Puerto Vallarta's Restaurants Earn Top Awards

Widely recognized as the second-best culinaryprestigious annual culinary events, including Puerto
destination in Mexico behind the much-largerVallarta Restaurant Week and the International
capital, Mexico City, Puerto Vallarta represents theGourmet Festival.
ideal locale for travelers hoping to experienceWithin the city, foodies can experience innovative
world-class cuisine alongside incredible coastalrestaurants such as La Palapa and Vista Grill. La
scenery. Recently, eight of the city's topPalapa is located on picturesque Los Muertos
restaurants received the prestigious Five StarBeach, one of the area's most popular
Diamond Award, the top honor from thedestinations for recreation and relaxation. Known
American Academy of Hospitality Sciences.for its sophisticated, but casual atmosphere, and
Additionally, each of Puerto Vallarta'sregular live jazz performances, La Palapa has
award-winning restaurants are consistently rankedbecome a favorite hangout for jet setters and
within the top 50 eateries in all of Mexico. The toplocals alike. La Palapa is open throughout the year
restaurants are located in all areas of the city, butfor breakfast, lunch and dinner - serving a rotating
each offers unique views of everything frommenu of international favorites and local creations,
Banderas Bay and the surrounding mountainalongside one of the best wine selections. Vista
landscape to some of Mexico's best beaches andGrill, located in the south end of Puerto Vallarta,
the city's historic architecture. The cuisine ofoffers contemporary European cuisine with a local
Puerto Vallarta is just as diverse as the scenery,flourish. The restaurant features an elegant
as foodies will have no trouble finding hauteart-deco interior and terraced outdoor dining area
European cuisine, traditional Mexican fare andthat provides excellent views of Banderas Bay
everything in between. Throughout the year,and Puerto Vallarta's historic downtown area.
Puerto Vallarta also hosts several exciting culinaryOther Five Star Diamond Award-Winning
events that highlight the best dishes the city hasrestaurants in the area include Café des
to offer, while welcoming award-winning chefsArtistes, Kaiser Maximilian, Los Xitomates,
from throughout the world.Thierry's Prime Steakhouse and Tikul.
One of Puerto Vallarta's most impressive,The city is also home to several exciting events
award-winning restaurants is Le Kliff, named forthat allow visitors to sample the best dishes the
its stunning location atop a cliff overlookingcity has to offer, as well as culinary creations
Banderas Bay. Since 1983, Le Kliff has consistentlyfrom around the world. The most prestigious
earned awards for both its cuisine and setting,event is the International Gourmet Festival, a
including recent recognition as "The Most Beautiful10-day culinary celebration that is staged at the
Restaurant in Mexico." The restaurant features anbeginning of high tourism season in mid-November.
open-air layout with sections of the dining areaNow in its 15th year, the International Gourmet
covered by a large palapa-style roof. Despite theFestival welcomes talented chefs from throughout
large seating area, every table at Le Kliff offersthe world for cooking demonstrations, special
views of Banderas Bay - where humpback whalesdining opportunities and rousing parties. Puerto
can be spotted throughout the winter and springVallarta Restaurant Week, held each year during
months and remarkable nightly sunsets add to thelate May, shifts the culinary focus onto local
unique ambiance. The talented, award-winningeateries. As several of the city's award-winning
chefs at Le Kliff serve up adventurousrestaurants feature special fixed price menus for
contemporary cuisine, incorporating advancedthe course of Puerto Vallarta Restaurant Week,
culinary techniques rarely seen outside ofthe event stands as one of the most affordable
cosmopolitan dining destinations such as New Yorkways to experience some of the best cuisine
City and Paris. Though Le Kliff's regular menu isMexico has to offer.
known for its worldly approach, the restaurantAs the city boasts an incredible culinary culture
also utilizes an impressive array of local seafoodamongst a small-town environment and
and native flavors. Le Kliff, owned and operatedunmatched scenery, there are few destinations
by natives, is located 25 miles south of thethat can match the experience of dining in Puerto
downtown area and is open for lunch and dinnerVallarta.
throughout the year. Le Kliff can also be found at