For a relatively small town, Puerto Vallarta has a pretty amazing culinary scene. From humble taco vendors on the street to high-end restaurants, there’s something tasty being cooked up around every corner here. In this Puerto Vallarta restaurant guide, we’ll take a look at some of the best places to eat in the city.
I’ve called PV my home away from home for three years now, and one of the things I love many about living here (apart from the unlimited things to do) is the variety of cuisine. Of course, you can get delicious Mexican fare everywhere, but there are also great spots for brunch, pizza, sushi, vegan, and just about everything else you might be craving.
Eating is one of the top things to do in all of Mexico, and lucky for me, Puerto Vallarta has lots of tasty dishes on offer.
Despite eating out essentially every day, I’ve found the cost of living in Puerto Vallarta to be quite reasonable. many Puerto Vallarta restaurants are quite affordable, and even the really fancy ones typically run a special promotion during restaurant Week between mid-May and mid-June.
The restaurant and nightlife scene in PV has come a long way in recent years, especially when it concerns your options for a beverage. long gone are the days when Corona was the only beer available. Puerto Vallarta is now home to a few outstanding microbreweries and you can also find craft beers from other parts of Mexico. It’s also not hard to find a good glass of red wine or a craft cocktail here these days.
Be prepared for your mouth to be watering by the end of this article, because we’re about to dive into the best restaurants in Puerto Vallarta.
Best Puerto Vallarta restaurants for Breakfast
Fredy’s Tucan
Hours: open 7 days a week from 8AM-2:45PM
Phone #: 01 322 223 0778
Location: Basilio Badillo 245, romantic zone (Click here for directions)
Rating on TripAdvisor: 4.5/5
I rarely go out for breakfast, as I much choose leisurely sipping my coffee and eating at home in the mornings. When I do make it out for breakfast, it’s practically always to Fredy’s. It’s always a good choice, especially on those lazy, hungover weekends.
This place is in just about every Puerto Vallarta restaurant guide you read and for good reason. The staff is very friendly, the menu is extensive, and the portions are huge for a very sensible price.
Their many well-known dish here is certainly the Campesino breakfast – beef Arrachera with red chilaquiles, fried or scrambled eggs, and refried beans. I’m also a big fan of their vegan burrito and their Mexican omelette. just be prepared to need a takeaway box, as they certainly do not skimp on the portions here!
Another reason Fredy’s is one of the best restaurants in Puerto Vallarta is their comprehensive drink list. here you can choose from a variety of coffees, smoothies, milkshakes, and even cocktails. because we all know brunch without a mimosa is just a sad breakfast!
If you have a trip or an excursion to get to, just know that you might have to wait a bit for a table here. Also, make sure you have cash, as they don’t take cards here.
Chilaquiles are a must!
Mango’s beach Club
Hours: open 7 days a week from 10AM-9PM
Phone #: 01 322 222 0796
Location: Uruguay 109, 5 de Diciembre (Click here for directions)
Rating on TripAdvisor: 4/5
Seeing as you’re in Puerto Vallarta, why not have breakfast en la playa? That’s exactly what you can do at Mango’s beach Club, a classic Puerto Vallarta restaurant located near the Malecon.
While you can purchase off their large menu any day of the week, the best time to come here is for their Sunday brunch. It includes a welcome mimosa and a substantial buffet with lots of choices.
They’ve got freshly baked bread, tropical fruits, chilaquiles, and even the well-known tortas ahogadas that are native to Jalisco. Be sure to come hungry, because you’ll want to try a bit of everything!
Mango’s is one of the best Puerto Vallarta restaurants because once you’re done eating, you can just plop down in a lounge chair and relax. A good big brunch followed by a few hours of sun, sand, and maybe a margarita or two is the ideal way to spend a Sunday afternoon in PV.
Best restaurants in Puerto Vallarta for Lunch
Salud very Food
Hours: Monday-Friday 9AM-5PM, Saturday 9AM-2PM
Phone #: 01 322 139 9398
Location: Olas Altas 534-A, romantic zone (Click here for directions)
Rating on TripAdvisor: 5/5
This health-conscious restaurant currently sits atop TripAdvisor as the best Puerto Vallarta restaurant. It may come as a surprise in a Mexican beach town that’s much more known for its shrimp tacos, massive plates of nachos, and bacon-wrapped hot dogs, but the people have spoken!
Honestly, Salud very Food is good any time of day. I personally haven’t made it there for breakfast just yet, but they have some solid options for you early birds. Their lunch options are excellent, highlighted by their Salud very Bowls. You can’t go wrong with one of these!
They also have a broad variety of sandwiches, wraps, and salads. I love tacos al pastor and all, but once in a while it’s good to eat something different like a chicken curry wrap. Their Pachamama veggie burger is also a very popular choice.
One reason this makes the list of the best restaurants in Puerto Vallarta is that it has very fair prices. many breakfast items cost $3-4 and you can get lunch for $5-6. add another $2-4 for a tasty coffee or smoothie and you’ve got a great meal for under $10.
Restaurante Dianita
Hours: open 7 days a week from 8AM-6PM
Phone #: 01 322 107 7090
Location: Calle Francisco I. Madero 243, romantic zone (Click here for directions)
Rating on TripAdvisor: 4.5/5
So far, this is certainly the best really local Puerto Vallarta restaurant on our list. Come here for lunch, and the place will be packed with locals who flock here for their outstanding menu del dia (menu of the day).
The menu changes every day, but you always get to choose a soup, an entrée, and a large glass of agua fresca. They typically have meat, fish, and vegetarian options to satisfy everyone.
Not only is this one of the best places to eat in Puerto Vallarta for lunch, but it’s also one of the most affordable. That satisfying, filling menu of the day will only set you back $3-4 depending on your choice. That saves you much more money to go out and delight in the nightlife later!
The people who work here are very good and always very attentive to customers. This is probably my favorite spot to have lunch in Puerto Vallarta and I always love dining there.
Best restaurants in Puerto Vallarta for Dinner
Café des Artistes (a top Puerto Vallarta restaurant for romance)
Hours: open 7 days a week from 5:30-11PM
Phone #: 01 322 226 7200
Location: Calle Guadalupe Sánchez 740, El Centro
Rating on TripAdvisor: 4.5/5
When it concerns the top restaurants in Puerto Vallarta, this place always comes up. defined as “French cuisine with Mexican innovation,” it’s headed up by the amazing chef Thierry Blouet.
The menu is always changing here and it’s really quite impressive. many people choose the chef’s tasting menu, which is a 6-course feast and a real treat for your tastebuds! They always have a vegetarian option, as well as a lighter bistro menu with three courses.
To get an idea of what to expect there, here are a few dishes on the current menu: squash blossom stuffed with cheese, fresh tuna crusted with peanuts, tomato risotto with truffle, and habanero chili stuffed with passion fruit mousse. Drool.
While the food is the star of the show here, the ambiance is half the fun of dining out at Café de Artistes. sitting down in their lush exterior garden really feels like you’re in the jungle, and it’s a beautiful setting for a meal. If you’re searching for a romantic night out on the town, this is the place to go! It’s pricey, but worth every peso for this amazing culinary experience.
La Leche
Hours: open 7 days a week from 6PM-1AM
Phone #: 01 322 293 0901
Location: Km 2.5, Blvd Francisco Medina Ascencio, hotel zone (Click here for directions)
Rating on TripAdvisor: 4.5/5
This is one of the most popular restaurants in Puerto Vallarta, and it currently comes in at #3 overall on TripAdvisor. It’s located a bit far away from the action downtown, but is easily available with its location just off the main highway and is well worth the trip.
La Leche is set in a unique, minimalist space that is very eye-catching. It’s run by chef Alfonso Cadena and the menu is always changing depending on what’s available and what he’s in the mood to cook. That’s what keeps people coming back to this outstanding Puerto Vallarta restaurant.
There’s also a good bar here on the 2nd floor where you can go delight in a drink before or after dinner. speaking of dinner, this is the kind of place where it doesn’t hurt to make a reservation. Also, be sure to change out of your flip-flops and tank tops before coming into this swanky place!
If you can’t be bothered to make a reservation and dress up (trust me, I understand), you can still try the food here. They have a food truck that’s parked outside in the afternoon where they cook up some pretty fantastic tacos and burritos. It’s been on my list for a while and after researching thisguide I think I might just have to make the trip sooner than later!
La Palapa
Hours: open 7 days a week from 8:30AM-11PM
Phone #: 01 322 222 5225
Location: Los Muertos Beach, Púlpito 105-3, romantic zone (Click here for directions)
Rating on TripAdvisor: 4.5/5
Many people want to find a Puerto Vallarta restaurant on the beach, and who can blame them? There’s just something about dining with your toes in the sand and the sun going down that’s hard to beat.
When it concerns the best Puerto Vallarta restaurants on the beach, La Palapa is the place to be. Their slogan is “Tropical beauty because 1959,” and that’s exactly what they’re known for!
You can come here for any meal you desire, but my recommendation certainly goes to dinner. It’s one of the best places to view the sunset in Puerto Vallarta at a candle-lit table. If you’re searching for a date-night spot in PV, you’ve found it!
Their menu is huge and is very seafood-oriented. current appetizers include a lobster bisque soup and braised adobado octopus, while entrees range from a fillet of red snapper to beef medallions. You can expect to pay between $50-75 each for dinner plus a drink here.
The sunsets in Puerto Vallarta are spectacular
Best places For snacks and drinks in Puerto Vallarta
Monzón
Hours: open 7 days a week from 11AM-11PM
Phone #: 01 322 260 9718
Location: Venustiano Carranza 239, romantic zone (Click here to get directions)
Rating on TripAdvisor: 4.5/5
While Pacifico with lime is great and all, in some cases you just need a good IPA or a stout. Cue the fine folks at Monzón, who have been brewing up delicious craft beers in Puerto Vallarta for practically two years now.
They’re always changing up their tap list at Monzón and brewing up some very creative beers. At the moment, they have a passionfruit wheat ale, a northwest red ale, and a toasted coconut imperial stout, among others. It’s hard to choose just one here, so start with a flight to see what you like best.
The IPA at Monzon is awesome!
Monzón is a great place to escape the midday heat or the heavy rains in Puerto Vallarta. From 3-5, they have an outstanding pleased hour with tapas plates for about $2. When it rains, they pour! They always offer up discounts on beers during rainstorms. I’ve been stuck there numerous a time and you won’t hear me complain!
If you’re into trivia nights, be sure to head here on Wednesday at 6:30. It’s totally free to play and teams get 25% off pitchers – a great way to make friends and have a bit of fun.
1,000 Caguamas
Hours: open Tuesday-Sunday from 2PM-12AM
Phone #: 01 322 222 8267
Location: Uruguay 162, 5 de Diciembre (Click here for directions)
Rating on TripAdvisor: 4.5/5
You know I just had to get my local watering hole on this list of the best restaurants in Puerto Vallarta! While it’s certainly much more of a snacks and beers kind of place than a full-service restaurant, it still is worthy of a spot on here.
First, allow me to discuss the name. Caguamas are the large bottles of beer that you can purchase in local benefit stores. They’re typically about 32 ounces (940 mL) of beer; typically local lagers like Corona, Victoria, or Pacifico.
For a long time, caguamas were a popular item on bar menus. They’re getting harder and harder to find these days, though. That’s why I love this local hangout. It’s a easy rooftop terrace one block from the ocean with plastic chairs and umbrellas for shade, and they just serve up ice cold caguamas along with some spicy snacks.
The main item on th