Renowned Chef Enrique Olivera Opens an Idyllic New Restaurant on the Pacific Coast of Mexico
Enrique Olvera knew just the vibe he wanted to conjure at Carao, his new restaurant at the not-yet-year-old One&Only Mandarina in Mexico’s Riviera Nayarit. “The same feeling as when you’re sitting under a palapa right next to the sea,” muses the world-renowned chef, best known for Pujol in Mexico City and Cosme in Manhattan. Situated at the southernmost edge of the resort, with panoramic views of untouched coastline, Carao strikes that note and then some. Rain-forest vegetation cocoons the dining rooms, which are outfitted in organic materials and arranged around a central hearthlike kitchen. These sublime spaces give way to an adults-only pool that juts out toward the surf—the perfect spot, chef says, to raise a glass at sunset. (He recommends the guava margarita or one of the many biodynamic wines.) Nibble on seaweed chicharrón with pico de gallo, then sit down for a meal of regionally inspired dishes like pescado zarandeado, a fresh whole fish that is marinated and grilled in a traditional local fashion. Just be sure to check out the plates themselves, part of the ceramic dinner service that was custom made for the restaurant by the Veracruz-based artisan Joel Bautista Rojo. oneandonlyresorts.com
Of course, there is plenty more to enjoy along this pristine stretch of Pacific coast. Opened in November of last year, the One&Only Mandarina features 105 freestanding guest villas, each constructed so as to preserve the exuberant rain forest. The result is an idyllic merging of indoors and outdoors, as contemporary yet rustic rooms (think raw timber, decorative copper leaf, Mexican textiles) open onto 82 acres of lush greenery. Tempting though it may be to while away a week in your private soaking tub or outdoor shower, an array of activities will entice— whether a hike along miles of trails to La Abuela, a magnificent tree, or an afternoon at the Jetty Beach Club, equipped with paddleboards and other aquatic accoutrements. (As a special treat, charter a boat for a private visit to nearby islands.) Unwind at the spa, where skin-care guru Tata Harper has curated a range of wellness journeys. Or let loose sampling the many mezcal offerings at The Treetop bar. Here, unsurprisingly, it goes down smooth. —S.C.
Originally Appeared on Architectural Digest
