Mexican

Hacienda del Mar Los Cabos Authentic Mexican Cuisine

A Fresh Take on Mexican Cuisine at Hacienda del Mar Los Cabos

At Hacienda del Mar Los Cabos, dining is a core part of the guest experience. Set along the Cabo del Sol coastline, the resort’s restaurants offer a mix of elevated Mexican cuisine, fresh seafood and relaxed beachfront dining, giving guests plenty of reasons to stay on property for meals.

Behind the Hacienda del Mar dining program is a chef whose career has taken him from France, where he worked with Alain Ducasse, to Spain, the U.S. and Asia, including time abroad as chef for the Mexican Embassy. That global experience shows up in the details, but the focus here is firmly on Mexico.

Hacienda del Mar Los Cabos executive chef José Lazcarro Quiroz
Executive Chef José Lazcarro Quiroz
Hacienda del Mar Pitahayas Restaurant
Pitahayas restaurant

“My passion has always been cooking,” says Executive Master Chef José Lazcarro Quiroz. “I’ve always loved creating dishes and seeing how people respond to them.” That enthusiasm translates into a dining program that feels creative, consistent and well considered.

The approach at Hacienda del Mar is straightforward: take traditional Mexican cuisine and present it in a more refined, contemporary way without overcomplicating it. The goal is not to reinvent the cuisine, but to highlight what already makes it great. This comes through in bold flavours, regional ingredients and time-honoured recipes. Across the menus, guests will come across locally sourced elements they may not have tried before, like chapulines and regional cheeses, alongside more familiar favourites. It is a way of introducing the depth of Mexican cuisine without making it feel inaccessible.

From Sea to Plate

Seafood plays a major role across the resort’s restaurants, and for good reason. With the Sea of Cortez just steps away, the kitchens work closely with local fishermen to source the daily catch, from cabrilla to clams and oysters.

Freshness directly shapes the menus. What is available each day often determines what ends up on the plate, especially at Tortugas, where seafood is the focus in a more casual, oceanfront setting.

At Pitahayas, the tone shifts slightly more upscale. Dishes like mole poblano and Oaxacan black mole anchor the menu, while others such as octopus carpaccio with chicatana ants add a contemporary edge.

Traditional mexican cuisine at Hacienda del mar Los Cabos
Octopius carpaccio

One Resort, Multiple Experiences

Rather than repeating the same concept across venues, each restaurant offers a different take. Some lean more traditional, others more modern. That variety is especially important for guests staying multiple nights, keeping the experience fresh while still cohesive.

For those looking for something more hands-on, the resort also offers cooking classes. These can be tailored to specific interests and paired with traditional Mexican beverages, offering a more interactive way to connect with the cuisine.

Book your Los Cabos culinary getaway at www.haciendadelmar.com.mx.

Unico 20°87° has picked its next celebrity chef for its in-house restaurant residency

UNICO 20°87° Hotel Riviera Maya, a five-star, all-inclusive beachfront resort in the heart of the Yucatan peninsula, today announced illustrious Chef Gerardo Vázquez Lugo as its next celebrity chef-in-residence to helm the hotel’s flagship restaurant, Cueva Siete.

Since opening, Cueva Siete has become a vibrant hub of rotating celebrity chefs who interpret the region’s cuisine with signature techniques, locally sourced ingredients, and unique flavors. Under Chef Gerardo, Cueva Siete will undergo a culinary renaissance, bringing distinctive new dishes and a fresh perspective to every table.

Since its inception, the Chef-in-Residence program at UNICO 20°87° Hotel Riviera Maya has hosted numerous master chefs to oversee the entire restaurant for two full years, transforming the experience and ensuring a refreshed experience for returning visitors. The resident chef is granted full creative control of Cueva Siete’s menu and kitchen in order to showcase their expertise and signature specialties.

 

“I am thrilled to officially be part of the Chef-in-Residence program at UNICO 20°87° Hotel Riviera Maya. My predecessors, Chef Lula Martin Del Campo, Chef Xavier Perez Stone, and Chef Christian Bravo have truly laid a remarkable foundation and exceptionally high standard for the program,” said Chef Gerardo. “I’m most looking forward to seeing hotel guests experience my menu with unique flavors and hopefully, have them coming back for seconds.”

About Chef Lugo

Chef Lugo brings more than 25 years of experience to Cueva Siete, with a focus on fresh, local, seasonal ingredients and responsible sourcing from regional farmers and growers.

He is currently Executive Chef at the renowned Nicos, named among Latin’s America’s 50 Best Restaurants for 10 consecutive years, and a recipient of the prestigious Diners Club Lifetime Achievement Award. Chef Gerardo has helmed exceptional kitchens across the globe, including Le Bristol in Paris, Las Rosas Restaurant in Turin, Imperial Hotel Tokyo, and numerous others. He serves as a mentor to Young Chefs S.Pellegrino, and also appeared as a judge on the first edition of Netflix series Iron Chef Mexico.

Chef Gerardo’s menu at Cueva Siete will feature traditional Yucatan dishes, including Xe’ek, a fresh citrus salad and Salbut Dzik, a modern take on a pulled protein salbute. The menu will dive into local flavors and ingredients like jicama, plantain, purslane and achiote.

With the launch of this latest culinary initiative, UNICO 20°87° Hotel Riviera Maya further solidifies its reputation as a top culinary destination for thoughtfully prepared, authentic cuisine defined by the unique tastes, textures, and aromas of Mexico’s rich culinary heritage.

For more information, visit http://www.unicohotelrivieramaya.com.