Zapote, One in all North America’s Greatest Bars, Comes Alive on Tuesday Nights

This put up initially appeared within the January 20, 2023 version of Eater Journey, dispatches from Eater employees about culinary locations price planning a whole journey round. Subscribe now.

Because the solar set on the summer season, I set off on a solo journey to Riviera Maya — a quick and simple trek from my dwelling in Houston — for a couple of days of enjoyable within the solar earlier than the thrill of the vacation season revved up. I traveled to Mayakoba, an eco-friendly enclave situated north of Playa del Carmen on Mexico’s Caribbean shoreline, flanked by mangrove jungles and dreamy white sand seashores. Of the 4 luxurious resorts situated throughout the 600-acre gated group, I stayed at Rosewood Mayakoba, lauded for its serene environs, outsized lagoon-front suites, and extra not too long ago, its vacation spot bar, Zapote, named on North America’s 50 Greatest Bars record two years working.

I’m all the time intrigued when a restaurant or bar seems on such an inventory, however on this case, I used to be much more all for visiting Zapote for its Tuesday evening pop-up collection that includes visitor bartenders from Mexico and the U.S., coined Martes de Locales, that means Native Tuesday. Alba Huerta, a fellow Houstonian and James Beard Award recipient for Excellent Beverage Program for her cocktail bar Julep, was slated to seem. Naturally, I used to be a fan.

After a lazy couple of days exploring the Mayakoba grounds by bicycle, stopping for sustenance typically at Rosewood’s beachfront restaurant, Aqui Me Quedo, I equipped for Tuesday evening at Zapote. From informal conversations with the resort employees, I acquired the impression that the bar was the crown jewel of your complete Mayakoba compound — and for good purpose. Tuesdays are traditionally the slowest evening of the week at most resorts, and Martes de Locales was created to reel in guests. Zapote is among the solely nightlife locations within the space that hosts such an expertise, and with reservations obtainable to all on OpenTable, it entices visitors of close by motels.

Rosewood Mayakoba

I’ve traveled to many Mexican resort cities and skilled tequila-fueled day events at resort seaside golf equipment and high-energy nights at Coco Bongo in Downtown Cancun, however this felt completely different — like an unique gathering reserved for these within the know.

At nightfall, wild flames from torches and lanterns illuminated Rosewood’s winding strolling paths. The moody environment provided simply sufficient mild to information my option to Zapote, tucked in a nook past the resort’s open-air foyer, and I felt the comfortable pulse of music earlier than I approached the bar’s entrance. The design for Zapote is impressed by Riviera Maya’s pure magnificence, and the bar is split into indoor and outside seating areas touting personal and communal tables, with a protracted bar as the realm’s foremost focus. I used to be shocked to see patrons perched on both facet of the bar counter, whereas centered bartenders navigated their means round visitors to achieve bottles, glassware, and elements. An open kitchen was seen behind the bar, and the intoxicating aroma of grilled meats being cooked over a dwell fireplace was laborious to disregard. A DJ was arrange close by, supplementing the vibey ambiance with fixed beats. The homey, communal seating association is a nod to Mexican hacienda tradition, through which group and togetherness are extremely regarded.

By the point I arrived at 7 p.m., the dimly-lit house was buzzing with exercise, as visitors huddled over cocktails just like the Royal Guayaba Fizz, made with prickly pear gin, jasmine tea, and aquafaba. Huerta had taken heart stage, so to talk. Every week, the honorary bartender is given an area on the head of a communal desk to craft cocktails in full view of the patrons. The interactive format permits for dialog and an up-close have a look at the bartenders in motion. Zapote’s beverage director, Joshua Monaghan, was a continuing presence, sashaying his means by the house and greeting visitors with type phrases and contagious laughter.

Rosewood Mayakoba

A fast scan of the room proved Zapote is as a lot a draw for its meals as its cocktails: The vast majority of visitors dined as they drank. To showcase the range of the Yucatan Peninsula, the menu leans into Center Jap flavors with dishes like spiced beef and lamb kebab with tomatillo salsa, and hummus with chickpeas barbacoa.

The evening progressed, and I may really feel the power altering, as a pair of dwell musicians joined the DJ at his put up. By 9 p.m. as I used to be ending the final of my lamb chops and roasted smoked cauliflower, regular percussion mixed with the penetrating rumble of a trombone flooded the room. Friends, bartenders, and even Huerta, let the rhythm take management, as they swayed to the completely happy, upbeat music. When the trombone participant paraded atop of the bar to belt out a strong finale, the group erupted in applause.

The identical power would encapsulate Zapote the next Tuesday… and the one after that, and so forth. A sensational lineup of visitor bartenders are slated to seem at Martes de Locales within the coming months, together with Mapo Milano from Cafe de Nadie in Mexico Metropolis on December 19, Harrison Ginsberg from Overstory in New York Metropolis on January 9, and Luke Mallery from the Damaged Shaker in Los Angeles on January 16.

Now that I’m again dwelling, steeped in my common routine, I can recall few Tuesday nights in my life that have been as enthralling. I’ll have been touring solo, however at Zapote, I used to be in nice firm amongst vacationers from around the globe and the bar’s spirited employees — all including to the one-of-a-kind expertise that’s Martes de Locales.

Megha McSwain is a contract author and Eater Houston contributor.