New Mazatlán Hotel Launches Melville

Pueblo Bonito Vantage Mazatlán Centro Histórico, an intimate hideaway in the colonial-era port city’s Old Town district, will make its debut on May 15.

Occupying a renovated, historic building that once served as an elementary school, the 24-room boutique hotel is located a short walk from the Malecón, the city’s oceanfront esplanade. Even closer is Plaza Machado, the fabled town square. It’s a good jumping-off point from which to explore Mazatlán’s architectural marvels.

Mixing antique and modern motifs, the intimate hotel’s chic décor is discreetly luxurious, creating an elegant, welcoming atmosphere. Guest rooms, refined and inviting, feature high-beamed ceilings, curated textiles, and bespoke furnishings.

In addition to a lovely central plaza, the property offers a biblioteca (library), fitness center, a signature Aromatika Spa, pool with Jacuzzi, Bar 1844 (serving a curated selection of wines and cocktails), and a small, trendy shop in the lobby.

Pueblo Bonito Vantage Mazatlán Centro Histórico’s food and beverage program is exceptional, starting with the Melville restaurant. It is named for Herman Melville, author of acclaimed masterpiece Moby Dick, who visited Mazatlán in 1844 as a sailor aboard the frigate United States.

Melville’s new menus promise a culinary excursion inspired by founding chef Carlos Contreras Sanchez’s extensive travels to various markets and towns throughout Mexico. From the vibrant aromas of Mazatlán to traditional Sinaloan cuisine, the menu is a tribute to freshness and sustainability as well as the culinary heritage of Mexico.

Sanchez, a veteran of Casa 46, a landmark restaurant-museum operated by Pueblo Bonito that adjoins Plaza Machado, hopes to position Melville “as a benchmark for contemporary Mexican cuisine, with an emphasis on artisanal techniques and local produce.” Another goal is to “strengthen the emotional connection with diners through culinary storytelling.” The mantra for Melville? “Every bite, a story.
Every plate, a tribute.” Sanchez noted that each item on the menu tells a story, from the handmade bread to a nixtamalized tortilla made with an ancient strain of corn.

It’s only a matter of time before foodies, culinary critics, gastronomy journalists, and content creators discover the restaurant, which evokes rustic elegance with its earth tones, gold accents, and organic materials such as wood, stone, and Mexican textiles.

Breakfast and lunch at the hotel are served in a relaxed indoor setting or on the open-air patio. At night, Melville transforms into an elegant dining room serving haute Mexican fusion cuisine.

“I am especially proud of this new property because, as a native of Mazatlán, I got my start in the hospitality industry here, first with Pueblo Bonito Mazatlán and then with Pueblo Bonito Emerald Bay,” said company founder Ernesto Coppel. “More recently, I was involved with the funding of Gran Acuario Mazatlán, which opened to international acclaim two years ago. I believe that Pueblo Bonito Vantage Mazatlán Centro Histórico is the next chapter in the city’s evolution as a tourism destination.”

And, with the opening of Melville, a culinary destination.