T+L's Review of The Riviera Maya Edition at Kanai
"Set on a 620-acre nature reserve within the Kanai complex and named one of the best hotels of the year by Travel + Leisure in 2024, this 192-room property feels cinematic and meticulously designed — a collaboration between Ian Schrager Company, Rockwell Group, and Edmonds International — loosely shaped like a “T,” with exterior walls slanting to the sky and balconied guest rooms stacked a bit like a honeycomb. The pool set among lush mangroves is memorable: I waved cheerfully to my son, Bobby, his body a mere speck on the other side of the lagoon pool. And he promptly ignored me. “Marco!” Bobby called out to his two friends... “Polo!” they responded, delicately weaving in between a handful of submerged lounge chairs. The resort balances a slightly intimidating, well-heeled, Instagrammable vibe — 45-foot, triple-height lobby with smooth travertine floors, a pool table, and a massive wall display of 106 sculptures and vessels nodding to Mayan culture — with genuine family- and multigenerational-friendly design: all ages are welcome at the main lagoon pool, there’s a quieter adults-only infinity pool, and a separate So’ol beach club. Rooms start at a generous 570 square feet with grand teak doors, cool stone floors, blonde wood four-poster beds, and marble bathrooms with huge soaking tubs; 25 deluxe rooms have expansive terraces, 53 premier rooms offer private plunge pools, and among 30 suites are residential-style living rooms, kitchens, and dining spaces. Crowning one wing is the Sky Rooftop Villa: at nearly 27,000 square feet, it is the largest penthouse suite in North America, with five generous bedrooms (four with king-size beds, one with two queen beds), identical-sized rooms each with hot tubs and terraces, its own elevator entrance, an infinity pool, multiple alfresco hammocks, and a panoramic terrace “larger than the backyard of a suburban home.” “What sets the Sky Rooftop Villa apart in the Riviera Maya is its sheer size and versatility,” George Fleck, senior vice president and global brand leader at Edition and W Hotels, told me. “Whether you're planning a lively party with a DJ, a peaceful private sunset yoga session, or a grand feast prepared by a private chef, we make sure every detail is perfectly tailored.” Food is a highlight: Ki’is, from celebrity chef Francisco “Paco” Ruano of Alcalde, serves inventive, hyperlocal dishes — the pumpkin salad arrived, and it was not quite what I was expecting—a green gourd shaped like a beret with the top delicately balanced, as if it was the hat’s flourishing pom pom; inside was a fantastic vegetable spread. Other Ki’is highlights included an excellent guacamole (not your average, with pistachio, seaweed powder, and nibs de cacao), tender Mayan octopus, geoduck clams from Ensenada, grilled lamb with a chili-spiced rub and salsa verde, and the “saramuyo” sorbet featuring native soursop arranged skin side up with sorbet frozen inside. So’ol beach club leans tasteful rather than flashy, with chef Tomás Bermúdez offering grilled oysters with toro, ponzu, watermelon, and bottarga; a simple grilled fish with garlic marinade; and barbecued ribs. Kitchen, the all-day restaurant, is the go-to for breakfast and large groups — don’t miss the morning smoothie (a mango, papaya, and coconut cream blend) — and the menu includes chilaquiles, cochinita with habanero sauce, and huevos a la cazuela with tomato and Chiapas cheese sauce, poached spinach, longaniza de Valladolid, and grilled sourdough. Amenities emphasize both privacy and water access: six “bird’s nest” lounges in the mangroves (catering available), 19 private cabanas (four at So’ol, five at the beach), and a standout set of 10 cabanas on stilts by a 12,900-square-foot private pier with hammocks that drape over the water and direct sea access; there’s also a tennis complex and 24-hour fitness center. The spa is intimate and well-curated, inspired by local cenotes, with hydrotherapy pools, a Turkish-style hammam, six indoor-outdoor treatment rooms (each named for a local flower), and products from 111 Skin, Kevin Murphy, Ayuna Skincare, and Organethic. Practical notes: service animals are accepted, there are seven accessible guest rooms and accessible entrances (an elevator sits next to the grand staircase), and the property is about a 30-minute drive from Cancun International Airport with easy access to neighboring Kanai resorts and shared, uncrowded beach; the hotel can also arrange excursions to Tulum and Chichén Itzá." - Jacqui Gifford Jacqui Gifford As the editor-in-chief of Travel + Leisure, Jacqui Gifford is always on the next plane. She constantly scouts for new hotels, shops, and restaurants to give readers the latest news and trends, and frequently appears as an expert guest on television networks, including NBC, CBS, ABC, CNBC, and MSNBC. Travel + Leisure Editorial Guidelines
