Zapote Bar Opens In Mexico’s Riviera Maya

Riviera Maya, Mexico – Rosewood Mayakoba together with the cocktail experts from renowned Licorería Limantour in Mexico City (ranked on “The World’s 50 Best Bars List” for five consecutive years), introduce Zapote Bar. A crafted cocktail and culinary experience, Zapote pays homage to the Yucatán, its products, culture and people and represents a blend of sophisticated Mexican artisanship and the conviviality of hacienda culture.

Named for the indigenous tree, Zapote is a day-to-night destination that offers gracious service, inspired food and quality cocktails using Mayan ingredients, tools, and techniques. The full cocktail program—including the menu and training—are designed and overseen by Licorería Limantour’s venerable team of experts. “We could not be more honored to work hand-in-hand with Alberto González and José Luis León of Licorería Limantour, whose talent has put Mexico on the map as a world-class cocktail destination for the past ten years,” says Juan Pablo Loza, Director of Culinary Operations and key creative force behind the Zapote concept. “For Rosewood Mayakoba, our hallmark approach to food & beverage has been to showcase the country’s diverse culinary landscape, and we are so excited to offer the Zapote Bar experience to our guests alongside the team that has elevated and expanded the art of cocktail-making within and beyond Mexico.”

Alberto González of Licorería Limantour adds, “Creating Zapote Bar has been an enriching collaboration for our team, full of learning and a great deal of fun. We celebrate Juan Pablo Loza and Rosewood Mayakoba for creating such a remarkable and inspired collection of gastronomic experiences and are proud to be a part of their vision with Zapote. This is a special and important moment to be in hospitality and we look forward to raising the profile of this beautiful part of Mexico—the Southeast Peninsula—with a new, vibrant destination for cocktails.”

Zapote features artisanal producers and sources from local small-scale farms to create cocktails that are at once familiar and nuanced for casual and discerning drinkers. Mexican-produced spirits within and beyond the agave category (tequila, mezcal, raicilla, sotol, bancaora, charanda, xtabentun) including rum, whiskey, gin and vermouth will anchor a drinks menu that nods to both tradition and innovation. Versions of classic cocktails such as the Daiquiri, Old Fashioned, Martini and Negroni are made with Mexican distillates and bespoke creations are imbued with flavors local to the Yucatán Peninsula including sour orange, mamey, and Mayan honey.

Featuring Loza’s signature disciplined craft and modern Mexican fare, Zapote’s food reflects the diverse culinary heritage of the Yucatán including Middle Eastern flavors with a special focus on live-fire cooking. Inspired by the Mayan philosophy “In Lak’ech,” meaning “you are my other me,” each staff member at Zapote is trained as a drink specialist for a constant rotation between server and bartender, a format designed to foster deeper connectivity with guests. Zapote will host a dynamic roster of guest bartenders, visiting chefs and musical talents regionally from Tulum, Cancun, and Merida as well as from around the world for collaborative menus and diverse musical performances, curated by both Rosewood Mayakoba and the Limantour Licorería team.

Taking its cues from the verdant Mayakoba setting, Zapote's indoor-outdoor atmosphere seamlessly transitions throughout the day enveloping visitors in a diverse tapestry of spaces where sleek design convenes with nature. The bar is designed by Paul Churuchet and Luciana de La Garza of Estudio Atemporal in Mexico City, who combined fluid lines, natural materials and contemporary lighting elements along with warm tones and accents, giving each series of spaces its own personality. Zapote’s 2,000 square-foot space includes a large communal bar, interactive chef’s table, and outdoor two terrace sections as well as an open kitchen; culinary artifacts, curated antiques, and custom ceramics and copperware are woven throughout the space.

Zapote is located at Rosewood Mayakoba (Carretera Cancun-Playa del Carmen km 298 Solidaridad, Quintana Roo 77710) and is open 7 days a week 12 PM-12 AM.

About Licorería Limantour

Conceived by Ritualh, a hospitality firm based in Mexico City that develops projects and companies through the collaboration of creative specialists and has among its portfolio of brands Baltra Bar, Bar Xamán, Campobaja, Petanca Roma and Bar Oriente, and Limantour Licorería that opened in 2011 in the Roma neighborhood. The menus at Limantour continuously evolve to offer innovative and balanced cocktails inspired by modern Mexican culture. Reflecting their commitment to quality and hospitality, Limantour Licorería has received prominent recognitions such as the Tales of the Cocktail Spirited Awards “Best International High Volume Cocktail Bar” (2020); “Best International Bar Team” (2019); and a nomination for director of bars, José Luis León, as International Bartender of the Year (2020). Limantour has earned positions on the coveted “The World’s Best 50 Bars List” since 2015 including a recent placement of #17 in the 2020 edition. For more information: https://limantour.tv