Chef Carlos Gaytán’s HA’ restaurant at Hotel Xcaret Mexico earns a second Michelin star!
By BajaTraveler® press
For the second year in a row, the flagship restaurant of Hotel Xcaret México is recognized for its exceptional culinary work, consolidating its position as one of the most refined and moving culinary offerings in the country.
Beyond its cuisine, Chef Carlos Gaytán embodies the evolution of Mexican haute cuisine: creative, sophisticated, sustainable. HA’ restaurant is also a symbol of a philosophy that celebrates the best of the country through its ingredients, its stories, and its talents.
The announcement came during the highly anticipated Michelin Guide 2025 ceremony held in Mexico City on June 3rd., an event that brought together the biggest names in the national and international culinary scene. For Gaytán, this recognition is much more than an award: it’s a tribute to his roots, to signature Mexican cuisine, and to a vision that blends emotion, technique, and memory.
“Receiving a Michelin Star again is an immense honor that I share with my entire team and with those who have believed in this project since its inception. HA’ is the result of a personal journey, of a passion for my country, for its flavors, its roots, and for the possibility of reinterpreting them with respect and creativity,” said Gaytán, who made history by being the first Mexican to receive this award both at home and abroad. Gaytán was the first Mexican chef to win a Michelin star in 2013 for his restaurant in Chicago named Tzuco.
At HA’, whose name means “water” in the Mayan language, every detail is designed to move: from its nine-course tasting menu, which celebrates local ingredients with impeccable execution, to a soundscape that accompanies the diner’s sensorial experience. At the helm of daily operations, Chef Uriel Moreno masterfully complements Gaytán’s vision, making each service a precise choreography of innovation, hospitality, and flavor. It’s worth noting that HA’ restaurant is open even to non-hotel guests.
With accolades like the AAA Five Diamond Award, inclusion in La Liste, and a recommendation from the Forbes Travel Guide, HA’ reaffirms its place on the global fine dining map and continues to pave the way for a new generation of chefs in Mexico.