Puerto Vallarta Restaurants

It’s a really fun experience to leave the resort and travel south along the Bahia de Banderas. Start out on the peninsula of Punta de Mita and continue until you hit the town of Puerto Vallarta. There is a lot of great surfing along the bay and fun water activities to do, including snorkeling, scuba diving, kite surfing, and dolphin encounters. Puerto Vallarta also has the Malecón, a boardwalk that runs along the water and has cafes and shopping. There are several Restaurant Beach Clubs that offer dining inside and on the beach, in lounge chairs and at tables. Here are some great Puerto Vallarta restaurants where you can enjoy a meal during a day of exploring the area.

Archie’s Wok

Photo by Discovery Vallarta

Archie’s Wok is a popular Asian restaurant located in the Romantic Zone of Puerto Vallarta, half a block from the beach. Their cuisine incorporates Thai, Chinese, Filipino, Cambodian flavors. They offer vegetarian and vegan options, a full bar, and live jazz music Thursday through Saturday.

Barcelona Tapas

This tapas restaurant is located a few blocks from the Malecón. They serve modern and traditional, hot and cold tapas, and homemade breads and ice creams. There are a variety of paellas, sangria, special coffees, a Chef’s Surprise Tasting Menu, and Chef’s 5 Course Dinner for 2. The open kitchen allows guests to watch as their food is prepared, and there is indoor and outdoor seating. The wine cellar holds over 600 bottles of domestic and international wines.

Banana Cantina

Photo by Virtual Vallarta

Banana Cantina is located in the Romantic Zone of Puerto Vallarta. The American owners have created a fun dining space featuring a creative and contemporary take on Mexican cuisine.

El Dorado – Puerto Vallarta

El Dorado is one of the most popular Restaurant and Beach Clubs in Puerto Vallarta’s Romantic Zone. They offer Mexican and International food, with an emphasis on seafood. Guests can stay and have a drink while they enjoy the live music and fire pits on the beach at night. El Dorado is a very large beachside restaurant with thatched roofs that was just remodeled last year.

El Arrayan

El Arrayan serves authentic, traditional Mexican dishes that can be very unusual – such as the cricket tacos. Their colorful interior design features Mexican art and creates a fun atmosphere.

Trio

Trio is a multi-level Mediterranean restaurant by two chef owners from Europe. There is an open courtyard, fountain, and Tiffany windows that create a casually elegant atmosphere. They serve several seafood specialties, including snapper, grilled octopus, and soft shell crab.

Café de Olla

Café de Olla is located in Puerto Vallarta’s central district. They serve generous portions of reasonably priced Mexican food. Pulpo ajo, fish tacos, and the seafood platter (lobster, shrimp, fish, vegetables, rice, and garlic bread) are a few of their popular seafood dishes.

Boca Bento Bistro

Boca Bento is located on Puerto Vallarta’s Playa de Los Muertos. Their outdoor dining offers views of the countryside. The menu emphasizes seafood dishes including yellowfin sashimi, tuna tartare with wasabi foam, achiote miso sea bass, and 7 spice salmon with pineapple sauce.

Cilantro’s

Cliantro’s is one block from the Malecon and offers a great view of the cathedral and surrounding town of Puerto Vallarta.  Try their signature Cilantro Margarita, or one of their Mexican inspired seafood dishes, like chipotle cinnamon rubbed strip sirloin, tequila lime prawns, and pan seared tuna with sesame crust and wasabi glaze.

Pincho & Ole’s Tapas Lounge

Pincho’s serves tapas made with ingredients mainly from Spain, including 100% corn fed Iberian ham. The Spanish couple who owns it stocks the restaurant with plenty of Spanish wine and sangria. Pincho’s offers a modern and casually elegant atmosphere. Tapas dishes include black truffled mini potato omelet, croquettes, pan seared beef tenderloin medallions topped with foi gras, as well as paellas and dulce de leche crepes.

Coco’s Kitchen

Coco’s kitchen is located in the southern part of Puerto Vallarta. The interior design is modern rustic, with lots of vegetation and warm colors. There is outdoor garden seating on the patio and live music regularly. They serve a great breakfast and a varied menu that includes brie and mango quesadilla, rose filet mignon with portabello mushroom and wasabi mash, and ginger and pineapple shrimp tacos.

Don Pedro’s

Don Pedro’s is located in front of the surf break in Sayulita. They serve Mexican and American cuisine. Their varied menu offers plenty of meat and seafood options as well as wood fired pizzas.

El Patio de Mi Casa

This is a very small restaurant and bar that features live jazz on Friday and movie night on Monday. They have an intimate nightlife scene and make a great thin rosemary crust pizza with manchengo cheese and spinach.