Looking for the very best locations to eat in Puerto Vallarta? Nobody can promise an ideal eating record since it is a huge seashore resort trip vacation spot with tons of of spots to select from. We have eaten our manner throughout the realm a number of instances over time although and have a great sense of which Puerto Vallarta eating places stay as much as the hype, constantly.
First although, a fast geography lesson. There’s a river simply north of the PV airport that separates the state of Jalisco from the state of Nayarit. Jalisco comprises Puerto Vallarta, in addition to the Costalegre area to the south. Riviera Nayarit north of the river comprises Nuevo Vallarta, Bucerias, Punta de Mita, and Sayulita. We’re staying on the southern facet of the river and airport for this text on the place to eat, Puerto Vallarta correct between the Romantic Zone and the marina space.
Note that for those who’re staying at a high-end all-inclusive lodge on this space, you’ll most likely eat extraordinarily nicely. We’ve at all times been particularly impressed with Casa Velas Hotel, which served up this nice dish you see under on my most up-to-date journey.
Mexico could be very kid-friendly, so even with the nicest locations on this record you may carry the entire household if you need except it’s an adults-only lodge like Casa Velas is.
In most months, reservations are beneficial, particularly for the smaller locations: many of those listed under are on Open Table.
Vallarta Marina Restaurants
Sonora Grill Prime
We liked every little thing about this place, from the roaming mixologist’s cart to the slabs of beef introduced out to peruse to the truth that the place appeared to have a staff-to-guest ratio of one-to-one. This homage to beef has loads of different issues on the menu, plus it’s rather a lot much less stuffy than your traditional steakhouse. Judging by the teams of Mexicans and foreigners alike who had a everlasting smile on their face, it is a restaurant to get pleasure from with good pals who aren’t in any hurry to depart.
Sonora Grill is a part of a small chain with different retailers in Guadalajara and Monterrey. More data right here.
Bonus choose: if you need a sundown view of the water whereas consuming or eating, head to the Puerto Vallarta Westin or the sister Marina Marriott property.
Puerto Vallarta Dining within the Hotel Corridor
Madalena
This huge, brash, and noisy restaurant will get some {couples} coming, however Madalena is generally favored by teams of revelers on trip and incentive group vacationers pulling out an expense account bank card. An military of waiters and tableside mixologists makes the rounds and retains tabs on each desk recurrently, holding the drinks and wine flowing and serving up platters of seafood, steaks, and some Mexico-inspired appetizers.
Madalena is billed as a gastropub and it lives u to the identify with a formidable bar choice, craft beer, and pleasant dishes meant to be handed round.
Lamara
I’m undecided we’d have recognized about or discovered this ceviche and aguachile place if we weren’t having our mid-day meal with a neighborhood within the know, nevertheless it was a spotlight of our week. Lamara serves super-fresh seafood in a wide range of ways in which look and style unimaginable, all in huge parts which are greatest handed round.
They even have a full bar, a formidable craft beer record, and good desserts. This is knowledgeable operation that is aware of the place it excels and does it extraordinarily nicely, at very reasonable costs. Lamara is a well-liked spot that continuously has a wait, plus they run out of issues late within the day after they get busy, so the very best guess on when to reach is early afternoon, pre-comida. The greatest place to get extra data is on their Facebook web page.
La Leche
This simply would be the coolest-looking restaurant round, plus it’s probably the greatest most fascinating locations to eat in Puerto Vallarta. La Leche is “The Milk” and the inside is awash in white, however in a playful, creative manner with milk jugs working up the partitions. The menu adjustments recurrently relying on seasonality and the whims of the chef, so anticipate a number of gadgets accomplished nicely from a chalkboard somewhat than an exhaustive printed menu the place you’re undecided what’s good. This is the place we had the prettiest salad within the area, every little thing super-fresh.
Some locals say La Leche has gone down a number of notches because the outdated days when it was run by the unique proprietor, nevertheless it’s nonetheless a enjoyable place for dinner on the principle street between Centro and the Marina space. It’s a favourite with younger revelers filling up their Instagram feed, with a lounge above that stays open late on weekends. See extra right here.
Icú Restaurant
This intimate restaurant in a nondescript, windowless constructing you could possibly simply miss is one in every of Puerto Vallarta’s hottest eating spots. We noticed a number of teams turned away on a weeknight as a result of they didn’t have reservations. There’s an open kitchen the place you may see the cooks at work and a bar the place the mixologist’s expertise are on show as nicely.
Everything we tried right here was wonderful, from the “three textures of beets,” grilled cauliflower, and huitlacoche soup that may all make a vegetarian glad, to the gorgeously introduced catch of the day tacos on blue corn tortillas and tamal of the day that had succulent pork. The web site has nothing however pictures, however you can also make a reservation there and begin salivating.
Top Restaurants in Downtown Puerto Vallarta
Tintoque
Tintoque was once positioned within the Marina space and had a really modern look, however they moved to the Romantic Zone of downtown Puerto Vallarta, accompanied by a extra inside look, some outside seating, and an increase in menu costs.
In as of late of Yelp trolls {and professional} bashers, it’s onerous to discover a restaurant that will get almost unanimous raves, however Tintoque acquired fairly shut for years till a number of missteps after their location transfer. Now subsequent to the river downtown, this standout gourmand spot serves up stunning plates in a vibrant environment with out feeling overly stuffy.
Don’t come right here for big parts, however come for those who’re a foodie who desires to be shocked and delighted with a number of the greatest meals in Puerto Vallarta. See extra on-line right here.
Cafe des Artistes
Thierry Blouet is one in every of Mexico’s best-known movie star cooks, with a restaurant that actually broke new floor when it opened three a long time in the past. It has since gained a slew of awards as probably the greatest eating places in Puerto Vallarta. He now has a number of locations you may strive on this space and a second by the identical identify on the JW Marriott in Los Cabos, nevertheless it’s price making a reservation on the unique for those who’re a fan of nice eating.
Cafe des Artistes has lengthy been described as “Mexican dishes prepared with French techniques,” so that you get the very best of each worlds, particularly for those who go for the tasting menu. You’ll discover rigorously ready tuna, octopus, lobster, and fish, however you may also strive “seared rougié foie gras au mezcal and guava” or”confit suckling pig in black mole.” Visit the official web site right here.
Sendo
Opened a number of blocks away from the spot above, near the Malecon traversing central Puerto Vallarta, Sendo is the most recent entry on this record, making its debut in 2021. While it could appear a bit odd to go to a sushi spot whereas in Mexico, it’s not that odd when you think about that you simply’re subsequent to the ocean and Mexico has its personal uncooked fish dishes as nicely, like ceviche cured in lime juice.
Sendo is the actual deal although, getting raves from Californians used to being served by Japanese masters. You have to depart it within the sushi chef’s palms although: the restaurant makes a speciality of Omasake meals the place you dine on no matter lands in entrance of you, not what you’d see on a menu. Make a reservation right here.
Hacienda San Angel Gourmet
(c) Hacienda San Angel
We’re huge followers of this well-designed boutique lodge in downtown Puerto Vallarta that sits proper above the dome of town’s well-known Parish of Our Lady of Guadalupe. The restaurant at Hacienda San Angel is open to the general public and has a romantic view of the ocean and town lights tumbling down the hillside. There’s a variety of seafood, a number of meat gadgets, and a smattering for vegetarians, similar to ravioli filled with artichokes.
You may need to carry a bank card and a back-up to this spot although: nearly all of the principle dishes are $30-$50. See extra data right here.
The Iguana Restaurant and Tequila Bar
Casa Kimberly is a sister lodge to Hacienda San Angel, the latter was Richard Burton’s residence right here and the previous was the house he purchased for Elizabeth Taylor. The two have been related by a bridge over the slim avenue under. You can keep in her unique bed room with its palatial bathtub at Casa Kimberly, or simply come to this Vallarta restaurant for dinner and really feel her presence with a big interval portrait on the wall.
Follow that hyperlink above for a full rundown on the lodge, however right here’s what my affiliate editor Lydia needed to say in regards to the fashionable restaurant. “The food has hints of Mexican influence but is a wide range of international choices including lambchops, grilled salmon, ceviche, lobster tacos and sea bass. Their desserts are heavenly, all with a Mexican flair, and the wine list is robust.” As the identify would recommend, additionally they have a superb vary of tequila decisions on the bar. Get extra data and make a reservation right here.
Sapphire Ocean Club Bistrot
(c) Sapphire Beach Club
We’ve written earlier than about Mantamar Beach Club in Puerto Vallarta, however the gay-friendly Sapphire Beach Club close by will get the nod as the very best spot within the space for lunch or a sundown dinner. Run by the identical homeowners as Azafran, this Mediterranean waterfront restaurant makes a speciality of grilled seafood and meat, a great wine record, and an open kitchen. The shaded, open-air area crammed with bleached wooden furnishings lets the ocean and colourful dishes provide the colour pops.
You’ll must pay a one-day membership payment to affix the membership right here on the finish of the Old Town Romantic Zone, so come early and benefit from the pool, the seashore palapas, and the enjoyable environment close to the large pier south of Centro. See extra at the Sapphire web site.
Gaby’s Restaurant and Bar
If you get uninterested in stacked-up fairly plates and complex seafood concoctions, come to Gaby’s while you’re within the middle of downtown close to the principle church and gazebo. In enterprise since 1989 in the identical location on three ranges, this Puerto Vallarta Mexican restaurant with patios serves a number of the greatest Mexican meals in Puerto Vallarta for all three meals, the actual cope with no watering down for vacationers.
Visit for good cocktails and genuine delicacies in a enjoyable environment with affordable costs within the coronary heart of the motion. More data right here.
Which Puerto Vallarta Restaurants to Avoid
We hope you discover this rundown on the very best Puerto Vallarta eating places to be helpful in your subsequent journey to the resort metropolis. After all, there are a number of mediocre locations to eat, as in most seashore resort areas, so we hope that can assist you keep out of these. In many circumstances, you could find higher meals at a less complicated native place a number of blocks again and even from a avenue cart.
We usually are not going to name anybody out by identify and say you shouldn’t go there, however if you wish to keep away from boring, overpriced, uninspiring Puerto Vallarta meals on trip, right here’s our tackle which locations to skip:
1) Restaurants that make use of a full-time tout exterior who’s begging you to return in. “Hey guys, ready to eat something?”
2) Restaurants which have their very own merchandise store and menu gadgets with trademark indicators beside them.
3) Restaurants that blast the music so loud you may’t hear one another as a result of, “We need to make sure people know we are open.”
For extra data on the realm, see the official web site for native tourism.
How about you? What Puerto Vallarta eating places stood out for you in your luxurious trip?
Article by Luxury Latin America editor Timothy Scott, all pictures by the author besides the place indicated plus Iguana Restaurant photograph by affiliate editor Lydia Carey.