Puerto Vallarta, boasts the most exceptional dining of any resort town in Mexico.

Puerto Vallarta has over 250 restaurants. They serve cuisines from around the world. They also offer fresh seafood and regional dishes. Chefs from a number of countries have visited and stayed to open restaurants in Puerto Vallarta. Some of these countries are:

• Italy
• Switzerland
• Germany
• France
• Argentina

The culinary community in Puerto Vallarta, hosts a celebration of this diversity. It is a 2-week-long gourmet dining festival that takes place each November.

Dining in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico includes both high-end options  and small, family-owned restaurants.
There are also local Mexican kitchens and vegetarian cafés.
Puerto Vallarta also has branches of well-known world food-and-fun chains, like:

• Hard Rock Cafe
• Outback Steakhouse
• Hooters

Here are some of Puerto Vallarta, Mexico’s most popular restaurants.

El Planeta Vegetariano

El Planeta Vegetariano is one of the favorite inexpensive local spots. It has branches in both Puerto Vallarta and Marina Vallarta.

Puerto Vallarta Location: Iturbide 270, just down from the main church

Marina Vallarta Location: in Marina del Rey, local L-4

Menu: serves an inexpensive, bountiful, and delicious vegetarian buffet, which changes for breakfast and lunch/dinner

Opening Hours: Monday to Saturday;

Breakfast Hours: from 8 am to 11 am

Lunch and Dinner Buffet Hours: from 11:30 am to 10 pm

Payment Options: no credit cards

Tapas Restaurants

Much of modern Mexico's culture is influenced by Spain. So are Mexico’s culinary traditions. Over the past few years, dining on tapashas has become very popular. Here are some of the many options to enjoy tapas in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.

Barcelona Tapas

Barcelona Tapas is a long-standing restaurant in Perto Vallarta. It is a large and lovely restaurant on a terrace. It is built high on a hillside. Barcelona Tapas also offers sweeping views of the Bay.

Location: Matamoros and 31 de Octobre streets

Menu: tapas and a selection of Spanish entrees, including paella

Opening Hours: from 5 pm to midnight

La Taberna de San Pascual

La Taberna de San Pascual is a cozy eatery in Puerto Vallarta. It is rich in brick walls and dark wood accents.

Location: Corona186 (on popular Corona Street), in the center of downtown

Menu: tapas, created with ingredients imported from Spain; a selection of excellent Spanish wines

La Esquina de los Caprichos

La Esquina de los Caprichos is a tiny tapas place in Puerto Vallarta. It boasts the most reasonably priced tapas in town.

Location: Miramar 402, at the corner of Iturbide

Menu: perhaps the tastiest tapas in Puerto Vallarta

Restaurants in Marina Vallarta

Most of the best restaurants in Marina Vallarta are in hotels. Especially notable are:

Andrea

Location: at Velas Vallarta

Menu: fine Italian cuisine

Nikki Beach

Location: on the beachfront of the Westin Regina Resort

Menu: fusion cuisine

There are other choices for dining in restaurants in Marina Vallarta. They are located along the boardwalk bordering the marina yacht harbor.

A notable stop is the:

Café Max

Location: next to the Vallarta Adventures offices in Condominiums Marina Golf, Local 11

Menu: excellent coffee and espresso drinks, plus pastries and light snacks

Opening Hours: Monday to Saturday from 8 am to 1 pm, and from 4 pm to 10:30 pm

Restaurants South of the Rio Cuale to Olas Altas

The most dense restaurant area is south of the river. Restaurants are concentrated in the street Basilio Badillo, nicknamed "Restaurant Row." There is a second main dining street. Calle Olas Altas offers a variety of cuisines and price categories. This street features cafés and espresso bars along its wide sidewalks. They are generally open from 7 am to midnight.

Jungle Restaurants

One of the unique attractions of Puerto Vallarta, Mexico is its "jungle restaurants".

Location: south of town toward Mismaloya

Jungle restaurants offer open-air dining in:

• A tropical setting by the sea
• Beside a mountain river

Other Features

There are many varieties of "jungle" and "tropical" tours. They include a stop for swimming and lunch.

How to Get There

A taxi is the best transportation for lone travelers. These restaurants are quite far from the main highway. Taxis are usually waiting to bring visitors back to Puerto Vallarta.

Here is the most recommended of the jungle restaurants.

El Nogalito

El Nogalito is ecologically sensitive. It is located beside a clear jungle streamon an exceptionally clean, beautifully-landscaped ranch. El Nogalito is much closer to Puerto Vallarta than the other jungle restaurants.

Location: travel to Punta Negra, about 8 km (5 mi) south of downtown Puerto Vallarta. A well-marked sign points up Calzada del Cedro (a dirt road) to the ranch.

Setting: a shady, relaxing terrace

Menu: lunch, beverages, and snacks

Other Features: several hiking routes depart from the grounds, and the restaurant provides a guide (tip required) to explain the native plants, birds, and wildlife.

Opening Hours: daily from noon to 5:30 pm

Payment Options: No credit cards

Chico's Paradise

Chico's Paradise offers spectacular views of massive rocks. Some rocks are marked with petroglyphs. Prices at Chico’s are higher than in town. Diners pay for the setting.

Location: just past Boca de Tomatlán, at Highway 200, km 20

Setting: offers magnificent views of the surrounding jungle and mountains  

Menu: excellent seafood as well as Mexican dishes. Good quality and generous portions.

Other Features: natural pools and waterfalls for swimming, plus a small mercado selling expensive trinkets

Opening Hours: daily from 10 am to 6 pm

Payment Options: no credit cards