Top food & drink recommendations in Puerto Vallarta
by Dez of My Deztination
Bonito Kitchen & Bar:
A casual and cozy restaurant serving up Asian small plates—from fun improvisations on that theme to faithful renditions of classic dishes that I love! Everyone loves the name “bonito” because it’s both the Spanish word for “beautiful” and the name of one of the most important fish in Japanese cuisine. Thus, it’s the perfect name for a restaurant that seeks to bring Vietnamese and Japanese flavors to Vallarta, taking advantage of our shared love for funk, citrusy brightness, and carefully calibrated spice.
Location:
For reservations at Las Tules, please call 322 259 6958
Ah Caramba:
This is one of my favorite restaurants to bring my family to when they are in town for good seafood and high rise views of the entire bay. Sunset from here is spectacular, and the family owned restaurant has been around for a while so you will love their Mexican seafood recipes!
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Mar y Vino PV:
A new hotel bar located above the Hotel Los Arcos on the Malecon with views of Los Muertos Pier and a shallow pool to rest your tired feet, Mar y Vino is the best new place for sunset views & cocktails in PV!
Wanna go hiking in Puerto Vallarta?
Sky Bar at Pinnacle:
The perfect place for happy hour, Sky Bar’s rooftop cocktail bar has the best views in Vallarta paired with fancy martinis and delicious appetizers. Though this is technically a private condominium building, the bar is open to the public until 9pm.
El Barracuda & Bar Solar:
Popular with the tourists and the locals, El Barracuda & Bar Solar offer fresh oysters, ocean front seating, reggae at night and an awesome beach bar. Located on the ocean in Cinco de Dieciembre, El Barracuda has a full menu and accepts cash only, and is a great place to watch the fire dancers at sunset!
Lindo Mar Resort:
This is one of my favorite ocean front restaurants to go to for breakfast for the cool breeze, strong bloody mary’s and inexpensive buffet. They offer the ‘La Playita Breakfast Buffet’ every Saturday and Sunday from 10am to 1pm for only $199 pesos. Reservations recommended as this place fills up quick! +52 (322) 221-5556
Pepe’s tacos:
With the best tacos al pastor in the city (I dare you to challenge me), Pepe’s tacos NEVER disappoints. I come here at least once a week because the staff is so friendly, the service is consistently great & they are open super late when I’m looking for a midnight snack.
Have you explored this hidden waterfall?
River Cafe:
River Cafe is a great place to go when you are sick of the ocean views (is that possible?) and want to experience a jungle vibe on the river. They have a cute little annex that only has 4 tables above the river, as well as full restaurant seating surrounded by palm trees and lots of chirping birds. Reservations are recommended here especially if you would like seating in the annex - my favorite spot to sit!
El Colibrí Cocktail Bar:
El Colibri, meaning humming bird in Spanish, is a speakeasy jungle garden that serves hand crafted cocktails using regional spirits, Mexican wines and locally brewed beer from the Bay of Banderas. I recently hosted a ladies night event here and we all loved the jungle ambiance!
Bar Océano Restaurante:
Located in the center of the Malecon on the second floor, Bar Oceano Restaurante is a great place for a first date or people watching from above without being bothered by the street vendors.
Chictini by Pinnacle:
An intimate space where their expert mixologists create hand-crafted cocktails from top-shelf liquors, a selective wine list and their famous Happy Hour. Chictini is one of Puerto Vallarta’s best kept cocktail secrets!
Wanna snorkel in Los Arcos?
Cervecería Chapultepec:
This place is great for good food on a budget, with everything on their menu only $20 pesos (~$1 USD). They offer everything from craft beer, sliders, tacos, ahi tuna & jicama & more! I prefer the location in La Marina Vallarta because it offers a quieter ambiance and views of all the boats!
Veggitalia Pizza & Osteria Vegetariana:
One of my favorite Italian restaurants in PV, Veggitalia truly has the best wine, salad, pizza or pasta combo in the city, all with a focus of fresh ingredients, vegetarian options & cozy ambiance right in the center of downtown. This menu is also served at El Colibri Cocktail bar.
The Green Place:
Vegan food has never tasted as good as it does at The Green Place, a locally owned restaurant that I frequent several times a week for their fresh buddha bowls, amazing vegan burgers and summer rolls. I cannot say enough about how delicious their menu is - if you are vegan this is a MUST TRY!
Tuna Azul:
After living in Hawaii for almost a decade I’ve become very picky about the Ahi Tuna I consume, how poke bowls are made and which restaurants have the freshest ingredients. I’ve experimented all over town and found the most authentic Ahí poke, fresh fish and inexpensive menu right in the center of the Romantic Zone!
Kensao Sushi Bar:
If there is anything you should know about me, it’s that I am completely, madly and obsessively addicted to sushi. Hawaii ruined me! I’ve tried every sushi restaurant in town, and the only one I recommend is Kensao in Galerías shopping mall. The sushi in Mexico is a bit different from what I’m used to in Hawaii because they use sriracha and limes in everything, but you wont be disappointed with Kensao!
La Bodeguita del Medio Salsa Club:
Known for the best mojitos in the Bay of Banderas, La Bodeguita del Medio is also a great place for salsa dancing classes with my good friend Israel from Alalibre tours, or freestyle on their dance floor to live Cuban Salsa music every night!
Blondies PV Gay Bar:
Fresh Music. Fresh Drinks. Fresh Air.
Steps from Los Muertos Beach in Old Town P.V., with a SLUSHBAR and open air LOFT. Premium frozen and craft cocktails.
You’ve gotta check out this hippie-chic surfing village!
IK Mixology Bar & Cuisine:
One of Puerto Vallarta’s newer cocktail lounges, IK Mixology Bar is a chic and elegant rooftop bar with views of the ocean, Los Muertos Pier and a great place to catch the evening fireworks just after sunset.
The Iguana at Casa Kimberly:
The Iguana, overlooks the city of Puerto Vallarta and Banderas Bay and serves contemporary Mexican cuisine in an elegant but informal ambience.
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