7 Best Restaurants in Zona Hotelera, Puerto Vallarta

Porfirio's is a sophisticated restaurant that reinvents traditional Mexican cuisine by adding modern accents and flavors. The food is excellent and the atmosphere is even better, with on-site mariachis, sparklers, and all kinds of iconic Mexican characters.

The ambience at this patio restaurant facing the boats and the marina is casual and festive; the crowd hums with contentment while other restaurants nearby seemingly have been drained of clientele. There is live music (mainly mariachi) most days.

For an informal bite on any given evening, there's nothing like Food Park PV. Here you'll find a variety of snacks, beer, live music, and good vibes, all in a refreshing outdoor atmosphere.

La Dolce is the sister restaurant of La Dolce Vista located in the malecón, and although it also provides a variety of Italian dishes, it focuses on serving the best pizzas in the Hotel Zone.

The locally owned bakery Los Chatos sells cakes, tarts, and house-made gelato. They have expanded to new areas, too, in Bucerías, the Marina, and more.

The original Mariscos 8 Tostadas (there are a few others in the bay) is located behind Blockbuster Video in the Hotel Zone. It features full seafood plates alongside its ceviches, tacos, and appetizers. The odd menu translations at these restaurants are a clear indication that the clientele is local. For instance, the tuna sashimi appears as atún fresco con salsa rasurada, or "tuna cut thick with shaved sauce." The tuna is thicker than that in U.S. sushi houses and is served in a shallow dish with soy sauce, micro-thin cucumber slices, sesame seeds, green onions, chili powder, and lime. The ceviche couldn't be fresher, and portions are more than generous.

The original Mariscos 8 Tostadas establishment (nowadays there are a few others in the bay) is widely considered the best seafood restaurant in PV. It's not a flashy place, but it’s clean, offers good service, and serves up simply delicious dishes.