La Zebra Tulum, a Small Luxury Hotel

Overall, the rooms and the property are lovely and the staff was solid. I traveled solo and it was low/shoulder season so it was pretty sleepy — which for me is exactly what I wanted. Easy to get in and out for breakfast and the beach loungers were nearly empty except a few people randomly scattered about. My problem with the my stay was largely due to the noticeable changes since a couple years ago when I visited several days in a row for the Beach Club (that time I stayed closer to Centro at The Aloft and got a scooter to get around) and a telling, unfortunate thing I experienced there. Last time, it was had better energy, for classes/experiences, even someone who did tattoos. It felt more authentically Mexican. This trip they had none of those offerings and, great for others, less interesting to me, they now boast “the only sports bar on Tulum Beach”. Fine except their only restaurant is directly below it and open air so unless they make a change, you’re stuck hearing whatever sports playing on ESPN upstairs as you try to have a relaxing dinner by the beach. The big stinker for me was when I was up at the sports bar (because that’s where the small, pool is) — I was the only guest up there — and an older man with some authority came behind the bar and asked the bartender why there was “Spanish music” playing. The bartenders shrugged, he asked, “Who turned it on?” And that said it was someone from the morning shift he told them they had to stick with the pre-approved playlists and then hurried away with them to show them how/what to do. The rest of the night I was treated to Metallica, Aerosmith, and early 90s alt-rock. That’s fine in moderation, but the way he asked why “Spanish” music was playing made it sound like there isn’t much or any on any of his pre-approved playlists. I complained about this to the front desk, and long story short found out he’s the newer CEO. Even though there were some standout servers and staff, for fear of retribution I won’t mention them because I want to be clear that multiple people said to me in confidence that he has made the property “much less Mexican” and some insinuated that he doesn’t care much about the staff’s opinion. Whether that’s true or not, that’s how some of them feel and he needs to take note. Other quick negatives — I wasn’t going to swim anyway, but mind the sargassum this time of year because the water’s not that swimmable and it stinks if there’s too much of it. Like many other places they do have people out there each day scooping it up and hauling it away. Poor souls — what a never ending job that it. They say it washed ashore between April/May to October/November. (Playa del Carmen and Puerto Morelos now have a sargassum barrier so those beach sea are more swimmable during that period — Tulum does not). All the food was totally solid and on par with other non-resort prices in the area. If you want cheaper eats, head across the street to the jungle side of the road and you can find some better deals. Bring your bug spray. All in all, I won’t likely be back. I don’t travel out of the country to feel like I’m still In America or at Margritaville. I want Mexican culture and music. And a sport bar is fine (heck it’s a Bill bar and I’m from Buffalo so I was gobsmacked to find a Bills bar in Tulum) but don’t assume that’s why everyone there and, especially if you only have one restaurant adjacent to the sports bar, don’t blast it full volume during dinner. I ended up leaving to eat off property one night and the next night I went to dinner with my headphones on.

We had such a wonderful experience at La Zebra and truly felt taken care of from beginning to end. What stood out most was the genuine warmth of the team and the incredible attention to detail. Everyone made us feel welcomed, remembered, and appreciated. A special thank you to Damian, Carlos, Alex, Leonardo, Mario, Cristian, William, and Juan Carlos. Each of them added something special to our stay with their kindness, professionalism, and thoughtful service. And we absolutely have to mention Walter at the sports bar. He makes some of the best drinks and always seems to know exactly what you are in the mood for. Beyond the cocktails, his personality and hospitality make sitting at the bar such an enjoyable part of the experience. La Zebra is a beautiful place, but it is truly the people who make it special. The service feels personal rather than routine, and that is something we really value. We left with such a great impression and will definitely look forward to coming back. Highly recommend room number #34!!

I can't say enough about the relaxing, casual environment with amazing service. The front desk folks were so responsive. Highly recommend this for a casual getaway. The food was also very good.

Good Hotel, Nice rooms. Great staff and service.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ An Unforgettable Stay at La Zebra — Exceptional Service! Our stay at La Zebra was absolutely incredible from beginning to end! 🌴🌊 My best friend and I came to Tulum hoping to relax, disconnect, enjoy great food, and make memories, and La Zebra exceeded our expectations in every way. From the moment we arrived, the entire team was so attentive, kind, welcoming, and genuinely caring. We never felt like just another guest. The staff constantly checked in to make sure we had everything we needed, while still giving us the privacy and peacefulness we were looking for. 🏨 Our Room Was Perfect We stayed in a Sea View Suite with a private plunge pool, and it was honestly one of the best decisions we made. The room was beautiful, spacious, comfortable, and incredibly relaxing. The bed was SO comfortable, the room stayed wonderfully cold after coming in from the Tulum heat, and our room was cleaned beautifully every day. One of my favorite details was how they kept the plunge pool clean every morning. Coming back to a spotless room and a perfectly clean pool every day made the experience feel truly luxurious. 🍹 And THE FOOD! 😍 The food at La Zebra was amazing. We especially loved the tacos, and I have to give a special mention to the margarita pitchers because they were SO good! 😂🍹 The restaurant staff were also wonderful about explaining the menu and recommending dishes. They took the time to describe the food and help us decide what to order, which made every meal feel more personal. We had amazing breakfasts at the hotel as well, and honestly, we looked forward to them every morning. 🌴 The Perfect Balance of Privacy & Service One of the things we appreciated most was how peaceful the property felt. We had plenty of privacy and space to relax in our room and plunge pool, but whenever we needed something, someone was always nearby to help. That balance is difficult to get right, and La Zebra did it perfectly. ❤️ The Little Details Matter What really stayed with me was how thoughtful everyone was throughout our stay. On our last day, the team surprised us with a beautiful little dessert cake as a parting gift, along with a personal thank-you in person. It was such a sweet gesture and honestly made us emotional. 🥹 It wasn’t something they had to do—it was simply a thoughtful way of saying goodbye, and it showed how much they genuinely care about their guests. ⭐ Special Shout-Outs A very special thank you to Christian and Juan Carlos. ❤️ They were both absolutely wonderful and made our stay even more special. Their kindness, attentiveness, professionalism, and genuine hospitality stood out to us. They made us feel welcomed, taken care of, and comfortable throughout our stay. Please know that your hard work does not go unnoticed! 🌊 Final Thoughts La Zebra wasn’t just a hotel for us—it became part of the Tulum experience. We loved waking up to the beautiful surroundings, enjoying breakfast, coming back to our private plunge pool after exploring, having margaritas in our room, enjoying incredible food, and simply being able to slow down and enjoy the moment. We came to Tulum for an adventure and some much-needed relaxation, and La Zebra gave us the perfect place to do both. If you’re considering staying here, DO IT. The location, the food, the privacy, the beautiful rooms, the service, and most importantly, the people make this place truly special. Thank you to the entire La Zebra team for making our stay unforgettable. We will absolutely be back! 🌴🌊🍹❤️ La Zebra — you have two very happy guests who are already missing Tulum! 🥹🇲🇽✨