Mindful drinking with an eye on wellness can mean ordering a zero-proof or low ABV cocktail instead of one that’s boozy and stirred, or slowly savoring one glass of wine instead of tossing back two or three. But sometimes, where you’re sipping a beverage can have just as much of a positive effect on your mind, body and spirit as what’s in your glass.

At least that’s what I discovered during a weekend escape from a seemingly endless winter at Secrets and Dreams Bahia Mita, two beachfront resorts near Puerto Vallarta that opened in 2021. Here, a combined 24 restaurant and bar concepts are joined by nine poolscapes perched on rooftops, installed a few floors above the lobby spanning the length of the building and situated adjacent to a sandy/rocky surfer beach. The Sierra Madre Mountains provide a dramatic backdrop, jutting over the horizon and occasionally shrouded in misty clouds. If you time your visit with migration season, you might spot playful baby whales learning to swim in the relatively shallow waters. The resorts mirror each other — the former adults-only, the latter family-friendly — yet wherever I found myself, it was never more than a few steps away from a good drink or a soul-quenching vista.

Coconut Mojito at SkyBar pool © Kelly Magyarics

Sipping a coconut mojito in the infinity pool at the adults-only beach club gave me a front-row vantage point to watch groups of surfers idling in the swell, waiting to catch that epic wave. Did I want to set up a surf lesson during my stay?, asked the activities director. No, gracias, I told him; I’d stick to morning beachfront yoga on dry land.

After class, I visited the spa for a deep-tissue massage followed by a citrus-infused aqua fresca at Revive Bar. I sank into a seat in the relaxation area, watching a circular curtain of water fall from a round, cavernous structure I later learned was inspired by a rock formation at famous Lover’s Beach on nearby Marietaas Islands. I could view those islands from my alfresco table at sixth-floor, seaside Mediterranean restaurant Olio, where I lingered over a refreshing glass of zesty Chilean Sauvignon Blanc while lunching on a tempura roll and a compressed watermelon, feta and arugula salad.

Along with conveniences such as dedicated check-in and check-out, butler service and upgraded in-room amenities, preferred guests enjoy access to the eighth-floor SkyBar pool and lounge, among other perks. The sweeping panoramic views from a Bali bed come with menu options such as a strawberry and guava mezcalita and Vallarta-style ceviche, where finely-chopped mahi mahi cooks in its lime marinade.

Preferred guests also have access to the resort’s newest beverage offering: in-room tea service. I was tickled to answer my door late one afternoon to my butler wheeling a cart stocked with tisanes infused with local fruits, flowers and coconut and a three-tiered platter of finger sandwiches, fruit tarts, cookies and macarons.

After a day in the sun and overdue for a little nosh, I devoured it all from the soaking tub on my ocean-view balcony. But the most restorative imbibing experience by far occurred at what’s both the most picturesque and most under-the-radar nook on the entire property. Beachfront bar Barracuda’s is a fun spot to grab ceviche tostadas during the day, but it’s a perfect locale to watch the sun drop away. Nestled into a patio sofa, gazing at straw lanterns lazily swinging in trees and the sky transforming into an orange hue that matched my tangy passion fruit margarita, I blissfully soaked up every zen-filled drop of PV’s serene, sea spray-tinged shoreline.