Alto started driving in Houston in late 2020, and it has quickly become a favorite way to get around. The experience is unparalleled. Think luxury SUVs with leather captain chairs, thoughtful amenities like complimentary water and umbrellas, and even curated playlists to choose from in the Alto app. Those who have ridden know that Alto is more than a ride from point A to B, but a journey to be enjoyed — because the recap of every dish on the ride home should be just as good as the dinner.
Community is at the heart of Alto. Rather than hiring independent contractors, Alto has hired W-2 employee drivers who are trained and supported by a local Houston team. The service also offers a Membership that unlocks Alto benefits as well as unique offers from Houston partners. Those who join Alto’s exclusive Membership gain full access to the Alto fleet during the busiest "Members Only" hours, savings on every ride, and Alto’s prescheduling feature for booking rides in advance (Pro tip: Lock in your ride when you lock in your dinner reservation!). Join a community of adventurous, in-the-know Houstonians, at only $12.95 a month.
Alto shared the top pick-up and drop-offs that make up their Members most recommended spots — and also happen to be celebrating Houston Restaurant Week! — so you can plan the perfect night out.
Trattoria Sofia A top drop-off among Alto Members, we recommend Trattoria Sofia for authentic Italian with the perfect atmosphere.
The Annie Cafe Another frequent destination, The Annie Cafe and Bar serves classics, totally reimagined.
MAD Houston A spot as innovative as your Alto. Book a ride to MAD for a night of tapas with a twist that are sure to be a new adventure.
Ouzo Bay The Alto team’s go-to modern Mediterranean spot for a perfect night out.
B&B Butchers and Restaurant This upscale steakhouse and traditional butcher shop is a classic Alto favorite.
FLORA A must try this month — FLORA is a culinary journey through the small towns of Mexico with a Texas touch.
Indeed it is. At Maroma, a Belmond hotel owned by LVMH, “luxury” does not mean flashy and extravagant. The entrance is unmarked; guests must drive past verdant jungles and areas where the tree roots rise six feet out of the ground and tangle together like spaghetti to reach the beachfront destination. The high-end touches here are thoughtful, subtle and steeped in convenience, like in-room check-in and check-out — and the well stocked mini bar which is, in fact, a full bar.
The 72-room resort reopened in 2023 after an extensive renovation; authentic Mayan elements and those paying tribute to the Mayan aesthetic — such as curved lines and minimal 90-degree angles — are everywhere. The white arches situated atop the two- and three-story buildings are striking against the bright blue sky, bringing to mind Santorini. Meanwhile, yellow striped umbrellas recall Capri, and a pool seemingly dropped into the middle of a jungle is giving Costa Rica.
Ocean-view suite
Maroma's main pool
Dining al fresco at Casa Mayor
But Maroma is distinctly Mexican. It was actually the first hotel on the now iconic Riviera Maya, which stretches south from Cancun to Playa del Carmen. As such, it occupies the most scenic portion of the bay. Casa Mayor, the resort’s main restaurant, was the first part of the property to open to the public, offering wealthy daytrippers fresh-caught seafood and, eventually, a place to stay overnight. Today, it serves authentic and shareable food on ceramic dishes handmade by local artisans. During the renovation, chef Daniel Camacho explored regional cuisine across Mexico, bringing back all the best flavors and cooking styles to Casa Mayor and also to Woodend, the resort’s Curtis Stone restaurant.
Breakfast is especially delightful, as Maroma’s Tia Olivia handmakes tacos and quesadillas in the restaurant foyer. Guests are invited to further explore the craft of nixtamal, the process of preparing corn for making tortillas; the Nixtamal Journey concludes with an extravagant spread of empanadas, machetes and other antojitos.
One of those luxuriously thoughtful touches is the Maroma “coffee experience.” At a time of your choosing each morning, an artfully carved wooden tray is left outside the door, touting a pitcher of coffee from the state of Hidalgo and all the fixings, each in their own little compartment. Choose your time wisely, though, because you’ll have to snag it before the coatis adorably rifle through your sugar packets.
Another is a personal favorite of this writer: The housekeeping staff is superbly detail-oriented, and will leave hand-painted bookmarks on top of any books you may have brought for beachside reading.
One aspect of Maroma that is conspicuously luxurious, however, is the spa by Guerlain, which “celebrates both Mayan culture and the French maison’s wellness expertise.” Scent and sound rituals, healing massages, hydrotherapy pools — it’s a fully immersive experience that should be given a full day of your itinerary. Exclusive treatments incorporate the honey of local bees, which is purported to heal cataracts and other ailments. Quite buzzy, indeed.
Bambuco, the lobby bar
Local fruit, juices and more at Casa Mayor breakfast
Maroma Spa by Guerlain
Maroma Spa by Guerlain
Maroma from above
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Noir Ball chairs Whitney and Ryan Burns and Allison and Iván Chávez pulled out all the stops in creating a memorable evening shrouded in gothic romance — a la lace veils, caged roses and eerie candelabras. Guests, clad in leather, feathers and fake blood (oh my!), were greeted by waves of thick fog emanating from a rose-petal-filled fountain. Actors portraying Maleficent, Dracula and Wednesday Addams posed for pics with galagoers in between perusing silent-auction items and grabbing a cocktail.
The live auction certainly added some light to the otherwise (purposefully) dark evening: Auction chairs Devorah Krieger and Elizabeth McIngvale-Mackey secured some covetable packages, like an extravagant dinner for 24 inside The Corinthian’s historic vault, complete with a custom menu by Jackson & Co., and centerpieces by Bergner & Johnson Design. A Thomas Markle Jewelers diamond necklace and Lark & Berry diamond earrings were also up for grabs, as was a getaway to a Costa Rican penthouse. A raffle touted a pair of white-gold diamond-encrusted rings from Valobra Master Jewelers.
The cutest part of the night was the puppy auction! K-9 Angels donated two Labrador retriever/Pointer mix rescue pups, who sparked bidding wars and found their forever homes.
The Spazmatics
Iván and AllisonChávez, Whitney and Ryan Burns
Alexandra & Alex Cabraie
William and Natalia Young
Antoinette and Julian Duncan
Veronika and Mark Adler
Ashley Sloan, Kathryn Boeker, Erin Smith, Bethany Buchanan
Travis Boeker, Matthew Mackey
Elizabeth McIngvale-Mackey, DevorahKrieger, Kathryn Boeker
Bo and Courtney Hughes
Cassandra and Ryan Dalton
Tyler and Courtney Hassen, Rana and Todd Hassen
Trey and Kelly Mattson
Deanna Altenhoff, Darren Brasher
Steven and Liz Bender
Michael and Jessica Bertuccio
Evan and Kathleen Shemonsky
Stephanie Wiegand, Laura Hines-Pierce, Mary Catherine Jones
Shawnie and Paul McBride
Freddie Minahan, Stephanie Wilcox
Heather and Mark Teshoian
Rebecca and Bill Adler
Neil Badlani and Rekha Muddaraj
Jake and Carolyn Sabbat
Rayanne Darensbourg
Morgan Allen, Annabel Florescu, Lindsey Collie, Ricky Perusquia
Matt and Maya Pomroy
Lacey and Matt Goossen
Jon and Allison Heine
Lucy and Babatunde Cole
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