Grand Velas Riviera Maya Restaurants: aka the 9-step Foodie Un-diet

“Molecular cuisine”?

No menu?

We’re in Mexico, about to have dinner at Cocina de Autor – one of eight Grand Velas Riviera Maya restaurants.

And we can tell this meal is going to be different.

We gaze around the chic restaurant with its hanging white teardrop lamps, then take our seats at a green glass-topped table, decorated with a single anthurium.

The minimalist décor subtly hints “Don’t look at me, focus on the food!”

And as fans of beautiful food, we do that – happily.

Grand Velas Riviera Maya restaurants: Cocina de Autor

Using science to deconstruct and create unusual dishes (which is what molecular cuisine is all about) turns out to be positively yummy here at Cocina de Autor.

Grilled scallops on a slice of beet in hibiscus raspberry sauce. Lamb chops with bacon powder. Vegetable foams and jellies. Even chocolate mushrooms. 

Our taste buds are tickled!

Actually, pretty well all the food – scratch that, cuisine – is delish.

Grand Velas Riviera Maya food

Cocina is the most cutting-edge of the Grand Velas Riviera Maya restaurants.

The luxury Grand Velas resort in Mexico gets top reviews for its huge suites and dining.

And Cocina has won an AAA Five-Diamond rating – the only restaurant in an all-inclusive ever to receive an AAA Five-Diamond award.

We remember the bountiful buffets at all-inclusive resorts like the Club Meds we vacationed at years ago. We thought they were wonderful then, especially the salads.

But those buffets don’t come anywhere close to what’s served up today at great hotels for food lovers.

Step 1 – The Bistro

Where to eat breakfast? Room service? Maybe on our ocean-view balcony by our little pool?

Nah, let’s venture out. How about the Bistro for French toast and eggs?

Step 2 – Azul

What time is it? Time for lunch?

Which of the Grand Velas Riviera Maya restaurants shall we head to?

Let’s sit in the shade on the huge open-air terrace at Azul. You can’t beat the ocean views.

We want a proper lunch, with real china, silverware and chilled wine glasses for our New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc (no plastic ware).

We can order à la carte.

But let’s hit the buffet.

There are so many tempting choices, and we can try a little bit of everything, from sushi and tempura to pasta and pizza to Greek salad and big shrimps. The Mexican fruit (like the mangos and papaya) is so fresh too.

Step 3 – Drinks by the pool

We’d conceived of this as an 8-step un-diet to match the eight restaurants.

But, silly us, we forgot about the drinks by the pool. You know, those colorful concoctions you sip while telling yourself the strawberry margarita is really just a fruit serving for the day.

(Pssst! See these 15 delicious Mexican margarita recipes you can make at home.)

Maybe we should have a little pool snack too?

Step 4 – Piaf

Foie gras, escargot, lamb chops, duck confit and fluffy pillowy soufflés are on the menu at French-themed Piaf. (Yes, unlike Cocina de Autor, you get a menu here.)

Be sure to book Piaf at least one night during your stay.

Because if you were to ask us which is our personal favorite restaurant of the Grand Velas Riviera Maya restaurants, we’d say Piaf.

With its curtains of Swarovski crystals, rich ruby-red color scheme and candle-lit tables, it’s très romantic –  feels cozier than Cocina.

Steps 5 to 8

When it comes to dinner on other nights, you now have a choice of these other waiter-served restaurants: Sen Lin for Asian, Frida for Mexican food, Lucca for Italian and the Bistro for French.

If you’re in a really casual mood and just want to pick at a bit of this and that, Azul clears out the lunch buffet and puts on a new dinner buffet, starting at about 5:00 pm.

Step 9 – Grand Velas Riviera Maya Restaurant finale at Cocina

Wind up your stay with a multi-course tasting experience at Cocina. After all, it’s the flagship restaurant.

Bonus: Despite the number of courses, the serving sizes are tiny perfect, so you won’t feel stuffed.

Grand Velas Riviera Maya review: Last step?

Plan to diet when you get home!

Things to know about the Riviera Maya Grand Velas

Reservations

Be sure to make dinner reservations for Piaf, Cocina de Autor and Frida in advance (seating is limited).

Activities?

Among the awesome things to do in the Riviera Maya, snorkeling or swimming in one of the area’s unique and magical cenotes is a highlight. It may be hard tearing yourself away from the resort, but the cenotes are really special – and something you must experience.

Good for both couples and families

We enjoyed the resort as a couple, staying in one of the popular Grand Class suites with a head-on ocean view and pool on our balcony. The Grand Class building is adults-only and has its own adults-only pool.

But the resort also appeals to families (the Ambassador Class building with 195 suites is totally family-friendly).

In fact, the Grand Velas Riviera Maya would be perfect for a multi-generational vacation.

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The food photos are courtesy of the Grand Velas Riviera Maya restaurants. (We’re not all that adept at taking good indoor food photos. Besides, our attention was focused on eating!)

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