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.
39 Vallarta Essentials: You cannot visit Paris, no matter how brief a stay, and miss the Eiffel Tower or the Louvre, or spend any time in San Francisco without succumbing to the temptation of crossing its majestic Golden Gate Bridge. Each popular world destination has its very own list of must-see/must-do items and Puerto Vallarta is no exception.
La Palapa 50 Years of Restoring Guests’ Spirits: On December 31, 1958, La Palapa held its inauguration. And since January 1, 1959, this famous restaurant has been serving locals and tourists alike.
Música Mexicana: Seven Artists to Consider: Just as Mexico is turning heads on the silver screen, thanks to young performers such as Salma Hayek and Gael García Bernal, Mexican musicians are crossing the border and finding success and popularity all over the world.
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.
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.
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.
Raicilla, Mexican Elixir: When listing Mexican drinks, tequila is sure to appear at the top; however, there’s a new spirit that’s set to beat, or at least compete closely with, tequila in terms of popularity and quality: raicilla. According to the Mexican Wine Association, raicilla is a spirited drink with a defined aroma that reminds us of the sunny and well-drained lands that give birth to the agave.
A Warm Salute to Inspirational Puerto Vallarta Restaurateurs: Exemplifying the wide range of qualities required to excel in the restaurant industry, each restaurateur pictured here has contributed immeasurably to the outstanding world-class dining scene this popular resort destination enjoys.
Music: Movers and Shakers: We cannot possibly do justice to the increasingly vast and varied live music scene here in Puerto Vallarta in a single installment. Like waves on the sand, every year seems to come and go, leaving behind new and memorable performances by talented performers from all walks of life.
International Restaurants: In Search of Exotics: Today, Puerto Vallarta’s international restaurant scene can satisfy even the most sophisticated bon vivant. Of course, chances are that if you are visiting Mexico for the first time, you will want to experience authentic Mexican cuisine with its broad variety of flavors first and foremost.
Tequila!: Considered North America's first indigenous distilled spirit, tequila production originated in the 16th century near the town of Tequila, Jalisco. It is made from agave, a plant considered sacred by the Aztec, who used it to produce octly, a fermented beverage now known as pulque.
Mexican Pyrotechnics: From Gunpowder to the Marigalante: Spend enough evenings around downtown Puerto Vallarta and you'll find you no longer need a watch, especially around 9 pm, when the daily Marigalante pirate ship fireworks light up the night sky. Here in Mexico we need practically no excuse to set off fireworks.
Kahlua: Few can resist being seduced by this popular liqueur made from Mexican coffee, and many include it in their list of gifts to bring back home.
The Viva Girls: A Dash of Class and a Lot of Marketing Savvy: Surprises happen in Vallarta when you least expect them, like when having dinner at a nice restaurant, say. And suddenly, four gorgeous women in capes glide in, appearing before you smiling broadly ...
