Top Eats in Puerto Vallarta: Must-Try Restaurants
📍The Iguana Restaurant & Tequila Bar - Located within the Casa Kimberly Hotel (the former home of Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton), this open air, fine-dining restaurant overlooks Puerto Vallarta and is beautifully designed and decorated. The food is delicious, and the service is impressive.
📍La Cappella Restaurant - This was my favorite restaurant experience on our trip in Puerto Vallarta. This stunning restaurant overlooks the city and is the perfect spot for watching the sunset. Enjoy your meal while listening to the live violinists play modern music. The Italian food is good, but I continue to recommend this restaurant to others because of the ambiance.
📍Mar Y Vino - This restaurant opened a week before I visited it in 2021, so they were still working out a few kinks. However, I saw great potential in this hip new establishment where you dine while sitting in ankle deep water. Looking out at the ocean, this is a great place to grab drinks or dinner and watch the sunset.
📍iK Mixology Bar & Cuisine - Another great spot by the water with great sunset views. At this restaurant, you can dine in a cocoon. This is a content creator’s dream photography spot, but it also has delicious food!
When in Puerto Vallarta, the cocktail scene is just as vibrant as the sunsets! Many of these incredible restaurants, like Mar Y Vino with its unique ankle-deep water dining, aren't just about the food; they're about the experience, and that often includes a fantastic drink in hand. I found myself drawn to places offering fruity bar drinks and refreshing beach mixed drinks – perfect for the tropical climate. Whether you're looking for classic margaritas, creative tequila shots, or light, beachy cocktails to sip as the sun dips below the horizon, PV has it all. iK Mixology Bar & Cuisine, with its famous cocoon dining, is a dream for trying innovative drinks while enjoying those iconic sunset views over the ocean, often with the Los Muertos Pier glowing in the distance. The vibrant atmosphere truly makes it a top spot for cocktails at the beach. Beyond specific drinks, the sheer joy of beachside dining is unmatched. Imagine a beach day drink turning into a magical evening meal. La Cappella, while known for its Italian fare and live violinists, also offers an exquisite backdrop for a pre-dinner cocktail, letting you soak in the city lights. And of course, The Iguana Restaurant & Tequila Bar at Casa Kimberly, with its historical charm and stunning vistas, guarantees a sophisticated setting for any drink. To truly make the most of your culinary adventure, I always recommend checking out menus online beforehand to see their drink selections. Many places offer happy hour deals on cocktails, which is a great way to sample different concoctions without breaking the bank. Don't be afraid to ask locals for their favorite spots for a cocktail for the beach or a hidden gem for a sunset drink. Look for places advertising 'sunset specials' – these often come with fantastic drink promotions and the best views. Consider the vibe you're after: a lively beach club for beach cocktails during the day, or a more intimate setting for a romantic evening drink. The beauty of Puerto Vallarta's dining scene is its embrace of unique experiences. From the novelty of dining in the water at Mar Y Vino to the chic, private 'cocoons' at iK Mixology, these spots encourage you to linger, savor, and truly immerse yourself in the moment, often with an expertly crafted drink as your companion. It's not just about finding 'restaurants near me' but finding experiences that will stick with you long after the trip, especially when paired with a perfect fruity shot or a beach cocktail.
