This Resort in Mexico Is One of the Best New Hotels in the World — With North America's Largest Penthouse Suite and Overwater Hammocks

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, both energetic, elementary school boys close in age. The pool, set among the lush mangroves at the new Riviera Maya Edition at Kanai, was clearly the coolest place ever.

“Polo!” they responded, delicately weaving in between a handful of submerged lounge chairs. This was not a place for waterslides and toys, but it was a place to feel like a cool kid — or adult, for that matter.

The Riviera Maya Edition at Kanai

• The Sky Rooftop Villa, at 27,000 square feet, is the largest penthouse suite in North America.

• The Riviera Maya Edition at Kanai was named one of the best hotels of the year by Travel + Leisure in 2024.

• There's a private pier, overwater hammocks, lounges nestled into the mangrove forest, and two miles of pristine beach.

• All ages are welcome at the main lagoon pool, but there's also a quieter adults-only pool and So'ol beach club.

The 192-room Edition, a design collaboration between Ian Schrager Company, Rockwell Group, and architecture firm Edmonds International, is reminiscent of something from a James Bond film. Loosely shaped like a “T,” the property wows with exterior walls slanting delicately to the sky, and the spacious, balconied guest rooms stacked a bit like a honeycomb. The soft Caribbean light plays tricks to add angles and shapes at different hours of the day; at night, the property takes on an otherworldly vibe by candlelight in the 45-foot, triple-height lobby, with its smooth travertine floors and inviting pool table.

It is also a little intimidating — at first. I packed some of my nicest beach gear and was thankful I did, given the well-heeled crowd and look-at-me vibe. There’s many an Instagrammable moment to be had, whether it’s by one of the reflecting pools near the soaring lobby; at the woven bamboo yoga pavilion, an undulating structure that invites dramatic poses; or at the more intimate, adults-only infinity pool a stone’s throw from the beach.

But don’t let the resort’s sleek surface fool you: the property is ideal for multigenerational travel. The central oasis gave the kids ample room to spread out and use their imagination with an old-school game. The adults could head to the adjacent pool bar, or grab a drink in the lobby bar, accented by yellow, pink, and red velvet seating, and backed by a massive wall display of 106 sculptures and vessels nodding to Mayan culture. Our party of 10 was celebrating a birthday and bunked up in the Sky Rooftop Villa; at nearly 27,000-square-feet, it's the largest penthouse hotel room in North America. Everyone and everything can ease into the suite, which crowns the third floor of the wing closest to the water, with its own elevator entrance, infinity pool, and multiple alfresco hammocks for lounging.

Indeed, The Edition, which is set on a 620-acre nature reserve in the Kanai complex, one of the latest developments to come to the Riviera Maya, has carved out plenty of nooks for serenity, action, whimsy, you name it. The first Edition in Mexico and all of Latin America bears many of the brand signatures — minimalist-leaning guest rooms; that custom Le Labo scent, with its hints of black tea and bergamot — but it also feels very much of the destination. Ki’is, the restaurant from celebrity chef Francisco “Paco” Ruano, the genius behind Guadalajara’s celebrated Alcalde, is a hit. So too is the hotel design, which plays up the Mayan emphasis on spirituality and nature, to achieve a sense of place. Walking up the orchid-lined, travertine steps to enter the lobby, which has louvered bamboo shutters to let in natural light, and a seemingly endless supply of potted plants in all shapes and sizes, you feel as if you’ve entered another world entirely: the world of vacation mode.

Here’s what it’s like to stay at The Riviera Maya Edition at Kanai, which T+L named one of the best new hotels in the world in 2024.

The Rooms

If you’ve stayed at another Edition and loved the clean lines and organic aesthetic, you’ll feel right at home. Rooms have grand teak doors; cool stone floors; blonde wood, four-poster beds; cream-colored rugs; and marble bathrooms with huge soaking tubs, the holy grail if you are traveling with kids. When I’m at the beach, I find that a minimalist-leaning guest room works well because it takes the temperature down a notch or two, cooling the mood and promoting a necessary siesta. That said, travelers looking for more traditional, colorful elements of Mexico, like talavera tiles or handmade carpets, won’t find them here.

What they will find is space — all rooms start at a generous 570 square-feet — and either a mangrove, partial ocean, or full ocean view, which helps with a sense of place. In the deluxe category, 25 come with an expansive terrace; for a private plunge pool, look into one of the 53 rooms in the premier category. Among the 30 suites, you’ll find a variety of configurations and residential amenities including generous living rooms, kitchens, and dining spaces.

As more and more of us travel in large packs, resorts have been upping their suite game, building out spaces that feel more like private homes. The Sky Rooftop Villa takes this concept to the next level, with five generous bedrooms (four with king-size beds, one with two queen beds) extending off one long hallway. All are identically sized and have hot tubs and terraces, so no one has to worry about getting the “lesser than” room. The living room, with its soft, white linen couches and massive, mounted TV, felt like the ultimate place to kick up our feet on a Saturday afternoon, kids slightly sunburned and snuggled on our laps.

Was I constantly worried about someone spilling something on the cream rugs? Yes, but that’s what the humungous outdoor terrace was for. With panoramic views of the mangroves and the bright blue sea, this part of the penthouse was larger than the backyard of a suburban home, and gave everyone a chance to peel off, whether to sleep in a hammock on a grassy lawn or read a paperback in a cabana at the raised wooden deck.

“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 and Drink

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, which we all scooped out and spread over warm pita bread in generous heaps.

The salad, not a salad, was just one of the nourishing surprises from chef Ruano at Ki’is, the place for a date night. Set in its own low-lying building among the mangroves and not far from the lobby, the vibe skews more formal. Highlights included an excellent guacamole (not your average, with pistachio, seaweed powder, and nibs de cacao); tender Mayan octopus; geoduck clams from Ensenada; and grilled lamb, covered in a chili-spiced rub, with salsa verde. For dessert, we got another artful plate with the “saramuyo” sorbet: native to the Yucatan, the soursop fruit is shaped like an apple, with a pinecone-like exterior. Several slices are arranged, skin side up, inside an iced dish, with the sorbet frozen inside — a hyperlocal and light desert.

Many hotels these days are opting for overly fussy, branded beach clubs that feel like too much of a scene. So’ol feels like a tasteful response. The menu from chef Tomás Bermúdez delivered on inventive, protein-forwarded dishes that went way beyond your standard resort carb fest. We enjoyed grilled oysters with toro, ponzu, watermelon, and bottarga; a simple grilled fish of the day with garlic marinade; and barbecued ribs. With kids in tow, we ordered our plates while sprawled out on chairs at the wide, manicured white-sand beach — but if you’re in the mood for a long, leisurely, more adult lunch, service at one of the colorful, poolside tables will fit the bill.

And last but not least, breakfast: Kitchen, the all-day restaurant adjacent to the lobby, had a beautiful indoor space (clutch on a hot, humid day) as well as benches and banquette tables outdoors that worked well for our big group. The menu of juices was extensive (don’t miss the morning smoothie, a mango, papaya, and coconut cream blend), as was the selection of local treats curated by Ruano. We mixed it up each day, choosing from chilaquiles, cochinita (suckling pig) with habanero sauce, and huevos a la cazuela, or eggs with tomato and Chiapas cheese sauce, poached spinach, longaniza de Valladolid (smoked pork sausage), and grilled sourdough bread.

Amenities

What sets this resort apart is that there are plenty of places to seek out privacy, like in one of the six “bird’s nest” lounges, which are like little circular nooks in the mangrove forest (catering comes with a fee). Or, splurge on one of the 19 private cabanas: there are four at So’ol beach club and five at the beach. The choice spot, in my opinion? One of the 10 cabanas on stilts by the 12,900-square-foot private pier, which have hammocks that drape out over the water and direct access to the sea. There is also, of course, the main lagoon pool, an adults-only pool, So'ol beach club, a tennis complex, and a 24-hour fitness center.

Accessibility

Service animals are accepted at the hotel, which has seven accessible guest rooms. There is also an accessible entrance to the main lobby (an elevator lies right next to the grand staircase), fitness center, spa, meeting spaces, and lagoon pool.

The Spa

There may be larger spas in the Riviera Maya, but this one feels well-curated and intimate, with products from brands such as 111 Skin, Kevin Murphy, Ayuna Skincare, and Organethic stocked in the sleek entrance area. Located on the ground floor of the property, just below the lobby, it feels well removed from the action upstairs. Inspired by the local cenotes, the space feels cocooning and protected, with plenty of water elements, including hydrotherapy pools and a skylight covered by rippling water from a reflecting pool upstairs. Though the menu was extensive, including sculpting treatments and hydra-facials, I opted for something more soothing: a relaxing, firm pressure “Edition” massage in one of the six indoor-outdoor treatment rooms, little standalone houses that extend into the mangroves. (Each is named for a local flower.) There’s also an excellent Turkish-style hammam, a differentiator for the property.

Location

The Edition makes for an easy escape, particularly for East Coasters; it’s just a short, 30-minute drive to the Cancun International Airport along the Rivera Maya corridor. For those who like to resort hop for cocktails or dinner, you are in luck: both the St. Regis Kanai Resort and Etéreo, Auberge Resorts Collection, lie within the Kanai complex and are accessible on foot or via a golf cart. All three share the same beach, which felt uncrowded and well maintained. For those who want to explore the Mayan ruins at Tulum or Chichén Itzá, the hotel can arrange a day excursion.

Getting the Most Value Out of Your Stay

The Rivera Maya Edition at Kanai is part of the Marriott Bonvoy network and participates in the American Express Fine Hotels and Resorts and Chase Travel programs. American Express Platinum and Chase Sapphire Reserve cardholders get a $100 hotel credit per stay (applicable to spa, room service, minibar, cabana rentals, and all restaurants and bars), a $40 daily breakfast credit per guest per night (maximum two guests) in Kitchen, a personalized welcome amenity, and a complimentary room category upgrade upon availability.

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