Restaurant in Playa del Carmen, Mexico
Michelin-starred tasting menu inside Xcaret resort.
HA' is a Michelin-starred, nine-course tasting menu restaurant inside Hotel Xcaret Mexico, earning a 94-point La Liste score and AAA 5 Diamond rating in 2025. Led by Carlos Gaytán, it is the most decorated fine dining address on the Riviera Maya. Book 4–6 weeks out in peak season — this is a hard reservation at $$$$ pricing, and worth every peso if a serious tasting menu is what you are after.
Yes — with conditions. HA' holds a Michelin star (retained in both 2024 and 2025), an AAA 5 Diamond rating, and a La Liste score of 94 points in 2025 (87 in 2026). For a nine-course tasting menu inside Hotel Xcaret Mexico, it sits at the most serious end of fine dining on the Riviera Maya. If you are visiting the region and want one genuinely ambitious meal, this is the booking to make. If you are price-sensitive or want à la carte flexibility, look elsewhere.
The format is nine courses, supported by amuse-bouches and bonbons, with the progression designed to move from regional Mexican ingredients toward more composed, technically precise territory. The kitchen is led by Carlos Gaytán, a prominent Latin American chef, with Alessandro Negrini and Fabio Pisani also named in the kitchen. The menu draws on Yucatecan and broader Mexican produce: escamoles served with yuzu and salsa matcha, a cured Campeche shrimp dish (Dashi) finished with leche de tigre and caviar, and a pre-dessert called Desde el Cielo built from Yucatecan lime and cucumber. The arc moves from coastal and indigenous ingredients in the early courses toward richer, more European-inflected finishes — a New Orleans beignet reimagined with truffle, cauliflower, and mint; amaretto dessert and Mexican cacao bonbons to close.
What distinguishes this progression from a generic resort tasting menu is the specificity of sourcing and the narrative coherence. Mexican craftsmanship is woven into the experience physically: a salt sculpture, ceramic work, and a cocktail menu that references cenote names from Chichén Itzá and the Yucatán Peninsula. These are not decorative touches , they anchor the meal in a specific geography and cultural context, which is exactly what a tasting menu at this price tier should do.
Dietary restrictions and preferences are accommodated within the set menu framework. Vegetarian and gluten-free options are available. The kitchen adapts the menu rather than substituting generic alternatives, which matters at this price point.
The wine list is fully Mexican, curated by sommelier Sandra Fernandez. It draws from established regions , Valle de Guadalupe, Coahuila , and emerging appellations including Querétaro, Guanajuato, and San Luis Potosí. The list includes whites, a rare Mexican pinot noir, and an organic orange wine. Pairing a Mexican wine list with a Mexican tasting menu is a coherent editorial choice, and the Dashi course is specifically matched with a verdejo from Puerta de Lobos winery. For food and wine explorers, this program is one of the more considered in the region.
The cocktail menu uses national distillations and updates with seasonal ingredients. New drinks are added regularly. For spirits drinkers, this is worth the time: the drink programme is built around provenance, not resort-standard pours.
HA' is inside Hotel Xcaret Mexico, accessed via a waterfall-draped ramp that descends to the dining room. Floor-to-ceiling windows bring moonlight and the surrounding natural park into the room. The ambiance is deliberate and theatrical without being overdone. Business casual dress is confirmed. This is not a beachside casual dinner , arrive dressed accordingly.
HA' holds a Michelin star in an area with limited competition at this level, and it operates inside a resort hotel, which means non-hotel guests must compete with in-house diners for covers. Book well in advance , ideally 4 to 6 weeks out for peak season (December through April). If you are staying at Hotel Xcaret Mexico, use the hotel concierge to secure priority access. Walk-in availability is unlikely. Reservations are required, valet parking is available, and there is a private dining option for groups. For a special occasion dinner, treat this as you would a Michelin-starred urban booking: the earlier, the better.
For serious tasting menu dining on the Riviera Maya, the nearest comparable is Le Chique in Puerto Morelos, which also holds a Michelin star and operates within a resort setting. Both are at the $$$$ tier. HA' differentiates through its all-Mexican wine programme and the depth of cultural referencing in the menu. Within Playa del Carmen's Mexican dining scene, KI'IS offers a strong $$$ option for those who want serious Mexican cuisine without the tasting menu commitment. Axiote Cocina de Mexico is the $$ choice for regional Mexican cooking with a more accessible price point.
Nationally, HA' sits in the conversation with Pujol in Mexico City as one of Mexico's most decorated fine dining addresses. It is not a direct substitute for Pujol , the setting, format, and ambition differ , but if you are building a Mexico itinerary around serious restaurants, HA' belongs on the same list alongside KOLI Cocina de Origen in Monterrey and Levadura de Olla Restaurante in Oaxaca. For wine-focused explorers, Animalón in Valle de Guadalupe and Lunario in El Porvenir offer a different but complementary take on Mexican terroir dining.
If you are travelling from the US and want regional Mexican fine dining closer to home, Alma Fonda Fina in Denver and Cariño in Chicago are worth knowing as reference points, though neither operates at the same tasting menu depth as HA'.
| Venue | Price | Booking Difficulty | Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| HA' | $$$$ | Hard | — |
| Axiote Cocina de Mexico | $$ | Unknown | — |
| Cocina de Autor Riviera Maya | $$$$ | Unknown | — |
| El Fogón | $ | Unknown | — |
| KI'IS | $$$ | Unknown | — |
| Woodend | $$$ | Unknown | — |
Side-by-side comparison to help you decide where to book.
HA' is a nine-course tasting menu restaurant inside Hotel Xcaret Mexico, holding a Michelin star (2024 and 2025) and an AAA 5 Diamond rating. Non-hotel guests are welcome but should book well in advance, as resort diners have priority access. The format is set-menu only, and the experience runs long — plan for a full evening. Dietary preferences are accommodated if flagged at booking.
At $$$$ pricing, HA' is one of the few Riviera Maya restaurants with both a Michelin star and a La Liste score of 94 points (2025), which makes the price defensible against regional alternatives. If nine courses of Mexican fine dining with a fully Mexican wine program is your format, the value case is solid. If you want à la carte flexibility or a shorter meal, it is not the right fit at this price point.
HA' is a set-menu format — there is no à la carte ordering. The nine-course progression includes documented dishes such as escamoles with yuzu and salsa matcha, a cured Campeche shrimp with leche de tigre and caviar, and a Yucatecan lime and cucumber pre-dessert called Desde el Cielo. Amuse-bouches and Mexican cacao bonbons are served alongside the main courses.
Le Chique in Puerto Morelos is the closest regional comparison — also Michelin-starred and tasting-menu format, worth considering if you want a different chef's perspective on Mexican fine dining. Within Playa del Carmen at a lower price point, Axiote Cocina de Mexico offers Mexican cuisine with a less formal commitment. KI'IS is worth considering for a shorter, less expensive meal that still prioritises local ingredients.
The venue data lists business casual as the dress expectation. Given the setting inside Hotel Xcaret Mexico and the Michelin-star context, treat this as a firm minimum: no resort-wear, sandals, or shorts. Smart trousers, a collared shirt, or an equivalent for women is appropriate.
Yes, if tasting menus are a format you actively seek out. HA' has held its Michelin star across two consecutive years, scored 94 points on La Liste 2025, and holds an AAA 5 Diamond rating — that combination is rare on the Riviera Maya. The nine-course structure, Mexican wine program, and ingredient-led cooking justify the $$$$ price for the right diner. If you prefer shorter meals or à la carte, look elsewhere.
Yes — the combination of a Michelin star, AAA 5 Diamond rating, a private dining option, and a setting accessed via a waterfall-draped ramp makes HA' a strong choice for anniversaries or milestone dinners. Dietary restrictions and preferences are accommodated within the set menu, which removes one common source of friction for group special-occasion dinners. Book as far ahead as possible; resort guests often have priority.
Keep this venue in your Pearl passport, rate it after you visit, and track it alongside every other place you collect.
