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Downtown:
Andale Olas Altas 425. Popular for
serving traditional international favorites at pleasing prices, including
the catch of the day cooked to order. Tel. 2-1054.
Archie's Wok Francisca Rodriguez 130.
Try their Thai garlic shrimp or spicy stirred vegetables, and numerous
vegetarian delights. And don’t miss their Szechuan Margarita! Tel. 2-0411.
Bai Sri Restaurant & Bar
Pulpito 242 Altos Zona Romantica. Thai & Vietnamese Food. (01) 322-223-8480
Bombo's Corona 327. Flambées tableside
are a house specialty. Enjoy their papaya or kiwi margaritas while watching
the sunset. An establishment known for its excellent cuisine and attention
to detail. Tel. 2-5164.
Café des Artistes Guadalupe Sanchez
740. Innovative gourmet dishes and delectable desserts served in an
attractive and creative setting. The house specialty is duck roasted in
honey and soy sauce and served with tepache (a pineapple vinegar sauce).
Tel. 2-3228.
Café Maximilian Olas Altas 380-B.
Innovative Mexican dishes and traditional Austrian favorites. A favorite
dish is pounded beefsteak piled high with onion rings and sautéed potatoes.
Tel. 3-0760.
Cafe Olé Basilio Badillo 283.
Traditional French dishes with Asian and Mexican spices. Fine cuts of beef
and exceptional seafood are served with a wide variety of sauces. Tel.
2-2877.
Carlos O’Brian’s. Diaz Ordaz 786. Directions aren’t necessary—just ask
anyone. Always filled with the younger set from Mexico and everywhere else.
Tel. 2-1444.
Chef Roger Agustin Rodriguez 267. The
gourmet dishes are prepared by Swiss owner-chef Roger Dreier. A favorite of
foreign and local residents. Tel. 2-5900.
Cuiza. Isla Rio Cuale 3 Try the
toasted sesame and garlic coated fillet of red snapper, pan grilled and
served with a tropical chili and fruit sauce, or a meal of their tantalizing
appetizers. Tel. 2-5646.
Daiquiri Dick's Olas Altas 314. This
airy beachfront restaurant is popular for its California cuisine with a
Mexican touch, and its emphasis on grill cooking. Tel. 2-0566.
El Palomar de Los Gonzalez Aguacate
425. Excellent seafood and meat dishes in a romantic Mexican setting:
tropical plants, waterfall, seating around a pool terrace. Spectacular view.
Tel. 2-0795.
Felipe's Prolongacion Insurgentes 466.
On a hill with a great view of the city and bay, this open-air terrace
restaurant offers dining on two levels, with a small pool in the center,
personalized service, excellent cuisine. Tel. 2-4599.
Hard Rock Cafe Diaz Ordaz 652. Member
of the world-renowned restaurant-bar chain featuring wall-to-wall rock
memorabilia and tasty American classics. Tel. 2-5532.
La Palapa Pulpito 103. Serving seafood
specialties since 1959. Sunset transforms the ambiance with live guitar
music and candlelight for a romantic tropical dining experience. Tel.
2-5225.
Le Bistro Jazz Cafe Isla Rio Cuale 16.
This leading restaurant has a unique, garden setting beside the river and an
attractive lounge bar featuring jazz tunes. Tel. 2-0283.
Los Arbolitos Calle La Rivera 184. The
excellent Mexican and seafood dishes, homemade flour or corn tortillas,
reasonable prices and giant margaritas have made this spot a local favorite.
Tel. 3-1050.
Mama Mia Basilio Badillo and Pino
Suarez. This well-known San Miguel de Allende eatery has come to Puerto
Vallarta with delectable international cuisine. Tel. 2-1188.
Nanahuatzin Olas Altas 336. A
beachside pala featuring a great view of the ocean and sunsets, and
traditional seafood and Mexican dishes with a modern twist. Tel. 2-0577.
Planet Hollywood Morelos 518. A
restaurant-bar featuring Hollywood memorabilia and California-style cuisine.
Tel. 3-2710.
Señor
Mister Pepe’s Basilio Badillo
Charcoal-grilled Harris beef imported from California, lobster tail, shrimp
and scallops are the specialties of this fine family-run restaurant. Tel.
2-2732.
Sr. Chico's Pulpito 377. Excellent
international and seafood dishes served on a pleasantly cool and romantic
terrace with a great view. Tel. 2-3570.
The River Cafe Isla Rio Cuale 4. This
attractive riverbank restaurant offers alfresco dining on a terrace. The
menu features international and Mexican favorites. Tel. 3-0788.
Tutifruti Morelos 552. A popular soda
fountain specializing in natural fruit juices and smoothies, fresh fruit
plates, breakfasts, chunky sandwiches and hamburgers.
Hotel Zone:
Bogart’s Krystal Vallarta hotel. Chic
and exotic Moroccan decor features a white interior with reflecting pools,
fountains, and waiters in white turbans. Excellent international cuisine
with flaming specialties and a noteworthy rack of lamb. Tel. 4-0202.
Kamakura. Krystal Vallarta hotel. Craving authentic, tasty Japanese cuisine?
This is the place. Tel. 4-0202.
La Hacienda Fiesta Americana hotel.
This attractive restaurant decked with Talavera ceramics celebrates Mexican
cuisine with several exotic dishes, including garden salad made with Mexican
flowers. Tel. 4-2010.
Las Gaviotas Sheraton Buganvilias
hotel. An elegant restaurant with a tropical setting, excellent
international cuisine and attentive service. Tel. 3-0404.
Los Portales Hacienda Buenaventura
hotel. Lovely garden setting for good Mexican and international food. Tel.
2-6667.
Tango Krystal Vallarta hotel.
Argentine decor and cuisine. Steaks are the specialty, and they are
delicious. Tel. 4-0202.
Tarantino’s Francisco Medina Ascencio
1952. A five-time winner of Mexico’s Eagle award for quality and
presentation, Trantino’s serves 18 varieties of pizza and other Italian
favorites. Tel. 4-3939.
Villaventura Hacienda Buenaventura
hotel. Well-prepared and reasonably-priced Mexican and international dishes
served in a spacious palm-roofed restaurant. Tel. 2-3737.
Marina:
Alfredo’s Puesta del Sol Club de Tenis,
Local 17. Italian cuisine served indoors or outdoors on a terrace
overlooking the marina. Try their Pizza Cardinale, with tomato, cheese,
mushrooms and bacon, as well as their American- or Mexican-style breakfasts.
Personalized attention from owner Francis Duncan. Open 8 a.m. to midnight.
Tel. 1-0262.
Andrea. Velas Vallarta hotel. A delightful restaurant for a delicious
breakfast or a gourmet dinner served in an elegant setting. Open 7:30 to
11:30 a.m. and 7 to 11 p.m. Tel. 1-0091.
Captain Morgans Puesta del Sol Club de
Tenis. Yachting enthusiasts and landlubbers alike will enjoy the tasteful
nautical decor and exceptional cuisine, which includes hearty dishes of
every kind of seafood (lobster, fish, shrimp, king crabs), as well as
steaks, crisp salads, snacks and BBQ ribs. On the lower level are two bars
(one a piano bar). Dining upstairs is on a patio overlooking the marina.
Open 11 to 1 a.m. Tel. 1-0262, ext. 1019.
El Candil Sierra Plaza hotel. Elegant
and exquisite, this is a perfect choice for that special occasion. Gourmet
international cuisine served in tiered seating with a wraparound view of
beautifully manicured gardens. Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Tel.
1-0800.
Garibaldi Westin Regina hotel.
Informal and fun, this open-air restaurant under a giant palapa features a
great view of Banderas Bay, and a wide selection of fresh seafood and
Mexican specialties served by singing and dancing waiters. Try the grilled
red snapper in an adobe sauce or coconut-battered shrimp served with a
tequila-mango dip. After dinner there’s dancing in the bar, which features
more than 100 different tequilas! Open for lunch and dinner (for breakfast
during the season). Tel. 1-0322.
La Taberna
Puesta del Sol Club de Tenis. Great drinks and appetizers served in a
tavernlike interior, with plenty of TV screens for viewing sporting events.
Tel. 1-0262, ext. 451.
La Terrazza di Roma Puesta del Sol
Club de Tenis, Local 2. Traditional Italian classics, from calamary to
brick-oven pizzas, prepared with imported basic ingredients by a native
Italian chef. Enjoy the view of luxury yachts moored in the harbor. Is it
Puerto Vallarta or Porto Fino? Open 7 a.m. to midnight. Tel. 1-0560.
Mikado Marriott hotel. The price of
dinner includes a show as expert chefs show off their teppanyaki-style
cooking skills right at your table, from slicing and dicing to searing and
sautéing. Beautiful decor and outstanding service. Open 6 to 11 p.m.
Reservations recommended: 1-0004.
Porto Bello Marina Sol mall. This
elegant Italian restaurant offers lunch or dinner in an art nouveau-style
dining room or on a spacious patio overlooking Marina Vallarta. The
specialties include veal scaloppine in a white wine cream sauce, fusilli
with artichokes and black olives in a lemon and basil sauce, and frozen
espresso soufflé. Open noon to 11 p.m. Tel. 1-0003.
Sazon Las Iguanas mall, second floor.
Updated versions of traditional Mexican dishes served under a grand palapa.
Eclectic decor, innovative cuisine and an oversized bar area where courtesy
appetizers frequently accompany drinks make this spot an excellent dining
option. There’s even a small dance floor under the stars and a sophisticated
sound system. Open 6 p.m. to midnight. Tel. 1-0681.
Tarantino’s Francisco Medina Ascencio
2600. A five-time winner of Mexico’s Eagle award for quality and
presentation, Trantino’s serves 18 varieties of pizza and other Italian
favorites. Free home and hotel delivery. Open noon to 11:30 p.m. Tel.
1-2323.
Valentino’s Plaza Iguana Marina
Resort. This pleasant restaurant decked with studio portraits of Rudolph
Valentino and his leading ladies, is known for its friendly, attentive
service, and fine international fare with Italian specialties. Warm fresh
bread and creamy butter get the meal off to a great start. Menu favorites
include crispy grilled shrimp in a horseradish sauce, pasta marinara,
fetuccini Alfredo, and chateaubriand for two. Pasta lovers should try their
two-for-the-price-of-one special every Tuesday from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Pick-up
service. Open 6 p.m. to midnight. Tel. 1-0880.
South:
Azulejos Camino Real hotel. Excellent
Mexican and international dishes, an ocean view, and dining in
air-conditioned, indoor comfort, or on an open terrace. Tel. 1-5000.
Chico’s Paradise. Km. 20 on the highway to Manzanillo. Specialties include
spareribs, crawfish, black bean soup and coconut pie. It’s a pleasant drive
from town and a fun way to spend the afternoon. Tel. 2-0747.
Coral Presidente Inter-Continental
hotel. Gourmet specialties served in a romantic, colonial setting. Great
view of the bay. Tel. 8-0507.
El Caribeño Presidente
Inter-Continental hotel. A casual open-air restaurant with a spectacular
view of the bay. The varied menu offers international and seafood dishes.
Tel. 8-0507.
El Set Conchas Chinas, at Km. 2.5 of
the Barra de Navidad Highway. For more than 20 years, this charming,
multilevel, cliffside restaurant has been offering good Mexican and
international fare along with a spectacular view of the ocean. Tel. 1-5342.
Finestra Camino Real hotel. Fine
Italian cuisine and probably the largest antipasto bar in town. Delightful.
Tel. 1-5000.
John Huston’s Seafood Restaurant Just
south of La Jolla de Mismaloya hotel. Named in honor of the director who
helped put Vallarta on the map, this casual restaurant features seafood and
regional specialties accompanied by a beautiful view of Mismaloya Bay. Tel.
8-0660.
La Iguana Italiana La Jolla de
Mismaloya hotel. This attractive restaurant features Italian cuisine. Tel.
8-0660.
La Perla Camino Real hotel. Innovative
gourmet international and Mexican cuisine in a romantic setting with live
piano music and a panoramic view. Tel. 1-5000.
Maria Bonita Camino Real hotel.
Mexican specialties from different parts of the country served in colorful
Mexican-style surroundings. Tel. 1-5000.
The Set of the Night of the Iguana
Just south of La Jolla de Mismaloya hotel. An informal restaurant-bar with
live music. The international fare includes charcoal-grilled steaks, whole
fish, and seafood specialties, including shrimp in tequila. Tel. 8-0660.
North:
Don Pedro's On the beach in the small
fishing village of Sayulita, just a half hour north of Puerto Vallarta’s
airport. A two-level restaurant-bar housed under a giant palapa with views
of the ocean and jungle. Gourmet Mediterranean cuisine with a touch of the
tropics. Tel. (327) 5-0229.
Special:
Tino’s Avenida 333, in Pitillal. A 10
to 15-minute drive from the hotel zone or marina, this colonial-style
restaurant-bar is famed for serving some of the best seafood in the area.
Tel. 4-5584.
Night Spots:
Andale Bar Olas Altas 125. Fun and
noisy, this video bar is very popular with locals and tourists. Tel. 2-1054.
Baby Rock
Las Iguanas mall. A newly-opened disco and concert hall. Open every day.
Tel. 1-0997.
Carlos O’Brian’s Diaz Ordaz 786. One
of Vallarta’s most popular nightspots. Always packed. Tel. 2-1444.
Champions Marriott hotel. A
sports-theme bar with a dance floor. Good decor, good food, good service and
lots of fun. Tel. 1-0004.
Christine Krystal hotel. Probably the
most popular nightspot in town. Tel. 4-6990.
Club Roxy Ignacio Vallarta 217. Live
jazz, blues, pop rock and dance tunes from 9:30 on for thirtysomethings.
Tel. 3-2404.
Collage One of Vallarta’s newest
discos is at the heart of this multimedia entertainment center, which also
includes restaurants, bars, a bowling alley and pool hall. Open 11 to 4 a.m.
Tel. 1-0505.
Diva Ignacio Vallarta, downtown.
Modern, plush, and elegant, with one of the best DJ’s in town. Tel. 2-0719.
El Faro Royal Pacific Yacht Club. A
charming lighthouse-style cocktail lounge provides a stupendous view of the
bay, including Nuevo Vallarta, and a picture-perfect sunset. An ideal place
to spend an evening. The guitarist starts playing romantic tunes about 9
p.m. Tel. 1-0233.
Friday Lopez Fiesta Americana hotel.
Karaoke bar. A fun place to meet people. Tel. 4-2010.
Hard Rock Café. Diaz Ordaz 652. Live rock ’n’ roll every night from 10 p.m.
to closing. Tel. 2-5532.
Jokes "R" Us Morelos 460. This new
comedy club features guest comedians from Saturday Nite Live and The Tonight
Show, as well as Las Vegas and Atlantic City. Reservations needed: 2-6019.
Kit Kat Club Pulpito 120. A retro
cocktail lounge that brings back the drinks, the tunes and the look of
yesteryear.
La Taberna Puesta del Sol Club de
Tenis, Local 1. A beautiful circular bar surrounding an aquarium. Tapas
(light snacks) and excellent drinks served in air-conditioned comfort or
outside on a terrace. Pool, satellite TV for sporting events, good jazz.
Open noon to 1 a.m. Tel. 1-0262, ext. 451.
Planet Hollywood Morelos 518. Dancing
surrounded by wall-to-wall Hollywood memorabilia. Tel. 3-2710.
Zapata Diaz Ordaz 522. Live Latin
American folk music. Tel. 2-4748.
Zoo Diaz Ordaz 630. A deli by day and
a discotheque by night, where the music ranges from techno to reggae. Tel.
2-4945.
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