Dreams Riviera Cancun: Exceptional Rooms, Outstanding Food, and a Resort We'd Return To
"A journey is best measured in friends, rather than miles." Tim Cahill
7/6/202617 min read
During our eight-week Cancun resort research project, we spent time at six different all-Inclusive resorts, each offering its own unique personality and strengths. While every property had something to recommend it, Dreams Riviera Cancun quickly distinguished itself in two important areas: exceptionally comfortable accommodations and one of the strongest food and beverage programs we experienced.
Combined with beautifully maintained tropical grounds, an engaged management team, and employees who genuinely seemed to care about the guest experience, Dreams Riviera Cancun became one of the resorts we found ourselves talking about long after our stay had ended.
From the moment we arrived, the welcome felt exactly like what you hope for at an all-inclusive resort. Champagne, cold towels, and a warm greeting set the tone immediately. After weeks of comparing resorts throughout Cancun, those first impressions matter, and Dreams Riviera Cancun started on the right foot.
A Beautiful Resort with an Open-Air Design
One of the first things we noticed was how beautifully landscaped the resort is. The common areas are filled with tropical plants, flowers, birds, iguanas, white-nosed coatis, and Central American agoutis. It gives the property a lush, natural feel that separates it from some of the more concrete-heavy resorts in the Hotel Zone.
Dreams Riviera Cancun has an open-air layout, which means you will feel the heat and humidity when walking to restaurants, bars, and common areas. That is part of the design. While it can be warm, especially during the summer months, the setting is beautiful enough that we felt it was worth it.
The resort also appeared very well maintained. Staff members were constantly cleaning common areas, caring for the landscaping, and keeping the property looking its best. That level of attention was noticeable throughout our stay.
Rooms That Are Spacious and Comfortable
One of the biggest surprises at Dreams Riviera Cancun was just how much we enjoyed the rooms. After spending two months visiting five Hyatt all-inclusive resorts throughout Cancun, this quickly became one of our favorites.
The rooms are spacious, modern, and thoughtfully designed. Strong air conditioning, ceiling fans, comfortable beds, abundant storage, and a large bathroom with double sinks, a walk-in shower, and a separate toilet room provided everything we needed during our stay. The air conditioning performed exceptionally well, something we never take for granted during a Cancun summer.
One design feature that immediately caught our attention was the orientation of the beds. Rather than facing a wall or television, they face directly toward the balcony. Whether your room overlooks the tropical gardens or the Caribbean Sea, you wake up looking at the scenery that brought you to Mexico in the first place. It is a simple design choice, but one that creates a much more relaxing atmosphere.
We also appreciated the variety of room categories available. Many of the ground-floor rooms include private plunge pools, while others feature hot tubs on the patio. Throughout our stay, it was easy to see how much guests enjoyed these rooms. With Cancun's year-round heat and humidity, having your own private space to cool off after a day at the pool or beach is a luxury that is surprisingly affordable.
If we returned to Dreams Riviera Cancun, booking one of these plunge pool rooms would be near the top of our priority list.
Finally, the televisions offered an excellent selection of U.S. channels, which was a welcome surprise during a longer stay. While we certainly didn't travel to Mexico to watch television, it was nice to relax in the evening with familiar programming after spending the day exploring.
Food and Drinks
Food was one of the highlights of our stay at Dreams Riviera Cancun.
After staying at five different Hyatt all-inclusive resorts in the Cancun area over two months, Dreams Riviera delivered some of the best food we experienced. A strong food and beverage program can dramatically change the overall feel of a resort, and the team here clearly takes pride in what they are doing. Antonio and the F&B team deserve credit for creating a dining experience that was consistently enjoyable.
Portofino was excellent. We especially enjoyed the minestrone soup, beef carpaccio, lasagna, and mushroom risotto. Each dish felt well prepared and flavorful, making Portofino one of the strongest specialty restaurants we experienced during our Cancun stays.
El Patio was another standout. The food and service were both excellent, and Armando helped make the experience even better. Chef Eddy and the team delivered several memorable dishes, including the fajitas and the molcajete with steak, shrimp, chicken, and sausage. It was exactly the kind of meal we hope to find at a Mexican restaurant inside a resort.
The buffet was also very strong, especially at breakfast and lunch. Breakfast offered a wide selection, and lunch became one of our favorite meals of the day. The daily taco bar was a highlight, with fresh corn tortillas, grilled meats, spicy salsas, guacamole, and all the toppings you need to build the perfect plate. If you're anything like me, every day is Taco Tuesday when you're on vacation, and this station gave me another reason to keep coming back. They also had excellent thin-crust pizzas, a sushi bar, and a kids section with familiar options such as chicken tenders and fries.Coco Café was one of the best-run coffee shops we have seen at an all-inclusive resort. Even when there was a line, the employees had an efficient system that kept things moving quickly. The specialty coffees were very good, and the pastries, chocolate croissants, cookies, and regular croissants made it a daily stop for us.
Pools and Beach
Dreams Riviera Cancun has three large pools, each with a different purpose.
One pool is geared toward kids and includes slides. Another is more activity focused, with volleyball, basketball, water aerobics, and other games. The adults-only infinity pool includes a swim-up bar and overlooks the sea, making it a great option for adults looking for a quieter place to relax.
There are also two hot tubs located in separate courtyard-style areas with lounge chairs and towels already set up nearby. These areas provided another nice place to unwind outside of the main pool areas.
Unfortunately, sargassum was heavy during our stay, so we did not spend time in the Caribbean Sea. As we have mentioned in other Cancun reviews, sargassum is a regional and seasonal issue, not something the resort can fully control. It was disappointing, but it did not define our stay.
Entertainment, Fitness, and Activities
The entertainment team stayed active throughout our visit. Guests were regularly invited to participate in yoga, Pilates, volleyball, water aerobics, and other activities.
One decision we really appreciated was moving yoga and Pilates into the air-conditioned gym when the outdoor heat became too much. Since there was limited shade and very little breeze in the outdoor activity areas, moving the classes inside was the right call, and guests clearly appreciated it.
The gym itself is large, but it does lack some of the basic equipment we have seen at other Hyatt all-inclusive resorts. Another drawback is that it does not open until 7:00 a.m. For early risers who like to work out before breakfast or before the crowds arrive, that was disappointing. Many Hyatt all-inclusive resorts either keep their gyms open 24 hours or open closer to 6:00 a.m.
A Memorable Fourth of July Celebration
One of the highlights of our stay was the resort’s Fourth of July celebration.
The team went above and beyond with a generous poolside barbecue that included paella, chicken, steak, fresh coconuts, and a margarita bar. The celebration continued into the evening with entertainment, a fire show, and fireworks.
It was extremely well done and felt patriotic, except for the guests from England who were reminded of their loss 250 years ago. Some resorts do the bare minimum for holiday events, but Dreams Riviera Cancun clearly made an effort to create a memorable experience for guests.
Preferred Club: Was It Worth It?
We did pay for Preferred Club status during our stay, but at this particular resort, we did not feel it delivered enough value to justify the added cost.
Preferred Club guests receive access to the Preferred Lounge, the Preferred beach bar, and a separate seating area on the beach. Unfortunately, because sargassum was heavy during our stay, we did not use the preferred beach area, and very few other guests seemed to be using it either.
The Preferred Lounge offered snacks and drinks throughout the day, including upgraded alcohol options. However, much of the food felt similar to what was already available at the buffet or Coco Café. It was convenient, but not especially memorable.
The Preferred beach bar was useful for guests near the pool who wanted top-shelf liquor, but it closed at 6:00 p.m.
The most disappointing part of the Preferred Club experience was the alcohol setup. The top-shelf liquor was only stocked in the Preferred Lounge and Preferred beach bar. The restaurants did not keep those upgraded bottles behind their own bars, which meant that if you wanted a Preferred-level drink during dinner, staff either had to send someone to the lounge or you had to bring a drink with you. This was not clearly explained when we purchased the upgrade, and we found it inconvenient.
To his credit, Antonio, the F&B manager, came up with a suitable workaround for us, and we appreciated his effort. Still, if we returned to Dreams Riviera Cancun, we would not purchase the Preferred Club upgrade unless the benefits changed.
Service Matters
One of the strongest parts of Dreams Riviera Cancun was the staff.
The management team was visible and engaged, and the food and beverage team was one of the best we experienced during our recent Hyatt all-inclusive stays. Antonio’s leadership was noticeable throughout the resort’s dining operation.
Armando at El Patio, Chef Eddy, the Coco Café team, and the many employees constantly cleaning, serving, organizing activities, and maintaining the grounds all contributed to a resort that felt well run.
That does not happen by accident. It reflects leadership, training, and a team that appears to care about the guest experience.
Who Is This Resort Best For?
Dreams Riviera Cancun is a strong option for families, couples, and groups looking for a beautiful, well-managed all-inclusive resort with excellent food and a relaxed tropical setting.
Families will appreciate the kids pool, daily activities, buffet variety, and family-friendly atmosphere.
Couples will enjoy the adults-only infinity pool, strong dining options, beautiful landscaping, and comfortable rooms.
Travelers who place a high priority on food quality should strongly consider this resort. Among the Hyatt all-inclusive properties we visited in Cancun, Dreams Riviera Cancun was one of the strongest from a food and beverage standpoint.
Final Thoughts
Overall, we really enjoyed our stay at Dreams Riviera Cancun.
The resort is beautiful, well maintained, and very well run. The landscaping gives it a tropical feel, the rooms are spacious and comfortable, the food was some of the best we experienced during our recent Cancun stays, and the staff consistently helped create a positive vacation experience.
The sargassum was unfortunate, but it was not something the resort could control. The Preferred Club upgrade did not provide enough value for us, and the gym hours could be improved. Those were the main areas where we saw room for improvement.
Even with those issues, Dreams Riviera Cancun was one of the better overall resort experiences we had during our time comparing Hyatt all-inclusive properties in the region.
Would we return? Yes, especially if we booked one of the ground-floor rooms with a plunge pool.
If Dreams Riviera Cancun sounds like the right fit for your next Mexico vacation, contact Tacks Travels. We would be happy to help you decide whether this Hyatt Inclusive Collection resort is the best choice for your travel style.
During our eight-week Cancun resort research project, we spent time at six different all-Inclusive resorts, each offering its own unique personality and strengths. While every property had something to recommend it, Dreams Riviera Cancun quickly distinguished itself in two important areas: exceptionally comfortable accommodations and one of the strongest food and beverage programs we experienced.
Combined with beautifully maintained tropical grounds, an engaged management team, and employees who genuinely seemed to care about the guest experience, Dreams Riviera Cancun became one of the resorts we found ourselves talking about long after our stay had ended.
From the moment we arrived, the welcome felt exactly like what you hope for at an all-inclusive resort. Champagne, cold towels, and a warm greeting set the tone immediately. After weeks of comparing resorts throughout Cancun, those first impressions matter, and Dreams Riviera Cancun started on the right foot.
A Beautiful Resort with an Open-Air Design
One of the first things we noticed was how beautifully landscaped the resort is. The common areas are filled with tropical plants, flowers, birds, iguanas, white-nosed coatis, and Central American agoutis. It gives the property a lush, natural feel that separates it from some of the more concrete-heavy resorts in the Hotel Zone.
Dreams Riviera Cancun has an open-air layout, which means you will feel the heat and humidity when walking to restaurants, bars, and common areas. That is part of the design. While it can be warm, especially during the summer months, the setting is beautiful enough that we felt it was worth it.
The resort also appeared very well maintained. Staff members were constantly cleaning common areas, caring for the landscaping, and keeping the property looking its best. That level of attention was noticeable throughout our stay.
Rooms That Are Spacious and Comfortable
One of the biggest surprises at Dreams Riviera Cancun was just how much we enjoyed the rooms. After spending two months visiting five Hyatt all-inclusive resorts throughout Cancun, this quickly became one of our favorites.
The rooms are spacious, modern, and thoughtfully designed. Strong air conditioning, ceiling fans, comfortable beds, abundant storage, and a large bathroom with double sinks, a walk-in shower, and a separate toilet room provided everything we needed during our stay. The air conditioning performed exceptionally well, something we never take for granted during a Cancun summer.
One design feature that immediately caught our attention was the orientation of the beds. Rather than facing a wall or television, they face directly toward the balcony. Whether your room overlooks the tropical gardens or the Caribbean Sea, you wake up looking at the scenery that brought you to Mexico in the first place. It is a simple design choice, but one that creates a much more relaxing atmosphere.
We also appreciated the variety of room categories available. Many of the ground-floor rooms include private plunge pools, while others feature hot tubs on the patio. Throughout our stay, it was easy to see how much guests enjoyed these rooms. With Cancun's year-round heat and humidity, having your own private space to cool off after a day at the pool or beach is a luxury that is surprisingly affordable.
If we returned to Dreams Riviera Cancun, booking one of these plunge pool rooms would be near the top of our priority list.
Finally, the televisions offered an excellent selection of U.S. channels, which was a welcome surprise during a longer stay. While we certainly didn't travel to Mexico to watch television, it was nice to relax in the evening with familiar programming after spending the day exploring.
Food and Drinks
Food was one of the highlights of our stay at Dreams Riviera Cancun.
After staying at five different Hyatt all-inclusive resorts in the Cancun area over two months, Dreams Riviera delivered some of the best food we experienced. A strong food and beverage program can dramatically change the overall feel of a resort, and the team here clearly takes pride in what they are doing. Antonio and the F&B team deserve credit for creating a dining experience that was consistently enjoyable.
Portofino was excellent. We especially enjoyed the minestrone soup, beef carpaccio, lasagna, and mushroom risotto. Each dish felt well prepared and flavorful, making Portofino one of the strongest specialty restaurants we experienced during our Cancun stays.
El Patio was another standout. The food and service were both excellent, and Armando helped make the experience even better. Chef Eddy and the team delivered several memorable dishes, including the fajitas and the molcajete with steak, shrimp, chicken, and sausage. It was exactly the kind of meal we hope to find at a Mexican restaurant inside a resort.
The buffet was also very strong, especially at breakfast and lunch. Breakfast offered a wide selection, and lunch became one of our favorite meals of the day. The daily taco bar was a highlight, with fresh corn tortillas, grilled meats, spicy salsas, guacamole, and all the toppings you need to build the perfect plate. If you're anything like me, every day is Taco Tuesday when you're on vacation, and this station gave me another reason to keep coming back. They also had excellent thin-crust pizzas, a sushi bar, and a kids section with familiar options such as chicken tenders and fries.Coco Café was one of the best-run coffee shops we have seen at an all-inclusive resort. Even when there was a line, the employees had an efficient system that kept things moving quickly. The specialty coffees were very good, and the pastries, chocolate croissants, cookies, and regular croissants made it a daily stop for us.
Pools and Beach
Dreams Riviera Cancun has three large pools, each with a different purpose.
One pool is geared toward kids and includes slides. Another is more activity focused, with volleyball, basketball, water aerobics, and other games. The adults-only infinity pool includes a swim-up bar and overlooks the sea, making it a great option for adults looking for a quieter place to relax.
There are also two hot tubs located in separate courtyard-style areas with lounge chairs and towels already set up nearby. These areas provided another nice place to unwind outside of the main pool areas.
Unfortunately, sargassum was heavy during our stay, so we did not spend time in the Caribbean Sea. As we have mentioned in other Cancun reviews, sargassum is a regional and seasonal issue, not something the resort can fully control. It was disappointing, but it did not define our stay.
Entertainment, Fitness, and Activities
The entertainment team stayed active throughout our visit. Guests were regularly invited to participate in yoga, Pilates, volleyball, water aerobics, and other activities.
One decision we really appreciated was moving yoga and Pilates into the air-conditioned gym when the outdoor heat became too much. Since there was limited shade and very little breeze in the outdoor activity areas, moving the classes inside was the right call, and guests clearly appreciated it.
The gym itself is large, but it does lack some of the basic equipment we have seen at other Hyatt all-inclusive resorts. Another drawback is that it does not open until 7:00 a.m. For early risers who like to work out before breakfast or before the crowds arrive, that was disappointing. Many Hyatt all-inclusive resorts either keep their gyms open 24 hours or open closer to 6:00 a.m.
A Memorable Fourth of July Celebration
One of the highlights of our stay was the resort’s Fourth of July celebration.
The team went above and beyond with a generous poolside barbecue that included paella, chicken, steak, fresh coconuts, and a margarita bar. The celebration continued into the evening with entertainment, a fire show, and fireworks.
It was extremely well done and felt patriotic, except for the guests from England who were reminded of their loss 250 years ago. Some resorts do the bare minimum for holiday events, but Dreams Riviera Cancun clearly made an effort to create a memorable experience for guests.
Preferred Club: Was It Worth It?
We did pay for Preferred Club status during our stay, but at this particular resort, we did not feel it delivered enough value to justify the added cost.
Preferred Club guests receive access to the Preferred Lounge, the Preferred beach bar, and a separate seating area on the beach. Unfortunately, because sargassum was heavy during our stay, we did not use the preferred beach area, and very few other guests seemed to be using it either.
The Preferred Lounge offered snacks and drinks throughout the day, including upgraded alcohol options. However, much of the food felt similar to what was already available at the buffet or Coco Café. It was convenient, but not especially memorable.
The Preferred beach bar was useful for guests near the pool who wanted top-shelf liquor, but it closed at 6:00 p.m.
The most disappointing part of the Preferred Club experience was the alcohol setup. The top-shelf liquor was only stocked in the Preferred Lounge and Preferred beach bar. The restaurants did not keep those upgraded bottles behind their own bars, which meant that if you wanted a Preferred-level drink during dinner, staff either had to send someone to the lounge or you had to bring a drink with you. This was not clearly explained when we purchased the upgrade, and we found it inconvenient.
To his credit, Antonio, the F&B manager, came up with a suitable workaround for us, and we appreciated his effort. Still, if we returned to Dreams Riviera Cancun, we would not purchase the Preferred Club upgrade unless the benefits changed.
Service Matters
One of the strongest parts of Dreams Riviera Cancun was the staff.
The management team was visible and engaged, and the food and beverage team was one of the best we experienced during our recent Hyatt all-inclusive stays. Antonio’s leadership was noticeable throughout the resort’s dining operation.
Armando at El Patio, Chef Eddy, the Coco Café team, and the many employees constantly cleaning, serving, organizing activities, and maintaining the grounds all contributed to a resort that felt well run.
That does not happen by accident. It reflects leadership, training, and a team that appears to care about the guest experience.
Who Is This Resort Best For?
Dreams Riviera Cancun is a strong option for families, couples, and groups looking for a beautiful, well-managed all-inclusive resort with excellent food and a relaxed tropical setting.
Families will appreciate the kids pool, daily activities, buffet variety, and family-friendly atmosphere.
Couples will enjoy the adults-only infinity pool, strong dining options, beautiful landscaping, and comfortable rooms.
Travelers who place a high priority on food quality should strongly consider this resort. Among the Hyatt all-inclusive properties we visited in Cancun, Dreams Riviera Cancun was one of the strongest from a food and beverage standpoint.
Final Thoughts
Overall, we really enjoyed our stay at Dreams Riviera Cancun.
The resort is beautiful, well maintained, and very well run. The landscaping gives it a tropical feel, the rooms are spacious and comfortable, the food was some of the best we experienced during our recent Cancun stays, and the staff consistently helped create a positive vacation experience.
The sargassum was unfortunate, but it was not something the resort could control. The Preferred Club upgrade did not provide enough value for us, and the gym hours could be improved. Those were the main areas where we saw room for improvement.
Even with those issues, Dreams Riviera Cancun was one of the better overall resort experiences we had during our time comparing Hyatt all-inclusive properties in the region.
Would we return? Yes, especially if we booked one of the ground-floor rooms with a plunge pool.
If Dreams Riviera Cancun sounds like the right fit for your next Mexico vacation, contact Tacks Travels. We would be happy to help you decide whether this Hyatt Inclusive Collection resort is the best choice for your travel style.
info@allinglobaltravel.com