We strolled onto the empty ferry behind another group who we quickly realized were headed to the same place. No, not because they were also wearing white — their group just had a similar vibe. We arrived on shore, and what we found that evening was truly unimaginable. Tucked away behind an outward facade of palm trees sat a tropical oasis reminiscent of the beaches, lush jungles, and nightlife of the Yucatán Peninsula — GITANO ISLAND right by the water's edge. The 27,000 square foot waterfront restaurant and beach lounge reopened on May 1st with a new modern Mexican menu by executive chef Antonio Maldonado. Last summer, GITANO welcomed 54,000 guests in just 90 days so of course, we at office had to find out what all the fuss was about.
Within minutes of sitting down at our table of twelve, we noticed the Manhattan skyline just in sight, a view that reminded us how close to home we were, despite how distant the restaurant actually felt. I started the evening with "Kisses in the Car," a sweet, citrusy blend of Pierde Almas Mezcal, Zacapa Rum, agave, and passion fruit habanero, which was the perfect compliment to the corn totopos and guacamole we started with. Then, two margarita punch bowls, chipotle potatoes, broccolini, and shishito peppers were brought out onto the table.
The next round of dishes consisted of a refreshing watermelon & tomato salad, perfectly grilled octopus zarandeado, and a savory chorizo con queso fundido. Then came the main course of dishes: branzino in banana leaf, roasted cauliflower al pipian, pollo al recado rojo, short rib birria, and two creekstone farms prime ribeye. Every dish was cooked to perfection and hard to set aside. By the end, we were just as stuffed as the banana leaf.
Before dessert, a few of us got up to stretch our legs and explore the island. Unexpectedly, we ran into James Gardner, the founder and CEO of GITANO GROUP, who asked us if we were aware that "in New York City there was a place more beautiful than the garden of love," referring to the Gitano location once open on Varick Steet. Clearly, he was just as excited to see us and so curious as to what we thought, letting us know how much thought went into the creation of the island.
He quickly offered us a tour through the sandy beach lounge complete with Sunbeds and Beach Cabanas to the 40' Lotus Pond with sparkling disco ball suspended over the water and the iconic black Bedouin Dining Tent with 360 marble bar. At the bar, he ordered us each a glass of Jungle Juice as he walked us over to the dining pergola where we were seated and proceeded to show us how heavy the chairs actually were. All of the wooden elements of the restaurant were designed and built in Tulum with Zapote wood from the Yucatán jungle. He wanted the sturdiness and authenticity of the region to be reflected in the space.
By the time the sun set, the restaurant grounds were filled with faces, both familiar and new, all taking in the same spirit of adventure that James has cultivated in all of his GITANO endeavors. Even so, GITANO ISLAND remains a special place, one we see ourselves returning to sooner than later, and we hope to see you there when we do.
See more from our night at GITANO below.
