Esencia

Hotel Esencia is the perfect blend of elegant, secret and chic. If you are driving north on the 307 you will miss it if you blink. It is a nondescript green sign on the side of the highway. But if you are lucky enough to pull off in time, a secluded paradise awaits. Apparently it was the private villa of an Italian duchess (part of the Ferrari family?) in the 90’s to early 2000’s before being turned into a boutique hotel. She must have been quite the partier because the place is sick. You walk along a narrow jungled path until you reach an open plaza with perfectly manicured St. Augustine grass, peacocks and a well designed restaurant patio, adorned with hammocks and chic loungers. Continue along the path and you eventually get to the main house which is a stunning white and terracotta building with a beautiful salon where they have an afternoon tea and coffee service. Step out onto the patio and you are looking at the most perfect pool and just beyond that, the Gulf of Mexico. Everything is perfect. The colors the smell, the iguanas and the faint but repetitive lapping of the small waves. While the set and setting are perfect it is the quality of service and friendliness of the staff that stands out. I have a natural aversion to being waited and doted on, it makes me uncomfortable and aware of the unfairness of our economic system, think White Lotus. But at Esencia while the service is absolutely impeccable the staff was easy to talk to, funny and it wasn’t long before I was practicing my Spanish and making jokes. Everyone was personable and attentive; Kennedy, Alfonso (Poncho), Francisco (Pancho), Apollo, Willy, Daniel, Elias, Marcos, and others who I can’t seem to remember (I blame the Palomas Xatics, best drunk out of a cold coconut). By day two it felt like we were surrounded by friends more than staff. The attention to detail was also impressive. At 4pm everyday they switch out the pool lounge chair cousins from white to black. It took a decent amount of effort and had they not done it I probably would not have noticed, but once they did do it I understood why. It changed the whole vibe from “pool day” to “romantic cocktail hour”. Another detail that I absolutely loved is that during the turn down service they wrap your cell phone code in a little embossed leather band. One of the coolest parts of Esencia is that they have access to a private cenote/mangrove lagoon that is home to a family of manatees. Unfortunately we did not get lucky enough to see them despite taking the tour twice (thanks Marcos). The beach is picturesque, although there was a decent amount of seaweed, which is unavoidable this time of year. We had 2 different rooms over the course of the stay. Both were big, airy, super white and clean which gave them a modern yet refined feel. Both rooms had personal plunge pools that we sat in each night enjoying the sunset. Over the course of the four days we barely got a chance to experience the amenities. We did take a tour of the spa which was really cool vibey. It felt like you were in a shamans home, in hindsight I wish I had spent more time there…I guess there is always next time.

I feel a little guilty that it has taken me so long to write this review, but part of me wanted to keep this gem a secret --as if that's possible ha! We're also getting ready to return for our second trip and I feel remiss that I haven't sung Esencia's praises online as I have in person to everyone we know over the past year. Simply put, our trip to Esencia last year was the best I have been on and I literally cannot stop dreaming about it. In my previous life, I worked for several luxury brand hotels and have an extremely critical eye. Esencia was above and beyond in every category. During our stay, occupancy was very low due to an approaching hurricane and I was worried food options might be limited, staffing reduced, less amenities, etc....it was exactly the opposite. Every single table and place setting set to perfection each morning. Every beach chair, every rolled towel, every flower, every jungle path cleared. Anything we ordered on each menu was available. Staff EVERYWHERE working non stop (in a non intrusive way). Our favorite anecdote of the trip was a staff member literally mopping the pool deck in the rain, dedicated to his task with a smile on his face. It has the perfect balance of service accessibility and quiet, luxurious solitude. I wrote these names in haste after our departure, so please forgive my spelling errors, but these staff members specifically were incredible: Darinel at the Spa Armando at the Bar Maurio at BeerBar Tiriana our personal concierge We are counting down the days until we return in July. Thank you Esencia for being a dream come true.

I don’t usually leave reviews, but Esencia truly deserves one. My partner and I travel a lot, we live in New York but are originally from Mexico, and over the years we’ve been lucky to stay at some pretty amazing places. Still, nothing compares to Esencia. Before our stay, friends kept telling us it was a place you had to experience to really understand. Now we get it. From the moment we arrived and stepped into that small lobby/house, it felt like we had been transported somewhere completely different. Everything is so beautifully done, calm, intimate, and full of care. Every plant, every corner, every detail is just right. The design is a dream. Everything feels thoughtful and relaxed, elegant but not in a showy way. The rooms, the speakeasy, the beach restaurant, the spa... it all flows together in a way that’s hard to describe unless you’ve been. The treatments at the spa were incredible too. The staff is honestly what makes it even more special. They’re kind, attentive, and just genuinely great people. They made us feel at home right away, and we felt as if we were speaking with long-time friends. We’re pretty tough critics when it comes to hotels, my partner jokes that I always find something wrong. But not this time. Esencia was flawless. We had just come from Belmond Maroma and while it was lovely, Esencia is on another level completely. We are getting married in the Riviera Maya this November, and even though our honeymoon will be next year, we loved Esencia so much that we already booked a few nights at Esencia after the wedding. It’s become our special place, and we can’t wait to come back.

If you want intimate, personalized service, incredible food and a relaxing vibe, Esencia is now the #1 resort in Riviera Maya. Belmond Maroma? Not since LVMH bought it. Rosewood Mayakoba? Not since seaweed took over the beach. Waldorf Astoria? No elevators please. What makes Esencia best-in-class are the little touches no other property does. These include: *Fresh flowers everywhere, several vases in our suite *Handmade gifts to take home *Afternoon tea service *Pool cushions changed daily at 6:00 from white to black *Clean and bright bathrooms galore throughout the property and best toilet paper *Daily pastry basket delivered to your room *Custom charging cord sleeves to keep them organized and neat *24/7 service via WhatsApp and no dedicated butlers to deal with *Beach cabanas that are not only comfy but offer shade all day long and so much better than umbrellas With only 35 or so rooms and suites, we stayed in one of the new beachfront duplex units with outdoor shower and plunge pool just steps from the beach. A splurge worth splurging for. Food is fresh, local and so good at the three restaurants. By far the best and most popular restaurant is BeefBar, located in a little oasis that features outdoor seating with ambient lighting and a “living room” setting with couches and chairs to relax after dinner. Yes steak is a feature but so is the fresh sea bass and amazing pizzas. The grilled veggies are sublime. Thursday and Saturday the very cool Speakeasy at the mansion is open from 8:30pm-1:00am. And the new tiki bar by the beach is open for happy hour and offers Mezcal tastings. The spa was recently updated with a new ice room and flotation tank added. Service is over the top and the employees are smiling and know your name quickly. They also remember your preferences. Managers are always around. There are two pools right next to each other, family and adult. If traveling with no kids, I recommend coming here not during holidays or spring break as the resort has a completely different vibe with and without kids. Overall, Esencia shines over the rest and continues to refine what luxury travel is all about.

I've never been this hesitant to write a review of a hotel but what if everyone finds out how perfect this place is, and then we can't get back?! It really is one of the best vacation spots I've ever visited - a gorgeous room with comfortable beds, wonderful views, breakfast delivered every morning which the birds beg to share as you sip coffee. The palapas on the beach are well staffed, the food is excellent at all three restaurants and the staff are friendly, accommodating, and delightful. I can't remember the last time I was as relaxed as I was on the second floor of the beach bar sipping a margarita made by Levi or Elias and feeling the breeze on my face. They coordinated a fantastic trip to see turtles and cenotes, and via What's App were able to problem solve the few problems we had. Truly a perfect place.