The town of Playa del Carmen is often referred to as Mexico’s answer to South Beach. And yet in our opinion the in-town hotel offerings have never really measured up—with two notable exceptions, both from the famed Thompson Hotels group: The Thompson Playa del Carmen Main House and Beach House. They are the only two in-town hotels that consistently rank among the wider area’s very best, which includes standouts like the gorgeous Chablé Maroma and Palmaïa – The House of Aïa. Down to their coveted D.S. & Durga bath amenities, together the two Thompson properties offer an unparalleled experience in Playa del Carmen, on a par with Thompson’s other resorts in Mexico, The Cape, a Thompson Hotel in Cabo San Lucas, and the Thompson Zihuatanejo.
The benefit of in-town Playa del Carmen is direct access to the vibrant nightlife, shopping and dining, which proves a powerful draw. The 92-room, adults-only Main House sets the standard for urban luxury with a unique Mexican flair. That’s in large part due to the hip and elegant mashup of Mid-Century and modern design by Mexico City architectural firm Niz + Chauvet. Its most impressive feature is a 30,000-square-foot rooftop complex complete with an infinity pool, panoramic ocean views, luxury cabanas and two restaurants, starring NYC’s famed culinary concept CATCH. The best and most beautiful restaurant in town, it has dramatic 360 degree views of the Riviera Maya and offers globally influenced, locally sourced cuisine served in the seafood restaurant’s signature shareable style, with a bustling open kitchen and sushi bar. As dinner progress and the hour gets later, the vibe gets clubbier and more intimate.
Classic CATCH dishes include our all-time favorite Truffle Sashimi, with tuna, hamachi, chili oil, ponzu sauce, American caviar, and black truffle purée; Sesame Seared Chilean Salmon with yuzu soy, hot sesame olive oil, toasted sesame seeds, ginger, and chives; Wagyu Gyoza with serrano chili, coriander, and amazu ponzu; Crispy Whole Snapper with oyster mushrooms, pepper, fennel, onion, scallion, and chili garlic; and the freshest sushi around. Signature cocktails include the Catch Me! with gin, passionfruit, lemon grass, rosemary and lime; the Seedless Suzy with Absolut Elyx, watermelon juice, lime and basil; and La Cura with white mezcal, jasmine green tea, pineapple, lime and ginger. Brunch is just as happening a scene with pool parties, a DJ, waffle towers, cinnamon roll pancakes as well as a Bloody Mary bar and made-to-order Aperol Spritzes and Micheladas. And if you’re feeling guilty afterwards you can always work it off in the fitness center.
The Thompson Beach House is an oceanfront annex to the Main House, located just a few blocks away on one of the most beautiful stretches of beach in Mexico. Smaller and more intimate than the Main House, the Beach House has just 27 rooms and suites, designed in a similar style to the Main House but with its own personality, with neutral and earth tones set off by lots of natural wood, stone and organic textiles. Guests at the Beach House, which opened in 2016, enjoy the mini-resort’s luxe amenities including an exclusive pool with terraced sunbeds at one end leading down to the beach, posh private cabanas and the C Grill, an oceanfront restaurant offering wood-fire grilled seafood, fresh ceviches and inspired twists on traditional Mexican favorites, along with poolside cocktails at an outdoor bar. Guests at either property may enjoy the amenities of the other, and service at both the Main House and Beach House is world-class. Staff at both locations are quick to learn your name and treat you like the most important of VIPs, ensuring a warm welcome every time you return to your hotel or enter one of the restaurants for a delectable meal.
Alejandra Constantino, the properties’ Director of Sales and Marketing, tells JustLuxe that while adjustments have of course been made, the pandemic has not cramped their style. “It’s clear that 2021 and beyond is going to be an era of highly personalized and private travel for many traveling internationally,” he notes. “The destination [of Playa del Carmen] as a whole offers a welcome tropical paradise respite from the rest of the world for true rest and relaxation after the whirlwind that this past year has provided. Not only this but Thompson Playa del Carmen’s Beach House boasts a private beach club for guests to enjoy the highest level of personalized service. They also have an exclusive beachfront experience with pool, oceanfront lounge, private cabanas and day beds reserved for Thompson Playa del Carmen guests. The Main House allows guests to take in the expansive Playa del Carmen beachfront views from the comfort of the rooftop infinity pool and deck with swim-up bar, loungers and cabanas reserved for intuitive, private service.”
Going forward, “The hotel will continue implementing safety protocols and guidelines set by federal, state and local authorities and follow recommended precautionary measures and guidelines from various health organizations,” he says, “including the World Health Organization (WHO) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), until fully safe for all locals, employees, travelers and guests. [Parent company] Hyatt hotels have also implemented enhanced procedures and protocols as part of Hyatt’s Global Care & Cleanliness Commitment which enhances our operational practices during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond. Once fully safe, the restaurants and bars will be able to operate at full occupancy capacity and no social distancing protocols in place.”
To suit the current climate, Thompson Playa del Carmen’s Main House and Beach House have begun offering a unique Work From Hyatt package to “speak to the new way that people started working this past year,” Constantino tells us, as offices around the world remain closed. The well-considered package allows for a truly enriching Playa del Carmen experience, with amenities—in addition to private work areas and high-speed internet—including a daily tequila tasting, yoga classes each morning, discounted ferry rides to the island of Cozumel, a complimentary paddleboard rental, hotel credit of $50 per stay, and more.
Recently both properties also debuted new features which make them even more of a must-visit. On the weekends, Thompson Playa del Carmen’s Main House now features a new rooftop brunch with live music. This adults-only brunch at Cinco comes complete with bottomless mimosas, a four-course menu served family-style for sharing, live stations featuring fresh a sushi bar and ceviche, an authentic taco and paella station.” Brunch is also on the weekend menu at the Beach House, which now features an oceanfront brunch experience from C-Grill, complete with a shareable four-course menu whose highlights include fresh sushi and homemade chilaquiles. No wonder the property has accumulated numerous accolades, including being named one of the “Best Hotels in Playa del Carmen” by U.S. News and World Report; one of the “Best Resorts in Eastern Mexico” with one of “The Best Hotel Breakfasts in the World” by Conde Nast Traveler; one of readers’ “Favorite Caribbean Resorts” by USA Today; and one of the “30 Most Spectacular Hotel Pools to Visit Around the World” by MSN Lifestyle.
