Tulum Restaurant Review – Our neighbours Stefan and Hui of Hechizo

This photo of Hechizo is courtesy of TripAdvisor

Tulum is known as a vacation destination that leads you back in time. The Mayan ruins take you to 900 AD, some of the long term residents take you back to the 60′s in the days of hippies and living a communal life and the lack of immediate connections with technology, one of Tulum’s greatest gifts so that visitors can disconnect, lets you live in a time that is pre-technology when there were no smart phones, iphones, ipads, or social media.

Our neighbours, Stefan and Hui, are living a contemporary food life in the deep jungle and beach area of Tulum. Surrounded by all things not 2012, the food at Hechizo is 2012. Stefan, the chef of this ‘oh so fabuloso restaurante’, continues to develop contemporary menus that utilize local produce, local seafood and local fish in contemporary cuisine that you will have you praying to the gods at the Tulum ruins!

Hechizo delights guests of Casa de las Olas every time

Besides the fact that Hechizo is our neighbor, Stefan and Hui amaze and delight not only the guests as Casa de las Olas, but the food editors at Food and Wine magazine, visitors from all over the world and food critics looking for refreshing and interesting menus.

For years, Stefan, originally a Ritz Carlton Chef in Austria and Japan, and his wife Hui, a Ritz Carlton pastry chef who continues to develop great desserts while taking care of their two children, worked in the restaurant industry. Stefan grew up in Tulum as his Austrian parents had purchased this beachfront property in Tulum and left for culinary training at the age of 15 to find himself returning with his wife many years later.  Their idea was to cook for a small amount of guests. The result has been a fantasy story not known to many people. The menu is spoken, the ingredients locally grown, and most of the fish locally caught. Stefan never intended for Hechizo to be a huge success. He just wanted to follow his passion, creating great food for people who crossed their path.

Contemporary flavors in a jungle and beach setting in Tulum

Tacos and empanadas this is not. When you reach the doors of Hechizo, you step into a quiet contemporary setting that has you dining on the shores of Tulum. The salt water fish tank is always a topic at dinner and the use of local artists to decorate the venue a passion of the owners. From Casa de las Olas, you can walk the beach and enter through the beach entrance. Reservations are required and seatings are at 6:30, 7:30 and 8:30. The rest is for you to discover. Let the photos below and guest reviews tell the next part of the story.

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“Hechizo, exactly what it’s name implies…. an enchanted place, hidden away in surroundings of tropical foliage and flowers”

“The owners Stephen clearly care about providing not only good food, but a dining experience of the highest quality”

“Wow! Hechizo, Hui and Stefan perfomed with utmost gracious hospitality and gourmet cuisine. I cannot say enough to recommend these great trained and experienced chefs and staff. The table settting, artful four course dinner presentation, flavors and fragrances added another layer of Fantastico! to a wonderful evening.”

Photos from i-akumal

Have you been to Hechizo? Let us know your comments about the contemporary creations of Stefan and Hui at Hechizo.