An evening on the town in Puerto Vallarta begins with a great meal in one of the city's many fine restaurants. Musicians serenade as you sample the cuisine of world-class chefs or enjoy Mexican "home cooking." After your meal, relax with a drink on a romantic terrace by the sea or in the hills with a breathtaking view of city lights, boats on the bay and fireworks. Then it's time to move on to the real action of the evening. Music, dancing and live entertainment really get going after 11 pm. No need to dress up, just pick a restaurant-bar with your favorite kind of atmosphere. You will find sports bars, rowdy bars, refined and relaxed piano bars and everything in between. Several bars, discos and live music clubs offer rock 'n roll, Latin music, blues and jazz. At some of them, diehard dancers and late-starters are still kicking up their heels on the dance floor until five in the morning.
Best Music and Dance Revue: Broadway Nights: Good news! You can now enjoy top-notch dance performances, thanks to companies such as Darudha, the brainchild of local choreographer Jacobo Martínez Guerrero.
Hottest Party Invite: Vikki Carr: At the spectacular and exclusive event held at Hacienda Palo Maria, “An Evening with Vikki Carr,” the renowned singer delighted 200 guests with an unforgettable concert.
Where is the Best Dining View in Puerto Vallarta?: When it comes to glorious Puerto Vallarta sunsets and spectacular dining views, we all have our own favorites.
Best New Food Event: Wine and Chocolate Tasting at the Botanical Gardens: Charming Xocodiva chocolatiers Charlotte Semple and Carole Fast joined forces with wine connoisseur Nina Goodhope to create a unique, original event.
Best New Trends for Sports Fanatics: More Sports-Viewing Options: Whether you’re a fan of NHL, NBA, NFL or a soccer fan who wants to join the locals to cheer on the Guadalajara-based Chivas soccer team, it seems that more and more venues are providing quality big-screen TV and the requisite beverages and snacks to keep even the most enthusiastic sports aficionado satisfied.
Live Music Options in Puerto Vallarta: From colorful and lively performers bouncing from one city bus to another all day long, to sassy vocalists crooning jazz standards into the microphone at a local lounge, live music abounds in Puerto Vallarta.
Molecular Gastronomy: Culinary Art Meets Science: Having dinner at a gourmet restaurant, seduced by the flavors and aromas of the spectacular dishes before you, it’s easy to forget that cooking is, fundamentally, the result of a series of chemical and physical processes.
If It Looks That Easy, It Probably Isn't!: An accomplished pianist plays Franz Liszt’s Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2 as if it were the melody line of Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star, and a gifted chef prepares a perfect Grand Marnier soufflé as easily as you or I would take the lid off a container of ice cream and scoop some into a dish. But what we don’t see when we marvel at the final products of these masters is the hundreds or thousands of hours of practice, revision, training and planning that bring them to such polished levels that they make their art look easy.
La Petit: Farewell to a Decade: “What satisfaction it gives me that La Petit is going out in a blaze of glory!” exclaimed chef Nacho Cadena, owner of the French restaurant that has been such an important part of local gastronomy for the past decade. This chef of French origin had always dreamed of having a restaurant like this, full of antiques, the perfect space to exhibit treasures such as his grandparents’ dishes and to hold cultural events.
Jazz in Puerto Vallarta:
A number of professional jazz musicians have found their way to our destination, some as tourists, others to work for a season or two, and then there are those who have chosen Puerto Vallarta as their permanent residence. They tend to share their talent and good vibe jamming with one another at several local restaurants, such as Café des Artistes, La Palapa, Vista Grill, Le Bistro and River Café, among others.
Lenny: Music a la Carte: About four years ago, while I was having dinner at Daiquiri Dick’s, Lenny appeared with his guitar, offering music table to table. At the request of my companions, I ended up singing Sabor a Mi in harmony with this talented artist. I recently had the opportunity to interview him in the very same restaurant.
Sergio Lugo and de Santos Collection Success: The prestigious Restaurant de Santos celebrated a very special night on April 30th, with the de Santos Collection opening by the young local artist Sergio Lugo. The weeklong exhibition at this popular venue emphasized the importance of local nightlife, which is always full of people from diverse national and international environments and lifestyles.
North Shore Restaurants and Their Stories: Fervor for food, family and their special locations on the Riviera Nayarit links eight extraordinary and diverse restaurateurs who have each established unique and beloved eateries. Hailing from as far as New Zealand and as close as Vallarta, each brings distinctive experience and imparts an individual flavor, not just to the fare but to the entire dining experience.
Malecon Nightspots: Every night is Saturday night on the Malecon! With so many hot venues in close proximity, barhopping takes on a whole new meaning. This selection of evening hotspots includes some of the most popular with the young and the young at heart. Check them all out or find the one that suits you best.
Best New Sassy Musical Group: The QuesaDivas: If 70 is the new 60, then those “sassy and 60” QuesaDivas are the new 40! The QuesaDivas was the inspiration of group founder Norma Schuh. “I love to sing, but I never considered myself a singer! It occurred to me that there were other women who felt the same.” The 13 members of QuesaDivas have a love of music and, although they may not be ready to sing solo.
