Portofino — Restaurant in Cancún

Portofino at Dreams Sands Cancun – Elegant Dining with a Sour Sip at the End ⭐️⭐️⭐️ (3/5)

We had dinner last night at Portofino, one of the fine dining restaurants at Dreams Sands Cancun, and overall, the experience started off on a high note.

The food — from salads and appetizers to the main courses and desserts — was excellent. Every dish was well-prepared, flavorful, and beautifully plated. For an all-inclusive resort, having a place like Portofino felt like a true upgrade — a fine dining experience included in your stay.

We were seated in the private dining room, which made the evening feel even more special. Typically, they don’t take reservations, but if you’re willing to purchase a bottle of wine, they’ll sometimes allow you to reserve a table and that private space.

Our server, Antonio, was hands down the highlight of the night. He was attentive, professional, and went above and beyond to make sure we were happy. The atmosphere was cozy, but the room was quite warm, and even at 9 PM I was sweating — not ideal for guests or for wine storage.

That brings me to the downside.

We originally requested a $200 bottle of wine, but were told it was unavailable. The manager recommended another bottle, saying it would be the same price. At the end of the meal, though, the bill showed $250, and he pointed to the menu to justify it. We didn’t want to cause trouble, so we agreed to pay, but we did mention that the wine had a slightly sour aftertaste — probably due to it being stored in that same warm room we were dining in.

We thought that would be the end of it.

But the next morning at checkout, we were told we had two unpaid bills: one for $150, and another for $252 USD. Apparently, we were being charged for bottles we never ordered or drank. We were late for our shuttle waiting for us outside, but had to sort the whole thing out. Thankfully, after speaking with a resort manager, the incorrect charges were removed — but it created stress that could’ve easily been avoided.

If not for the billing mix-up and wine handling, this would’ve been a 5-star experience. But in the end, it’s 3 stars — a balance between the magic they got right… and the missteps...

This is part of the all-inclusive Dreams Sands Hotel. Probably our least favorite out of all of their restaurants.

Maybe we had an off night, but our service was slow and the food was not great. First, they under-quoted us on our wait time for a table. We sat and waited for over an hour when they told us 45 minutes. It happens, not the end of the world, but then, we waited for nearly an hour before our dinner came out. The appetizers and salads were yummy, but it was exhausting waiting. They wouldn’t refill our drinks unless we begged and then finally when the food came out the pasta was dry and cold. The desserts were...

If you go there after 20:30, you may need to wait for around 50 minutes. So I recommend going there before 20:00. The service and presentation were great and all the appetizers we had were fantastic. I recommend seafood risotto, caprese salad, spinach salad and breaded mozzarella cheese. Spaghetti were al dente, but I prefer olive oils instead of butter to be used. I wish they had more varieties for pasta menu. The air conditioning was really weak, so I felt sorry for my husband, as he had to wear long pants, due to the...