Top Three Fine Dining Experiences in Puerto Vallarta

Puerto Vallarta is not only a tropical paradise, it’s also one of the top gastronomic destinations in Mexico. From walk-up taco stands crowded with locals to candlelit five-star restaurants, this city is a delicious oasis.

Thanks to the easy access to fresh seafood and a growing expat population, the food scene in Vallarta is exploding with new options every season. If you come in November, you will encounter the latest in culinary culture at the International Gourmet Festival. If you arrive mid-May, you can sample all the best flavors in town during Restaurant Week.

But great food is available in Puerto Vallarta at any time, for any palate and any budget.

Our top three picks are matchless in service, ambience and exquisite flavor:

● Cafe des Artistes is a gourmet bistro nestled in the heart of the cobblestoned El Centro. Thierry Blouet, Master Chef and Founder, has been carrying out his culinary vision for thirty years. The restaurant is made up of several comfortable and intimate dining spaces with modern sculpture and soothing music. The menu offers creative, delicious three course dining and blends French haute cuisine with Mexican flavors. The wine list is extensive, with labels from all over the world as well as several regions in Mexico.

● In 2019, the restaurant ICÚ, located in the Hotel Zone, was named Best New Mexico Restaurant in the Food and Travel Readers Awards. Chefs Josué Jiménez and Mauricio Leal have created a unique fine dining experience based on authentic Mexican cooking traditions. The menu changes with the seasons, and includes a tasting menu of up to nine courses. Look for their extensive, exclusively Mexican wine list.

● European Chef Bernard Guth opened the doors of Trio Restaurant in 1997. Since then, Chef Ulf Henriksson has joined as a partner and Trio has become a fixture in Puerto Vallarta’s vanguard food scene. Located in the heart of downtown Vallarta, their multi-level restaurant features a gallery of local artists and a small interior garden. Their innovative Mediterrean-style dishes always feature fresh, seasonal ingredients.

All three restaurants are celebrated for their excellence in food and service in a Mexican coastal town famous for an abundance of fine dining options and local ingredients. If you’re in Vallarta, don’t miss the opportunity for these superb culinary experiences!