All photos courtesy Riviera Maya EDITION at Kanai
Looking for somewhere totally unique (and extravagant!) to stay in the Riviera Maya? Well, look no more…
The 5-star Riviera Maya EDITION at Kanai has quietly introduced what industry insiders are calling North America‘s most ambitious hotel penthouse. The 27,000-square-foot Sky Rooftop Villa commands the entire top floor of the resort’s main building, setting a new benchmark for luxury accommodations in Mexico’s Caribbean coast.
Located within the 620-acre Kanai development near Playa del Carmen, this five-bedroom masterpiece of a retreat accommodates up to 12 guests in consummate luxury. Located above a protected mangrove forest, it boasts unobstructed views of the Caribbean Sea and the Mesoamerican Reef, the world’s second-largest coral reef system.
A Look Inside the Largest Resort Penthouse in Mexico
The villa’s entrance reveals a limestone corridor that leads to five individual guest quarters. Each bedroom features custom four-poster beds with wood canopies, curved upholstered sofas, and floor lamps designed by the US-based Rockwell Group.
What sets these accommodations apart? Well, for starters, every bedroom includes its own private terrace with a plunge pool, Jacuzzi, wet bar, and dedicated lounge area overlooking the ocean. It’s perfect for traveling families or groups of friends wanting to spend together… alone.
The penthouse design, created by Edmonds International, maximizes the Caribbean setting with floor-to-ceiling glass walls on three sides. These full-height sliding doors open to reveal 10,000 square feet of outdoor space, including an 80-foot infinity pool that creates a waterfall effect at one end.
A Whole New Scale of Luxury
The outdoor entertainment deck splits into two distinct areas. The covered terrace houses dual DJ booths, complete with equipment that transforms the space for private events. An adjacent open-air section leads to the pool area, where a sunken garden lounge at the deck’s prow provides hammocks and additional seating for taking in ocean views.
Not one, but two kitchens serve the villa. One, a full catering kitchen, is perfect for event preparation, while the second serves as a guest kitchen for personal use. Better still, the resort’s culinary team, led by chefs Francisco “Paco” Ruanoand Tomás Bermúdez, are on hand to create customized menus for in-villa dining experiences.
Your Personal Chef Team
And your penthouse food needs are in extremely capable hands. Ruano brings credentials from Alcalde, his Guadalajararestaurant that earned recognition on Latin America‘s 50 Best Restaurants list. He trained at Spain‘s Luis Irizar cooking school and honed his skills at Mugaritz, El Celler de Can Roca, and Noma. His approach emphasizes local Jalisco ingredients and seasonal Mexican flavors.
Bermúdez, who operates four La Docena oyster bars across Mexico, oversees SO’OL Beach Club at the resort, widely considered one of the Mayan Riviera’s best cocktail bars. The Durango-born chef studied under Martín Berasategui(holder of an impressive 12 Michelin stars) and specializes in seafood preparations that blend European techniques with Mexican ingredients.
Exclusive Amenities @ the Largest Resort Penthouse in Mexico
Sky Rooftop Villa reservations include several perks beyond the typical luxury hotel experience. Round-trip airport transfers accommodate all 12 guests, eliminating the usual hassles and logistics of group travel from Cancún International Airport, a 40-minute drive away.
Daily amenities encompass an American breakfast for the entire party, served in the villa. A dedicated pool and bar attendant works from 9 am to 5:30 pm, while guests receive a private cabana at their choice of location: the resort’s pier, main pool, or beach.
The villa package provides priority reservations at KI’IS and SO’OL, the property’s signature restaurants. Additional services available include private yoga sessions on the rooftop terrace and DJ services for events.
About the Riviera Maya EDITION
The Riviera Maya EDITION at Kanai opened in February 2024 as the brand’s first Caribbean property and its Mexico debut. The 182-room resort rises from mangrove forests on stilts, a spectacular design choice that allows water circulation beneath the buildings and preserves the existing ecosystem.
The property features a cenote-inspired spa with hydrotherapy pools, Turkish hammam, and an infrared capsule room. A lagoon-style main pool flows from the lobby area, while a separate adults-only infinity pool sits adjacent to SO’OL Beach Club’s pier with ten over-water cabanas.
Mexican architect Michael Edmonds designed the resort to reflect Mayan cosmology, specifically the concept of the underworld. This philosophy influenced elements like the descending approach road through mangroves and the lobby’s cascading plants that blur indoor-outdoor boundaries.
Facts and Figures
If you’ve read this far, you’re no doubt asking yourself just how much it costs to stay in the largest resort penthouse in Mexico? I know I would be!
Well, the fabulous Sky Rooftop Villa commands a starting rate of $40,000 per night, positioning it among the world’s most expensive hotel accommodations. For context, standard rooms at the resort begin at approximately $600 per night during off-peak periods, with rates reaching $800 during high season.
The Kanai development sits within Solidaridad municipality, roughly 15 kilometers south of Playa del Carmen’s tourist center. The gated community includes The St. Regis Kanai Resort and Etéreo, part of the Auberge Resorts Collection.
So, what are you waiting for? Find out more about North America’s largest hotel penthouse suite here.
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Bryan Dearsley is a luxury lifestyles writer, a prolific traveler, and a Founder of the Riley network of luxury lifestyle websites.
