A return to Cancun turns into a whole new experience at the Riviera Maya EDITION at Kanai, where stunning design, incredible food, and laid-back luxury completely steal the show.

Cancun was not new to me. I first traveled there when Tulum was nothing more than some ruins on the beach. Still, I had great memories of Cancun and was looking forward to seeing how it had changed. On this trip, I was staying at Mexico’s first and only EDITION hotel, and my first EDITION, too…quite a step up from my past Cancun accommodations.

Riviera Maya EDITION at Kanai rises from a 620-acre mangrove preserve just forty minutes from the Cancun airport. After exiting the highway to the gated property, you are completely surrounded by a mangrove forest for the three mile drive to the hotel.

EDITION Kanai immerses you as soon as you arrive, especially in the atrium lobby, where soaring ceilings and hanging foliage represent the region’s sacred cenotes. Light and water are key design elements, allowing the mind to quiet and simply relax into the beautiful simplicity of it all.

From the lobby, the first pool and bar beckon. For those who resist this initial seduction, a sandy trail winds through mangroves to So’ol Beach Club with a pool, restaurant, and bar. Beyond So’ol is one of the Riviera Maya’s most exclusive stretches of Caribbean beachfront.

EDITION Kanai is a haven for discerning travelers seeking a luxury escape. Couples and families valuing wellness, privacy, and meticulous service find there’s no need to leave. The world simply fades away.

The 182 guest rooms and suites are spacious and light, embracing a minimalist aesthetic in sandy tones of every hue, all the better to showcase my very own plunge pool. I spent the heat of the day there observing a striking black and yellow bird that delighted me by flashing in and out of view. I tried to catch it in a photo, but no luck.

The bathroom had a huge soaking tub, rain shower, and decadently scented La Labo toiletries.

Amenities include five restaurants, a luxury spa, fitness center, yoga deck, multiple pools and bars, a private pier with cabanas, and 24-hour room service throughout the property.

By the second day, I realized that I would not be leaving the hotel for the duration of our short stay. I also realized that at the EDITION at Kanai, that was desirable. Why break the spell any sooner than necessary?

EDITION at Kanai boasts five distinct food and beverage venues…let’s just say you’ll never go hungry, or thirsty. You can let your mood and tastes guide you to the appropriate dining experience. 

Ki’is is the hotel’s signature fine dining destination and notably earned a place in the 2025 Michelin Guide. So’ol offers a more relaxed setting as the beach club restaurant, while Kitchen at EDITION anchors the property’s culinary identity in authentic Mexican flavors. The Pool Bar keeps guests refreshed poolside or at their beachside cabanas, and the Lobby Bar pours an impressive selection of Mexican distillates, wines, and craft cocktails alongside prepared small bites. Across every venue, the commitment to gastronomic excellence was unmistakable. Each dish is not only a pleasure to eat, but a work of visual art.

Every menu throughout the restaurants reflect the vibrant flavors and colors of the Yucatán, elevated with accents of fresh edible flowers that speak to the surrounding landscape.

At Ki’is, Guadalajara-born Francisco Ruano, who also helms his own acclaimed restaurant, Alcalde, brings a deeply personal culinary vision to the table. Drawing on the traditions of his home state of Jalisco, the coastal bounty of the Pacific, and the pantry of the Yucatán, Ruano’s menu weaves together the regions of Mexico with precision. Begin with the chaya tamal and tuna tlayuda before moving into the mains. We made our way through nearly the entire menu, and every dish was exceptional. Personal standouts: the catch of the day, a flawlessly cooked sea bass, and a deceptively simple roasted chicken that was nothing short of perfection. Be sure to make your reservation for Ki’is well in advance.

So’ol Beach Club, led  by Chef Tomás Bermúdez, brings Mediterranean flavors to the Caribbean. Fresh seafood, fish, and meat are simply prepared, allowing premium ingredients to shine. The octopus and wagyu are stellar, perfectly paired with the cocktail program. My favorite So’ol experience? Oysters and sparkling rosé from a Mexican producer, served beachside at one of the spacious cabanas. Impeccable service completes the experience.

I think it’s safe to say I ate my way through my two days at the Riviera Maya EDITION at Kanai. It was some of the best food I’ve had anywhere, and truly reflected the aesthetic of the location.

I arrived at Kanai thinking I’d reconnect with the Cancun of my memories. Instead, I discovered something entirely different: a level of refinement and culinary excellence that has transformed luxury hospitality in Mexico.

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Cover photo courtesy Riviera Maya EDITION Kanai

Penny Sadler is a Dallas-based writer covering travel, food and drink, and lifestyle, with bylines in CNBC Travel, Culture Magazine, Inside Hook, and Cheese Professor. When she’s not traveling she puts her camera ready makeup skills to work on commercials, films, and events. Follow her on Instagram @adventuresofacarryon and her website.