Last Post on this seems to have been in 1999. Anyone out there who regularly visits, or has a condo, care to update me on great P. V. food?? We are heading down in February. Thanks much, kawh

I spend a lot of time in PV, most recent trip last summer. Restaurants I like, mostly on the south-side because that's where I stay are:

Breakfast-
Fredy's El Tucan
Memo's Casa de Hotcakes

Lunch-
Cafe Roma
Cafe de Olla
Picnic

Dinner-
Mariscos Polo's
Joe Jack's Fish Shack
Fajita Republic
La Piazzetta

(there are recent posts on the topic, it's just the search function doesn't work well here.)

The above are all inexpensive to moderate places.

More upscale suggestions include:
The River Cafe
The Red Cabbage
La Palapa
Trio
Vitea

La Palapa is on the beach and is wonderful, particularly at night with with the lighted torches. El Dorado is across the street and very good too.

If you want to splash out, go to Cafe des Artistes on Guadalupe Sanchez. Beautiful and very good food. Sit outside in the "jungle."

Suze suggested the Red Cabbage to us for our PV trip and we loved it! Definitely go there. I do seem to remember, though, that they do not take credit cards (maybe someone else can confirm or deny that).

Maria Caledarias (I hope I had that right) for insane tamales of all types. Up by the Gallery area.


Wonderful vegetarian buffet up behind the big church (ask a local..I forget the name)

Okay okay.. the tamale place is Maria Candelaria and it's at 851 Guadalupe Sanchez and is open 8am-4pm and 6pm-11pm.

When you've tired of Mexican food (I personally love Cafe de Olla, but it's hard to go wrong in South PV near playa de los muertos), go for Archie's Wok. It's asian, but with a flair you can't really find anywhere else. I live in NYC now, but still find myself missing Archie's... the flavor is great and hard to reproduce.
Buen provecho!!!

I agree with all the other suggestions coming (Cafe des Artists, Archies Wok).

hi seeksocean~ The vegetarian buffet is Planeto Vegetariano, #270 Iturdibe in El Centro.

If you want nice restaurants up high with views I'll add Vista Grill and Barcelona Tapas to the list.

I think that's still true (that Red Cabbage does not accept credit cards).

That's a good point for people to know in advance... many of the smaller places do not accept them. They have signs posted or say so on the menu. It is because of the high cost to the business to process them.

Barcelona Tapas is GREAT!

Another vote for Barcelona Tapas!

Lola's first year at the Red Cabbage on NYE she had some guests who had no Cash & yes she does not take CC. So she told them "stop back in a day or 2 & pay". Classy Lady
When I joked "You never told me that" She replied " Yes But I Know You"! LOL

Mariscos Tino's in Pitillal is a very nice place for lunch or dinner. You can get a peak at another part of Vallarta that most people usually don't get to here.

All this talk of PV made me book a trip in March....

Good! Then our job here is done ;-)

Suze:

It is all your fault! But I will try and suffer thru.

By the way, I first went to PV with my family for Christmas in 1966. Wild donkeys on the beach, too. El Dorado was there and was the epicenter of beach life. We stayed at a little place, the Posada de la Selva, which was on the beach at the Rio Cuale.

Of course, things have changed but PV still hasn't lost it's character and that is what I love about it.

wow 1966, that's impressive. i would have love to see Vallarta at that time.

my first trip was in the early 90's and it's changed sooooo much even since then.

We LUV Puerto Vallarta - and usually stay at www.sheratonvallarta.com and can honestly say their restuarants are fantastic - however - you can go to the main street and go into any of the local restuarants and you will get authentic Mexican food - all fantastic.

Our favorites however are:
l. Le Bistro - little pricy - but romantic with a piano bar - and lights all outside the trees with a river running along side of it.

2. Fajita Republic - they even give you a free drink at the end of the meal - two of you share the most food that you could ever consume - open air effect looking out at the street. Food is superb.

3. The River Cafe - right off the vendor area - you can eat indooor or outside - if you eat outside - be prepared for every cat in the neighborhood to visit - it is a fantastic meal.

You can not go wrong with any of the food there.

It's not gournet- but I love Mr. Cream's at the marina for breakfast. It's always packed.