Tulum is known for its rustic ambience, jungle-laden hotels and sustainable way of life but among the many up-and-coming boutique stays and chic shops, one restaurant stands out.
Located on the jungle side of Tulum Beach Road is magical Hartwood, the exotic restaurant from husband and wife team Eric Werner and Mya Henry. After leaving their restaurant and hospitality jobs in New York to start something together, the couple headed for a warmer, more laidback life in Tulum where the Caribbean water meets the Mexican shores.
Eric Werner
Hartwood, whose gained popularity among globe-trotting free spirits and fashionable travelers, has managed to maintain its rustic identity. The restaurant is quite literally a part of the lush, beautiful jungles and Werner and Henry have made it a point to keep it that way. The restaurant—that’s only open for dinner from 6 to 11 p.m.—utilizes solar panels to power everything in the restaurant, from lights to music and more. There are few walls and breezy palm fronds where a ceiling would be. It also breaks down all of its waste with zero carbon footprint resulting in the ability to reuse the organic compost to regenerate the surrounding environment.
With so much attention on its sustainability, it’s no surprise at all that the restaurant serves up food that’s just as rooted in its environment. Hartwood works closely with the Mayan community and all ingredients come from nearby markets and farms in the Yucatan, while produce is sourced from Mayan farms called Milpas. All fish is spear-hunted and all cooking is done by open fire in the handmade wood-burning oven and grill. The use of readily available ingredients means Hartwood’s menu changes daily, offering a range of fresh dishes and new surprises.
Whether diving into a colorful plate of fresher-than-fresh produce or sipping a cocktail at the cozy, tropical bar, Hartwood is what jungle dreams are made of.
Dive deeper into the world of Hartwood with Hartwood: Bright, Wild Flavors from the Edge of the Yucatan, a blend of stories and recipes written by Werner and Henry. You can purchase the book by clicking HERE.
For more information, visit: hartwoodtulum.com
Photos: From Hartwood by Eric Werner and Mya Henry (Artisan Books). Copyright © 2015. Photographs by Gentl & Hyers.