One and Only Palmilla Review: There’s Only One!

On past visits to Cabo San Lucas and Los Cabos, we’d driven by the lush grounds of the One&Only Palmilla – lusting to know why the fabled resort is so special that Hollywood royalty flock to it in droves.

We knew it was hailed as one of the top resorts in Cabo. But we didn’t know exactly why.

Now after staying here, we do.

And it really is, well, the “one and only” – making this One and Only Palmilla review easy to write!

(The hotel is officially named “One&Only Palmilla.” But the ampersand often gets turned into “and,” so the hotel is also known as the “One and Only Palmilla.”)

Introducing the One and Only Palmilla

Built in 1956, the resort was originally used as a 15-room vacation getaway for the son of the then Mexican president.

When it opened to guests, it could only be reached by yacht or helicopter, attracting such celebrities as John Wayne and Lucille Ball.

In 2004, the property was expanded and turned into the One and Only Palmilla resort. (One&Only Resorts is an exclusive collection of some of the world’s most deluxe hotels.)

It’s one of the most luxurious hotels in Cabo with a swimmable beach.

And today, the Palmilla hotel lures such guests as Jennifer Aniston, Rihanna and Australian actress Rebel Wilson – who stay in the resort’s private Villa Cortez. (We’ll get to the Palmillas suites and villas in a jiff.)

One and Only Palmilla review: Exceptional service

And all 174 rooms, suites and villas have a private butler who unpacks and packs your clothes – meaning more of that pampered pool time.

One and Only Palmilla rooms

Rooms and suites reflect a colonial Mexican flavor. One and Only Palmilla reviews agree they’re all pretty dreamy!

Nestled in a setting of fountains, swaying palms and tropical flowers, they have red tile roofs, travertine floors, iron-studded doors, exposed wood beams and outdoor terraces.

Rooms and suites

All rooms have a panoramic ocean view of the sparkling blue Sea of Cortez.

You can choose from Oceanfront Rooms with private terraces to one-bedroom Grand Suites (some with private plunge pools) to super spacious Casita Suites (1,465 square feet) with private outdoor infinity pools.

Many rooms are beachfront Junior Suites, with an indulgent 770 square feet of space. (We stayed in one of these.)

They feature a master bedroom with a king-size bed, a separate airy living room and a furnished terrace where you can lounge like a happy lizard.

Bathrooms have a separate pebbled rainfall shower plus a deep-soaking travertine bathtub.

When you first arrive, you’re welcomed with a tequila platter in your room.

One&Only Palmilla villas

And then there are two villas.

For the ultimate stay, gather your friends and family and splash out like celebrities in Villa Cortez.

This four-bedroom residence by the beach is designed to look like a Mexican hacienda.

It has 10,500 square feet of space, a private pool and direct access to your own beach enclave – where you’re treated to top-of-the-line seaside service, of course!

The newest villa is Villa One.

Perched on a hilltop, this 14,950 square-foot retreat has four bedrooms and boasts a separate butler suite, screening room and an OMG private infinity pool.

Review of the One and Only Palmilla restaurants

You have a choice of several dining options.

Seared

Dining is a gourmet treat at Seared, a seafood and steakhouse restaurant by Michelin-starred chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten.

Try the black truffle pizza appetizer – not a humble dish, by any means. Or start with classic caviar with crème fraiche and warm blinis.

For a main course, perhaps pick the spring pea guacamole and roasted cabrilla (grouper) with mushroom yuzu broth and crunchy rice?

Or go for the Kobe ribeye with a ginger-scallion flavored steak sauce.

Agua

Agua is the resort’s cliffside al fresco restaurant overlooking the sea.

Snag a “moonlight” oceanside table, and you’ll listen to the waves while noshing on farm-to-table Mexican cuisine and locally sourced seafood.

Suviche

Other Palmilla One and Only restaurants include Suviche.

Think a mix of Mexican and Japanese dishes here, like salmon tartar guacamole and tuna ceviche with green apple and jalapeno.

We’re not the only ones besotted with the food at this luxury San Jose del Cabo resort.

Other One and Only Cabo reviews also rave about its wonderful restaurants.

Fun activities

The One and Only in Cabo doesn’t lack for activities either.

Complimentary yoga is offered daily in the yoga garden, and the gym has free spinning classes.

There’s also a chapel onsite for destination weddings.

The resort has direct access to what it calls Pelican Beach, an almost-private beach cove.

What’s great about this beach is that it’s an extension of Playa Palmilla, a quiet public beach that’s one of the few swimmable beaches in Cabo. (Strong waves and currents mean many beaches in the whole region are unsafe).

Make it a beach day in your own private cabana with sun loungers and food-and-drinks service!

Or swim in the oceanfront Agua infinity pool or escape to the quiet adults-only Vista pool.

For golfers, the 27-hole Palmilla Golf Course, designed by Jack Nicklaus, offers ocean views from every hole. And clay courts lure tennis fans to play a game.

Want to get out on the water? Cabo’s water activities are pretty special.

You can book the resort’s luxury 95-foot yacht for a day of snorkeling, kayaking, SUP and relaxation.

And when you want to be pampered, spending some time as the hotel’s wellness and spa center (one of the top spas in Los Cabos) will do the trick.

One&Only Palmilla review: Last words

While the resort kindly provided us with media support for our stay, our One&Only Palmilla review is entirely our own. We follow the ethical codes of the travel writing professional associations to which we belong. 

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Photos: 17 © Janice and George Mucalov, Cabo Visitor | Other photos courtesy of the One&Only Palmilla, Los Cabos