In short… An easy getaway in the Riviera Nayarit, Rosewood’s newest Mexican outpost is well suited for adventure or unwinding, with design and experiences grounded in the region’s Indigenous art and healing traditions.
The surroundings… Rosewood Mandarina sits on a stretch of sandy beach in the Riviera Nayarit, just north of popular towns Sayulita and San Pancho. Thanks to the new Guadalajara-Puerto Vallarta highway, which opened in late 2024, the area is now easier to reach than ever. The last time I visited this part of Mexico in 2023, it took nearly two hours on winding roads to reach the heart of the Riviera. This time, after landing at the Puerto Vallarta airport, I was met by Eduardo from the hotel and whisked off in a van equipped with wifi, refreshing towels, and a cooler stocked with Mexican beers. We cruised along the smooth new highway for about 40 minutes before peeling onto a winding road through a few miles of pineapple fields that led to the entrance of the Rosewood Mandarina complex.
The vibe… In peak summer, the crowd was a mix of families and couples from the southern US and across Mexico who were smart to head to low-key Mandarina rather than Mallorca. The resort was pleasantly quiet: enough of a vibe to bump into New Yorkers at the bar who I shared mutual friends with, but peaceful enough to fall asleep to the sound of rain and tree frogs. The hotel only opened in April 2025, but I imagine winter will be much scene-ier, when the polo season picks up in November through May.
The rooms… There are 134 suites and a handful of villas spread across three areas of the resort—beachfront, flatland, and oceanview—all with their own private pools and outdoor spaces. I stayed in a king suite in the flatlands area, which is in the center of the resort, set a bit back from the beach and an easy walk (or very short bike ride) to the main pools, restaurants, reception, spa and gym. Further down the beach are the beachfront suites, which look almost identical to the flatlands ones, but open directly onto the sand. The oceanview suites are the most secluded—set high on a hill that you reach by golf cart. They have the best views, in my opinion, though less of the convenience for walking around.
The design is earthy and elemental—lots of stone, wood, and rope add texture to the sleek white and sand-hued interiors. Designer Caroline Meersseman drew inspiration from the region’s terrain and Indigenous Huichol and Cora cultures, and nearly every element was custom-made for the hotel by artisans from across Mexico and Latin America. Huichol beadwork, embroidery, and yarn art add color throughout, alongside Cora-inspired fiberwork, like the rope-lined ceilings and walls in the reception areas and La Cocina.
I appreciated all the thoughtful details in my room: fresh limes in the minibar (in case I wanted to crack open a Corona or mix a fresh margarita); local snacks and spirits; a beach bag and umbrella by the door; aluminium bottles of mosquito repellent and after-sun; and sweet touches like a dream journal and eye mask left out at turndown. Housekeeping even noticed that I had moved the shampoo and conditioner to the private outdoor shower from the indoor one, and moved the stack of towels to a stone table outside for me.
The food & drink… There are plenty of restaurants to try, but the heart of the resort is La Cocina, which serves traditional Mexican fare all day. My first bite of the weekend was the guacamole, and if that was any indication (isn’t it always in Mexico?), this was going to be good. It came topped with two wedges of grilled watermelon and served alongside palm-sized blue-corn tortilla strips, made fresh on the restaurant’s woodfired comal.
And remember those miles of pineapple fields we passed on the drive in? That’s what showed up in the fruit platter at breakfast the next morning. Much of the produce comes straight from the hotel’s own massive organic farm, or from those nearby. I ordered the fruit plate every day and came home googling “where to find fresh mamey in NYC.” Turns out it’s very hard to find, so I’ll just have to go back!
Down the beach to the right of La Cocina is Buena Onda, a Spanish-inspired restaurant that feels like a very sleek xiringuito: a dozen or so tables right on the sand beneath palm trees and string lights, and a bar with the coolest woven curtains I’ve ever seen.
Head the other way and you’ll reach Allora, an oceanfront Italian restaurant, and Chukker, an Argentine grill overlooking the full-sized polo field (more on that later). Toppu, a sushi bar up the hill by El Bulli alum Diego Muñoz, opened shortly after my stay, but I got to peek inside the stunning space which has fantastic views and an open irori kitchen. Barra Peñasco, a hidden cocktail bar carved into the cliff, is set to open later this fall.
For even more options, guests can dine at the restaurants at the One&Only down the road or head to the nearby towns of Sayulita and San Pancho, both a short drive away.
The wellness… The Asaya Spa offers treatments rooted in Huichol and Cora healing traditions, all in a serene space centered around two ancient parota trees. After a visit to the sauna and cold plunge, I had a massage that incorporated herbal bags of tobacco, spices and essential oils pressed onto my skin to clear toxins and stimulate circulation. I was also intrigued by a treatment designed for deep rest that is inspired by local shamanic traditions and includes breathwork and a peyote balm, but after being gently tossed around in the ocean for a few hours, I was already in a kind of waking dreamstate.
The gym is well equipped, with new Technogym machines overlooking a lush garden and a neighboring studio for yoga and Pilates. One afternoon we took out kayaks and SUPs and went for a float; another morning, we went on a tranquil beach ride with a horse Kendall Jenner rode in a Vogue shoot. For more advanced riders, there’s a wildly impressive equestrian club with dozens of horses, separate jumping and dressage arenas, and a tournament-sized polo field that draws jockeys from all over the world, as well as local players for matches during peak season.
I found spending nearly every waking moment outdoors equally restorative. Most buildings are open-air, and at check out, I realized I’d hardly been “indoors” aside from sleeping. The wildlife here is amazing: when I first heard there were crocodiles on the property, I thought it sounded like a White Lotus scene waiting to happen—but I only saw them while standing above the estuary where they live, at the far end of the beach. I did, however, spot a handful of coatis, turtles, and birds (and heard whales can be spotted in winter). I enjoyed seeing the massive mature trees that buildings were clearly constructed around, the wild vegetation, and hearing the symphony of frogs, birds, and whatever else was chirping, tweeting, and croaking in the mornings and at night.
The kid-friendly factor… Their “Explorers Club” is right next to La Cocina, in the center of the resort. The flatlands rooms are best suited for families with younger children because of their proximity to the beach, restaurants, and the very chic kids club. You can easily pull your kids out for lunch at La Cocina next door, or, if a meltdown hits while on the beach, retreat back to your room steps away.
For older kids (and grown-up ones), there’s no shortage of things to do: surfing, hiking, kayaking, zip-lining, horseback riding, playing tennis, taking polo lessons, or hitting the Greg Norman-designed golf course.
Be sure to… order the fruit plate at breakfast.
Extra tip goes to… The butler team! Each guest is assigned a duo of butlers who look after you during your stay and are just a WhatsApp message away—ready to book reservations or excursions, coordinate golf cart pick ups/drop offs around the property, arrange babysitting services, special dinners, or anything else you can dream up. The whole team was so genuinely warm—I stubbornly never wanted to call for a golf cart and preferred to walk everywhere, but no one ever drove by me without offering a ride and a friendly “buenos días”.
Dates of stay… July 16-20, 2025
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