HIDDEN GEMS ALONG THE COAST AWAIT DISCOVERY
Riviera Nayarit, Mexico – Charming restaurants in tiny fishing villages offering authentic Mexico seaside cuisine and elegant gourmet restaurants with international chefs in small towns and elegant resorts are the culinary rewards awaiting travelers exploring Mexico’s newest destination, Riviera Nayarit.
Nuevo Vallarta is Riviera Nayarit’s most developed area and offers world-class resorts and of course, a wide variety of restaurants. Tino’s La Laguna is known for its Huachinango Sarandeado, Nayarit’s most famous dish which is red snapper grilled with lime and savory spices. La Portena serves quality steaks such as its specialty, the “vacio” a tender Argentinean steak.
Kick back and relax in Bucerias which offers affordable inns and bed & breakfast lodgings as well as quality restaurants and bars like Marks Bar & Grill. New Zealander Jan Benton welcomes you to Marks Bar & Grill with its artistic tropical decoration, extensive wine list and a superb menu featuring contemporary cuisine with Mediterranean and Asian-inspired flavors. Two enjoyable seaside restaurants are bars include: El Chivero and Adauto’s on the Beach.
La Cruz de Huanacaxtle recently unveiled a luxury 400 slip marina named “Riviera Nayarit Marina & Yacht Club” and is expecting further development with the opening of boutique hotels in the future. La Cruz’s Frascati Ristorante is a favorite among Nayaritans. This attractive restaurant serves fine Italian and Mediterranean cuisine, homemade pastas and a wide variety of fresh sauces. For delicious fish tacos and chilaquiles, head over to La Glorieta which is run by the Ramirez family.
Miramar on La Cruz’s La Manzanilla Beach offers fresh seafood and Sarandeado fish. A little taste of Europe can be found at the Britannia Bar or Black Forest Restaurant with German cuisine.
Sufi Restaurant is located in the Porta Fortuna community in Punta Mita. Looking out to the tranquil Banderas Bay, Sufi is an inviting waterfront restaurant in the luxurious Playa Fortuna Beach Club. Its “Mexiterranean” menu offers dishes imbued with the familiar flavors of Mexico and the Mediterranean, bringing a new twist on gourmet cuisine to Punta Mita’s dining scene. Sufi's chic and airy, indoor and outdoor palapa design and stunning water views make it a picturesque spot to enjoy cocktails, a romantic sunset dinner or leisurely lunch.
In the exclusive area of Punta de Mita, chef and restaurateur Thierry Blouet of the award-winning, Café des Artistes in Puerto Vallarta, oversees Café des Artistes del Mar which is part of the Hotel des Artistes & Punta de Mita Beach Club Hotel & Spa. The restaurant offers a stylish setting with a terrace for outdoor dining and an open kitchen, adding a bit of kitchen theatrics. The Café des Artistes’ menu specializes in seafood and local fish. Margarita’s is another restaurant in Punta de Mita that specializes in seafood and also offers signature dishes like the barbeque spare ribs. Margarita is located in the El Anclote restaurant row of Punta de Mita, right on the beach, offering amazing views of the sunset.
Bohemian Sayulita is a haven for an eclectic mix of surfers, artists and expats so it offers a wide variety of bars and restaurants. Don Pedro’s is the ideal spot to watch the surfers and offers dining under a giant palapa. Don Pedro’s chef Nicholas Parrillo, a graduate of the Culinary Institute of America, prepares Mediterranean specialties with Mexican and Californian influences. Try Sayulita Fish Tacos which serves a signature Baja-style fish taco as well as homemade salsas, guacamole, empanadas, quesadillas and burritos. Rollie’s is a popular breakfast and gathering spot amongst locals and expatriates.
San Blas shares its colonial past with its restored fort and the ruins of its ancient cathedral. Visitors are also drawn to nearby La Tovara National Park, a massive mangrove forest reserve and bird sanctuary also known for its crocodile farm. One of Riviera Nayarit’s finest restaurants, El Delfin at Hotel Garza Canela is located in the heart of this sleepy little town. El Delfin is headed by chef Betty Vasquez who studied at The Cordon Bleu School of Culinary Arts in Paris and then worked under celebrated chef Juan Mari Arzak of Arzak restaurant in San Sebastian Spain. Arzak is a three starred Michelin restaurant that is a regular on Restaurant Magazine’s “Top 50 Restaurants in the World List.” At El Delfin, Vasquez uses Mexican ingredients fused with classic European cooking techniques.
The fishing village of San Francisco, also known as San Pancho, is famed for its natural beauty and Polo Club matches which take place between November and May. Mar Plata Restaurant recently opened and offers seafood dishes and steaks beside the sea. Another one of San Francisco’s best kept secrets is the La Bottega dei Sapori Italian Bakery which produces tasty pastries and snacks.
Editor’s Note: Please see attached fact sheet with contact information on these establishments and more recommendations.
About Riviera Nayarit
Mexico ’s newest destination, Riviera Nayarit, stretches along 192 miles of pristine Pacific coast framed by the majestic Sierra Madre Mountains just ten minutes north of accessible Puerto Vallarta International Airport. The region extends along the entire coast of the Pacific state of Nayarit including the resorts of Nuevo Vallarta, the historic colonial town of San Blas, exclusive Punta Mita, picturesque fishing villages, miles of serene beaches and spectacular Banderas Bay. Riviera Nayarit offers countless activities, all pleasantly affordable, such as: PGA golf courses, luxury spas, whale watching, turtle release, zip lining, surfing, record deep sea fishing, bird watching, international cuisine, and shopping for local artwork and traditional Huichol handicrafts. The region attracts and satisfies vacationers of all tastes and budgets with its wide range of accommodations including chic luxury resorts, eco-tourism boutique hotels and quaint B&B inns. For more information, visit www.RivieraNayarit.com