TOP OF THE LINE GOURMET RESTAURANTS OFFER HAUTE CUISINE

NO MATTER WHAT PART OF PUERTO VALLARTA YOU ARE VISITING - FROM THE MARINA TO ZONA ROMANTICA, YOU’LL FIND A VARIETY OF GOURMET RESTAURANTS.

By Salvador Dominguez

THE LIST OF RESTAURANTS OFFERING THE BEST HAUTE CUISINE IN PUERTO VALLARTA IS, WELL, EXTENSIVE. OFFERING THE HIGHEST QUALITY PRODUCTS, THE MOST CAREFUL AND ARTISTIC PRESENTATIONS AND THE MOST COMPLEX AND REFINED ELABORATIONS, HAUTE CUISINE IS OFTEN NOT DEFINED BY A PARTICULAR STYLE, BUT MORE OF A GENERAL PRACTICE. We offer up a few of these fine restaurants that we suggest you try, but there are so many more to explore and enjoy.

CAFE DES ARTISTES Cafe Des Artistes has been a gourmet tradition in Puerto Vallarta for more than 30 years. It is the ideal restaurant for celebrations. Located in the heart of Puerto Vallarta, Cafe des Artistes is the creation of the famous Chef Thierry Blouet.

This exclusive place offers French Cuisine with Mexican Inspiration. The ambiance is elegant and service excellence and high quality food make this restaurant an unparalleled place for intimate celebrations and important business meetings.

Chef and founder Thierry Blouet maintains his creative spirit, passion and unique style, which has made Café des Artistes a worthy representative of the gastronomic pleasure of Puerto Vallarta.

It has five incredible different dining spaces, according to the mood you are in or the event you wish to celebrate.

P'yote Lounge & Piano Bar, with genuine details designed by the skilled hands of Huichol artisans and the famous designer Cristina Covalin, has a life of its own and is ideal for tasting the magical mezcalinis and live music.

Salón de Gotas, an exquisitely designed section inside the restaurant, represents the original design of the first Café des Artistes. It is the only dining area that is open during the summer rains. It is the most classic area of the restaurant, impeccable.

Chef's Table, or "the House of Ghosts", remains intact in terms of its décor, and is separate from the rest of the restaurant. For those who wish to use it as a smoking room, you can do so by reservation. Ideal for birthday parties and small groups, this room can also be arranged to receive up to 14 diners at a private table, enjoying the service and quality of the food with the chef's guarantee.

Private Room, with a more subtle style, the so-called Thierry Blouet Signature Cuisine is a very elegant section, now reserved exclusively for groups of 20 people or more.

Lush Garden, our favorite area, represents half of the restaurant. It is made up of terraces around the trees, with a beautiful lighting design and candles at night. It becomes quite an experience to dine listening to different animal sounds such as frogs or crickets, creating a magical atmosphere.

GUADALUPE SANCHEZ 740, DOWNTOWN LE KLIFF Le Kliff is characterized by its impressive terraces with incredible views where you will be able to enjoy the most beautiful sunsets of Puerto Vallarta in addition of course to its delicious gourmet cuisine and impeccable service that make it a sophisticated and elegant place.

Located 30 minutes by car from Puerto Vallarta, it is spectacularly located on the mountains among the jungle where it makes you feel far away from the hustle and bustle and wild. Le Kliff presents diners with the authentic gourmet specialties and fascinating culinary traditions of Mexico, adding a subtle touch of modernity and local charm. We recommend the wood-fired avocado salad and the pistachiocrusted passion fish of the day, a delicacy. You can also order the grilled oysters, the Baja mussels and the wood-fired shrimp with mole - but the salad and the fish are a real treat. For drinks I suggest bubbles - they have a delicious Italian moscato - and for dessert the passion crème brûlée with strawberry kiwi sorbet.

Getting married in paradise has never been easier, Le Kliff Weddings has everything you need so you don't have to worry about a thing.

HIGHWAY TO BARRA DE NAVIDAD MISMALOYA KM 17.5, PUERTO VALLARTA

OCEAN GRILL Ocean Grill is a spectacular restaurant located 45 minutes south of Puerto Vallarta in a little gem called Playa Colomitos. You can take a bus from PV to Boca de Tomatlán and from there a water taxi (pangas) for a small charge of $100 Mexican pesos per person round trip. They will pick you up and take you to their palapa covered terrace, which poses above the ocean.

If you are one of the most intrepid, you can also climb to the restaurant from Boca, it is a walk of around 30 minutes that gives you a taste of the jungle.

Ocean Grill is a restaurant bar & beach club with an impressive view where you will enjoy a great worldclass experience in the middle of the ocean. They offer a menu that combines a selection of the freshest seafood in Puerto Vallarta and USDA Prime grilled cuts.

Their schedules to reserve are: 11:00 am, 1:00 and 3:00 pm. They accept only cash and reservations can be made through OpenTable, following this link: https://www. oceanlivelovegrill.com/reservaciones

We recommend you do the hiking to get there as you will discover the beauty of the environment and it will become a complete experience. There is access to the small and beautiful Colomitos beach from the restaurant, which is one of the smallest beaches in Mexico.

COLOMITOS BEACH BOCA DE TOMATLAN

OCEAN GRILL

THE IGUANA RESTAURANT AND TEQUILA BAR THE IGUANA RESTAURANT AND TEQUILA BAR One of the most emblematic places in Puerto Vallarta is the Hotel Casa Kimberly, and inside it is its restaurant La Iguana, which has a spectacular view of the city and the Bay of Banderas. Its cuisine is contemporary Mexican in an elegant but relaxed atmosphere.

The dining room wraps around an open-air patio with shady palm trees and a central fountain. In the middle is the boutique Tequila Bar, serving a wide variety of premium tequilas and mezcals, all crafted within walking distance of Casa Kimberly in the legendary Jalisco region.

Executive Chef Jesus Suastegui has created a menu that combines traditional Mexican dishes with modern culinary influences. Fresh, local and seasonal are his guiding principles. With a typically Mexican menu, the chef creates delicacies worthy of a high-end restaurant. The lobster tacos are a delight, the tamale is not to be missed, the salad is fresh and different. For the main course you can order a bell pepper with vegetables. It is a feast for the palate.

The Iguana Tequila Bar specializes in the region's finest tequilas and mezcals. With several dozen top-tier and often rare labels, this is a tequila aficionado's dream. Resident tequila experts can help newcomers get acquainted with the heart and soul of this beloved spirit. Also available is a full bar and wine list that includes some renowned Mexican brands. Specialty house cocktails take advantage of local fruits, herbs and spices to create a unique and tantalizing selection.

CALLE ZARAGOZA 455, CENTRO

HACIENDA SAN ANGEL GOURMET Hacienda San Angel Gourmet is the romantic and spectacular place to enjoy an evening as a couple. It offers first class Mexican and international cuisine worthy of Puerto Vallarta.

The full service restaurant is located on the upper level of the hotel. A magnificently elegant and scenic experience, Hacienda San Angel Gourmet is open to the public as well as hotel guests.

The entire menu is of the highest quality! We suggest the prime rib, Enjoy views of the Sierra Madre Mountains, the city, the blue Banderas Bay and Puerto Vallarta's evening fireworks display.

Every Sunday morning they serve a delicious brunch while a violinist serenades guests from 10:30 am to 12:30 pm in a beautiful outdoor setting overlooking the city and bay. Simply a place to impress!

MIRAMAR 336, COL CENTRO

THE SWEDES BAR AND BISTRO HACIENDA SAN ANGEL GOURMET

THE SWEDES BAR AND BISTRO The Swedes has been a Vallarta classic since 2009. Known by visitors from all over the world as 'THE place to enjoy fabulous drinks', it is characterized by friendly service, casual dining and an interesting menu designed for all occasions.

The food is impeccable and delicious, with a fun and lively atmosphere. Located in one of the most exclusive areas of PV The Swedes has established itself as a must-visit place.

Within their menu they have several unique and original dishes such as the beet salad with walnuts, goat cheese and a light vinaigrette dressing; the chicken breast deluxe - which is chicken breast stuffed with provolone cheese, artichokes and sun-dried tomatoes; and the grilled pork filet with pepper sauce accompanied with green beans and lyonnaise potatoes.

If you are looking for some interesting cocktails, they have a wonderful cocktail menu - we recommend the peanut butter martini and the lemon tart martini.

PULPITO 154 AT OLAS ALTAS, COL. EMILIANO ZAPATA

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