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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.

It’s always the chicest. It was our 10th time there and the service, food, accommodation - everything - has improved on an already perfect place. I just wish I could live there. It’s an easy getaway from all major cities and is always worth every cent.

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.

This place is exceptionally beautiful. The staff is very friendly and helpful. Our room was wonderful. The beach is gorgeous. The plunge pool in our suite was exquisite. Our manatee encounter was a huge highlight. They also arranged for us a private snorkel and cenotes experience that was so fun. It was a special experience all around. My one quibble is that, as a scuba diver, I needed to get going every morning and be ready to be picked up by the dive company I hired. So I was counting on breakfast at 7 AM. The told us the first night that they could deliver coffee and pastries to our suite. That never happened. It wasn't late. It just never came. I went to the breakfast restaurant at 7:15 AM. It took them half an hour to get me avocado toast. To be fair, it was very delicious avocado toast. But I had no time to enjoy it. The second morning, coffee and pastries arrived to our room, but only after we called to remind them. On the third morning, it was finally on time without prompting. The staff seems to be a little slow to get moving in the morning. If you're not trying to eat at 7 AM, you would never notice this problem. Oh, and that avocado toast and coffee cost... $41. Which is steep.

I have stayed at some of the fanciest hotels (e.g., the Aman) but this one is definitely on the top of favorite list. Everything was so great. The experience I had at this hotel will ruin all future hotel experience. I love the fact that they do not nickel and dime you. Pool person always bring water and ice gratis. In addition, there are some complimentary activities available as well. Like some other reviewers have mentioned, the food is dismal for the hotel of this category. The food at the Beef Bar was a let down. Hopefully the food will be better the next time we come back.

In September 2023, my husband and I had an extraordinary stay at Hotel Esencia, which quickly became our favorite hotel. The experience was flawless, and we eagerly anticipated our return. Unfortunately, our second visit in 2024 fell short in several key areas. However, after sharing this feedback, hotel management graciously offered us a complimentary stay to make things right, which we accepted during January 2025. I’m happy to report that the experience this time was much improved. The property remains unparalleled with lush, peaceful grounds. The beach is breathtaking - a nearly-private space with pristine sand and crystal-clear water. The rooms are beautifully designed, impeccably maintained, exude understated luxury, and include many well-thought out details and items one would want while on vacation (eg: flip flops, beach bags, certain toiletries like sunscreen, etc). The staff also recognized we were celebrating a birthday and did a very nice job welcoming us with birthday treats and a room upgrade. Our arrival was a fantastic experience. The spa was open during our stay and was every bit as lovely as we had remembered. During this complimentary stay, the service noticeably improved compared to our previous visit. While it didn’t quite reach the impeccable standard we experienced in 2023, it was clear the staff made an effort to ensure we were well taken care of. That said, the general service approach feels more relaxed than it once was — it is simply less polished and anticipatory, though it remains very friendly and accommodating. This attitude perhaps reflects the overall barefoot luxury vibe at Hotel Esencia, and I'm sure many guests appreciate this unobtrusive approach. Regardless, Hotel Esencia’s unique charm is undeniable. The beach, facilities, and serene atmosphere remain unmatched, creating a sense of effortless escape. Special touches like releasing baby sea turtles and swimming with manatees or seabobs continue to stand out. Overall, this recent visit reaffirmed why Hotel Esencia holds such a special place for us. While the service feels more laid-back than during our first stay, the incredible setting, well-appointed accommodations, and world-class beach make Esencia a rare gem. We are grateful to the management for their generosity and effort to improve our experience, and we look forward to seeing how the hotel continues to evolve.