Vallarta – Nayarit Gastronomy & Restaurant Guides

In its present location for the past 10 years Choco Banana offers the community of Sayulita a gathering place to enjoy new and old friends. The local Sayulita residents go to Choco Banana for Eve’s fresh home baked goods, the great environment, the best coffee in Sayulita, and the expansive menu. The menu offers a variety of breakfast dishes, including the best French toast around. Vegans and vegetarians in Sayulita can choose from multiple menu items, including soy products. For a cool snack try one of the great 100% fruit smoothies, or a tasty frozen mocochino.

La Rustica is located in heart of the little town of Sayulita. Its specialty is the traditional wood fired pizza but its offering includes fresh salads and pastas. This place has a really comfy and casual ambiance made by its modern design and the friendly service. If you’re craving rustic, delicious and handmade Italian food made with the best ingredients, La Rustica is the place to be in Sayulita. The bar has an outstanding selection of craft cocktails, and we serve delicious, local craft beers.

From the onset of their experience in Sayulita, Damien and Nicholas the Chefs and owners of Don Pedros, have always believed in improving the quality of life for the locals who call this place home. They financed the restoration of the malecon and fortification of the beach area. The restaurant is nestled on Sayulita’s golden beach and guests delight in an unforgettable dining experience while surfers ride gentle waves in full view. Now, with the addition of the new beach patio and bar, the view is even better and the dining more enjoyable.

Started and run by Daniel and Giusy a young Italian couple from Milan, Gusto is located in the magical Plaza of Sayulita and opens its kitchen to those who want to feel at home. Whether you are looking to have a romantic dinner in a nice ambiance or just a glass of wine, this is the right place to visit. This little Italian restaurant offers a great selection of fine Italian wines and gives you the pleasure of the traditional crafts of Italian cuisine. Along with locally sourced produce, Gusto restaurant uses many products imported from Italy and, when possible, fruits from their own garden.

The Real Fish Taco might very well have the best fish tacos on the Pacific Coast! The Baja style fish tacos are the staple of this restaurant and certainly a treat whether you join for lunch or dinner. Once you have tasted the tacos, make sure not to miss the rest of the specialty menu filled with fresh seafood, and even a few meat dishes. Sayulita Fish taco offers many other fresh seafood menu items, as well as nightly specials, depending on what the fisherman bring in. You will almost always find the bar crew interacting with the clientele, and they will always be laughing.

Sayulita Café is also called the house of the chile relleno by its local and foreigner fanatics. Miguel Muro is the proud Chef behind this Mexican restaurant in the center of the town. If you are looking for a romantic dinner with candles or casual drinks with friends this is the right spot. This restaurant offers locals and visitors an incredible and authentic Mexican dining experience. A full bar with a plentiful wine
and crafted beers list is available. Make sure to try one of the famous margaritas while you wait to be seated.

The cuisine of La Palapa is greatly influenced by fresh and delicious local ingredients and abundant choices within the region. Located at Playa Los Muertos, the beach and ocean life is something integral to La Palapa’s identity. Tropical Mexican Cuisine combines Mexican with Asian and French elements to bring you a fresh, local culinary experience you will not soon forget. Exotic drinks served in hand-blown glassware, live music and freshly caught seafood from the bay prepared with local ingredients and recipes are the specialties.

Exclusivity, elegance and comfort of its many gourmet-chic environments distinguish the Café des Artistes, which for 25 years is crowned as the icon restaurant of Puerto Vallarta and Banderas Bay. Synonymous with tradition, art and distinction for local, national and foreign guests. Created by the charismatic chef Thierry Blouet, renowned for its creativity and passionate style that expands in and out of the kitchen, Café des Artistes is a worthy representative of the gastronomic pleasure of Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco and Mexico.

Located four blocks from the Malecón, here you will have the best view of the bay in all of Puerto Vallarta. The Chef/owner, William Carballo, sees to it that every guest in his restaurant is happy, offering generously served dishes with fresh, high quality ingredients at reasonable prices. It is recommended to order for the entire table and share dishes family style. With two or three tapas per person, you can enjoy an authentic culinary adventure. They are always updating the menu and offer daily specials. Also enjoy delicious salads and scrumptious desserts such as the chocolate profilerols and homemade ice cream.

El Arrayan is a Mexican restaurant in Puerto Vallarta with a magic soul and an intimate atmosphere. The Chef and his team offer a variety of authentic Mexican dishes although rare. They use the best traditional recipes and freshest local ingredients of the highest quality. If you are looking to dine in Puerto Vallarta, they are located in the heart of El Centro, just steps from El Malecon. El Arrayan opened its doors in November 2003 and since then aim to be the best Mexican restaurant in Puerto Vallarta.

El Barracuda is a small restaurant located in the heart of Playa Camarones, the only certified beach in town. Specialized in seafood, el Barracuda also features non seafood lovers specialties like BBQ ribs and salads for vegetarians and also a variety of steak dishes. It is fresh, non formal, not fancy & delicious. It is a seafood joint with a particular twist. From the delicious and unique tacos to the freshest ceviches, el Barracuda is a place to let yourself go. The staff is well trained into recommending the best combinationsso you and your party will feast your senses with an array of seafood and surf and turf combinations.

Maia is inspired by various cultures. The staff’s intention is to promote what has been done in Mexico, and, above all, to share the huge heart of Mexican people. Since its products are domestic, fresh, organic, artisan and local obtained from the producers who work every day to keep their families doing with love what they do best, together with the guests, they want to promote the national and local economy with the Mexican flavors. They not only want to feed the body, but also soul and spirit, thanking and blessing food as the gifts that it is, following these principles inherited by the time sages.

Mariscos 8 Tostadas has a long tradition of seafood in original dishes that are a true delight to the most demanding palate. Its owners personally guarantee the quality of each dish with the warmth that characterizes them. The seafood casseroles, ceviche toast, smoked marlin, shrimp ceviche, shrimp aguachile; as well as tuna sashimi and callo de hacha rasurado, are some of the menu items that visitors enjoy daily. The desserts, whose exquisite flavors are a true gourmet experience, include the coconut pay and the lime pie, masterfully closing the tasting of the unique delicacies of fresh seafood.

It began back in 1978 when Archie, the founder, was asked to become Hollywood director John Huston’s private chef at his personal retreat on Banderas Bay’s south shore. Today, Archie’s Wok remains a very personal operation, a labor of love now under the guidance of his family. The place radiates hospitality as she welcomes you into the cozy/elegant dining room. Sergio, the Chef, heads up the kitchen operation, daily garnering the freshest of local seafood, meats and vegetables to be transformed in the Woks and on the grill into delectable Asian-inspired dishes.

La Dolce Vita is a great gourmet space that invites you to its traditional restaurant in the Malecón area in Puerto Vallarta. They welcome you to the genuine atmosphere of good food and hope you enjoy the great traditional Italian cuisine: salad, pasta, meat, chicken or fish. Served in comfortable facilities inside the restaurant with a cozy and welcoming design, distributed on two floors and with a beautiful view of the Malecón and the Bay where you can enjoy in the afternoons of excellent sunsets.

The ingredients that are most important in Coco’s Kitchen are similar to those found in thriving kitchens: creativity, passion, hard work and family. From the stuffed French toast to the inviting garden, there is always something to feast your eyes and palate on. Family is no doubt the most important ingredient and is what has inspired Coco, the Chef, to do what she does best. She or one of her daughters will welcome you with a warm smile and seat you in the lovely garden. You will feel as if you are walking into their home and will be served as if you are a member of the family.