Restaurants in Puerto Vallarta and the Riviera Nayarit
Puerto Vallarta has an exceptional dining scene. Over 250 restaurants serve cuisines from around the world, in addition to fresh seafood and regional dishes. Chefs from France, Switzerland, Germany, Italy, and Argentina have come for visits and stayed to open restaurants. In celebration of this diversity, Vallarta's culinary community hosts a gourmet dining festival each November. Prices below include the 16% IVA tax.
Of the inexpensive local spots, one favorite is El Planeta Vegetariano, Iturbide 270, just down from the main church (tel. 322/222-3073), serving an inexpensive and delicious vegetarian buffet, which changes for breakfast and lunch/dinner. It's open daily. Breakfast (50 pesos) is served from 8am till noon; the lunch and dinner buffets (75 pesos) are served from noon to 10pm; no credit cards are accepted.
Tapas, Anyone? -- Certainly much of modern Mexico's culture draws on the important influence of Spain, so it only makes sense that Spanish culinary traditions would be evident as well. Of the many options, these are my favorites: the long-standing Barcelona Tapas, Matamoros and 31 de Octubre streets (tel. 322/222-0510), a tapas bar located up a set of stairs on a hillside, with sweeping views of the bay. In addition to tapas and a selection of Spanish entrees, including paella, it offers sangria and a fine selection of wines from noon to 11:30pm. La Esquina de los Caprichos, Miramar 402, corner of Iturbide (tel. 322/222-0911), is a tiny place near Hacienda San Angel known as having the most reasonably priced (35-85 pesos) tapas in town, and perhaps the tastiest. Hours are Monday through Saturday from 8:30am to 10pm; cash only. It closes in August.
Marina Vallarta
Most of the best restaurants in the Marina are in hotels, but a number of quality options line the boardwalk bordering the marina yacht harbor, as well.
South of the Río Cuale to Olas Alatas
South of the river is the densest restaurant area, where you'll find Basilio Badillo. A second main dining drag has emerged along Calle Olas Altas, with a variety of cuisines and price categories. Cafes and espresso bars, generally open from 7am to midnight, line its wide sidewalks, and there are a number of casual seafood eateries open along the beachfront during high season. A wonderful farmers market takes place on Olas Altas Saturdays from 10am to 2pm.
22 Results
- Mexican
Agave Grill
Agave Grill has gradually taken over the space at the Casa de Tequila in central downtown. The location is lovely, in a beautiful garden setting within a classic hacienda-style building. Start with fresh salsa made at your table (spiced to your preference), and follow with the pulpo…$Downtown - Asian
Archie's Wok
Since 1986, Archie's has been legendary in Puerto Vallarta for serving original cuisine influenced by the intriguing flavors of Southeast Asia, and today the restaurant remains as impressive as ever. Archie was Hollywood director John Huston's private chef during the years he spent…$$$South of the Rio Cuale to Olas Altas - Mexican
Café de Olla
One of my favorite Vallarta restaurants, the Café de Olla serves up the most consistently delicious Mexican food in town. The atmosphere is simple and festive, and the typically packed dining room is served by a staff that's quick and efficient. Large portions of enchiladas,…$South of the Rio Cuale to Olas Altas - French Fusion
Café des Artistes
Though born in Puerto Rico, chef/owner Thierry Blouet, has come to exemplify all things French in Puerto Vallarta, and to be fair, he was raised and trained in France (he holds the honor of being both a French Academie Culinaire and a Maitre Cuisinier de France). His menu relies…$$$Downtown Puerto Vallarta - Austrian
Café Kaiser Maximilian
Designed to resemble a 19th-century Viennese cafe, Kaiser Maximilian presents a distinctly European, not Mexican, atmosphere. It's the prime place to go if you want to combine exceptional food with great people-watching. Austrian-born owner Andreas Rupprechter is almost always on…$$$South of the Rio Cuale to Olas Altas - Cafe
Café San Angel
This eclectic sidewalk cafe is a favorite gathering place from sunrise into the wee hours. For breakfast, choose a three-egg Western omelet, such Mexican classics as huevos rancheros or chilaquiles, or a tropical fruit plate. Deli sandwiches, flavorful salads, sweet and savory…$South of the Rio Cuale to Olas Altas - Mexican/International
Choco Banana
Visitors and locals alike consider this bustling café the unofficial social club for the town. It’s right off the zocalo (town square), and it’s the place to go if you want to hear local gossip or find out about some of the area’s more hidden surfing beaches. Started by a local who…$Sayulita - International
Daiquiri Dick's
While Puerto Vallarta is replete with ideal "people-watching" perches, come to Daiquiri Dick's if you want to enjoy some fantastic "food-watching." Each dish is festively prepared, served steaming hot from the kitchen and bursting with color and artistic garnishes. You'll be tempted…$$Downtown - International
Don Pedro's
A large, two story palapa-roofed structure, set right on the beach (at lunch you can watch the surfers attack the waves), Don Pedro’s is a friendly place, with food that’s friendly for tourists: pizzas, fish sandwiches, stir fries. No, it’s not all that Mexican, but the food is of…$$Sayulita - Mexican
El Arrayán
No fusion here! Arrayán proudly serves up classic Mexican cuisine in a brick-walled, cozy room and open air dining area (in its own courtyard) filled with folk art, the tables topped with cheery, floral-print tablecloths. You'll want to prime for dinner with one of the arrayan…$Puerto Vallarta Centro - Seafood
El Delfin
You don't expect to find a Cordon Bleu-trained chef at the helm of a restaurant in small, off–the–beaten track town in Mexico. But when Betty Vasquez graduated (with honor, we're guessing) she decided to leave Paris and come back and help her mother and sister at this family-owned…$$San Blas - Mexican
Fajita Republic
Fajita Republic has hit on a winning recipe: delicious food, ample portions, welcoming atmosphere, and low prices. The specialty is, of course, sizzling fajitas, grilled to perfection in every variety: steak, fish, chicken, vegetarian, shrimp, combo, and occasionally lobster. This…$South of the Río Cuale to Olas Altas - Mexican
Hacienda San Angel
The exquisite beauty of the Hacienda, as well as the city lights and shimmering bay, are proudly displayed for diners at this special location. The menu changes periodically and features Mexican-infused international cuisine. Starters include crispy fried calamari with a selection of…$$Downtown - Mexican
La Palapa
This beachside palapa restaurant defines enchantment, a decades-old favorite with beautiful amber lamps, candles, and lanterns illuminating the night. With each visit, I've been impressed by the quality of the food and service. For lunch and dinner, seafood is the specialty; dishes…$$$South of the Río Cuale to Olas Altas - French
Le Fort
An evening here begins with champagne smiles as privileged diners watch chef-owner Gilles Le Fort prepare their gourmet meal. The U-shaped bar adjacent to the kitchen accommodates the guests, who sip kir royales and nibble on homemade terrine while the master works. Chef Le Fort is…$$$Bucerías - Italian
Mezzogiorno
The owners of this popular oceanfront trattoria built a reputation with their Mezzaluna restaurant in Vallarta and then moved the business to their former home in Bucerías. It's one of the most attractive dining options north of Vallarta, in a sleekly restored home overlooking the…$$$Bucerías - Japanese
Mikado
Surrounded by koi ponds next to the CasaMagna Marriott, this fun teppanyaki-style restaurant is a favorite among families and celebratory groups. Up to eight people gather around each of the communal tables with a built-in steel grill, as the Mexican-turned-Japanese chef puts on a…$$$Marina Vallarta - Japanese
Nicksan
The jump from ceviche to sushi isn't really such a big one. That's the conclusion I came to after gorging on the raw-fish concoctions at this delightful Mexican/Japanese fusion restaurant, part of a small chain (the original is in Mexico city). In fact, after dining here, you may…$$Nuevo Vallarta - Italian
Porto Bello
One of the first restaurants in the marina, Porto Bello serves flavorful Italian dishes to the backdrop of docked sailboats and motor yachts. For starters, the fried calamari is delicately seasoned, and the grilled vegetable antipasto could easily serve as a full meal. Signature…$$$Marina Vallarta - Mexican
Red Cabbage Café
The tiny, hard-to-find cafe is worth the effort—a visit here will reward you with exceptional traditional Mexican cuisine and a whimsical crash course in contemporary culture. The small room is covered wall-to-wall with photographs, paintings, movie posters, and news clippings about…$South of the Rio Cuale to Olas Altas - Fusion
Vista Grill
Resting on the sands of Los Muertos Beach, the Vista Grill offers food that's almost as exquisite as its views of the bay at sunset. A canny fusion of Mexican and Continental techniques and ingredients, this is elegant, inventive and artfully fare (which may be why so many locals…$$$Puerto Vallarta Centro - International
Vitea
This artistic bistro is run by the acclaimed chef/owners of Trio, whom many consider to serve Vallarta's best food. It's no surprise then that the fresh, healthy dishes here make Vitea another favorite among locals. Due to strategically placed mirrors on the back wall, every seat has…$$Downtown
