Guidebook for Puerto Vallarta
Food Scene
Andale's Restaurant & Bar
425 Olas AltasFun entertainment and good food
Great coffee shop but also the best burgers in Vallarta
30 locals recommend
San Angel Burgers And Tacos
449 Olas AltasGreat coffee shop but also the best burgers in Vallarta
La Langosta Loca
esq C. Fco. I. MaderoGreat seafood and great views. Ask to sit upstairs.
Great seafood restaurant with variety of ceviches. Then spend some time walking around the marina.
96 locals recommend
Mariscos 8 Tostadas
s/n QuillaGreat seafood restaurant with variety of ceviches. Then spend some time walking around the marina.
Pancho's Takos
162 Basilio BadilloBest pastor tacos in town!
The Pancake House
289 Basilio BadilloBest breakfast place in town!
Mole de Jovita Vallarta
220 B Basilio BadilloGreat spot for mole and other traditional dishes.
Swell Beach Bar
182 AmapasGreat spot to have lunch and drinks at the beach.
Great beach club for food and drinks on the north end of the malecon. Quieter than the beach clubs on Playa Los Muertos.
26 locals recommend
Mangos Beach Club
109 UruguayGreat beach club for food and drinks on the north end of the malecon. Quieter than the beach clubs on Playa Los Muertos.
Delicious food and views. Celebrating something special? This is the spot. Reserve a table on the beach.
474 locals recommend
La Palapa Restaurant
105-3 PúlpitoDelicious food and views. Celebrating something special? This is the spot. Reserve a table on the beach.
Absolutely the BEST panoramic view of the Bahia de Banderas. Be sure to arrive at least an hour before sunset. Plan on a 2 hour stay. Pre-arrange pick-up with your taxi or Uber.
14 locals recommend
Las Carmelitas Restaurante Bar
Absolutely the BEST panoramic view of the Bahia de Banderas. Be sure to arrive at least an hour before sunset. Plan on a 2 hour stay. Pre-arrange pick-up with your taxi or Uber.
A Page In The Sun
169 Lázaro CárdenasLarge "leave-a-book / take-a-book" library, and expat company.
The Coffee Cup
146 C. Rodolfo GómezStarbucks Malecón Puerto Vallarta
160 C. ZaragozaLamara
108 HamburgoBest ceviche spot in all of Vallarta.
Mi Cafe Restaurant & Coffee Shop
505 C. Fco. I. MaderoGreat tiny spot for breakfast. Closed Sundays.
Casa Nicole has a great restaurant for breakfast. Usually no line, but food is excellent and reasonably priced.
Casa Nicole Boutique Hotel
203 Pino SuárezCasa Nicole has a great restaurant for breakfast. Usually no line, but food is excellent and reasonably priced.
Looking for something other than Mexican Food? Yeo has fantastic sushi and Japanese cuisine.
25 locals recommend
Yeo Sushi & Bar
260 Av Fluvial VallartaLooking for something other than Mexican Food? Yeo has fantastic sushi and Japanese cuisine.
Siam Cocina Thai
271 C. Fco. I. MaderoExcellent Thai food. Locations in Old Town and Fluvial.
Siam Cocina Thai De Los Tules
317 De Los TulesGreat Thai food. Locations in Old Town and Fluvial.
Great Chinese fusion restaurant with long history in Puerto Vallarta.
168 locals recommend
Archie's Wok
130 Francisca RodríguezGreat Chinese fusion restaurant with long history in Puerto Vallarta.
Cha'
148a HamburgoExcellent breakfast spot in Versalles
Excellent dining experience in Versalles. Chef comes out and explains the menu. Best rib eye I have ever had.
45 locals recommend
Barrio Bistro
305 C. EspañaExcellent dining experience in Versalles. Chef comes out and explains the menu. Best rib eye I have ever had.
Great tacos and great alternative to waiting in line at Pancho’s Takos.
17 locals recommend
Sonorita Olas Altas
232 Pino SuárezGreat tacos and great alternative to waiting in line at Pancho’s Takos.
Great lunch and dinner spot with healthy sandwiches and delicious potato salad.
60 locals recommend
Natureza Restaurante
137 FranciaGreat lunch and dinner spot with healthy sandwiches and delicious potato salad.
Looking for a touch of Mediterranean? Check out this beautiful roof top terrace.
6 locals recommend
Restaurante Mykonos Cocina Griega y Mediterránea
199b FranciaLooking for a touch of Mediterranean? Check out this beautiful roof top terrace.
Sightseeing
This is a restaurant and bar under the largest palapa in North America. Great views! I recommend going for a drink and having dinner elsewhere.
82 locals recommend
Le Kliff
This is a restaurant and bar under the largest palapa in North America. Great views! I recommend going for a drink and having dinner elsewhere.
The main boardwalk of Puerto Vallarta. Starts at the end of Olas Altas and continues over the pedestrian bridge and ends at the McDonalds. Be sure to spend Sunday evening between about 7pm and 10pm here when all the locals come out.
770 locals recommend
Malecon Puerto Vallarta
S/N Paseo Díaz OrdazThe main boardwalk of Puerto Vallarta. Starts at the end of Olas Altas and continues over the pedestrian bridge and ends at the McDonalds. Be sure to spend Sunday evening between about 7pm and 10pm here when all the locals come out.
Great little village located at the end of the Orange line (catch in front of Costa Sur). Many great restaurants and small local beach.
90 locals recommend
Boca de Tomatlan
Great little village located at the end of the Orange line (catch in front of Costa Sur). Many great restaurants and small local beach.
This "pueblo magico" is a great day trip to the north. By car it's about a 1 hour drive. To take the bus, catch the orange bus back into town. Then catch the blue bus to Wal-Mart. Then catch the bus to Sayulita. Great little surfing village with many local shops and restaurants and beautiful beach.
18 locals recommend
Sayulita Playa bungalows
playa los muertosThis "pueblo magico" is a great day trip to the north. By car it's about a 1 hour drive. To take the bus, catch the orange bus back into town. Then catch the blue bus to Wal-Mart. Then catch the bus to Sayulita. Great little surfing village with many local shops and restaurants and beautiful beach.
Yelapa has a very pretty beach and a cute small town only accessible by boat. Take the orange bus AWAY FROM TOWN to the end of the line (Boca de Tamatlan) then catch the water taxi. Get to the water taxi by 9:30am to catch the 10am boat. Be sure while you are there to either hike or rent a horse up to the waterfall.
86 locals recommend
Yelapa Beach
Yelapa has a very pretty beach and a cute small town only accessible by boat. Take the orange bus AWAY FROM TOWN to the end of the line (Boca de Tamatlan) then catch the water taxi. Get to the water taxi by 9:30am to catch the 10am boat. Be sure while you are there to either hike or rent a horse up to the waterfall.
Great place to get a quick history of tequila, see how it’s made and sample the product.
Mister Tequila
Great place to get a quick history of tequila, see how it’s made and sample the product.
Quimixto
Wonderful beach spot only accessible by boat.
Drinks & Nightlife
Reinas Bar
361 Lázaro CárdenasGreat local gay spot to get your drink on early.
Most popular gay night club. Doesn't get busy until after midnight. Drag shows at 12:30 and 3:00am.
148 locals recommend
Paco’s Ranch
278 Ignacio L. VallartaMost popular gay night club. Doesn't get busy until after midnight. Drag shows at 12:30 and 3:00am.
Piano Bar & Jazz Garbo
142 PúlpitoMixed crowd with live music nightly.
Late night dance club on the Malecon. Most popular spot. Mixed crowd.
222 locals recommend
Mandala Puerto Vallarta
633 Paseo Díaz OrdazLate night dance club on the Malecon. Most popular spot. Mixed crowd.
Roxy Rock House
217 Ignacio L. VallartaMixed crowd bar with rock and roll
Strana
2125 Blvd. Francisco Medina AscencioHigh end nightclub. Dress up for this one.
Zoo Bar
630 Paseo Díaz OrdazPopular dance club on the Malecon
Great re-creation of the Cuban favorite. Often with live music and dancing. Located on the Malecon.
154 locals recommend
La Bodeguita del Medio
858 Paseo Díaz OrdazGreat re-creation of the Cuban favorite. Often with live music and dancing. Located on the Malecon.
La Vaquita
610 Paseo Díaz OrdazDress to impress
La Santa
2468 Av. Francisco Medina AscencioFamous exclusive night club. Dress to impress.
Kinky Karaoke Bar
315A Lázaro CárdenasLocal favorite for drinks and singing karaoke.
Get ready to dance! Fun open air place to dance to the best hits of the 60’s, 70’s and 80’s. Always a fun party.
67 locals recommend
Mr. Flamingo
247 Lázaro CárdenasGet ready to dance! Fun open air place to dance to the best hits of the 60’s, 70’s and 80’s. Always a fun party.
Shopping
La Isla Rio Cuale is the island located within the river. Lots of local vendors and a few good restaurants and bars.
41 locals recommend
Río Cuale
La Isla Rio Cuale is the island located within the river. Lots of local vendors and a few good restaurants and bars.
La Isla
2479 Blvd. Francisco Medina AscencioNewest mall in PV. Outdoors, high end stores and luxury movie theater.
Large indoor shopping mall with theater and casino.
245 locals recommend
Galerias Vallarta Shopping Mall
2920 Av. Francisco Medina AscencioLarge indoor shopping mall with theater and casino.
Essentials
Walmart
2900 Av. Francisco Medina AscencioOf course
Costco Wholesale
134 Av Fluvial VallartaFarmacia Guadalajara
261 InsurgentesSimilar to a Rite-Aid, has many of the essentials
Hospital Medasist
360 Manuel M. DieguezClosest hospital
CMQ Hospital Puerto Vallarta
365 Basilio BadilloClose hospital
Most iconic Catholic Cathedral in Vallarta, known for its crown tower.
105 locals recommend
Parish of Our Lady of Guadalupe
370 HidalgoMost iconic Catholic Cathedral in Vallarta, known for its crown tower.
High-end grocery store with full service: bakery, meat, deli and seafood. Also a great selection of gourmet and imported items.
65 locals recommend
La Comer Fluvial
63 Av Fluvial VallartaHigh-end grocery store with full service: bakery, meat, deli and seafood. Also a great selection of gourmet and imported items.
Entertainment & Activities
Cinepolis VIP La Isla
Luxury seating
Getting Around
DO NOT use this company under any circumstances. They are crooks who will steal your credit card information.
Thrifty Car Rental
7926 Blvd. Francisco Medina AscencioDO NOT use this company under any circumstances. They are crooks who will steal your credit card information.
Book your car rental online for very cheap rates (excluding taxes and insurance). BY LAW, all car rentals have minimum liability insurance as required my Mexican law. Granted, it's very minimal and may not be enough if you cause a major accident. If you pay with your AMEX card, you can decline all other coverages as well, but they will place a hold on your card of about $3,000 USD. I used my AMEX Platinum which has no spending limit and so its not a problem. Verify first with your credit card company that their coverage extends to Mexico. Note: the credit card only covers damages to your car and your passengers and does not cover additional liability.
7 locals recommend
National Car Rental
4172 Blvd. Francisco Medina AscencioBook your car rental online for very cheap rates (excluding taxes and insurance). BY LAW, all car rentals have minimum liability insurance as required my Mexican law. Granted, it's very minimal and may not be enough if you cause a major accident. If you pay with your AMEX card, you can decline all other coverages as well, but they will place a hold on your card of about $3,000 USD. I used my AMEX Platinum which has no spending limit and so its not a problem. Verify first with your credit card company that their coverage extends to Mexico. Note: the credit card only covers damages to your car and your passengers and does not cover additional liability.
PEMEX
380 Carr. Costera a Barra de NavidadClosest gas station.