Casa Joseph Zicatela

We just stayed at Casa Joseph for two weeks and had a fabulous time. The staff couldn't be nicer. They accommodate and anticipate guest needs. The rooms are beautiful and well maintained. The bed was one of the most comfortable beds I've ever slept on. Daily housekeeping was excellent and timed to your schedule. The food is delicious and refined and fairly priced. The breakfast when included with your room rate is top rate and can easily carry you through to dinner if that's your desire. The dinner menu is small but they will prepare whatever you want if given advance notice and there are plenty of other great restaurants in close proximity. The front desk/concierge communicates via WhatsApp and will bend over backward to make sure you are happy and any plans you make go off without a hitch. Special shout out to Sergio and Fernanda at the front dest and Augustine and the entire restaurant crew. I recommend booking directly through the hotel for the best price. I loved the room with the private pool but all of the rooms face the beautiful majesty of the ocean. The overall value of the hotel is excellent- a boutique size and feel with 5 star services. We will return to the charm of Puerto and would stay nowhere else!

If you are looking for a true luxury experience in Puerto Escondido, Casa Joseph Zicatela is an absolute dream. I had seen this stunning property on Instagram and knew we had to check out their beachfront bar. It is definitely a high-end splurge compared to the main strips, but the tranquility, top-tier service, and sheer beauty of the place make it entirely worth it. Location & Getting There The first thing to know is that Casa Joseph is isolated and peaceful. It is not walkable to the main strip of La Punta or other major hubs—everything immediately outside leads to the main road, which we wouldn't recommend walking down without doing research first. To get here, you will definitely need to hire a taxi or rent a motorcycle. We rented a motorcycle in town, and it was a quick, easy 10-minute ride to the property. The Beachfront Bar & "Banging" Happy Hour The hotel itself is breathtakingly beautiful, incredibly tranquil, and perfectly designed for relaxation. We came down to the beachfront bar for an evening and arrived just five minutes before happy hour started. Our server—a super nice, athletic guy with light eyes originally from Mexico City—was amazing. Instead of rushing us, he intentionally told us to take our time ordering so we could catch the happy hour deal. While their standard menu is on the pricier side, their happy hour is incredible: a true 2-for-1 deal on whatever drink you order. The Drinks: We had two rounds of cocktails, and both were spectacular—the second round was somehow even better than the first. The Food: While we waited for our main food, they brought out crisp, hard tostadas with a variety of excellent local salsas to sample. For our main bite, we ordered the chicharrón de atún (crispy tuna chunks), which was delicious. It came served with fresh guacamole and a rich, dark, semi-spicy salsa in the middle that paired perfectly. The Spa & Wellness Experience We loved the vibe so much that on our final day before leaving Puerto Escondido, my friend and I came back specifically to use their spa. Massage Insider Tip: We booked the deep tissue massage, and it was absolutely phenomenal. If you like actual pressure, definitely book the deep tissue over the relaxing massage. Even the deep tissue here isn't the intense, borderline-painful pressure you might get in the US; it was the absolute perfect amount of firm pressure. The relaxing massage is likely best if you just want light lotion application and very gentle touch. We were dying to try one of their yoga sessions, but we ran out of time. Next time, it's a must. They offer a ton of wellness amenities, including ice plunges, yoga, and day passes if you want to hang out by the property without staying overnight. The Views & The Massive Waves Whether you are eating, drinking, or getting a massage, the backdrop of the ocean is mesmerizing. The waves here are massive and beautiful, providing the perfect soundtrack. Just be mindful of where you settle in: the waves are so powerful that they wash all the way up to the beachfront daybeds and get quite close to the hotel structure. Right behind the beach area is the hotel’s gorgeous pool, where you can swim while looking directly out at the crashing waves. The front desk staff mentioned they also have a fantastic restaurant on-site that serves breakfast. Though we didn't see inside the rooms, the entire property looks impeccably maintained and high-end. Summary: This place is highly Instagrammable, but it backs it up with real substance. Even if you don't stay here, take a taxi or a motorcycle over just to experience the happy hour, explore the grounds, and watch a mind-blowing sunset. Highly recommended!

I can’t even begin to express how much we loved our stay at Casa Joseph. We’ve stayed in plenty of beautiful hotels over the years, including some incredible five-star resorts, but the level of service here was genuinely the best we’ve ever experienced. What stood out most was the attention to detail. Every member of staff was so warm, friendly and genuinely invested in making sure guests had the best possible stay. It never felt forced or scripted, just authentic hospitality at its finest. The pool service was unbelievable. While relaxing on the sun loungers, staff would regularly bring around cold face towels, homemade icy poles and fresh water. One afternoon we were even surprised with a mango mezcal shot by the pool. It was those little unexpected touches that made every day feel special. Breakfast each morning was a highlight. The team were always so welcoming and attentive, and somehow remembered the small details that made us feel right at home. We also loved happy hour. The cocktails were fantastic and the two-for-one deal was such great value. It quickly became one of our favourite parts of the day. We stayed here for our honeymoon and felt incredibly spoiled the entire time. We’d often return to our room to find chocolates on the bed and a handwritten note asking if there was anything else they could do for us. The housekeeping team were exceptional and those thoughtful gestures meant so much. We also loved all of the activities that are included! Beautiful hotels are easy to find. Service like this is not. The people at Casa Joseph are what make it truly special. We’ve never felt so well looked after anywhere in the world, and that’s not an exaggeration. Thank you to the entire team for making our honeymoon so memorable. We already can’t wait to come back.

My wife and I chose Casa Joseph for our honeymoon after stumbling across it online and seeing nothing but glowing reviews, and I’m here to tell you, every single one of them is earned. First off, the ladies at the front desk are EXCEPTIONAL. Since this was our honeymoon, I wanted to go above and beyond to surprise my wife, and I was working with them via WhatsApp before we even arrived to pull it all together: rose petals in the room, a specialty charcuterie board, local wine, and a private dinner at the hotel restaurant with a 3-course prix fixe menu, more rose petals scattered around the table, and some genuinely fantastic cocktails. I’ll be honest, I was pretty needy leading up to our stay and asked a lot of them. They didn’t flinch once. Everything was set up perfectly from check-in to check-out, zero hiccups. The location is prime. Tucked right between La Punta and Zicatela Beach, you’re close to everything, great shopping and great dining, but the beach club area itself feels like a world away from the crowds. We’re talking maybe a 10-15 minute walk along the beach, and suddenly it felt like we had the place to ourselves compared to the bustling energy in both directions. That contrast was one of my favorite things about it. The staff at the beach club deserves their own shoutout. They were on top of everything, all day, every day. Need more shade? Done before you finish the sentence. Want food or drinks? There in a flash. Glass running low? Refilled before you noticed. I had my fair share of Mezcalitas out there and they may genuinely be the best I’ve ever had, and I’m not exaggerating. The food across the board was top notch. Breakfast on the 3rd floor had great food and a phenomenal view; we also got to meet Patricio, the hotel’s resident iguana who apparently holds court up there every morning, which was a highlight. Lunch at the beach club was perfect; the ceviche and tacos hit every time. Dinner was outstanding. I’ve been to a lot of resorts in Mexico and this was easily some of the best food I’ve had at any of them. We booked the one-bedroom oceanfront suite and were placed on the 3rd floor. The room itself was stunning, with incredible ocean views from the balcony, a large comfortable bed, and high-quality materials throughout. A couple of things worth noting, not as complaints but just to set expectations: the 3rd floor rooms have these beautiful tall, lofty ceilings with a thatched roof, and with 90-degree heat and a lot of natural light coming through the windows, the room ran warm during the day. We figured it out quickly by keeping the blinds closed and the bedroom door shut with the A/C running full blast, and after the first day we were completely comfortable. Also, the sound insulation is minimal, so you’ll hear birds on the roof, the occasional rooster at sunrise, and some early morning activity outside. On the flip side, you can also hear the ocean at all times, which is its own kind of magic. Neither of these things ever bothered us, but they’re worth knowing going in. Bottom line, this is listed as a 4-star hotel but it genuinely felt like 5 stars from start to finish, and that’s entirely because of the people. We had the most incredible time and are already talking about when we’re going back. If you’re looking for a luxury hotel in Puerto Escondido, I cannot recommend Casa Joseph enough.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​