Rosewood Mandarina

Recently opened in May 2025, we were very excited to experience Rosewood Mandarina especially loving their Mayakoba property. What makes this most amazing is that RLH Properties owns all of Mayakoba and Mandarina (including One & Only). Upon arrival at Madarina, you notice the huge expanse of land, the Equestrian Center, golf course, numerous vegetable gardens and waterways. All told, this is a $1B+ investment. We were impressed with the vegetation and trees as it looked like everything here was for years, not months. One of 28 or so beachfront suites, you are literally steps from the ocean and crashing waves. The sunsets are sensational every night. Every door is heavy, bathrooms are lush, fixtures are world class and sinks you’ve not seen. All suites have a plunge pool and lounge chairs. Our suite featured 1.5 bathrooms, unlimited closet space and oversized living area. The resort is enormous and requires getting around by golf cart or bikes. Unlike Mayakoba, bikes are not assigned to each room and you have to get yours in three different staging areas. Also much different than Mayakoba which I found strange is that there is no adult pool or adult area that redefined Mayakoba. There are four free-standing pools that form a rectangle. Kids are everywhere. The biggest disappointment here was the spa. Open at 9:00 instead of 7:00 like Mayakoba, the spa doesn’t have a pool, jacuzzi, outdoor shower, outdoor yoga area or outdoor relaxation lounge. Fitness center is 100% TechnoGym and very nice. There are two indoor yoga and mat rooms. Please add two Peloton bikes. There are three restaurants. I did a full review for La Cocina, their casual all day beachfront restaurant that is incredible. Their signature restaurant, Toppu, needs attention. Located at the top of the mountain, it boasts sweeping views. However, our table was in an enclosed space with no view and it was nearly empty. The menu is very pricey and food just average. My favorite restaurant is the most casual, Buena Onda. First come, first serve, it’s a beach shack literally on the beach with 12 tables. The kitchen consists of a wood burning oven and everything is prepared on it, nothing fried, everything fresh. Bread service was among the best with four dipping sauces for the crispy house made bread. We ordered a green salad, whole chicken, and baked potatoes. Alas, service was an issue and after more than a hour wait, they brought everything at once. It was not a Rosewood moment. The beach is beautiful and perfect for walking, about 15-20 minutes. Beach chairs are super big and comfy. They offer amenities like frozen coconut chocolate bananas and cold wash clothes. Towels are oversized and fluffy. However, the star of the property is the bathrooms. They are so amazing and each one cost a small fortune. You won’t find a single urinal here and most bathrooms are unisex. Fresh flowers in each one and perfectly clean. Staff is an issue and the hero on the property is the room manager, Marcos. We met him the first day and he was on property daily and took care of any issues. Only seven months in, I’m hoping that on our visit next year, all the kinks will be ironed out. Overall, we have stayed at more than 100 beach resorts and I have to say this property has the best beachfront suites especially with the sunsets. The investment made by RLH is massive and the beauty of the grounds is impressive. It is definitely a place to put on your bucket list.

My husband and I wanted to celebrate our 20th anniversary by going somewhere new. After an amazing stay at Rosewood Kona Village in July, I began to focus on other RW properties that could work for this trip. I was drawn to the mountain rooms and the fact that each room (even entry level) have nice sized plunge pools. I took advantage of the Rosewood Cyber Sale which included a $250 F&B credit, 30% room rate and I also took advantage of the gift card sale which gave me an additional 10% back in form of gift card. I booked with my own TA in NJ (not Alex) as she is a RW Preferred Partner also. She was able to confirm my upgraded room before arrival and took great care of us. Transportation: We flew direct on Saturday with United into Puerto Vallarta from Newark. We met the Mandarina greeter outside the airport and brought directly to Suburban which had a cooler stocked with Pacificos and sodas. They also had snacks and wifi. You get on the highway quickly and then it's about a 50 minute ride north to Mandarina complex. When you get off the highway, you are surrounded by crops of pineapple, corn and watermelons. Once you enter the Mandarina complex, you either go right for Rosewood or left for One & Only. Check In Process: At the entrance of Rosewood, we were greeted by multiple people including Marcus R. (Director of Rooms) and Paulina who would serve as our butler for the first 2 days. We were also given a small welcome drink (non alcoholic). I did the pre-arrival check in online so the actual check in process was quick. Our room was ready and we were taken by Paulina up the mountain to our room. We stayed in the 500’s past Toppu. It’s quite a ways up there. I was surprised how high we actually were. Room Our butler showed us around the room and how to set up wifi and the WhatsApp account. They use QR codes on the tv. The room is very large. One of the biggest I have stayed in. We were on the top of the unit and had an uncovered balcony. In the morning, it is shady but the sun gets over to that side by 1-2pm. The plunge pool is a good size and has ample seating. Easily could fit 4 people. It faces right out at the ocean where you can easily spot whales during the season. I brought binoculars to help with spotting. The mountain suites are super quiet and private. I would recommend this area for couples. You have to rely on golf carts to get around. We had zero problem getting carts whenever we wanted. I always got a reply within 1-2 mins and carts came up right after that. Granted, we were there when it was not packed. The golf ride down the mountain was my favorite part. Great views to the valley below and the mountains. Service We worked with three butlers depending on the time of the day. They were all clear about their shifts and who would be taking over in the evenings or days off. They always checked in with us at breakfast and we could go over reservations and set up golf cart pickups for later. One morning, I felt like the plunge pool looked a little cloudy and I mentioned it to my butler and they had maintenance up in the room within a few hours to clean it again. It looked so much clearer after that. I am a pool owner so I am a little more aware of these things than the typical person. Food: I loved the a la carte breakfast each morning at La Concina. Since it was cool in the mornings and evenings, near the beach, all those spots had shawls for you to grab if you got cold. I appreciated this so much. Our room included breakfast and we could order whatever we wanted and the bill was zero (except for alcohol). Our favorite was the huevos mole. You have to get it! There are some tiny bugs that get attracted to the food, but they didn’t bite or bother us too much. I was thinking that those table fans could be helpful with this especially in summer months. Toppo- up on the mountain and has Japanese options. My husband got veggie rolls, rice and edamame (lima bean). I got the salmon irori and it was the best cut of salmon I have ever had in my life. You don’t have views of beach here. If you sit on the right side of the restaurant, there is a big window that faces into the valley/mountains. Allora- This is at the beach club and takes a little time to get there via golf cart. We ate right on the beach and had a great time watching the sunset. The catch of the day there was Mahi and it was excellent. We also enjoyed the spinach arinicini. After dinner, we took a golf cart up to One and Only since we were close and had a few drinks at their Treetop Bar. It’s a really nice spot and has great bartenders. Most people go there for sunset since it faces right out over the ocean. We then grabbed a golf cart down to main entrance and a SUV took us back over to RW. Buena Onda- Open air grill right along the beach of property. Very romantic spot on the rocks with the waves crashing. Sangria was not as good as expected, but my snapper was fantastic. It was cooked in a local style that I am forgetting the name for, but it was special. Penasco- hidden speakeasy Such a cute place for a drink before or after dinner. It’s completely hidden from the beach area and you overlook a special hidden beach. Beach/Pool Area Very comfortable loungers with side tables and umbrellas. There are attendants that will set you up at the beach or the pool with water cooler. We were there during a quieter time so we had areas of the pool to ourselves for most of the day. We had multiple people asking us if we needed a drink. They came around with cold washcloths, smoothies, and my favorite - the chocolate coconut frozen bananas. We had no issue getting service, even from in the pool. The pools are very clean and at a great temperature. You can see right into the ocean. There is a designated family pool, but kids are not prohibited in any pool. I think they should re-consider that rule especially during busier times. There were very few kids there so it was not a problem. You can easily get a golf cart back to the room from the pool area. One suggestion I have is to have a foot wash in the area AFTER you get off the sand, not before. I think this was a design oversight. I think it can be easily remedied. The waves are strong here and the beach drops down significantly. You literally cannot see someone along the shoreline from the beach chairs due to the drop. This might be seasonal. I would hesitate going in the ocean there due to waves and also the temperature as I am used to South Carolina summer beach temps and Caribbean. Overall, this was our first trip to Mexico and second visit to a Rosewood property and we left feeling pleased with our decision to stay at RW. This area of Mexico is very pretty and unique. The people were all warm and welcoming and very proud of the resort and seem to want feedback. I was asked to complete a survey on our departure which I did. I wish the flight was closer to NYC and there were more direct options. Alaska out of JFK is really the only game in town that departs daily. If you are looking for a beautiful, large room with the option for a plunge pool in every room-this is it. For couples getaway, I would strongly recommend the mountain. You have the option of eating at the RW restaurants and One and Only if you want to switch it up. We saw babymooners, mom groups, families and couples. We did not bring our kids with us who are 10 and 13. I think they could have been bored other than the biking and zipline options. We are not horse people. I would have stayed in beach rooms with kids if they came. However, for the younger kid crowd the Kids club looked amazing. The outside area was huge with lots of fun climbing elements. I could see this being a huge draw for younger kids. We did not run into any issues with service or golf carts. There were always people around to help us. Many of the staff mentioned working at RW Mayokoba before.

We took a chance on this newly opened Rosewood but we’re not disappointed as it fully lived up to the incredibly high standards we have for Rosewood properties despite being open only 7 months. The rooms are beautifully appointed and extremely spacious. Our mountain villa’s had an incredible view of the ocean from our patio and dipping pool. While a good walk from all the common spaces (other than the outstanding Japanese themed restaurant) the golf carts appear virtually on demand. Just ask on the What’s Up App for a buggy and within a few minutes it appears. So, zero inconvenience and truly quiet and peaceful so well worth the brief wait. Service was simply impeccable. Our butler (Jenette) checked in with us several times a day, no matter where we’re we’re on the resort property to make sure each day was great and to make any arrangements we needed. Beach staff also incredible and cater to every need. The entire staff is so welcoming and friendly with a can do attitude. No request too small Epitomizes what one expects at a Rosewood result. Property overall is magnificent and really enjoyed the par 3 ten hole golf course, although I cannot waif for the 18 hole course to be open only a few years. The restaurants are all quite good and you can easily access the restaurants at the One and Only and the other high end resort located on the several hundred acre property. My personal favorite was the Japanese restaurant on the Rosewood property itself and not just because it was a really short walk. Excellent food and service with great Sake list.

Context: We are a mid-30s couple (no kids) that stayed at the Rosewood Mandarina in early December 2025. We stayed in the Poolside Studio Suite King for 5 nights. Transport/Welcome: Soon after passing customs, we easily found the transportation team waiting for us. They were extremely friendly and welcoming and brought us to the SUV. The SUV was modern, well air-conditioned and stocked with juices and small snacks. The driver even asked us if we wanted to stop for groceries or at the pharmacy before we hit the road. The trip was a brief 50min on a newly paved & smooth highway. Once we got to the resort we were greeted in the beautiful lobby with a welcome drink and the check-in was very smooth and friendly. We arrived around 2PM and our room was about 10 minutes away from being ready, so we took a quick guided tour of the grounds on the buggy while we waited. During the tour, they told us about a baby turtle release happening later that day at sunset. We’re so glad they did because it was an amazing experience. All-in-all, it was a very pleasant experience from landing to getting to our room and we felt relaxed & at home very quickly. Property/Grounds: The grounds are very lush and beautiful. Everything is well manicured and taken care of. The architecture in the buildings is stunning and matches the nature very well. As this is a new property, the grounds/“hard product” are in extremely good condition without feeling sterile. As we stated in a central location, we only requested the buggy if going to Toppu (the Japanese restaurant) or Penasco (the speakeasy). Otherwise, everything (pools, 2 restaurants, beach, gym/spa) was extremely walkable. We also rode the bikes around for leisure which was nice. From the bridge on the property you can watch crocodiles and many diverse species of birds. Room: As mentioned, we stayed in the Poolside Studio Suite King, which is by all of the communal areas and on the upper level. The room was fantastic. Beautifully designed, brand new, lots of wonderful touches including all of the art, crockery, furniture, small details and more. It was very spacious and thoughtfully designed. The bed was comfortable, though on the slightly firmer side which may or may not be good based on your preference. There are two showers - one indoors and one outdoors. As others have mentioned, the outdoor shower is a joke. It’s wide open for the entire world to see including at least a half dozen other rooms and the walkway below. The foliage, maybe in a year or two, will provide adequate coverage - but no time soon. Really unsure what they were thinking here. The outdoor plunge pool is clean, warm and provides a beautiful view of the beach and ocean. From the corner, we were able to see the sunset as well. It was a wonderful addition to the suite. Housekeeping was regular: once during the day and a quicker service in the evenings for turndown service. Pool/Beach: There are 4 pools, which are all quite similar, with slightly varying temperatures. We found the upper warm pools extremely pleasant. There is amble, comfortable seating regardless of whether you prefer to be poolside or on the beach. The beach is stunning and the service was extremely attentive (shoutout to Freddie). There was a wide menu of drinks and food and we easily spent many hours in this area relaxing. Three notes I would make however: 1. The beach had fairly strong waves while we were there. We didn’t mind because we enjoy pools as well, but if a swimmable beach is a must for you that may be a problem. 2. There is no isolated kid’s pool. Kids were in all of the pool areas and were quite loud. That may not bother many, but it did bother us as we are used to similar resorts having a better strategy around this. We did bring this up to the staff who essentially shrugged, agreed in principle but said there’s nothing that can be done. Compared to a COMO, Six Senses etc. this was quite surprising and would have been easily solved with a better designed policy and layout for families and people that want more of a quiet, beach vibe. 3. In a similar vein, several of the guests were on speaker phone or FaceTime on the beach. This may not be rude / out-of-the-norm for many which I totally understand, but it was quite surprising to us given our experiences in other high-end resorts where our fellow guests were much better behaved. Again, the staff did not do anything despite obviously noticing on multiple occasions with multiple different guest groups. This wouldn’t bother most easy-going guests but if you’re looking for relaxation like we were, this certainly may dampen things. The points above aside, we still spent nearly all of our daytime hours on the beach - so it was still a great place to hang out. I just want others to be aware of the above. If you’re expecting an Aman, COMO, Six Senses etc. vibe this isn’t quite it from a beach/pool perspective. Spa/Gym: The gym was awesome with all new equipment - we went every day. There are also daily classes, some of which are complimentary. The spa facilities are great and you can visit without booking a service. The sauna, steam room and cold plunge were great after a workout. We loved the spa scent so much we bought some to take home! Food: The food was stellar - likely the best we’ve had on any resort in terms of its flavours, consistency, variety. We love Mexican food so perhaps we’re biased as well. Our favourite restaurants were La Cocina (Mexican) and Buena Onda (Spanish Grill). Toppu (Japanese) was quite good but if you live in a major city like we do, you may find the sushi nothing special. The cliffside speakeasy (Penasca) was an incredible place to see the sunset from and the bartenders there were more than willing to go off-menu to cater to special cocktail requests. Service: Staff were warm, welcoming, friendly, cheerful and professional- the perfect combination. Really have not much to add here - they were great from welcome to check-out including at all of the restaurants and down to every buggy drivers and even the airport transport drivers. Summary/tl;dr: Rosewood Mandarina is a stunning, immaculately maintained resort with exceptional service, standout dining, and beautiful architecture that blends seamlessly into the natural surroundings. The rooms are spacious, thoughtfully designed, and luxurious, with highlights like private plunge pools and excellent housekeeping, though the fully exposed outdoor shower is a clear design misstep. The beach and pool areas are gorgeous with attentive service, but the lack of a quiet or adults-only zone, along with noise from children and other guests, detracts from the sense of serenity and makes it feel less tranquil than peers like Aman, COMO, or Six Senses. The gym and spa are excellent and easily among the best resort facilities we’ve used, and the food—particularly the Mexican and Spanish restaurants—is outstanding. Overall, it’s a high-quality, visually spectacular resort that excels in hospitality and dining, but may disappoint guests seeking a truly calm, refined beach experience.

I’ve just returned from a two-week holiday at the Rosewood Mandarina to celebrate several birthdays with family and friends. This was my second stay. From the moment we arrived, we were greeted by many familiar faces from my previous visit. The sense of connection the staff members created made me feel like I was being welcomed back by friends. General manager Juan Carlo Catalan and Director of rooms Marcos Rodrigues are both clearly doing a great job keeping everything running smoothly. We were assigned two butlers, Alejandro and Saed, who were warm, attentive, and incredibly thoughtful. They checked in with us throughout our stay and handled every detail—from reservations and room requests to surprise evening treats—with true professionalism. One of my favorite parts of the property is the gym, which was in immaculate condition thanks to the most amazing gym instructor and human being, Miguel. Truly, give this man a raise! I joined several fitness classes with friends and we had the best time - we could not stop sweating, laughing, and somehow doing both at the same time. I also made good use of the spa and steam rooms. Ask for therapist Jokabed if you want the most relaxing massages. Executive Chef José Vicente Mascarós has crafted an exceptional menu filled with creative, authentic, and delicious dishes. My favorite dinner spot continues to be Buena Onda, where fresh seafood is served right on the beach with breathtaking sunsets. Restaurant manager Liliana and her team made every visit warm, memorable, and heartfelt. A special thank you as well to Francisco, Israel and Juan Carlo at La Cocina restaurant for their cheerful, attentive service every morning at breakfast, and to Jesús and Marco for taking such good care of my family and friends by the pool. Jesús was especially kind to my godson, which meant so much to us. And kudos to room-service telephone attendant Sulema and valet Bogar - despite our (occasionally :) complicated orders, allergies, and special requests, everything was communicated clearly and delivered perfectly. There are truly so many staff members who deserve appreciation (Fernando and Karlen the butlers, Jade and Paula at the front desk…). They are the true heart of this hotel and the reason I enjoyed my second stay so much. I hope to see them all again soon!