Restaurants

Diners in Acapulco enjoy stunning views and fresh seafood. The quintessential setting is a candlelit table with the glittering bay spread out before you. If you're looking for a romantic spot, Acapulco brims with such inviting places; most sit along the southern coast, with views of the bay. If you're looking for simple food or an authentic local dining experience, you're best off in Old Acapulco. Cheap, fresh seafood can also be found at any of the simple restaurants in the local "Barra Vieja" neighborhood near Diamante. Many of Acapulco's fine-dining establishments automatically add a small "cover" charge to your bill (which is ostensibly for the bread served when you sit down), which usually amounts to between $2 and $3 per person.

Downtown: The Zocalo Area -- The old downtown abounds with simple, inexpensive restaurants serving tasty eats. It's easy to pay more elsewhere for food that's not as consistently good as in this part of town. To explore, start at the zócalo and stroll west along Juárez. After about 3 blocks, you'll come to Azueta, lined with small seafood cafes and streetside stands.

If There's Pozole, It Must Be Thursday -- If you're visiting Acapulco on a Thursday, indulge in the local custom of eating pozole, a bowl of white hominy and meat in broth, garnished with sliced radishes, shredded lettuce, onions, oregano, and lime, served with crispy tostadas. The traditional version includes pork, but a newer chicken version has also become a standard. You can also find green pozole, which is made by adding a paste of roasted pumpkin seeds to the traditional pozole base. Green pozole is also traditionally served with a side of sardines. For a singular Acapulco experience, enjoy your Thursday pozole at the cliffside restaurant of the Hotel Los Flamingos.

Dining with a View -- Restaurants with unparalleled views of Acapulco include Baikal, Becco, Zibu, and Zuntra in the Las Brisas area; El Olvido along the Costera; Su Casa on a hill above the convention center; and the appropriately named Bella Vista Restaurant at the Las Brisas hotel, which many consider to have the best view of them all.