There are four, interconnected although totally distinct, resorts in Mayakoba, Mexico. It is really tough to decide where to stay, and often prices and available deals dictate your choice. We recently stayed at Banyan Tree Mayakoba, which I chose for their super large and private villa offerings, as well as the multitude of different restaurants on the property. A close second option was the Rosewood Mayakoba. One of the reasons I chose not to stay at Rosewood was the spotty butler service we experienced at Rosewood Little Dix Bay last summer, which was pretty much the tie-breaking issue in booking this trip. After our visit to Zapote at Rosewood Mayakoba, for drinks and snacks, however, I thought that maybe I made the wrong choice!

The vibe of Zapote instantly transported us to the high-end cocktail bars and lounges that we visited in Mexico City, like Limontour and Tlecan, while keeping the outdoor, beachy, Mayakoba vibe going at the same time. It was busy, high energy, and very fun, and we sat in the bar area of the space. There was another area with trees and tables that was more like a restaurant in Mexico City, like Botanico or Rosetta. I loved the atmosphere here, and it really felt authentically Mexican, whereas Banyan Tree leans heavily into its Asian roots.

When we were seated, we were provided with paper menus! Normally, I probably wouldn’t notice or care about paper menus, but everything at Banyan Tree was a QR code and I was bothered by the fact that our noses were always in our phones, even at restaurants. I put my phone away except to take some photos, and happily flipped through the paper menu. I would note that the prices here are just as high as at Banyan Tree, with exorbitant charges for basic beers like Modelo Negra (upwards of $13!) and premium prices for even non-premium tequilas and mezcals.

We ordered a whole bunch of snacks, and a few fancy cocktails here, and spent a few hours at Zapote. I absolutely loved the dips that we ordered including a delicious hummus and tzatziki, which were served with plenty of breads of differing styles as your dipping vehicle. The falafel were also fresh and delicious, and were perfect for dipping in the sauces as well.

We also ordered beef and lamb kabobs, which were amazingly spiced. They look tiny, but they were really a lot of meat and extremely filling! We also indulged in the perfectly cooked and incredibly tender rib eye. The grilled items on the menu were really special, and the grill in the back of the space provided a lot of savory aromatics wafting through the restaurant all the time – yum! The only thing that we ordered that wasn’t a real stand out was the shoestring potatoes with a poached egg and truffle. There was a severe lack of truffle, and the potatoes were overly greasy.

The cocktail menu here is really unique and amazing. There are all sorts of rare spirits and combinations to try and many of the signature drinks come with an intricate table-side presentation. They do a great job of describing the cocktail and its inspiration in the menu, and even if you don’t totally love what you chose, you know you’re getting something more unusual and special than anywhere else in Mayakoba.

Following our cocktail and snack extravaganza at Zapote, we were informed that the lagoon boats only operate until 7, so we walked to the Rosewood lobby to request a golf cart back to Banyan Tree. There was a large family with some very tired kids waiting as well, so instead they whisked us back to our resort in their house car, which was a very fancy Cadillac Escalade. We definitely rode back in style! Our experience at Zapote did make me, in some ways, wish that we had stayed at Rosewood. Their authentic Mexican vibe, extremely kind and courteous staff, and paper menus made me want to return the next day. Maybe on our next trip to Mayakoba!?