Hotel Esencia

We had such an amazing trip! As always our favorite destination! The newly renovated spa was soooooo great and very much needed! We had dinner at Beef Bar after a beautiful massage. Everything was top notch! The staff is always so welcoming and accommodating and we can't wait to return!

I just returned from yet another stay at the stunning Hotel Esencia. From the moment I arrived, I was enveloped in luxury, beauty, and impeccable service. The spa is absolutely heavenly; the treatments were rejuvenating, and the tranquil ambiance left me feeling completely refreshed. The dining experience is unparalleled. Both Beefbar and Mistura once again blew me away. The quality and preparation at Beefbar is exceptional and everything was cooked to perfection. On the other hand, Mistura offers an exquisite fusion of local and international flair. Every dish was not only delicious but beautifully presented. The service at both restaurants (and especially the hotel) was flawless, with a team that goes above and beyond to ensure an exceptional experience. If you’re looking for a luxurious escape that combines relaxation, world-class dining, and an unforgettable experience, Hotel Esencia is the place to be. I can’t wait to return!

Last September, my husband and I had an extraordinary stay at Hotel Esencia, quickly making it our favorite hotel. While certainly expensive, last year’s experience was flawless, and we eagerly anticipated our return. Unfortunately, this year’s visit fell short. What’s still great: The beach remains stunning, easily rivaling some of our favorites around the world. The rooms are beautifully designed and well-maintained, and returning staff members like Omar and Augustine continue to provide excellent service. Unique experiences, such as the chance to swim with manatees or release baby sea turtles, still add a special touch to the stay. What fell short: Aside from the returning staff mentioned, we found that few others made much effort to ensure we had an exceptional stay. We arranged airport transportation, spa appointments, and confirmed amenities like the Seabob well in advance. After being informed that the Seabob was unavailable, we received an upsell email for a $1,000/night room upgrade, which seemed tactless. Our arrival at the property was rushed and impersonal, lacking the warm gestures we experienced last year, such as welcome drinks and cool towels. The spa’s closure due to ongoing renovation was communicated to us for the first time upon our arrival, despite our pre-booked treatments. We loved the previous spa's hydrotherapy experience, so even though villa-based services were offered with extended times, the experience was not very relaxing and it fell short of my expectations for a hotel of this caliber. We received a complimentary room upgrade after requesting it, but given the time of year and low occupancy rate, this was a missed opportunity for the hotel to proactively impress returning guests and recover from setbacks like the spa closure/communication issue. Service inconsistencies were apparent throughout. At Beefbar, servers struggled to answer basic questions about the wine list. One evening at the beach bar, our cocktails were incorrectly made, with no attempt to rectify the mistake, even after the mistake was acknowledged by a more experienced bartender. We received conflicting information from staff about restaurant hours and menu availability. Our first meal at Beefbar was disappointing, resembling the quality of a mid-tier all-inclusive resort, with unseasoned steak and gluey mashed potatoes. When we expressed that the meal was just okay, no follow-up occurred. We understand the hotel is still recovering from hurricane damage and therefore expected some changes. However, this stay did simply not meet last year’s exceptional standards, which is disappointing. Afterward, we spent a few nights at Belmond Maroma, where the service was consistently superior. Given Esencia’s high price point and reputation, there is room for improvement to return to the level of excellence we once experienced.

I have stayed at some of the fanciest hotels (e.g., the Aman) but this one is definitely on the top of favorite list. Everything was so great. The experience I had at this hotel will ruin all future hotel experience. I love the fact that they do not nickel and dime you. Pool person always bring water and ice gratis. In addition, there are some complimentary activities available as well. Like some other reviewers have mentioned, the food is dismal for the hotel of this category. The food at the Beef Bar was a let down. Hopefully the food will be better the next time we come back.

My wife and I have stayed at this wonderful hotel twice and plan to go again this summer. Everything about this place is top level. The location, rooms, decor, staff, food all exceeded our high expectations. This place is a must visit if you’re looking for a private get away.

We stayed here twice before the new owner, Kevin Wendle, bought it in 2014 and invested millions to transform it from an exclusive hideaway with 29 rooms to an exclusive playground with 49 rooms including six beautiful beachfront suites. Along with rates that more than doubled, he also added an upscale gym, exquisite steakhouse with wood-burning oven for meats, veggies and very tasty pizzas, and a sushi restaurant. We booked the beachfront suite at $2900++ per night. We wanted the master beachfront suite instead but was $900 more. Why? Same suite but with a small plunge pool and patio. The food served at the restaurants is best-in-class. However so are the prices. Salads are $35, ahi tartare $75 and breakfast for two averaged $160. We booked through Virtuoso which includes breakfast so if you do book, make sure to use them. Figure on $500-$600 daily for lunch and dinner. Plus wine. I had the opportunity to talk to Kevin about a few issues at the resort, cost of food being one of them and he told me that he imports a lot of the food and the costs keep going up. Perhaps that is one reason why the food is so good. Now mind you we knew the rates up front and loved the property before. Now that it was rated 5-star by Forbes, we splurged. We were there during spring break and there were a lot of families with babies and kids. I asked Kevin about this since I always remembered the property as an adult hide-away and not for kids. He told me that for two weeks during spring break and Thanksgiving holiday, kids rule. I will make sure to come back in February or April next year. Our beachfront suite was literally 20 steps to the ocean. The suite itself is white, white and white that features a dual shower, plenty of closet space and small patio. There are no drawers but Kevin assured me they were available on request. You have an option of beach level or second level. We had the beach level but it's close to the main sidewalk where the workers come and go. The second level offers better views and two lounge chairs but then there are the steps. The beach huts remain the same as before and hopefully they will offer an adult section on our next visit. Service on the beach was spotty. Another nicety added was afternoon tea with pastries at 4:00-6:00 which is served in the main house which also features the library filled with books and board games. Overall, it's nice to have an individual owner like Kevin invested in the property that can make updates as needed to bring the best guest experience. I view Hotel Esencia like a fine bottle of Cab, it will only get better as it matures. I'm looking forward to my return trip next year and popping open the cork.

All the beautiful photos you see here don’t fully capture this lovely slice of paradise. The palm jungle greets you on arrival like a warm hug and you don’t see concrete everywhere like at other big block hotels, this is so different! Once we arrived at the main house I wanted to pinch myself seeing all of the authentic works of design. I was told by my lovely concierge Esmeralda that this was once the private villa of an Italian duchess and is now owned by a Hollywood producer. And you feel like you’re a guest in his aristocratic beach home, it’s not overdone but simple and just a feast for the eyes. From there she brought us to see the beach, what looked like miles of unblemished white sand with a warm gentle surf. Though I heard that the hotel was almost full we felt like we had it all to ourselves at certain points of the day. And the food! So many dining options from sushi to tacos to the freshest fish to brick oven pizza, the quality of which rivals anything I’d order at a popular big city restaurant, and in many cases better. But what really makes it work here is how you FEEL, the people working here genuinely care about what they do and checked in with us often, but not in an overbearing way. We had a couple of special requests and the answer was always yes without hesitation. Thank you Hotel Esencia, you are a true gem and we will be back for sure.

One of a kind hotel and experience. From the moment we arrived at the property we noticed the beautiful and relaxing atmosphere that is unique to Esencia. The rooms are beautiful and well maintained. The hotel is excellent for couples and families. During our stay there were families with babies, toddlers and teenagers. Our five year old daughter made lots of friends and enjoyed the pool and the activities they had for children. The service is excellent and the three restaurants are superb. The beach is unlike any other in the area. Hotel Esencia is a secluded, welcoming paradise and a hidden gem.