Review: The Riviera Maya EDITION at Kanai: First In

Why book?

For those who live life in the fast lane but desire a tropical beach vacation, The Riviera Maya EDITION at Kanai offers the perks of city living within the heart of a 620-acre nature reserve in the Yucatán Peninsula.

Set the scene

Whether breezing past the lobby bar, where crimson velvet seating is set before a floor-to-ceiling installation of Mexican sculptures and ceramics, or dining at So’ol, the lively seafood eatery overlooking the Caribbean Sea, the Riviera Maya EDITION at Kanai showcases the culture of Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula. After a quick walk up an orchid-lined staircase, guests arrive at the concierge area where a giant wall mural of the Maya god Kukulkan—the deity of wind, air, and creation—looms. Just beyond is a seating area where the property’s cenote-inspired architecture is first visible: a hanging plant installation sways above, evocative of the shrubbery that grows within the freshwater pools throughout the Yucatán Peninsula. From here, the view is of an oversized lagoon-like swimming pool, the resort’s centerpiece, which looks straight to a sand-floor, palm-lined path leading to the sea.

The backstory

Through collaboration between the architecture and design firms Rockwell Group, Edmonds International, and the Ian Schrager Company, the resort was created with cenotes–those freshwater limestone pools found throughout the region–in mind. The resort’s main buildings are connected in a way that creates a ripple, a design that mimics the seismic wave that occurred when the ancient asteroid that created Chicxulub, a crater located on the western side of the peninsula, struck the earth over 66 million years ago. Most structures are made from a mix of Yucatecan limestone and bamboo and seamlessly coexist with the surrounding 400-year-old mangrove reserve.

The rooms

The property has 182 guest rooms, including 30 suites, most with private plunge pools and terraces with either ocean or mangrove views. Rooms tap into the brand-wide design ethos– minimally chic with clean lines, blond wood furniture, curved white sofas—but lots of little touches let you know exactly where you are such as novels by heavy hitting Mexican authors and coffee table books detailing the architectural wonders of the Maya. The prize of the property is the ultra-luxurious Sky Rooftop Villa, now the largest hotel penthouse in North America. The 27,000 square-foot super suite features five rooms and an expansive, indoor-outdoor entertainment deck with an infinity pool and unmatched ocean views through floor-to-ceiling glass on three sides.

Food and drink

Just beyond the lobby bar is Kitchen, where guests can dine on breakfast dishes like hearty cochinita, suckling pig spiced with sour orange and achiote, and sopes con huevo, an egg folded inside a tortilla and topped with fresh hoja santa leaf and Yucatecan sikil paak sauce. For mid-day snacks, the pool bar offers fresh salads, hummus platters, and a variety of juices. But the heart of the property’s culinary offerings is in its fine dining outpost presented by two Mexican chefs who both are recognized by the World’s 50 Best. Francisco “Paco” Ruano leads the resort’s signature restaurant Ki’is (meaning zest in Maya), which is known for its revolving tasting menu that includes dishes such as a New York strip served with chapulínes, or grasshoppers, to a salad chock full of local ingredients including nopal and tomatillos varietals served in a pumpkin gourd. Tomás Bermúdez helms So’ol (meaning “oyster” in Mayan). The outdoor eatery overlooks the Caribbean and is the ideal outpost to enjoy Mezcal-based cocktails paired with fresh seafood dishes.

The spa

The resort’s cenote-inspired architecture is on full display at the spa. Curving hallways lead to hydrotherapy pools, a private outdoor pool, a Turkish hammam, and an infrared capsule room. Each of the spa’s six indoor-outdoor treatment rooms is named after local white flowers, from passiflora (passion flower) to ololiuqui (morning glory). The spa offers a solid range of massage and body and facial treatments

The neighborhood/area

The property is part of the 620-acre Kanai Peninsula, an area lush with mangroves, turquoise lagoons, and white-sand beaches. Also in the development is a St. Regis and an Auberge resort.

The service

The entire hotel team is eager to meet every guest's needs, from arranging reservations at restaurants to booking experiences and luxury car transfers to and from the Cancun International Airport. There’s also 24-hour room service and twice-daily cleanings.

For families

The resort has connecting rooms for families, tailored menus for children in each restaurant, and guests also have access to the adjacent St. Regis Kanai Tortuga Children’s Club for an extensive program of activities for children with a focus on Yucatecan culture.

Eco effort

The resort has a dedicated biologist on staff to maintain efforts to preserve the red mangroves and the local flora and fauna, including sea turtles (to date, they’ve supervised hatchlings from 12 nests, each containing an average of 120 eggs). The developed land comprises less than 10% of the 620-acre reserve, and the resort operations strive for the highest possible environmental and sustainable practices certified by and in compliance with the Mexican government.

Accessibility

The resort has elevators and ramps throughout, making it easy to navigate, as well as eight accessible rooms, each with extra space and bathrooms with handrails.