Diners' Choice: Neighborhood gem restaurants in Puerto Vallarta

OpenTable

Updated March 05, 2025

Looking for the best restaurants that are the best neighborhood gems in Puerto Vallarta? You’re in the right place. Each month, OpenTable analyzes nearly 2 million global diner reviews from the past four months. We sort the results by location and category to help you discover new favorite restaurants. It's a great partnership: you reserve, eat, and review. We listen...and deliver the results for all to benefit. Enjoy!

Azafran

4.9

4.9 (419)

MXN310 to MXN500

Modern European

Puerto Vallarta

About the restaurant

Azafrán es más que un restaurante, es una travesía culinaria extraordinaria que destaca por un servicio amable al estilo europeo. Haciendo honor a la especia que le da su nombre, Azafrán es sutil pero sofisticado, una experiencia única que, sin duda, debes comprobar con tus cinco sentidos. El chef ejecutivo Andreas Fischer pone sobre la mesa una propuesta gastronómica fresca, sustentable y refinada, utilizando solamente los mejores ingredientes locales para elaborar una mezcla vanguardista que combina platillos clásicos de la cocina de su mamá, la cocina innovadora del Mediterráneo y las refinadas técnicas culinarias europeas. Para que tu experiencia al paladar sea inolvidable, encontrarás el maridaje perfecto en una colección de vinos cuidadosamente seleccionada, incluyendo viñedos mexicanos emergentes, vinos orgánicos de Chile y selectas etiquetas de Francia e Italia. Te esperamos en Azafrán, un restaurante elegante, casual y acogedor ubicado en el corazón.

Top review

LindaVIP

Dined 5 days ago

Always a wonderful experience at this wonderful restaurant. Delicious food, great wine selection and great service. Comfortable seating whether inside or outside

A Mar y Sierra

4.9

4.9 (101)

MXN310 to MXN500

Contemporary Mexican

Puerto Vallarta

About the restaurant

A Mar y Sierra., Un viaje gastronómico que va desde la Sierra Madre Oriental, hasta la Sierra Madre Occidental y que termina en el mar de Puerto Vallarta.
Creamos sabores y experiencias únicas, que te llenaran de emociones, dentro de una atmósfera cálida, relajada y con un servicio atento y cordial, la cocina única que encontraras en A Mar y Sierra no la encuentras en ningún otro lugar del Puerto.

A Mar y Sierra., A gastronomic journey that goes from the Sierra Madre Oriental to the Sierra Madre Occidental and ends in the sea of Puerto Vallarta.
We create unique flavors and experiences that will fill you with emotions, within a warm, relaxed atmosphere and with attentive and cordial service, the unique cuisine that you will find in A Mar y Sierra cannot be found anywhere else in the Port.

Top review

KarenVIP

Dined 4 days ago

Great food and service. Interesting and unusual combination of spices and tastes that works so well together.

Kaiser Maximilian

4.8

4.8 (541)

MXN300 and under

European

Puerto Vallarta

About the restaurant

If you enjoy European cafés and fine continental cuisine, this award-winning restaurant that evokes old Vienna in full bloom is sure to delight you. A longtime Vallarta favorite, Austrian owner Andreas Rupprechter named the place after his compatriot Maximilian and former emperor of Mexico, perhaps he himself would have loved to dine here, choosing Wienerschnitzel with potatoes and Austrian salad as his ideal dish. Gastronomy in Puerto Vallarta has gone up a notch, that is why our menu is constantly being renewed, although it is good to know that some things do not change, and for a dozen years we have been able to maintain the satisfaction of our favorite dishes. So, whether dining outdoors surrounded by unparalleled people or in an intimate dinner, this is the place to be in Vienna, with the warm weather of Puerto Vallarta.

Top review

Norm

Dined 2 days ago

Good solid experience. They have been around a long time.

River Cafe - Puerto Vallarta

4.7

4.7 (625)

MXN310 to MXN500

International

Puerto Vallarta

About the restaurant

River Cafe, is located at the Rio Cuale Island, just minutes away from the Boardwalk and Puerto Vallarta’s downtown. Our sophisticated cuisine delights the most demanding palates; furthermore, you can enjoy the best Mexican and international wines and a plenty of cocktails.

River Cafe is an ideal restaurant for dinner in Puerto Vallarta, but guests may also enjoy a delicious Breakfast or outstanding Lunch in a natural and friendly atmosphere. If you are looking for a restaurant for groups or special events in Vallarta, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Our warm and natural ambience creates the perfect flair for a romantic Dinner in Puerto Vallarta. We invite you to learn more about River Cafe.

Top review

DougVIP

Dined 5 days ago

Always welcoming, always great food, always terrific live music.

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Experience

2X1 Margaritas & Daiquiris

La Tienda Grande

4.7

4.7 (39)

MXN500 and over

Contemporary Mexican

Puerto Vallarta

About the restaurant

Coming Soon!
Located in the old big store of the town, the restaurant was born.
La Tienda Grande was simmered as a tribute to the women who made me a cook, to my mother, my 4 grandmothers, aunts, friends and those ladies I have met in life and have inspired me; I will base the menu on the dishes that I have tried and that are still in my memory, they will be interpreted in my own way; my team and I will make creative Mexican cuisine.

And to all this, who am I?

I'm a cook and that´s all.
When an idea is born, the rest of the things go to the background, I don't want to be the protagonist of something that has essence on its own.

Chef Salvador Carrillo, Pata Salada
Nominated for Breakthrough Chef by Food and Travel Readers Awards 2022
Best Chef of Mediterranean cuisine in 2020 in the United Arab Emirates.

Top review

Darren

Dined on Mar 2, 2025

Absolutely wonderful! We had the Odisea Experience, truly exceptional.

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Experience

Degustación con Historia - Tasting with history

Experience

Experiencia Odisea | Odyssey Experience

ZUMO RESTAURANTE VALLARTA

4.7

4.7 (33)

MXN310 to MXN500

Mexican

Puerto Vallarta

About the restaurant

Reviving the soul of traditional Mexican cuisine while embracing the dynamism of modern culinary trends, Zumo Restaurant is a gastronomic adventure. Our Chef Gustavo Cabrera Tello takes us on an exhilarating journey of flavors, textures, and aromas that tell a story of both heritage and innovation, exploring modern Mexican cuisine with innovative twists. From traditional Spanish croquettes infused with al pastor pork to reinvented classics like carne en su jugo featuring succulent short ribs, the menu boasts a tantalizing array of options curated to delight discerning palates.
Nestled in the heart of Vallarta’s Romantic Zone, ZUMO emerges as a vibrant addition to the city’s culinary landscape, with an explosion of flavors and a warm, inviting ambiance at Púlpito #142, next door from the well known Piano Bar "Garbos". ZUMO beckons diners to embark on a gastronomic journey, exploring modern Mexican cuisine with innovative twists.

Top review

cathy

Dined 2 days ago

We enjoyed all the food flavors and unique options. I ordered the Cornish hen and the curry sauce was excellent, it’s difficult to eat a Cornish hen and they are not very meaty- all dishes were delicious!

The Courtyard at The Tryst

4.7

4.7 (9)

MXN300 and under

Mexican

Puerto Vallarta

About the restaurant

The Courtyard at The Tryst is coming soon! Step into the heart of indulgence, where breakfast, brunch, lunch, and dinner offer an irresistible mix of international flavors with a local twist. Every Sunday, our legendary Drag Brunch serves up bottomless mimosas with a side of sass. Dine al fresco in a lush garden that’s as sexy as the menu.

Top review

Richard

Dined 2 days ago

Incredible! The party was awesome. The entertainment fantastic and the food delicious! Amazing experience!

Mita Mary

4.6

4.6 (58)

MXN500 and over

Seafood

Punta de Mita

About the restaurant

Grilled Pacific coast flavors with local, fresh ingredients. A casual, beachfront setting with the best sunsets for a laid-back dining experience.

Top review

Peter

Dined on Feb 22, 2025

Food and ambiance was great. But we often found ourselves wondering where our server was when we needed something, or waiting a very long time for a drink refill etc.

Lobster Paradise

4.4

4.4 (196)

MXN310 to MXN500

Seafood

Punta de Mita

About the restaurant

Lobster Paradise
Prime Seafood and Steaks
At this beachfront restaurant, lobster gets a bold reinterpretation. Try the best seafood and prime steaks, and more. We offer lunch and dinner. And don’t miss our mixology!

*Groups of 18 people or more required a deposit to confirm their reservation.

Top review

MeleahVIP

Dined 3 days ago

We had such a lovely evening. We had a large party of 8. The venue was so beautiful. Great view, we were seated closest to the water. The staff was amazing. The table side Guacamole delicious. The tacos listed as appetizers were definitely large enough to be a meal and good. Some of the main dishes were better than others. I had the catch of the day with pistachio crust and was very happy. Nothing was bad, maybe not steaming hot, or not as flavorful as you would like. The staff was out of this world great. Everyone walked out happy.

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Popular dish

Lobster enchiladas

The Blue Shrimp Nuevo Vallarta

4.4

4.4 (221)

MXN310 to MXN500

Seafood

Nuevo Vallarta

About the restaurant

For a taste of the sea, set your sights on the al fresco eatery in front of a beautiful lagoon with crocodiles, herons, turtles, iguanas and more. Here you can find the best of the coast, including zarandeado fish, seafood creations, and a wide selection of blue shrimp recipes made with the biggest shrimp of the bay. *This website is exclusive to our location in NUEVO VALLARTA, Nayarit.

Top review

Diana

Dined 2 days ago

Always fresh food & great service at the Blue Fish! Try the shrimp al pastor tacos, delish!

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Caesar Salad With Srimp

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