PUERTO VALLARTA RESTAURANTS & BARS
The food scene in Puerto Vallarta is diverse and fantastic. From fine dining with romantic views to hole-in-the-wall traditional cooking that feel like they’re straight from mom’s kitchen, you definitely won’t go hungry in Puerto Vallarta!
Cafe des Artistes: $$$$ This restaurant is definitely a pricier option for food but for the quality of the food, the elegance of the service, and the luxury of the vibe, it’s definitely well worth it. I always go for the tasting menu which is worth the price and much cheaper than back in the States.
Iguana Restaurant ***: $$$$. The restaurant within the Casa Kimberly Hotel which was the former home of Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton. Not only is the history iconic, but the food and the views are spectacular. It’s on the fancier side (they even have a collared shirt requirement!). Make reservations early to request seats by the patio ledge during sunset so you have stunning views of the sun setting behind the town of Puerto Vallarta and the Pacific Ocean. The food is equally stellar. It’s definitely a “special occasion” type of place.
La Fina Cucina de Barrio ***: $$$. A hidden gem, tucked a bit of a ways from the action of Puerto Vallarta, but I always make a point to eat here at least one. It’s not fine dining. It’s just high quality, delicious food, set in a friendly and colorful space. Try to call ahead and make reservations because it’s a small restaurant with few tables. The short rib enmoladas and the braised lamb empanadas are my absolute favorite.
Mezcal & Sal: $$. A mezcal bar with whimsical and artistic presentations for both their cocktails and dishes.
Tuna Azul: $$. I love coming here for either my first restaurant stop after checking in to the hotel or a late lunch. Food is delicious. And there’s nothing like sipping one of their fantastic margaritas on the second floor terrace, overlooking the streets of Zona Romantica.
Fredy’s Tucan ***: $$. The perfect breakfast location in the heart of Zona Romantica. Great prices, portions, quality and location to start your day or nurse an early morning hangover. PS. they are cash only!
Pancho’s Takos: $. Popular to both locals and tourists, this hole-in-the-wall restaurant is noticeable because of the long queue that snakes down the street. The pastor tacos and the pork chops were delicious and the portions are generous. They don’t take reservations so you’ll likely have to queue. It’s affordable and for the taste and proportion of the food, it’s worth it. But would I queue in that line again? Probably not. If I happen to pass by and there’s no line, then absolutely, I’d sit down and order an El Pastor in a heartbeat!
BARS
Puerto Vallarta has some of the best bars and night life, with crowds often spilling from the bars into the streets. Gay bars are spread out through Zona Romantica but from my experience, the dancing is concentrated at the intersection of Lazaro Cardenas and Route 200 - look for Mr. Flamingo on one corner and CC Slaughters on the other corner.
There are plenty of other bars and night clubs on the northern part of town along the Malecon. I’ve only been to the ones in Zona Romantica, which I’ll describe below!
Mr. Flamingo: Speaking of Mr. Flamingo, this relaxed, open, tropical themed bar is a great spot to start your night of dancing.
CC Slaughter: I’ve never been here although it’s right across from Mr. Flamingo but it’s generally empty whenever I’ve passed by it.
Industry: The main space is rather small so it gets packed pretty early in the night but the music and drinks are great. They have a second space in the back that does have a cover fee and plays more EDM/circuit music with fun light shows.
Paco’s Ranch: Great late night drag shows in a one floor, open space.
La Noche: Another fun bar with multiple levels. The terrace is a fun area to hang out with friends, while the first floor is great for watching some talented drag performers.
Blondies ***: This is my favorite place in PV for pre-dinner drinks! Their alcohol slushies are the perfect, refreshing cocktail to sip in the heat and are both tasty and strong! The Big Tease slushie is addicting and my personal favorite. They have a great 2 for 1 happy hour special. Their original location is closer to Playa Los Muertos and makes for a perfect cocktail to drink on the beach, but they’re expanding and have a couple of locations closer to Gay Bars also.
STUDS Bear Bar: For the bears and those who love them. Also a leather bar, although there are no strict attires!
Apaches Martini & Cocktail Bar: A smaller, street bar. Cozy with great drinks. Good for happy hour and pre-dinner drinks.
Bar Signature Lounge: *** One of my favorite bar lounges for happy hour and sunset drinks. It’s located in the first floor of the luxurious Pinnacle Resorts and it overlooks Zona Romantica and the ocean. Have a solo drink at the bar, a romantic date on the comfy chairs, or meet up with your group of best friends before a night out.
BEACH CLUBS
You can’t go to Puerto Vallarta without heading to the beach. If you want some of the premium seats, service and food, make sure to check out Beach Clubs. There are many Beach Clubs, especially on Playa Los Muertos. I haven’t been to too many so I can only describe the few that I’ve been to.
Mantamar Beach Club ***: Arguably the most well-known Beach Club on Los Muertos. Mantamar has a large pool area overlooking the beach, a couple of hot tubs, and a second, smaller infinity pool with glass walls on the second floor. Chair reservations on the beach are reasonable but the Cabana reservations by the pool deck are a bit pricey. The pool gets busy and crowded during the afternoon as music starts going. So if that’s your vibe, definitely check out Mantamar. (PS. definitely make reservations ahead of time. The beach chairs go quickly and you may get stuck having to pay for a Cabana as your only option).
Sapphire Ocean Club: Also on Playa Los Muertos, Sapphire has both poolside and beach lounges at a more affordable price point.
La Palapa: This is more of a beach restaurant than a beach club. They beach loungers, excellent service, great food and strong drinks. The vibe here is more for relaxing rather than a hyped beach club.
El Dorado: This is right next to La Palapa. It has similar vibes and functions more like a beach restaurant with loungers than a beach club.