Discover the Culinary Scene in Puerto Vallarta
I had so much fun savoring the flavorful foods of Puerto Vallarta! It could take over a year, eating two meals a day, to make your way through over 1,000 eateries here. They are located along the beachfront and wind their way high into the hillside. Don’t be fooled into thinking only traditional Mexican food is served. Ingredients worldwide have seeped their way into the cuisine, providing adventures in dining never before imagined. Here are ten choices I recommend for an enjoyable eating out experience day or evening. The Old Town and Zona Romantica neighborhoods are where you will find these delicious culinary options.
Perched high atop Puerto Vallarta is a place for an exciting whale watching experience at dusk while enjoying refreshing margaritas. This well-known bar is atop the Pinnacle Resorts 220 resident building. It is inviting to enjoy a romantic toast or rendezvous for the evening with friends. The views are lovely anytime, and the ambiance is tres chic!
Here is an expansive rooftop open-air setting for that "aahhhh" moment. Fresh calamari with assorted peppers and squash garnished in savory olive oil and lime juice fuse together beautifully. Order from the many choices of tapas or fragrant paella, pair with the happy hour sangria and view the beautiful coastline high above Old Town.
Bravos serves inspired dishes created by inspired people! I had the freshest garlic shrimp with risotto. Hot peppered oil tops it, finished with a fresh cilantro garnish to make it melt in your mouth. There are home-made pasta and meat dishes, like savory pork shank, to enjoy from the menu. Pair anything with their Cadillac margarita, too. I couldn't help but tell the chef, "Delicioso"!
Puerto Vallarta native, chef Fernando Pena, owns this gastronomy gem. The seafood, steaks, coconut shrimp, and tuna tartare are prepared and served to perfection. Here is a very open restaurant concept showcasing walls filled with local artist's works. Even Chef Fernando's beautiful pieces are up to enjoy while dining. You can take a piece home as many of them are offered for sale as well.
A well-known go-to destination for Sunday brunch. Easy to relax outside, wake up with hot coffee and savor their Brioche-style French toast made with a unique twist of house-made orange syrup and almonds. What a taste sensation! Freshly squeezed juice added to their smoothies is a meal in itself as well. Weekends fill fast, but it's worth the wait!
Opened ten years ago when Joe Jack moved from San Francisco to follow his dream of living in Mexico. He offers seafood, including mahi-mahi fish tacos to a grand Friday fish fry. His familiar comfort foods, paired with hand-crafted cocktails, are easy to enjoy on the enclosed first floor or the very lively upstairs open-air terrace.
This family-operated cafe is located on a cozy corner tucked away in the neighborhood. It is a best-kept secret that beckons both locals and tourists. I love the stuffed shrimp burrito and fresh-brew hibiscus tea for mid-day dining. The simple flavors made with detail and love keep me coming back for both lunch and dinner.
This newly opened, July of 2020 restaurant offers Mexican gastronomy with an avant-garde sensibility. They have even provided a once-weekly rotation of regional guest chefs who prepare traditional Mexican dishes and cocktails more modernly. The freshest ingredients are plated to perfection and enticed me to order several dishes. Each tortilla gets embedded with a quelite leaf as a unique garnish, which is a wild green.
This favorite restaurant is where I go to feel at home with beautiful friends, including chef-owner Roberto Gonzalez and his fantastic staff. They welcome all like family. Their sashimi-prepped tuna will melt in your mouth. And, that's just an appetizer! If you have a milestone to celebrate, it can happen here as well! Top it off with their house-made pear tequila.
One of Puerto Vallarta's historic Old Town restaurants started in 1973 and is on the hillside overlooking Banderas Bay's shimmering waters. 'Golden Hour' sunsets viewed from the open-air terraces and rooftop mesmerize my senses. The most demanding of connoisseurs will be satisfied with the cuisine and cocktails. Live music sometimes accompanies the many items prepared tableside, including crepes and flaming coffees. It's fine dining worth celebrating.
This cozy spot located in the Zona Romantica has modern decor, gracious staff, and fabulous service. It is an established gastronomy delight just blocks away from the beach. My appetite was satisfied by nibbling on light appetizers with a specialty cocktail, but a guest can enjoy the heavier fare of Swedish meatballs for dinner.
One of my favorite desserts to finish a great Mexican meal is a flavorful flan. Like key lime pie, everyone has their take on how it's made and presented. The consistency can be different; the burnt-caramel dripping from the top may change from one to another. Definitely, the unmistakable scent of vanilla will be memorable for this decadent happy ending!
Check out my previous blog:
Savor the Flavors of Puerto Vallarta
“Buen Provecho!”
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