Don’t be surprised if you bump into Floyd Mayweather at the new Garza Blanca Resort & Spa in Cancun—the globe-trotting boxing legend was one of the very first guests at the ritzy beach retreat a few months after its soft opening late last year.
No doubt that Mayweather, who took over one of the hotel’s posh four-bedroom Penthouse Lofts, was drawn to the cool contemporary architecture and design, award-winning cuisine, and private Playa Mujeres beach location, away from the noisy party scene in downtown Cancun, yet close enough for convenience.
Best, of all, every guest is assigned a personal butler on arrival. “My opinion?” Mayweather said in an Instagram post during his stay. “It is the best hotel in Cancun.” He’ll no doubt be coming back soon, because Garza Blanca has since opened its new spa and adults-only rooftop infinity pool complete with an underwater sound system and full bar, to add to its already compelling attractions.
Garza Blanca Cancun is the newest addition to the TAFER Hotels & Resorts portfolio of luxury properties located in Mexico’s most desirable beach destinations, including Garza Blanca Preserve Resort & Spa and Hotel Mousai in Puerto Vallarta, Garza Blanca Resort & Spa in Los Cabos, Sierra Lago Resort & Spa, and Sian Ka’an Village. The Cancun property sets a new gold standard in all-inclusive-optional luxury hospitality in Mexico (just ask Mayweather).
Rather than site the hotel downtown, TAFER chose a powder-white stretch of the secluded Playa Mujeres beach, which affords a level of privacy and exclusivity one doesn’t normally associate with Cancun.
The impressive property features 452 luxury suites, four gourmet restaurants, master mixologists, five swimming pools, three Jacuzzis, a world-class spa, state-of-the-art fitness center, a team of dedicated butlers, and more.
The resort’s designer suite offerings range from a Junior Suite perfect for solo travelers and couples, to the Mayweather-approved Four-Bedroom Penthouse Loft that can sleep up to 12 guests, be they friends, family or celebrity entourage.
All rooms have private terraces with hammocks and views of the soothing Caribbean Sea. All one-, two-, three-, and four-bedroom suites also come with fully-equipped kitchens and comfortable living rooms, while Junior Suite Swim Up and One-Bedroom Swim Up accommodations also offer private pools.
At 5,300 square feet, the Four-Bedroom Penthouse Loft is spread over two floors and also has a private rooftop terrace with its own Jacuzzi. As part of the TAFER’s Residential Retreats & Signature Suites Club, the company notes, “guests can also partake in exclusive offerings such as private mixology classes, custom beer-and-wine tastings, in-suite dinners with the resorts’ private chef, and additional bespoke activities for a one-of-a-kind residential vacation experience.”
The butler service is a luxury amenity that is typically only found in extremely pricey resorts in this area. Upon check-in to Garza Blanca, each room is assigned a butler to “assist with all reservations, requests, or questions at any time”—including the 24-hour room service that Mayweather was apparently quite fond of. They can also liaise with the concierge staff to arrange any off-property excursions you desire.
Dining options are world class, with signature restaurants including Bocados Steak House, Japanese-themed Hiroshi, and Blanca Blue Restaurant, a fresh take on elevated Mexican cuisine. And that’s just for starters as the resort also has DAO, a contemporary eatery serving Chinese cuisine with a modern twist, and an expansive Gourmet Hall comprised of five specialty kitchens, set to open later this year.
Bocados Steak House is “designed around the concept of fire and smoke.,” The restaurant specializes in dry-aged steaks produced in house with High Choice quality beef imported from the USA.
The interior features pillars representing fountains of lava, and the décor is a mix of onyx, granite, wood, and marble, set off by metallic gold fixtures. There’s also a terrace for enjoying al fresco dining with views of the swimming pools.
Hiroshi fuses traditional Japanese ingredients with Mexican flavors, keeping things interesting. The menu showcases “sweet and sour flavors with a touch of spice,” with a selection of sushi rolls and sashimi-grade fish along with meat and other seafood options.
The design scheme is ivory, black, gray, and sapphire blue, with a mix of galaxy granite, wood, marble, bamboo, and stainless steel textures, along with hand-blown glass lighting pendants and a mural of Mount Fuji.
Blanca Blue serves breakfast and dinner down by the beach. The dinner menu concept features six distinct categories, and the decor is a suitable mélange of deep ocean-blue and smooth sand tones, with both indoor and outdoor seating available. In addition, casual dining options include the adults-only Rooftop Pool & Bar, a Food Truck – Beach Raw Bar serving fresh seafood dishes, and The Snack, offering elevated poolside bites.
All-inclusive guests also have the opportunity to enjoy Garza Blanca Resort & Spa Cancun’s new Mixology Program, offering elevated cocktail experiences showcasing fresh local ingredients and the best top-shelf spirits from around the world.
Custom creations include The Garza Blanca with mezcal, serrano chili, soursop puree, lime juice and simple syrup; and the Bocados Martini, made with vodka, Chambord liqueur, blackberries, raspberries, crowberry juice, and pineapple juice. The resort also offers mixology as an additional amenity to guests who stay in any of the multi-bedroom oceanfront suites and penthouse residences.
Te resort’s five swimming pools combine in a landscaped layout that makes the most of the prime beachfront location and the groves of swaying palm trees. The main infinity pool has a clear window at one end that provides endless photo ops.
That’s in addition three hot tubs, a beach deck, and a beach lounge area with chaises and day beds. And the property recently opened its Spa Imagine, dedicated to all forms of wellness and helping guests achieve the “perfect balance of mind, body, and soul.”
As Sasa Milojevic, Chief Operating Officer for TAFER Hotels & Resorts puts it, “We are committed to creating the most delightful and memorable vacation experiences for all of our guests.” And you don’t have to be a world-famous A-lister—the likes of Ashanti and Flo Rida have also stayed here—to feel like a celebrity with all the options for indulgence on offer at Cancun’s newest and coolest retreat.