Banyan Tree Mayakoba Review: Stunning Villas, Disappointing Luxury Experience

Banyan Tree Mayakoba Review: Stunning Villas, Disappointing Luxury Experience

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This review has been a long time coming. It’s tough to be inspired to write about average experiences, and even after being somewhat let down, I thought that maybe time would improve my thoughts on this resort. Unfortunately, it hasn’t, and it’s time to finally put my thoughts out into the world about the Banyan Tree Mayakoba resort. We stayed here for our 10th Anniversary trip in February of 2026. The Location Banyan Tree Mayakoba is located about 50 minutes…

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Creepies Chicago Review: Inside the City’s Most Talked-About New Bistro

Creepies Chicago Review: Inside the City’s Most Talked-About New Bistro

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Don’t let the bizarre name fool you, Creepies is anything but… creepy, and once you’ve been here, you’ll feel like you’re in on the inside joke as well. Creepies is the slightly more low-key and brand new French Bistrot-ish offering from the brilliant Anna and David Posey, who have been at the helm of Michelin-starred Elske right next door, for the last ten years. Accolades have been pouring in since opening, and they’re well deserved. We checked out Creepies on…

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Banyan Tree Mayakoba’s Saffron Review: The Standout Dining Experience on Property

Banyan Tree Mayakoba’s Saffron Review: The Standout Dining Experience on Property

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Banyan Tree Mayakoba offers several restaurants on property with extremely varying degrees of quality. Being a Thai company, though, you could bet that their Thai restaurant, Saffron, would be one of the best, and you would easily win that bet. Saffron is Banyan Tree Mayakoba’s signature restaurant, and it is, by far, the best on property. We ate here one evening during our stay in February, 2026, however Saffron also provided the food for our superb Ixchel Lagoon dining experience…

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Is Tomahawk at Banyan Tree Mayakoba Worth It? A Critical Steakhouse Review

Is Tomahawk at Banyan Tree Mayakoba Worth It? A Critical Steakhouse Review

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It’s always a little scary when you decide to check out a steak place at a resort, especially when you are used to absolutely premier steakhouses in your own home town. (See my reviews for Asador Bastian and Bavette’s in case you are looking for an incredible experience in Chicago!) Unfortunately, Tomahawk Open Fire Latin Grill at Banyan Tree Mayakoba severely underperformed to the point where I think they should reconsider their concept. Tomahawk is located, almost like a pop-up,…

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Sands Mayakoba Review: Fresh Seafood, Ocean Views, and the Best Churros

Sands Mayakoba Review: Fresh Seafood, Ocean Views, and the Best Churros

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The Sands Restaurant and Beach Club at Banyan Tree Mayakoba is one of the two places right on the beach where you can enjoy views and delicious food. The other is the Surf Beach Club, which is not open for dinner and is adults only. We ate at the Sands on our first night at Banyan Tree in February of 2026, and it was eerily completely deserted. While strange, it was nice to have a quiet evening to ourselves near…

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Lula Cafe Chicago Review: The Logan Square Original That Still Feels Essential

Lula Cafe Chicago Review: The Logan Square Original That Still Feels Essential

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Back when Lula Cafe opened in 1999, Logan Square was a bit of a ramshackle neighborhood. Long before Logan Square’s exponential growth and gentrification, Lula Cafe started a true Chicago trend that hasn’t let up ever since – cozy and unpretentious neighborhood dining, sourced from local, fresh, and in-season ingredients at a reasonable price. Hundreds of restaurants have tried to capture the magic of Lula Cafe in the last 27 years, and only few have succeeded to have the level…

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Drinks and Mediterranean Bites at Zapote: Rosewood Mayakoba’s Lively Cocktail Bar

Drinks and Mediterranean Bites at Zapote: Rosewood Mayakoba’s Lively Cocktail Bar

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There are four, interconnected although totally distinct, resorts in Mayakoba, Mexico. It is really tough to decide where to stay, and often prices and available deals dictate your choice. We recently stayed at Banyan Tree Mayakoba, which I chose for their super large and private villa offerings, as well as the multitude of different restaurants on the property. A close second option was the Rosewood Mayakoba. One of the reasons I chose not to stay at Rosewood was the spotty…

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Tequila and Mezcal Tasting at Banyan Tree Mayakoba: Premium Agave Spirits at the Copa Lounge

Tequila and Mezcal Tasting at Banyan Tree Mayakoba: Premium Agave Spirits at the Copa Lounge

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One of our favorite activities to do while traveling is doing a tasting of the local spirits. We have really enjoyed incredible learning and tasting experiences at Nayara Tented Camp and Cala de Mar in Ixtapa. This time, at Banyan Tree Mayakoba, we decided to check out their Agave tasting, which took place in their dramatic, open air Copa Lounge in the main resort lobby area. The set up for the tasting was prepared before we arrived, and there were…

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A Private Day-Trip From Mayakoba To Tulum, Yal-Ku Lagoon, and Cenotes: Spectacular Sites, Questionable Value

A Private Day-Trip From Mayakoba To Tulum, Yal-Ku Lagoon, and Cenotes: Spectacular Sites, Questionable Value

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On our recent trip to Banyan Tree Mayakoba, we knew we wanted to get off property and explore some of the surrounding areas, since we had never been to Quintana Roo, Mexico before. This resort, and all other resorts in the Mayakoba area partner with a tour company called Mayakoba, for all of their airport transfers and tours, so you’ll get the same offerings and prices no matter where you stay in Mayakoba. The tour company also has a large…

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Monteverde Chicago Review: A Cozy Winter Dinner At One Of Chicago’s Hardest Reservations

Monteverde Chicago Review: A Cozy Winter Dinner At One Of Chicago’s Hardest Reservations

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Winter is giving out its last gasps here in Chicago, and before it’s over, I definitely wanted to publish my thoughts on our extraordinarily delicious and cozy dinner at Monteverde. This restaurant is one of the toughest reservations to get in Chicago, but when you’re willing to eat early on a Monday or Tuesday, your luck significantly increases. We ate here during Restaurant Week in 2026, but there were so many delicious looking menu items, that we opted for a…

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