Check Out These Nuevo Vallarta Restaurants

People vacationing at resorts in Nuevo Vallarta will want to know the nine best restaurants in Nuevo Vallarta.   At the bottom of this post there is a map showing you how to navigate the neighborhood.  The resorts do have great restaurants, but variety is the spice of life, so read on so learn about the best. We have also created a summary of the Restaurants on the Vidanta Nuevo Vallarta Resort

Getting off the Resort

The  Nuevo Vallarta Vidanta Resort folks love to have you stay on site, so getting there is not as easy as it used to be.   Check with Concierge the best way to get to Nuevo Vallarta.  Alternatively, just grab a taxi and take a $5 ride.  Here are 9 restaurants we can personally vouch for.  For some reason, we did not include the Blue Shrimp, but it deserves a spot among the very best in Nuevo Vallarta, check out our separate post.

The Nine Best

  1. Rumba
  2. Eddies Nopal Beach
  3. La Laguna
  4. Estudio
  5. Portabellos
  6. Doña Tere
  7. Barracuda
  8. Guidos
  9. Fajita Republic

Rumba

The Rumba is a simple restaurant at the Sea Garden .   It is a solid Mexican restaurant, but they deserve mention for their affordable and very respectable pizza.  It may not,  in fact,  be one of the very best, but we included it for when you are tire of spending the big bucks.  

Eddie’s Nopal Beach

Nuevo Vallarta's sunny beach boasts a good number of restaurants. One that will fall near the top of theeddies nopal beach most recommended is Eddies, which is a local landmark. This homey family restaurant is a great spot for every meal, and has something every member of the family will enjoy.

Service

The first thing you'll notice when looking at Eddie’s trip Advisor page  the number of responses from the restaurant's manager. Nearly every review left is commented on, be it good, bad or otherwise is replied to, either thanking a pleased customer, or letting anyone who was not satisfied know that their issue will be addressed. This really speaks to their attention to customer service.

History

Eddies Place at NightEddie,  the original owner was from Lebanon and you will see Lebanese dishes mixed in with the excellent Mexican options on the menu.   Eddy unfortunately passed away a few years, but his son has carried on the tradition.  Like Eddy, he is known to go, frequently, from table to table to check in on everyone's meal, and fix any issues that have arisen. Along with the incredibly helpful owner, the staff is also willing to assist, and almost all of them speak great English. 

Food

Eddie’s seafood is high quality and fresh, and served in a variety of ways, the coconut shrimp is highly recommended! If you can’t decide from the large selection, which can be overwhelming, they offer several sample platters, which can be great to share! If you have had one too many Mexican dishes, try one of the Lebanese options !   One complaint that seemed to come up was the food being over salted, but many people also noted that the staff was more than happy to fix this.  We have never had an issue and have personally enjoyed many a breakfast and dinner here.   A uniquely Mexican breakfast is the omelet with Machaca beef.

So if you're looking for somewhere to go for breakfast, lunch, or dinner make sure Eddie’s is at the top of your list.  Another fun thing is to stop in later for their amazing Spanish coffee that is flamed at the table with an amazing show.  See our video of the show                             EDDIE'S WEBSITE

 La Laguna

Our new favorite place for seafood, La Laguna is located on the main road coming into Nuevo Vallarta on the exit right after the Vidanta exit for  Grand Mayan and the Grand Luxxe.  It is on the left coming in.  It doesn’t look like much from the road, so don’t miss it.  It is probably a ½ mile before the old entrance to the Vidanta Resort.  It is a casual outdoor garden style restaurant, but is nicely decorated and sits right on a lagoon with dozens of turtles and a few crocodiles.  We went there with a group of localBirthday Party at La Laguna friends and it was a blast.   Mary one of our Gringo friend’s had a birthday and they made a big fuss over her. First they gave her brought a a cheesecake with a candle.  Then a foaming tequila and sprite, which she downed not knowing what it was !  Brave woman.

Everyone’s favorite dish was the shrimp in a blanket.  Several large shrimp, wrapped in bacon with a pineapple  Dijon mustard sauce.  Wow.  They also have the best coconut shrimp I ever tasted.  Our local friends love the whole red snapper that could EASILY satisfy two people.

The wait staff here is a friendly, fun loving bunch that make a good experience even better.

It is a fairly long walk from the resort, and there are no sidewalks, so you may want to grab a cab.

Estudio

On the edge of the marina with a view of beautiful yachts,  the Estudio restaurant is a one of our favorite options in Nuevo Vallarta.   As an added bonus this homey waterside restaurant is connected to an art studio, Estudio café is owned and operated by the family of painter artist Federico León-de-la-Vega and you can browse the art and hear the artist describe the inspiration for his painting and sculpture.

If you are staying in a classy place like the Grand Luxxe,  you want eating out to match that level.   Theestudio restaurant sign menu seems pretty main stream Mexican food, but don't be fooled.  The night we ate there , they had a mahi mahi special with mango salsa and vegetable side.  Everything was done perfectly and compares favorably with restaurants for twice the price.   The pride of the art and cooking shows in every aspect of this restaurant.

They do home cooked family recipes. Fresh, natural ingredients, preferably organic, cooked in traditional, no-nonsense ways. They adhere to the “slow food” movement for proper cooking and enjoying. During high season (nearly October through April), they serve breakfast , lunch and dinner. In low season (May to July) dinner is not served. They close August and September but  are always available by e-mail.  See the Estudio Website for more info and email address.

john and linda at estudioDuring the busy season they have live music on Sundays and special occasions. On Saturdays enjoy their art shows with local artists and “fresh out of the oven” baked goods.    Perhaps the easiest way to get there is to go to Eddies Nopal beach, make a right and walk along the water a couple hundred yards.

 

 

Porto Bello’s

Tucked into a scenic corner of Neuvo Vallarta lies Portobello’s Bistro, a restaurant boasting what patrons claim is Italian food better than if you’d flown straight to Italy!

Atmosphere

Like many of the area’s restaurants, Porto bello’s sits over the marina which allows you to see the water and boats passing by if you chose to dine on the outdoor patio. If you hit the right time, just as the sun sets, you can see the swarms of swallows returning to their home under the bridge. The inside is equally pretty as the view from the outside. The restaurant would be a good choice if you’re looking for something a little higher class, with prices that range from medium to a tad on the higher end of things.  It would be a perfect date spot, if you’re looking for something special, and since it’s a bit of a smaller restaurant, you’ll find that the staff won’t be quite as rushed. Their servers are helpful, attentive, and they know the menus well.

We haven’t happened to eat here in a few years, , but we continue to hear good reviews from folks year after year.

If you are not in the mood for a sit down dinner, people also rave about the takeout pizza  They also serve a wide variety of wines and cocktails, which are although pricey, delicious. If you have opted for some of the top of the line nearby accommodations such as the new two and three bedroom lofts,  you will be looking for the high quality of food and atmosphere to match and this restaurant will meet that need.  

Overall, there's not too much bad to say about Portobellos!  So,  be ready for an amazing night of delicious Italian food and great service with a classy and relaxing view.

Doña Tere

Doña Tere,  (pronounced  Doan-ya Teh-ray   roll the 'r") is a favorite of those spending time Neuvo Vallarta and also a favorite of the locals. With their great prices on top of the frequent promotional deals, make this a good spot for families to get breakfast, lunch or dinner! The one complaint many trip-advisor reviews seem to point out, is the closing times, Make sure you plan on grabbing dinner early so that you don’t get caught by surprise as the restaurant closes.

Atmosphere 

Casual dining and open air seating make this a good spot for a relaxed , festive night out, but maybe not the right place if you're looking for a romantic spot to have an intimate dinner date. Dona Tere is fairly new, and owned by a family passionate about Mexican food. As with most Neuvo Vallarta restaurants Dona Tere is near by most of the major shops and resorts so you won’t have to go too far.

Menu

Being as this is the spot that is often recommended by locals and frequent visitors to the area, you would be correct to assume that going to Dona Tere will be authentic local Mexican food! Their menu is host to a large range of options, and everyone in the party is sure to find something to enjoy! Their food is extremely reasonably priced, and you won’t find yourself paying an arm and a leg for a good meal. With their frequent two for one BBQ ribs special you’ll get an even better deal, and for the prices the serving sizes are exceptionally large and you will leave feeling very satisfied

So if you're looking for a wonderful place to get some perfectly priced dinner, Look to Dona Tere for something casual, but still incredibly enjoyable.  Do make sure that you look up the restaurants hours before hand, and investigate their deals in advance for the opportunity to save even more on the food they offer!

El Barracuda Restaurant

Location

When passing Barracuda, you’ll often notice people lining up outside this bar-like restaurant, This small restaurant is your ticket for fresh seafood and it  is within walking distance from most resorts, it has a beautiful atmosphere, with out door seating and a large bar.  Tripadvisor reviews state that if you'rebarracuda looking to get a beer, Barracuda is a great bet, with their good prices, and outdoor seating this could be a great place to grab a drink.  Their cocktails, however, do not get great reviews.   Many customers recommend either going early, or later on in the evening in order to avoid the crowds.

The service is a major upside to this restaurant, being both friendly and very helpful

Menu

The menu contains a wide variety, combining flavors from America, Mexico, and Italy, which although it provides many options, can make the restaurant feel a bit touristy. The food that Barracuda serves is fairly inexpensive, but tends to come in small portions. Barracuda gets all of its seafood fresh, which makes seafood dishes a popular choice. Most patrons have overall positive things to say about the food, their Ahi Tuna, and Octopus Sashimi get fantastic reviews.

Overall your experience will really depend on your expectations, and what you order, so if you do decide to go to the Barracuda, try to avoid crowds by going early, and be ready for smaller portions, and a sports bar atmosphere.

Guido's

If you're looking for a delicious pizza or pasta, but are looking for  more casual setting than Portobello’s then Guido's will likely be the place for you..) .  It is across from the Sea Garden. and near the Oxxo,guidos sign Whether you prefer to sit outside and enjoy a beautiful night complete with a acoustic ballad style singer (the outdoor dining is on the sidewalk, just like in Italy)  or at a table in the dining room, you will be greeted by a homey restaurant that will graciously offer up a lovely dining experience. Upon being seated, you will immediately notice the personable staff members. The only negative comments people make is that the service very leisurely, so don't go if you are impatient or in a hurry !  It is actually a plus if you adjust your attitude in advance.

Menu

When it comes to food, you will find that you can't go wrong. . You’ll be served generous portions of your choice of well made Italian dishes. Most people highly recommend the excellent pizza with its many options. The La-Mexicana is one such highly regarded choice.  I personally cannot seem to get away from the Pollo Pesto Pasta.   It is so good, I haven’t wanted to try something else , since we often only get to Nuevo once a year.      Their lasagna also gets great reviews.   Finally, the food is fairly priced so you will enjoy a good meal without paying an arm and a leg for it.

Viva Guidos !!

So if you're looking for a place for a relaxed family night out, or a location for a casual Italian  dinner, guidos outside diningkeep Guido's in mind. Guido's is a place with great food and beautiful atmosphere and an opportunity to linger and enjoy time spent with loved ones. You will also want to arrive early to make sure that you are able to get a great table at which to enjoy your meal. So, to enjoy a little slice of Italy in Neuvo Vallartra choose Guido's.  One final note, there are reports of Guido’s being closed sometimes during the slow summer season, so phone ahead before you go.  

Fajita Republic

Fajita Republic Restaurant 

When we first heard about this restaurant , we thought it sounded like some commercial chain. Boy,  were we wrong. Known as one of the most popular restaurants in Nuevo Vallarta, Fajitas Republic is a creative and interesting place for lunch or dinner! The atmosphere is excellent, the food is delicious and the service is great! It is not walking distance from the Mayan Resort, and it isn't on our restaurants nearfajita republic fajitas the resort map,  so you will need a car or a taxi. See the map at the bottom of this post.  The trees of the outdoor eating area are lined with bright little lanterns that flow into the restaurant. The atmosphere indoors has been described by tripadvisor reviewers as having “a warm, wonderful, magical glow that is something like straight out of a movie.” The river flows behind the restaurant and so you will hear the frogs and crickets sing at night. The restaurant is actually open-air on three sides which accommodates for a comfortable breeze throughout the restaurant on a hot evening.
At Fajita Republic, there is always a waiter, attendant or bus boy to serve you. Start with the chips and homemade guacamole which comes served on a large wooden spoon. Their chips are delicious and come in a long paper cone laid across the table for everyone to reach for. Something to prepare for when you’re ordering: ask for extra rice and beans when ordering your fajitas. Rice and beans are served on the condiment tray, so there usually isn’t enough to go along with the fajitas.

Unique Dining Experience

We have gone with a large group and they suggest giving them your food preferences and let the staff select food for you.  We did this and they kept bringing dish after dish and it was a great dining experience.   And the bill was not at all excessive.  We would do that option again. 

 

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