complete with pics at each one so stay tuned…