An expert guide on what to order at Andaz Mayakoba’s signature restaurant.

Inspired by the flavors and traditions of Latin America, Casa Amate at Andaz Mayakoba is one of the destination’s most celebrated culinary hotspots. Its imaginative menu and heartfelt service have earned it a spot among Mexico’s top 250 restaurants in the México Gastronómico Guide by Culinaria Mexicana. The kitchen, helmed by the resort’s Executive Chef Miguel Gómez and his team, doles out creative, soulful dishes that tell stories of this extraordinary continent and its many regions and nuances. Read on and discover menu highlights that will grant a flawless dining experience at this Mayakoba favorite.

What is the Story Behind Casa Amate at Andaz Mayakoba?

As its name suggests, Casa Amate is laid out as if it were a beautiful house with a grand amate tree right in the middle of its main courtyard. As you walk around the house, you can picture yourself in the home of an adventurous traveler who has spent their life exploring the world. This means you may enjoy your dinner in the Living Room, the Library –where this traveler keeps his hundreds of travel and history tomes–, or the Dining Room, each with their own style and personality. No evening at Casa Amate is complete without a stop at the Bar Studio, a cozy space stacked with dozens of spirits, glasses, and souvenirs collected over miles and miles.   

You Can’t Miss the Arepa at Casa Amate (and Other Starters)

Your meal at Casa Amate will begin with house-baked sourdough bread –made with a sourdough starter that has been alive since the hotel opened!– paired with creamy chaya butter. Among the many delicious starters, there are three spectacular highlights. The first one is the Caribbean Soup, a comforting and aromatic coconut and seafood broth that gets a slight kick thanks to a mix of guajillo and serrano peppers, plus a touch of candied plantains. For a fresh option, try the Kampachi Ceviche in Leche de Tigre Cream and Rocotó. This Peruvian-inspired dish features sustainably sourced fish marinated in lime juice with rocoto chili cream, roasted corn kernels, and sweet potato, and is served with crunchy Oaxacan tlayudas. Complete the starter trifecta with the iconic Arepa, a Colombian classic. This fluffy delight is stuffed with shredded chicken, fresh cheese, and avocado, and will arrive in a lovely presentation –but let’s keep that a surprise. 

Time for Entrées: These are the Top Dishes at Andaz Mayakoba’s Casa Amate

Peru inspires one of Casa Amate’s most beloved specialties: the Yellow Tacu Tacu with Prawns. A juicy, sustainably sourced shrimp is served on a bed of creamy yellow rice and lentils, seasoned with ají-panca pepper, creamy manzano pepper sauce, and pecorino cheese, which gives it a delightful touch of umami. Mexico is represented by the Huachinango Pib, a sustainably sourced snapper cooked in dried chili pepper marinade, avocado leaf, garlic mojo, and local pumpkin. The juicy filet is served with coriander rice and espelón beans. If you’re in the mood for steak, you can’t go wrong with the Prime Steak with Mushrooms, another Mexican specialty. Seasoned in dried chili powder, cinnamon, and cumin, the tender premium beef is presented with a side of wild mushrooms and aromatic epazote leaf with garlic and chicatana ant sauce –a perfect way to ease your way into the world of edible insects. 

What are Marquesitas and Where Can I Try Them?

For a sweet taste of the Yucatán peninsula, end your meal at Casa Amate with a marquesita, a traditional street snack from Mérida. Traditionally, marquesitas are crispy crèpes filled with Edam cheese and all sorts of sweet delights, such as condensed milk, marmalade, or cajeta. Casa Amate’s version features a perfectly crispy marquesita with fig confit, Xtabentún foam –an anise-based liquor from the Yucatán region–, and vanilla ice cream, bringing the meal to a perfect ending.

Toast with Casa Amate’s Most Creative Cocktails

Whether before, during, or after your meal, cocktails at Casa Amate are as enjoyable as every item on the menu. La Última Defensa is one of the standouts, and not just because of its lovely pink hue. This concoction is made with gin, berry cordial, lime, aqua fava, and rosemary syrup, and it’s perfect to open your palate as you arrive. The second one of the Tequila Old Fashioned: sweet, strong, and ideal as a digestif.

Embark on a journey across Latin America at Casa Amate, Andaz Mayakoba’s awarded restaurant. Book your stay now on Mayakoba.com and discover Mayakoba’s extraordinary more than 30 culinary offerings.