Bu’ul

The story

Bu’ul: Yucatán Mexican Cuisine in Playa del Carmen – Michelin Recommended

On the shores of Punta Maroma

Bu’ul sits on the Caribbean Sea at Chablé Maroma, a resort tucked into a protected natural area north of Playa del Carmen. The restaurant’s terrace overlooks one of the world’s most celebrated beaches, where the sunset softens the sky. Before dinner, guests gather at the adjoining Raw Bar by Bu’ul, a collaboration with Rayo Cocktail Bar (ranked fifth on North America’s 50 Best Bars 2024). There, cocktails blend Mexican ingredients with inventive techniques, setting the tone for the meal to come.

A cuisine rooted in the Yucatán

The MICHELIN Guide highlights Bu’ul for its refined dishes made with corn, beans, and chilies — the foundational ingredients of Mexican cuisine. Each plate is a tribute to the Yucatán Peninsula, preserving both the fresh essence of the coast and the legacy of the land. The menu evolves as a journey of constant discovery: signature dishes include lobster salbute with recado rojo, duck with chichilo negro and chochoyotas, mamey tart with escamoles, and creamy rice with venison longaniza. The kitchen commits to sustainable practices such as Pesca con Futuro (Fishing with a Future), which promotes responsible consumption of marine species.

The chefs behind the kitchen

Corporate chef Jorge Vallejo — whose Mexico City restaurant Quintonil holds two Michelin stars and is ranked third among The World’s 50 Best Restaurants 2025 — guides Bu’ul’s culinary direction. Resident chef Carlos Navarrete brings a fresh, deeply rooted approach to daily execution, shaping the hotel’s food identity under Vallejo’s mentorship. Together, they balance simplicity and sophistication, allowing regional ingredients to speak clearly.

A wine cellar that stands out

Sommelier Michael González oversees a wine collection that is the most awarded in the Riviera Maya. The cellar includes vertical series found nowhere else in the world and hosts private tastings. Bu’ul offers a six-course Peninsular Menu with premium wine pairings, an à la carte selection of 24 dishes, and private dining options in the wine cellar, dining room, or terrace. The wine list has earned praise from international juries, cementing Bu’ul’s reputation not only for its cuisine but for its original, beautifully designed wine program.