It's impossible to score a spot closer to the heart of Playa del Carmen's action than a room at the Thompson Playa del Carmen. One of the newer hotels in the area, the 92-room, luxury-boutique resort has snagged prime real estate in the vibrant Fifth Avenue and Calle 12 area.
The opening of the Thompson in November 2015 was a complete game changer for Playa del Carmen, upping the level of luxury and sophistication to the laid-back, beach-bar-friendly seaside retreat. With the arrival of the Thompson came an elevated level of cuisine, room standard and rooftop scene that has helped to shape the surrounding environment.
The first thing you notice upon entry to the Thompson is the design, evocative of a 1950s-inspired Mexican hideaway. Highlights include light concrete, Mexican marble, oxidized metal shelving and a carved lava-rock stone desk in the lobby. An elevator whisks you up to one of the guestrooms, most with terraces, while the Thompson Suites have outdoor, stone-surface hot tubs and fire pits.
A quick jaunt up to the sprawling rooftop terrace reveals why you picked this hotel in the first place. The 30,000-square-foot playground has a gorgeous infinity pool and two restaurants, Cinco (for breakfast and lunch) and Catch.
Catch is one of two restaurants on the roof of the Thompson Playa del Carmen.
Cinco is a must for a morning start — opt for the avocado toast or the samurai tacos (grilled fish, Oaxaca cheese, bayo beans, avocado and chipotle) from the brunch menu or select a fresh ceviche for lunch. At Catch (of New York, Los Angeles and Dubai fame), menu items include its signature dishes as well as plates with a Mexican twist. The iconic Hellfire Roll, for example, is made with spicy bluefin tuna caught off of Ensenada.
There's no reason to leave the rooftop as day rolls into night, as it is one of the sexy party spots along the Fifth Avenue strip. Catch transitions seamlessly from a restaurant to a dance party and experimental music space, featuring DJ sets and live performances.
New kid on the block
But the changes aren't finished for the Thompson. At the beginning of 2016, the hotel debuted its Beach House concept, which now operates as a separate hotel.
Just a few blocks away, this hotel in a hotel has 27 luxury guestrooms that sit directly on the beach. With a superexclusive, beach-club feel, guests check into one of the suites, each with its own private balcony with ocean views. The on-site C Grill is a casual beachfront restaurant that serves breakfast, lunch and dinner with a Mediterranean twist, like the mezze plate with hummus, babaganoush and pita or the fresh catch of the day cooked over the wood-fire grill.
What's different from the Thompson Playa del Carmen is that the Beach House swings more subdued, with Sangria and Ceviche Sunset Hours, "Dive-in" Movies and a beachfront Sunday brunch as well as Full Moon Parties with salsa and jazz.
Rates at the Thompson Playa del Carmen begin at $219 per night; Beach House rates begin at $469 per night. See www.thompsonhotels.com.