Traditional Restaurants in Puerto Vallarta.

There are a few restaurants in Puerto Vallarta that was founded close to 30 years ago, or more, and became part of the Puerto Vallarta highlights for their location, cuisine, and service.

La Dolce Vita

Photo by La Dolce Vita

Opened in august 1, 1992, this fine Italian cuisine restaurant was founded 29 years ago, it became a must in Banderas Bay, the first one is in Downtown in the Malecon, they have a beautiful terrace with wonderful ocean view and sunsets, along the sculptures on the promenade

In the Romantic Zone, Dolce Vita is in a very alive area, modern decoration and a beautiful terrace where the most fun restaurants are in the area and with the same quality.

In North Hotel Zone, they open La Dolce Pizzeria, small fine pizza and pasta specialties restaurant in a concept designed for a youthful. The decoration is modern, large sitting area inside and outdoors as well.

In Nuevo Vallarta there is also an office inside an outdoors mall called PI3.14.

Wood fire oven and fresh ingredients, a variety of pasta dishes, chicken, steak, seafood in the classical Italian style. Pizza combinations are unique and have the special taste of the very famous wood-oven.

Cafe Des Artistes

Photo by Cafe Des Artistes

Chef Thierry Blouet was born in Puerto Rico, they parents were French, and he was educated in France and Mexico. His grandfather was former George V Hotel Manager for 30 years, nowadays this exclusive hotel is part of the Four Seasons chain.

In 1991, he founded a gourmet beautiful restaurant which became a sing of gastronomy in Puerto Vallarta.

Located in downtown Guadalupe Sanchez 740, cobblestone street, this unique French restaurant is open from Tuesday to Sunday.

This restaurant has 5 features, at the entrance is the P´yote Lounge & Piano Bar, decorated with Huichol artisans pieces and the recognized designer Cristina Covalin. The masterpiece of this lounge is “Tatei Aramara”, behind the bar, and it was the inspiration for the cobbled art-designed of Puerto Vallarta, perfect place for try house cocktails and enjoy the piano music.

Photo by Cafe Des ArtistesThe Drop Salon still has the original decoration from 30 years ago, is perfect for a rainy summer afternoon.

The House of Ghosts is separated area that can be used as a smoking private celebration lounge upon reservation. The Cocina de Autor area is line an elegant house digging room, perfect for private celebrations.

The most popular area is the garden, created 22 years ago, there are lush trees in the terraces and an exquisite lighting of candles.

This is one of the most distinguish restaurants in Mexico, chef Thierry defined restaurant gastronomy as “-French cuisine with Mexican inspiration-”.

There is a highly recommended tasting menu, also a vegetarian option. Menu includes tuna, Iberian Ham, foie grass in Mole, pig confit, lobster, and other sea food like octopus, shrimp, fish, steak, lamb in a unique cooked way. Also, this restaurant has a wonderful dessert menu and a 10 countries wine cellar including a special selection of Mexican Valle de Guadalupe and Valle de Parras and other Mexican regions.

Coco's Kitchen

Photo by Cafe Des ArtistesIn the Romantic Zone, is a delicious healthy tradition in Puerto Vallarta for 30 years, this place offers breakfast, lunch and dinner.
This Cousy restaurant offers a mixed of Mexican, Greek, and Arab cuisine. Also has a wonderful wood-fire Mesquite grill. Mesquite is a tree from some regions in Mexico that are cut to produce charcoal, giving courses a unique and delicious flavor.

River Café

Photo by Cafe Des Artistes This restaurant was founded 25 years ago, is in the Rio Cuale Island, a few minutes from the Malecon. Enjoy this restaurant specialties in a romantic atmosphere with jazz music and candlelight. Specialties include seafood, grill steak, lamb, duck, and pork. Breakfast menu is very extensive; is also open for lunch, and they have vegetarian and gluten options. Sunday´s brunch is a must.

The Pancake House

Photo by Cafe Des ArtistesSince the last 35 years, this place is Puerto Vallarta most popular restaurant for breakfast and brunch. Located in Romantic Zone, this restaurant became famous for their original
pancakes recipes with chocolate, caramel, peanut butter, or fresh fruits like pineapple, banana, orange, apple and strawberries among others.
Traditional American breakfast options are available and also a wide range of meet, pork and chicken Mexican specialties.

Fredy´s Tucan

Photo by Cafe Des ArtistesIn 1981 Freddy opened his restaurant, it became very popular between local and visitors.
Located originally in the romantic Zone, this restaurant has another office in Nuevo Vallarta currently. Menu has over 70 options including traditional eggs, omelets, fruit, pancakes, Mexican dishes such as enchiladas and traditional meet or chicken dishes.

El Dorado

Photo by Cafe Des ArtistesFounded in the 6o´s, this fancy beachfront restaurant became very popular, is a beautiful place with fine cuisine, located at Los Muertos Beach in the Romantic Zone, is a perfect place for breakfasts or seafood specialties and cocktails while you spend the day laying in a beach lounge chair, in beautiful beach located in the south of Puerto Vallarta. Restaurant has a huge palapa and delicate beach furniture and decoration. At night the set changes for candle lighting tables inside the palapa and beautiful decorated dining tables in the beach. Menu specialties are octopus, lobster, mussels, also have duck confit.

La Palapa

Photo by Cafe Des ArtistesLa Palapa was founded in 1957 as a small family beachfront restaurant in Los Muertos Beach. At the time, there was no bridge across Río Cuale, the area was not developed as these days.

Business was growing and more family members were involved in the restaurant development. In 1987, it was remodeled, and is also an iconic place of Los Muertos Beach with Mexican decoration and beautiful furniture. La Palapa cuisine is a mixed of Mexican, Asia and French with fresh ingredients of the region. Beach Club offers to their customers, an excellent service, extendable beach chairs, umbrellas, and tables for enjoy the landscape, and in the season, there is whale and dolphin watches. Is a perfect spot for watching the sun set and have a wonderful time.