Puerto Vallarta Food Guide: 10 Must-Eat Restaurants & Street Food Stalls in Puerto Vallarta

September 10, 2017 Weston Hennigan

Strolling, shopping, and sipping tequila along the Malecon boardwalk of Puerto Vallarta is the best way to kick off your vacation. Then hit the cobblestone streets of Old Vallarta to browse the flea market for handmade crafts. The calm, warm waters of the Bay of Banderas make for excellent diving, or you can just watch artists sculpt spectacular creations in the sand. The cluster of fine art galleries in El Centro are perfect spots to hit on a self-guided art tour.
Things to do in Puerto Vallarta

1. Le Kliff

Road to Barra de Navidad KM 17.5 | Between Mismaloya & Boca de Tomatlan, Puerto Vallarta 48394, Mexico Outdoor Seating, Waitstaff, Parking Available, Validated Parking, Serves Alcohol, Full Bar, Accepts Mastercard, Accepts Visa, Free Wifi, Reservations, Seating, Highchairs Available, Accepts Credit Cards Seafood, International, Vegetarian Friendly, Vegan Options, Gluten Free Options Lunch, Dinner, Brunch HK$157 - HK$353 +52 322 228 0300
Excellent
80%
Good
12%
Satisfactory
4%
Poor
2%
Terrible
2%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 1 reviews

Le Kliff

Le Kliff is the best restaurant in Puerto Vallarta, located just 25 minutes away from Puerto Vallarta's downtown, Le Kliff offers exquisite international fine dining cuisine. Nestled on the southern edge of Banderas bay, the second largest bay in the world, Le Kliff features the best panoramic views of the Pacific coast.

Reviewed By stevekQ5411HG

Unforgettable experience from the moment we were seated..ordered a bottle of wine just took in the scenery breathtaking sunset ambience and service
The food was just spectacular my appetizer of many varieties of seafood from cerviche to scallops and calamari presented and tasted incredible
Main dish was grouper in a lemon cream sauce to perfection
It is a must
We will be back to that restaurant next year

2. Cafe des Artistes

Calle Guadalupe Sanchez 740 | Centro, Puerto Vallarta 48300, Mexico Valet Parking, Reservations, Outdoor Seating, Private Dining, Seating, Waitstaff, Wheelchair Accessible, Serves Alcohol, Full Bar, Wine and Beer, Accepts American Express, Accepts Mastercard, Accepts Visa, Free Wifi, Accepts Credit Cards Mexican, French, International, Vegetarian Friendly, Vegan Options, Gluten Free Options Dinner, Late Night HK$196 - HK$471 +52 322 226 7200
Excellent
85%
Good
9%
Satisfactory
4%
Poor
1%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 4 reviews

Cafe des Artistes

Place in and old house at downtown Puerto Vallarta, Café des Artistes, with 27 years of experience, offers exclusiveness, elegance and comfort in outstanding natural surroundings, that are adorn by the exquisite menu; carefully created under the direction of the acclaimed Chef Thierry Blouet. “At Café des Artistes, every dish is an art-masterpiece, and every art masterpiece feeds the spirit” -Mexican writer Carlos Fuentes-

Reviewed By Anita W - Canada

Beautiful and beautifully prepared food. My short-rib and tenderloin entree was quite simply the best I've ever tasted. Desserts were delightful and truly inventive. Also, because it was my birthday, our servers surprised me with a rocket-like sparkler on a beautiful dessert tray with a birthday message in chocolate with a lattice caramel birthday cake that was an artful marvel, and some superb macarons as a final treat. So extravagant! The only moments less than perfect were my lukewarm soup appetizer (superbly delicious but cooled off too much in the transfer to and from the actual pumpkin shell) and my husband's lukewarm Nespresso coffee at the end. Still, it was a memorable night.

3. Planeta Vegetariano

Calle Iturbide 270, Puerto Vallarta 48300, Mexico Takeout, Seating, Waitstaff, Highchairs Available, Buffet Mexican, Vegetarian Friendly, Vegan Options, Gluten Free Options Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Brunch HK$78 +52 322 222 3073
Excellent
71%
Good
23%
Satisfactory
4%
Poor
1%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 316 reviews

Planeta Vegetariano

Reviewed By Pravin A - Sacramento, California

For 6 usd , buffet from vegetarian food to salad to coffee to juices, all inclusive and desert, ? wow, loved it, great staff, good food, a must eat

4. Pancho's Takos

Calle Basilio Badillo # 162 | Zona Romantica casi esquina Olas Altas., Puerto Vallarta 48380, Mexico Waitstaff, Television, Wheelchair Accessible, Serves Alcohol, Full Bar, Takeout, Outdoor Seating, Seating Mexican, Latin, Vegetarian Friendly, Gluten Free Options Dinner +52 322 222 1693
Excellent
77%
Good
17%
Satisfactory
4%
Poor
1%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 1 reviews

Pancho's Takos

Reviewed By AnneAUS - Melbourne, Australia

We had been getting our Al Pastor fix elsewhere on our latest trip to PV, but hubby was craving Pancho’s so I agreed to line up.
We arrived around 6 and line took 30 minutes.
Once we were seated service great as we remember and the food ..... delicious. Worth the wait.
Al pastor is amazing and just as flavoursome as it was the first time I tried it here 7 years ago!
There’s a reason for the line, and if you don’t mind, it’s worth the wait.

5. L'Angolo di Napoli

Calle Morelos # 128, Puerto Vallarta 48300, Mexico (Formerly Bella Napoli) Takeout, Outdoor Seating, Waitstaff, Highchairs Available, Wheelchair Accessible, Serves Alcohol, Wine and Beer, Free Wifi, Delivery, Reservations Italian, Pizza, Cafe, Vegetarian Friendly, Vegan Options, Gluten Free Options Dinner HK$8 +52 322 223 8374
Excellent
78%
Good
18%
Satisfactory
2%
Poor
1%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 693 reviews

L'Angolo di Napoli

Casual outdoor patio close to Santander bank, in service from Tuesday till Sunday from 17:00 till 23:00. Looking forward to receiving you with many smiles and our fantastic food.

Reviewed By whirledgirl - Vancouver, Canada

Not sure why they changed their name.
My mouth waters when I think of their pizza. I just paid 3x as much for a pizza at home that was not half as good. This is the real deal. With imported ingredients, and made with love, you can't beat the taste.
And the wine!!! Reasonable prices for very good wine.
I can hardly wait to return.

6. Salud Super Food

Calle Olas Altas 534-A | Zona Romantica, Puerto Vallarta 48380, Mexico Takeout, Seating, Free Wifi, Delivery, Waitstaff Mexican, Cafe, Fusion, Healthy, Vegetarian Friendly, Vegan Options, Gluten Free Options Breakfast, Lunch, Brunch HK$31 - HK$55 +52 322 139 9398
Excellent
83%
Good
13%
Satisfactory
2%
Poor
1%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

5 based on 640 reviews

Salud Super Food

WE WILL BE CLOSED FOR THE MONTH OF SEPTEMBER<br>Healthy, vegetarian and vegan friendly, smoothies, wraps, salads, sandwiches, breakfast all day, lunch after 11:30a.

Reviewed By chazcat99 - Lewes, Delaware

Went to Puerto Vallarta from Nuevo Vallarta by bus. Really easy. Took trip advisor recommendations and found Salud. We were not disappointed. The food was fresh and healthy, and tasted great. I had the grilled chicken Sandwich with avocado and carmelized onion, and it was excellent. Wife had blt wrap with chicken and it was so much and so fresh. No credit cards and no alcohol, but well worth it.

7. Bravos Restaurant Bar

Calle Francisco i. Madero 263 | Col. Emiliano Zapata Old Town, Puerto Vallarta 48380, Mexico Takeout, Parking Available, Highchairs Available, Reservations, Seating, Waitstaff, Street Parking, Wheelchair Accessible, Serves Alcohol, Full Bar, Wine and Beer, Accepts Mastercard, Accepts Visa, Free Wifi, Accepts Credit Cards Seafood, Italian, International, Gluten Free Options, Vegetarian Friendly, Vegan Options Dinner, Drinks HK$8 +52 322 222 0339
Excellent
83%
Good
11%
Satisfactory
4%
Poor
1%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

5 based on 1 reviews

Bravos Restaurant Bar

In the midst of Puerto Vallarta&apos;s happening nightlife scene--and just a three-minute stroll from the town&apos;s primo beach--this inviting South Side eatery offers up generous servings of flavorful international food and drink.Amiable owner Michael Boufford & Edgar Bocanegra are no strangers to fine dining in a hip ambiance. Bravos&apos; casual-chic artisanal experience enhanced by soft lighting and music, an extensive wine list and eclectic martini options. But the real deal here is the food: light and fresh, homemade and healthy, and always perfectly prepared.

Reviewed By Hola_PVR - Thornhill, Canada

Wanted to try Bravos on Saturday, without a reservation, but the wait would have been at least an hour, so opted to make a reservation for Sunday. It was a great decision!
Arrived a few minutes early and were greeted and seated very quickly. The interior decor is very nice and creates a very comfortable atmosphere.
Service was very friendly and attentive. We selected and enjoyed the Malbec house wine. Both the caprese and Caesar salads were better than outstanding, both in presentation and taste. Would return just for the salads!
Mains were pan seared white fish and rack of lamb, a special that was not on the menu. Again, the plates looked fantastic as was the taste and combinations with fresh vegetables and garlic mashed potatoes.
Even though we did not need it, the bread basket contained 4 wonderful light and fluffy dinner rolls which of course we just had to have.
Dessert choices were exciting. We selected the Churros with ice cream. It was a large enough serving to share but after the first bite, wished I didn’t have to.
Overall, one our best dinners ever in Puerto Vallarta.

8. 116 Pulpito Gastro Bar

Calle Pulpito 116, Puerto Vallarta 48380, Mexico Takeout, Reservations, Outdoor Seating, Seating, Waitstaff, Serves Alcohol, Full Bar, Accepts Mastercard, Accepts Visa, Free Wifi Mediterranean, Bar, Pizza, Spanish, Vegetarian Friendly, Vegan Options, Gluten Free Options Dinner, Late Night, Drinks HK$78 - HK$235 +52 322 113 0004
Excellent
79%
Good
16%
Satisfactory
3%
Poor
1%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 524 reviews

116 Pulpito Gastro Bar

Temporarily closed for Summer Break from 31 July to 21 August.

Reviewed By aerach - Toronto

Small place right next to Coco's Kitchen, good food at a good price, friendly staff. The spinach salad with citrus dressing was especially delicious.
It's usually busy so make a reservation in advance via Facebook Messenger. (Go to their FB page "116 Pulpito" for the link.)
Confirm when you arrive that their credit card machine is working or you may end up getting a cash-only surprise when you ask for the bill.

9. Barrio Bistro

Espana 305 | Colonia Versalles, Puerto Vallarta 48310, Mexico Takeout, Parking Available, Wheelchair Accessible, Full Bar, Free Wifi, Reservations, Outdoor Seating, Seating, Waitstaff, Street Parking, Free Off-Street Parking, Serves Alcohol, Wine and Beer Italian, French, Mexican, Latin, Seafood, Vegetarian Friendly, Vegan Options, Gluten Free Options Dinner HK$55 - HK$141 +52 322 151 7293
Excellent
86%
Good
9%
Satisfactory
3%
Poor
1%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

5 based on 536 reviews

Barrio Bistro

Wonderful food, beautifully presented, imaginative dishes in an art filled setting. Charming, professional staff. I loved having Chef explain the menu. There were so many tempting choices we had to share dishes so we could try as many as possible. Menu changes weekly. Vegetarian options. Inexpensive . A gem of a restaurant! - LMaljan (customer)

Reviewed By Kopanoak - Dartmouth, Canada

We had planned a return to Puerto Vallarta which included finding a good restaurant or three for lunch or dinner. Barrio Bistro had some very positive reviews so I emailed a request for a dinner reservation before we flew into town. The emailed response was prompt and we looked forward to a special dinner on our first full day in PV.
As it turns out the restaurant was less than a kilometre from our all-inclusive resort in the Hotel Zone. A short cab ride and we were greeted at the door by the chef/owner's wife and offered a choice of inside or outside. We decided to sit outside and were quickly ushered to a table. The menu is written on a chalk board daily and this is placed on a very colourful easel by your table so that the chef can summarize the dishes and answer any questions. A very nice, personal touch. When he was not showing the menu to new dinner guests he could be seen running the pass in the kitchen and tasting everything that went out. If any of the guests had a special occassion he would parade in with the staff, a special cake and 'the hat', everyone singing away.
Our waiter advised us that the portions are big so we opted to skip the appetizer, order our mains and split a dessert. I ordered the red snapper fillet with mashed spuds and mixed veggies, while my Sweety went for the pork chop in mango and arrayan berry sauce with sweet potato mash. My Sweety is normally very conservative in her food opinions and rated her meal as very good, which is high praise, indeed. The red snapper was also delicious and cooked to perfection. For dessert we ordered the churro, which is cooked to order and consists of a crispy golden churro in a swirl with chocolate drizzle and a dollop of vanilla ice cream. On the side was a very nice compote with pieces of fresh fruit. Once again scoring a very good from my Sweety.
Plating was all very artfully done, service is efficient, yet unobtrusive, and we really enjoyed the friendly atmosphere and al fresco dining. You never feel rushed and the atmosphere is very relaxing. There's quite a bit of artistic eye candy throughout the decor. Dinner for two with the dessert and a couple of Pacificos ran to a total of 680 pesos. So with tip we had a fine meal and a great time for the princely sum of $60 CAD. I highly recommend a visit to the Barrio Bistro. Don't be intimidated by the off the beaten track location of this hidden gem. We would certainly return.

10. Hiroshi

Carretera A Barra De Navidad | Km 7.5, Puerto Vallarta 48390, Mexico Reservations, Outdoor Seating, Seating, Waitstaff, Parking Available, Wheelchair Accessible, Serves Alcohol, Full Bar, Valet Parking Japanese, Seafood, Sushi, Asian, Vegetarian Friendly, Vegan Options, Gluten Free Options Dinner +52 322 176 0710
Excellent
87%
Good
7%
Satisfactory
5%
Poor
1%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

5 based on 136 reviews

Hiroshi

Reviewed By Andrew K - Boston, United States

We stayed at the Garza Blanca Preserve Resort & Spa and purchased the all inclusive package which entitles you to dinner at Hiroshi at the Hotel Mousai. The place was trendy, opened to the outside via balconies which we were seated at with an amazing view. This is the busiest and best of the restaurants on the resort property. The staff are very attentive and happy to make recommendations. Dinner started with popcorn shrimp and veggie dumplings. Then we had three orders of sushi with 8 pieces each of lobster, citrus salmon and veggie rolls. All of the food was fabulous, the best we had at the resort.
NOTE - They do enforce the dress code as we saw a guy wearing jeans and flip flops sent back to his room to change into shoes.

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