Costa Esmeralda, MexicoMonte Gordo
Hotel Azúcar
Minimalist beachfront bungalows
Monte Gordo Costa Esmeralda, Mexico
Price
$$
Rated for
Design Social LocalOutside the door
The house
Grupo HabitaMinimalist beachfront bungalows
Twenty thatched palapas sit directly on the Gulf sand, trading resort fuss for barefoot ease and open ocean.
What it’s good at
Notable
Thatched-roof palapa bungalows sheltering curved all-white interiors with private woven hammocks.
What they say
Michelin Selected
Michelin
It’s the perfect place for another design-savvy eco-retreat, featuring classic thatched-roof bungalows, albeit ones with crisp all-white contemporary bedrooms inside.
Tucked away
A place apart: the property is the destination.
Sugarcane fields and sleepy fishing hamlets stretch along Costa Esmeralda, with the ancient pyramids of El Tajín inland.
The rooms
Each bungalow has curved white plaster walls, opening onto a private terrace with a woven hammock and bucket shower.
The pool
Bring a swimsuit.
The curved swimming pool stretches along a white concrete deck, looking straight out over the open Gulf.
The spa
A sunken hydrotherapy tub rests on a wooden platform at Spa Xochicalli, where treatments include Japanese acupressure and body wraps.
At the table
Long wooden tables sit under a thatched palapa, where an open kitchen prepares regional seafood and picaditas.
How it began
The name honors coastal Veracruz sugarcane farming and Cuban singer Celia Cruz's iconic musical shout.
The app
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Our shorthand
How we rate hotels.
The medals
Gold
Extremely rare. Sets the global standard.
Silver
Brilliant execution. And we’re picky.
Bronze
They did this well. You’ll notice.
Listed
A defining trait. Makes the hotel what it is.
The eight vibes
Design
Built around a vision. Even the door handles have a designer.
Luxe
Cared for at every turn. The bath is drawn before you ask.
Local
It could only be here. You wake up knowing where you are.
Social
Where the city goes out. The bar is full and the night is young.
Heritage
A building with a story. Once a palace, a monastery, a station.
Wellness
You leave feeling new. Rest, sweat, soak and sleep like a stone.
Classic
The city grew up with it. Same rituals, same regulars, same bar.
Resort
A world of its own. Something to do from breakfast to nightcap.
The scene
Lively
Where things happen: restaurants, shops, people.
Central
Well-located: walkable to some things, a short ride to more.
Quiet
Away from the crowds. Getting around takes intention.
Secluded
A place apart: the property is the destination.