Caribbean chic boutique
South of Cancún, two diminutive hotels that have caught my eye recently are the Básico in Playa del Carmen, and the Mezzanine, close to the Tulum ruins.
Both first opened less than two years ago. Both are minimalist in name and style… but you do need fairly deep pockets (doubles at the Básico start at US$150; US$170 at Mezzanine).
Básico has just scooped the best "small hotel" accolade in Travel + Leisure magazine’s second annual Design Awards. The T + L jury singled out the Básico (pictured, right) as "small-scale and casual, slightly unkempt and very chic".
The kind of hotel where "you can throw your flip-flops anywhere."
Further down the coast, the ecologically-sound Mezzanine labels itself the "hippest little boutique hotel" in Tulum, and who am I to disagree. It is certainly intimate, with four contemporary suites.
Antipodean owners Brendon Leach and John Kendall installed a self-sufficient system for recycling ‘grey’ waters (from showers, sinks and the kitchen), which are filtered through pipes then pumped out to water the gardens throughout the property.
All electricity used at Mezzanine (pictured below) is generated on site. The Caribbean sun and sea breezes charge a large battery bank that powers the restaurant, lights, stereo system, water pumps and even the pool pump (which runs at least six hours a day).
To supplement natural sources of electricity, a small propane generator runs three to four hours each night, when all the lights are on.
Back in Playa, the 15-room Básico is one of a quartet of Grupo Habita properties – the others being Deseo (just steps away), Habita, and Condesa df, both in Mexico City.
Last April, I shared coffee and pastries with Rafael Micha – managing partner and all round nice-guy – in the resin-tabled restaurant at their sleek flagship hotel located in Mexico City’s swish Polanco district.
I recall Rafael waxing lyrical about the Básico – the new kid on the block at the time.
Two stylish gems on a turquoise sea.
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