Puerto Vallarta Food & Drink: 10 Restaurants + 12 Local Bites | Visita Vallarta
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Mexican Pacific Flavors

Food & Drink in
Puerto Vallarta

Vallarta's most loved restaurants and the local bites you absolutely have to try.

🍽️ Restaurants

10 must-visit restaurants

From fine dining at Café des Artistes to beachside seafood at Joe Jack's — every taste of Vallarta.

1
🥘

Barcelona Tapas

Tapas

Spanish tapas and a stunning view of the bay. Yes, it's a lot of stairs — totally worth it.

2
🐟

La Palapa

Beachfront

Los Muertos beach icon since 1959. Dine with your toes in the sand and tiki torches at sunset.

3
🎨

Café des Artistes

Fine dining

Chef Thierry Blouet's fine dining masterpiece. French–Mexican fusion in a magical garden.

4
🌆

Vista Grill

View

Panoramic terrace with the best night view of the bay. Built for celebrations.

5
🌶️

El Arrayán

Mexican

Traditional Mexican cuisine with recipes from across the country. Colorful, authentic atmosphere.

6
🕯️

Hacienda San Ángel Gourmet

Romantic

One of Vallarta's most romantic spots. Rooftop with a direct view of Our Lady of Guadalupe Church.

7
🧪

La Leche

Avant-garde

Cutting-edge creative cuisine. Menu changes daily based on the chef's inspiration and market finds.

8

Tintoque

Chef-driven

Contemporary Mexican cuisine on the Cuale river. Local ingredients, surprising flavor combinations.

9
🦞

Joe Jack's Fish Shack

Casual

Fresh seafood in a casual setting. Award-winning fish tacos and generous margaritas.

10

Café de Olla

Budget

Authentic Mexican breakfast and lunch at affordable prices. A locals' favorite for years.

🌮 Local Bites & Street Food

12 things you must eat in Vallarta

🐠

Pescado Zarandeado

Iconic

Whole fish butterflied open and grilled over wood with a local marinade. The signature dish of the Nayarit coast.

🌮

Smoked Marlin Tacos

Unique

A Vallarta tradition. Smoked marlin with chili, spices and lime in a flour tortilla.

🥣

Birria

Classic

Slow-cooked beef in a chili broth. Eat as a taco, quesabirria or sip the consommé. Perfect hangover cure.

🍋

Ceviche Vallartense

Fresh

Fish or shrimp cured in lime with cucumber, avocado and chili. Served on tostadas.

🌶️

Aguachile

Spicy

Raw shrimp in serrano chili sauce, lime and cilantro. Spicy and unforgettable.

🥃

Raicilla

Drink

Artisanal agave spirit from the Sierra of Jalisco. Mezcal's cousin, unique to this region.

🥧

Yelapa Pie

Dessert

Homemade coconut, chocolate or pecan pie sold on the beach by local women. A legend.

🥥

Tuba

Drink

Refreshing coconut palm drink — fresh and slightly sweet. Sold along the Malecón.

🦐

Shrimp Quesadillas

Beach

Corn tortilla with Oaxaca cheese and garlic shrimp. A classic beachside snack.

🌽

Elotes & Esquites

Street

Corn with mayo, cheese, chili and lime. On the cob (elote) or in a cup (esquite).

🧊

Tejuino

Traditional

Fermented corn drink with piloncillo, lime and lime sorbet. A Jalisco signature.

🥭

Cold Coconut & Chili Mango

Snack

Fresh-cracked coconut, or green mango with lime, chili and salt. The perfect beach snack.

Ready to explore Puerto Vallarta?

Combine food with our tours — nothing beats fresh ceviche after returning from a boat tour.

See all tours