I knew I was in the right place when I realized that everyone around me was speaking Spanish (which is an uncommon experience at the tourist-oriented restaurants of Ixtapa and Zihuatanejo). The charming Casa Vieja is where locals go to celebrate their special occasions and you’ll understand why after your visit. The lushly planted, open-air dining room is lovely, especially at night when it's softly lit by basket lamps and dozens of twinkling Christmas Tree-type lights. The food is uniformly excellent and broad-ranging. Among the specials are pork pibil (a dish from the Yucatan), dozens of simply grilled entrees (meats and fish with different sauces) and a house-made coffee liqueur with a fun legend behind it that I don’t want to give away here. You’ll be missing out if you don’t start your meal with a bowl of the Sopa Casa Viejo, a refreshingly tart lime-chicken soup that’s studded with strips of coconut, creamy cheese, and perfectly cooked shrimp. Most nights there's live music; the Sunday brunch buffet is legendary.