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    Cocina de Autor

    4.5 (13 reviews)
    Closed 6:00 pm - 11:00 PM

    Cocina de Autor Photos

    COCINA DE AUTOR ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Trendy
    Upscale
    Dogs allowed
    Good for groups

    Recommended Reviews - Cocina de Autor

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    Cocina de Autor is a 2024 AAA Five Diamond restaurant located at Grand Velas Riviera Maya. This was our favorite restaurant at the resort.
    Daniel B.

    Cocina de Autor is one of eight restaurants at Grand Velas Riviera Maya, a luxury all-inclusive resort in Playa del Carmen. My wife found and booked the resort through Costco Travel. One of the big reasons she chose Grand Velas was its stellar food options. Grand Velas Riviera Maya has four 2024 AAA Four Diamond restaurants (Frida, Piaf, Sen Lin, Lucca) and one 2024 Michelin Star and AAA Five Diamond restaurant (Cocina de Autor). We tried seven of the restaurants and generally, the food, drink, and service were outstanding. Cocina de Autor was, by far, our favorite restaurant of the group. In hindsight, we should've gone to this restaurant twice during our five-night stay. We should've swapped Italian restaurant Lucca for another dinner at Cocina. Below is how I rank Grand Velas Riviera Maya's restaurants. I highly recommend booking reservations as early as you can for Cocina de Autor, Frida, Piaf, Sen Lin, and Lucca (the nicer sit-down restaurants). Chaka isn't on the list because we chose not to eat there. Tier One 1. Cocina de Autor - fine dining, tasting menu Tier Two 2. Frida - Mexican 3. Bistro - casual, poolside sit-down 4. Piaf - French 5. Sen Lin - Asian Tier Three 6. Lucca - Italian 7. Azul - casual, poolside buffet Cocina de Autor is the fanciest restaurant at the resort. Ever seen that movie The Menu (2022) with Ralph Fiennes? That's what this was, except no deaths. :) Kidding aside, Cocina de Autor is one of those high-end restaurants that's tasting menu only, where you leave everything to the chef. Think creative, upscale, contemporary cuisine with a bunch of unique dishes and ingredient combinations you're likely to forget unless you're a true foodie. Thank goodness for my wife's terrific memory, food knowledge, and Grand Velas' website, which surprisingly had a menu that covered many of the dishes we were served. During our visit, we weren't handed any menus nor was there a QR code to scan (unlike the other restaurants at Grand Velas). Each course and drink pairing was explained to us by our two dedicated servers, Antonio and Pablo. Yep, we had not one, but two dedicated servers. Also, the friendly hostess (unfortunately, I've forgotten her name), the clarinet player, and the rest of the staff were A+. We felt overwhelmed by the service, especially me. I felt like someone was always watching me, eager to serve. The staff had the details down pat, from the synchronization of plates hitting our table to bringing a small stool over just for my wife's purse. By my count, we had 11 "courses." Some of the courses were tiny, like amuse-bouche, but I'm still counting them. Below is a list of what we had to the best of our (my wife's) recollection. My wife had wine pairings with her courses and I had cocktail pairings with mine. I didn't document my wife's wine pairings, but she did say she thought Cocina de Autor's wines were the best at the resort - an important distinction. She enjoyed the Mexican wines more than the international wines. * Welcome drink - house-infused gin, sparkling wine, gold dust * Course 1: Jackfruit passionfruit mousse, spider crab, succulents; I forgot what the chips and sauce were ' Fresco cocktail pairing - pear syrup, matcha, pineapple and mint, St. Germain, gin, lemon foam * Course 2: Tuna bacon, mezcal-smoked otoro tuna, and cream base * Course 3: Caviar brioche toast with bone marrow cauliflower puree, served inside bone * Course 4a: Honeydew and chayote salad with shrimp tartare, yogurt (wife's version) * Course 4b: Honeydew and chayote salad with diced grapes and kiwi (my shrimp allergy substitute version) * Course 5: Roasted cabbage with pickled radish, pea puree, and kohlrabi; small bread made with flax and sunflower seeds, served with pistachio butter ' La Raiz cocktail pairing - blue spirulina, pineapple juice, ginger syrup, lemon, cardamom, Sabroso Brebaje * Course 6: Pan-seared cod with mushroom-flavored tapioca pearls and spinach foam * Course 7: Mexican Heritage pork roll with pumpkin seed and caramelized sugar leaves, black garlic, watercress sauce; grilled sourdough ' Terrenal cocktail pairing - turmeric syrup, passionfruit, lime, mezcal, coconut, activated carbon foam * Course 8, Dessert 1: Cotija cheese, vanilla ice cream, elote cake, creme anglaise * Course 9, Dessert 2: Dragon fruit dust, pineapple mango sorbet, meringue, passionfruit, blueberries, mascarpone, honey * Course 10, Dessert 3: Special birthday dessert: Chocolate mousse with cacao nibs and freeze-dried raspberries * Course 11, Dessert 4: Final gifts from the chef - yogurt jelly cube and some nut butter ball (like sweet cashew, we forgot what it was) This meal was truly a culinary journey. It was art in multiple forms. The plating and presentation was meticulous, the combination of ingredients was one of a kind, and the quality was exceptional. The courses were cohesive and progressed to a climax, which was the Mexican Heritage pork. That course hit us with the most intense flavors.

    Joanne B.

    Chef Nahum Velasco, how do you continue to amaze us with your creativity and attention to detail ? We had the pleasure to dine at Cocina de Autor again, which may be our 8-9th time there. It continues to dazzle us. For starters, we enjoyed the trout skin bite - crispy trout skin that was not at all fishy, transformed into a thin cracker, and topped with pearls of different flavors - garlic, pork? Along side, a palate cleansing gin and tonic, served in a small chilled glass bowl with a tiny spoon. The cucumber and herb flavor exploding, definitely palate cleansing (and delicious). Next we had a small bite of something I've had before and love - watermelon sushi. This is a perfectly cut piece of watermelon made to look like tuna. And made to taste like tuna. I detected sesame oil, and other Asian flavors. I'll post photos of our entire meal - which includes foie gras and apples, Mayan tortilla, sea bass, tenderloin. "Passion" and our favorite "cereal" dessert. Suffice to say it is a world class experience - only made better by the fabulous service and premium wine paring. Nahum, Marisol - y todos, muchas gracias. We can't wait to return.

    Tuna app
    Jason J.

    Chef Velasco is a true artist and thoughtful creator of exceptional cuisine. It was a pleasure meeting him and being able to discuss his preparations one to one. Chef we enjoyed being you guinea pigs tonight!! I will highlight several courses out of the many presented. The tuna with tomato broth, strawberries, and melon had exceptional knife work and a wonderfully complex and beautiful presentation. The sea bass with miso in broth was a bit heavy on the miso for me but overall well done and paired well with the Chardonnay. The best course was the ribeye with gnocchi, melon sauce, and gravy complemented by the sourdough with honey. Just phenomenal!!

    Stuff on top of fish skin ..... good stuff!
    Optimus R.

    Taste this y'all (wish I could say this in Spanish)! This is a tasting place with no set menu. You are at the culinary mercy of the chef. Frankly, I though my the food was creative and some flavors were amazing. Some were whimsical and mediocre. Combined experience, ambiance, service, creativity and flavors certainly were a treat in the land of the Maya. Come with an open mind and critique away. Certainly worth a visit.

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    Wow! Once in a life time experience! It is a must for this region and this hemisphere :)

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    La Marea - Favorite table ...nice breeze. Romantic restaurant

    La Marea

    5.0(5 reviews)
    1.5 km

    This 5-star review is for a truly 5-star restaurant and incredible dining experience. We were…read moreseeking to have 2 first-class dinners while in the Riviera Maya (the other experience was at Benazuza). We chose La Marea after researching it on Tripadvisor, Google and elsewhere, looking at photos and reading credible reviews. La Marea did not fail to deliver on a perfect dining experience. The restaurant is located inside the Viceroy Riviera Maya hotel. It was really hard to find, but that made the experience all that more enjoyable. The Viceroy is the definition of a hidden gem. We were received in a palapa in the reception area of this beautiful property. It was night and the the hotel employee accompanied us through lighted pathways through the hotel's grounds that are covered in lush foliage. The restaurant is located near the water's edge and sits above the hotel's lovely pool and overlooking the bar. The open air restaurant is very, very romantic and well-accoutered with comfortable seating, fine flatware and unique pottery. The menu and wine menu are impressively large, with many Mexican influences. There were so many choices on the regular menu that we could hardly decide what we wanted; they also have a tasting menu, so to have the most diverse dining experience, we chose to have that. I would like to say what great service we received from our waiter Sergio and all the other wait staff and hotel employees (they really make you feel like a VIP), and I would also like to praise Chef Carlos Zamora's creative dishes: they all show the incredible quality of Mexican cuisine in the hands of an artist. Just for fun, we had a coatimundi come into the restaurant from the surrounding trees while we were dining, which was just so amusing to see (I don't think it was his first time). If you want to celebrate a special occasion, or just want to celebrate life, please make a reservation and dine here!

    This is THE BEST restaurant in Mexico. To start... the food is absolutely amazing. They best steak,…read morechicken, and dessert I have ever had. The service is exceptional. The staff is so friendly and helpful and truly blew us away with their service. And the VIEW is breathtaking, staring straight out into the ocean. I HIGHLY recommend eating here. We actually ended up eating here all 3 nights of our trip and it blew us away each and every night.

    Photos
    La Marea
    La Marea
    La Marea - Appetizers

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    Appetizers

    Axiote - Course 5 of tasting menu - beef tongue

    Axiote

    4.4(280 reviews)
    6.4 kmGonzalo Guerrero
    $$

    Great experience last Friday night at this Michinlin Bib restaurant. So glad I stopped by this…read moreplace is bomb and super not pretentious! Wish I got the tasting menu but I opted for 3 of the specialties instead and they were delicious... Tasting menu is best value tho! I got the raw trout sashimi thing and it was by far the best plate of the meal (first dish/appetizer) , then got the shrimp flautas (good not amazing) then I got the trout loin for the entree (good not amazing) Skinny marg was perfect and so was the waitress! Would recommend and go back but like I said I would for sure do with the 6 or 8 course tasting menu!

    Okay, where do I start…read more I made a reservation about a month before our trip, they were already pretty booked so I made a 4:45pm. I somehow missed that the coursed meal doesn't start until 6...and we didn't realize until same day. They couldn't rebook us until 9PM but told us to swing by early to see if they could get us in AND THEY DID. It was a Christmas miracle. And I'm glad they did because the whole experience was about 2.5 hours from start to finish. The place isn't very big, but is beautiful inside. They have an awesome bar and and open kitchen so you can see everything. It's a really neat place. We were seated pretty quick once they got the table cleaned, and then were greeted by our waitress. When we told her we were there for the 8 course meal, they switched waiters on us, and then the upselling started. Right off the bat they tried to talk us into a cocktail...when we were doing a pairing with our meal. It took them a little time to get the meal going, and then between courses was a little hit or miss. Sometimes it was free flowing and sometimes it took 10-15 minutes to get our next dish. The food. We were a little nervous we would leave still a little hungry but I assure you, you will not. For ~$100USD each, you get so much food, and a drink with every course. It was fantastic and so worth it. Here were the courses and pairings (that I can remember lol): 1. We started with the dips - a bean dip with cheese sauce and guacamole with crickets. Very classic, very well done. The crickets added a nice, nutty flavor. I was a huge fan of the beans with their blue corn tostadas, so much flavor. They also had a third dip that was pumpkin seed based, it was good but not as memorable. Their hot sauces came out with this course. It was paired with a house mezcal (with salts, cucumber, and orange) that was incredible and smooth. 2. Shrimp ceviche which was super refreshing and flavorful. They paired this with sparkling wine. 3. Sea bass with a cream sauce and grapefruit. I'm not a huge fishy flavor person - my first bite had all three compnents and I thought it was delicious. My husband just had fish as his first bite and thought it a little fishy, but once we added everything else he agreed it was great. Three small pieces, so it was a nice course. Paired with a sauv blanc. 4. Roasted tomatoes in a mole sauce. A nice veggie course. I thought they were cooked well, nothing super fancy. Paired with a Chardonnay. 5. Cooked shrimp with potatoes. My husband called this a "filler" course - there wasn't much to it. The sauce had some greens in it but it was just something light and easy to serve. Can't remember the pairing here. 6. THE CARROTS. MY FAV THING. OMG. Literally so fresh, the perfect texture, and the sauces. I could have eated a whole bowl with this one. Paired it with a red blend. 7. Cow tongue. I forgot a photo. I was starting to get drunk, I'm sorry. Paired with a red wine. This was tender, the sauce was delicious. If you're not used to beef tongue, please don't let it scare you. It was amazing. 8. Dessert. Also amazing. I think it was paired with a sweet red but....a little drunk here...we got a cheesecake which was more on the savory side, super unique, and so delicious. I was a huge fan. We also got a passion fruit custard and I'm a SUCKER for passion fruit. This was phenomenal. The food was INCREDIBLE. And such an amazing experience. And now the loss of a star. I hit on the service a little, but there was also some upselling which we don't love, especially at what is supposed to be michelin recognized. We often try Michelin recognized when we travel and the upselling was unexpected, I undertsand the culture down here, but still. ALSO we LOVED the house mezcal so much we asked for another shot ($280 pesos/shot). When we got the bill, the waiter upcharged to one of the most expensive mezcals on their menu ($520 pesos/shot) and refused to change it. We spent $60 on two shots after paying for our 8-course meal. It honestly was SUCH a dissapointing end to our meal and felt so icky. Be very careful with the service here.

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    Axiote - Inside

    Inside

    Axiote - Mezcal tasting pairing

    Mezcal tasting pairing

    Axiote - Tomate - mezcal, cucumber, parsley, tomatillo, worm salt

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    Tomate - mezcal, cucumber, parsley, tomatillo, worm salt

    Casa Amate - Complimentary bread; salt was added on top of the house made butter

    Casa Amate

    4.6(29 reviews)
    2.1 kmMayakoba

    As noted by several guests and the marketing for Casa Amate, Casa Amate is one of the top 120…read morerestaurants by Guia Mexico Gastronomic. For gastronomic eaters, Casa Amate will satisfy your palate. Casa Amate's menu and ambiance are eclectic. Being in Mexico, I had to try Casa Amate's version of the ceviche, which was the Kampachi Ceviche in Leche de Tigre Cream and Rocoto. Most ceviches are marinated in the same ingredients: lime, tomatoes, jalapeños, red onions, and cilantro. Casa Amate's ceviche was unlike anything I've ever had. Instead of the usual ingredients, the Kampachi Ceviche used roasted corn kennels, sweet potato slices, cornnuts (canchita) and was served on a pool of rocoto chile cream for the eater to mix as desired. For the main course, I ordered the Pampa y Costa, which was oyster and wagyu with chimichurri sauce, served in a large oyster shell. The oysters were the star of the show, while the wagyu and chimichurri sauce didn't really add much to the dish itself. The wagyu was too chewy/overcooked and lacked flavor, which was surprising considering the addition of the chimichurri sauce and the type of beef used...

    What a cool restaurant with such a unique menu. Gorgeous ambiance - really unique with lots of…read moreinteresting details. Service was excellent - we were a large group and they gave us side by side tables. All the food we tried was great - can't wait to go back!

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    Casa Amate
    Casa Amate - House snakes

    House snakes

    Casa Amate - Outdoor seating area

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    Outdoor seating area

    OllaTaco

    OllaTaco

    4.6(8 reviews)
    1.5 kmMayakoba

    During my stay at Andaz Mayakoba, I frequented OllaTaco three times for breakfast and twice for…read moredinner. I would say this spot won the #1 place in my heart of all the mayakoba restaurants. Breakfast options were incredibly varied, authentic, and delicious. I was able to try all of the Mexican breakfast dishes (I shared, don't worry!) and I have to say the bolillo was my favorite. The brazo de reina was a little salty and dry- so I would avoid that, but the other dishes were all great if not amazing. The salsa picante is hot! But oh, so good nonetheless. Dinner is good also, with a decent variety of tacos and other mexican dishes to choose from, but I have to say breakfast was the real standout here. Even the waffles and French toast were good. I have to give a shout out to the other reason I loved OllaTaco so much. I crossed paths multiple times here with Ezekiel (Eze), who made our stay and our meals here amazing. He was attentive and so very friendly, and just a real joy to be around. He took such good care of us and for that, we continued to request him as our server each time. My vacation has since ended, but I will always have very fond memories of eating here.

    Definitely super convenient if you're in need of a quick food option at the Andaz! It's also not…read morecheap, so be prepared to shell out some money for the sake of convenience. I had the fried fish taco, as well as the steak taco, and both were satisfying. I loved the restaurant itself, beautiful and airy, as well as a great view of both the beach and pool!

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    OllaTaco - Margarita making class!

    Margarita making class!

    OllaTaco
    OllaTaco

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    Cocina de Autor - signature_cuisine - Updated June 2026

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