Banyan Tree Mayakoba: choosing from Saffron’s menu

Saffron at Banyan Tree Mayakoba serves its Thai menu on low wooden decks above the resort’s canals; it is Banyan Tree’s signature restaurant, born in Phuket in 1995 and now at 14 properties. You arrive by electric boat at a candlelit pavilion.

Updated 24 October 20264 min readHow we write the guide

The choice, in short

Why choose Banyan Tree Mayakoba

Vegetarians get a page of the menu to themselves: 11 dishes, from MXN 606 to MXN 950.

Desserts

When to look elsewhere

An allergy, an intolerance or a halal, kosher or gluten-free meal is best flagged to the resort at least 24 hours ahead, so dinner here is not a last-minute decision.

Meat-free

Noodles, fish or beef

Phad Thai Goong Sod, rice noodles wok-cooked with tamarind sauce, comes with prawns or chicken at MXN 1,188 for 240 g; beef adds MXN 792.²

For fish, I would order Pla Krapong Neung Manao: steamed white fish with chilli-lime sauce and a crisp green papaya and purslane salad, 220 g at MXN 1,123.²

Nua Toon Lychee is a traditional beef stew with lychees and pickles: 220 g at MXN 1,210.²

Hours and the cooking class

5.30pm to 11pm
Saffron serves dinner from 5.30pm to 11pm; the resort’s restaurants follow the seasons, and their hours can change without notice.³
Cooking Thai
At Saffron the chef also teaches a Thai cooking class, by reservation and subject to availability.³

Banyan Tree Mayakoba

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How to finish dinner

Portions and prices

Kao Niew Mamuang I Tim Kati, sticky rice with mango and coconut ice cream: 120 g, MXN 410.
Kluay Thod, fried bananas with Thai tea ice cream: 180 g, MXN 410.
Sakoo Cantaloup, tapioca in coconut milk with rose syrup, cantaloupe and lychee ice cream: 150 g, MXN 410.
Homemade ice creams and sorbets, 140 g at MXN 399: the coconut ice cream and the tamarind and mango sorbets are vegan.

What is in Khong Wang Ruam

440 g, MXN 1,166	A selection of Thai starters for 2: chicken satay, crispy prawns wrapped in noodles, grilled salmon salad and fresh spring rolls, with peanut sauce and sweet chilli-mango sauce.²

Rooms at Banyan Tree Mayakoba

The bed and terrace sofa of a Lanai King at Banyan Tree Mayakoba.

Rooms and staying here

3 dishes from the vegetarian page

The dish	The preparation	Portion and price
Tofu Phad Med	Tempura tofu with a semi-sweet sauce and cashews.	320 g, MXN 950
Gaeng Kiew Wan Phak	Vegetable green curry with aubergine, tofu and basil.	250 g, MXN 950
Phad Kaprao Hed	Wok-fried mushrooms with basil and chilli.	220 g, MXN 950

Before booking

Are there gluten-free dishes?

The menu marks several: green curry with chicken, aubergine, crispy fish and boiled egg at MXN 1,123; Paneang Nuea, beef tenderloin in red curry, at MXN 1,987; and among desserts the Sangkaya Cream Trilogy of Thai tea, pandan and piloncillo at MXN 410.²

Which are the signature dishes?

Those marked Signature include Tom Yum Goong, the spicy prawn soup, at MXN 626, and Khao Phad Saffron, wok-cooked saffron rice with seafood and vegetables, at MXN 1,123.²

What other restaurants does the resort have?

In the evening there are also Cello, for Italian cooking, and Tomahawk, for Latin American cuts cooked over open fire, both from 5.30pm to 11pm, and Suna, for Nikkei cooking, from 5pm to 1am.³

Are there special dinners at the resort?

Yes: at Ixchel you dine aboard a traditional trajinera, with Mexican and Thai cooking, from 5.30pm to 8.30pm.³

Is Banyan Tree Mayakoba child-friendly?

For dining, yes: the resort has restaurants and special dinners suited to families as well as couples.³

Choose your visit

Saffron

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