Austin Way Magazine - GreenGale Publishing - There is a place beyond the crowds, beyond the ropes, where dreams are realized and success is celebrated. You are invited.
Issue link: http://digital.greengale.com/i/881258
7 8 A U S T I N W A Y L A T E F A L L 2 0 1 7 | M O D E R N L U X U R Y . C O M T R A V E L & R E C R E A T I O N g e t a w a y for rinsing off afterward. e spa is a different experience. Guests enter into a dark cavelike space where light streams through very selective spots, perhaps channeling James Turrell. Chileno Bay Resorts & Residences (room rates from $675 per night, chilenobay.aubergeresorts.com) offers a relaxed yet playful lifestyle, to be expected from a property managed by Auberge Resorts Collection (Esperanza, another hotel here, is also in its portfolio). A 450-foot-long, three- tiered pool is strategically positioned in the center of the 60-room hotel property and cascades down to the beach. Oddly, all rooms here are singles with king beds, meaning families will probably opt to rent one of the 32 three- and four-bedroom beachfront "villas" from the surrounding Chileno Bay Residences. All activity seems to center around the pool, where Coola sunscreen is "on tap" and one might be tempted by the Tacos and Tequila bar. at said, the resort is enviably positioned on one of the only swimmable beaches here and takes full advantage by offering a plethora of activities, including the expected paddleboarding and the more surprising water cycles, which, prior to this, I had only seen at Lake Austin Spa Resort. e spa here is a little smaller than Lake Austin, but very well- designed, with treatment rooms including a Himalayan salt sauna and a relaxation garden. ere's only one signature restaurant here, but when it's as good as COMAL, who cares? Executive chef Yvan Mucharraz earned his chops at e French Laundry and also L'Atelier de Joël Robuchon in Paris. I sat at the bar and chatted with him and head mixologist Osvaldo Vasquez about everything from nontraditional Mexican spirits like Sotol and Pox to why I should order the chef 's special roasted chicken. Apparently it takes three days to prepare this fabulous fowl, but it only took me 10 minutes to inhale, with one of Vasquez's cocktail recommendations, of course. After experiencing all the new resorts in Los Cabos, one could be forgiven for having dreams of permanent ownership on this lovely peninsula. Fortunately, there are a mind-boggling array of real estate options. One of the most highly anticipated developments, set to debut next year, is the Montage Residences Los Cabos (prices upon request, montageresidencesloscabos. com) on Santa Maria Bay. Choose from more than 50 two- and three-bedroom open-plan options, designed for optimal indoor-outdoor living, with ample terrace space, fire pits, plunge pools (in ground-floor residences) and practical details like en- suite bathrooms in every bedroom. Added bonus: Residents have access to amenities at the Montage Los Cabos five-star resort, also set to open next year, as well as private residential amenities, plus the opportunity to join the Twin Dolphin Golf Club and play the Fred Couples Signature Golf Course, which features ocean views from every hole. It's perfect for those who want to extend their stay... indefinitely. ...continued HOT TREND: FARM-TO-FORK A backyard terrace at Montage Residences Los Cabos Two farm-to-table restaurants make dining off-property a must in Los Cabos, even if it can take up to an hour to get there. The good news: They're practically neighbors, on the same unpaved road at the foothills of the Sierra de la Laguna mountains, so it's worth making a day of the experience. Start at Flora Farms (flora-farms.com), a 25-acre organic working farm with a restaurant set in the middle of the field, where the owners aim to serve what they "make, raise and grow." Plan to come early and take advantage of the brand-new spa, which has two treatment cabins as well as a barber shop/tattoo parlor, nestled among papaya and banana trees. Afterward, have a drink at the Farm Bar (I had the Farmarita, its take on a margarita) or shop at the Grocery while waiting for your table. If you fall in love, consider renting or buying one of the Culinary Cottages here. Acre (acrebaja.com) is also situated on 25 acres, located a bit farther down the road, in a lush, dreamy setting amid palm trees. The vibe here is a bit more youthful and modern with almost all culinary and design elements sourced locally. Owners Stuart McPherson and Cameron Watt hail from Vancouver, British Columbia, and aimed to create an "extremely creative food and cocktail program, similar to what you might find in a large city." They've succeeded on both counts: My herb-smoked Negroni was delivered in a bell jar; when the top was removed to reveal the drink, aromatic smoke was simultaneously released, to dramatic effect (and the drink was spot-on). The tuna tartare was made from a fish caught earlier that morning by the chefs. It doesn't get much fresher than that.