Restaurants

• Trio: The food here is incredible! You must visit this restaurant. As good as any restaurant in San Francisco. A couple of taxi drivers didn't know it. Make sure you get one that does. It is located on Calle Guerrero.
  Update 01.22.02: Make reservations! Still as busy as ever. Still the best restaurant in PV.
• Adobe Cafe: In Old Town on Calle Basilio Badillo. Great food, wonderful service, and a cool interior. Almost as good as Trio. A personal favorite. (01.26.02)
• Cafe Maximillian: In Old Town, great German cuisine. I was amazed by the foie gras and also the venison. Also the spatzle is equal with any I've had in Germany. I would recommend the more traditional German dishes over the lighter seafood dishes. (01.30.02)
• La Casita: I've eaten at this restaurant on every visit to P.V. for nearly twenty years. It has NEVER disappointed. A small family restaurant. It is a rooftop in the hills above P.V. It is small, so make reservations! And finish your dinner with an amazingly rich Spanish Coffee. Closed on Sundays. (01.30.02)
• Le Bistro: Most beautiful outdoor restaurant I have ever experienced. Food can be hit or miss, but was quite satisfactory for my last two visits. My brother swears by the giant stuffed shrimp wrapped in bacon. Update 01.22.02: Food seems to have improved. Definitely a must-see in PV for the ambiance alone.
• La Dolce Vita: Italian cafe on the Malecon. Good food, reasonable prices, very casual. (01.26.02)
• 100% Natural: Across from the Sheraton, cute little cafe with a health food menu. Excellent place for light meals or snacks specially while staying at the Sheraton. (01.26.02)
• Rico Mac Taco: 24 hour taqueria. Great late night dining. I usually stop in around 5am or so for a chicken quesadilla and then pass out.... (01.26.02)
• River Cafe: Very average, except for the incredible couple that was playing guitar and singing. They are worth the visit. If they aren't playing, skip it! Update 02.01.02: Musicians weren't as good. Just had cocktails. Heard that they have a new chef.
• Chez Elena: In the hills above town, not bad. Great views, but not as good as La Casita.
• Cafe Olla: There is always a line for this simple cafe in Old Town, but the reason escapes me. Sloppy service and mediocre food. It could be fun with a large group and shared plates. You have to see the dessert they bring if a woman in your group is having a birthday...

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Bars

• Kit Kat: In Old Town, great martinis and female impersonators, what more could you want? The impersonators perform Thursday to Sunday, but they really pull out all the stops for the Fri/Sat shows. A must see. (02.02.02)
• Magumbo's: On the Malecon. Kind of quiet, but great staff. Ask for the manager, Alberto. Tell him Brian sent you. Actually, tell him that my sister Eve sent you (see photos). These two definitely hit it off!!!
  (Update 01.21.02) Alberto is gone. The place is dead, the music sucks, and the drinks are overpriced. Skip it.
• Roxy's: In Old Town. My kind of a bar.. A great live band that plays everything. The only place I've found to avoid the incessant crappy disco remixes that every other place plays. HUGE shots of tequila! Definitely my favorite hang-out.
  (Update 02.04.02) Still my favorite bar in PV. The band is still rocking. Closed on Sundays.
• Kahlua: On the Malecon. Always packed. 2 for 1 happy hour all the time. Same cheesy disco music as every other bar except Roxy. (01.22.02)
• Andale: In Old Town, more mullets than you'd see at a Winnipeg hockey game but decent music and always fun. (01.31.02)

Discos

• The Zoo: Open very late, otherwise, not much going for it. Bad music, marginal crowd. Strangely, it is always packed.
• Cactus: Used to be the place. Now go on Wednesday for "$10 all you can drink"

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Mountain Biking

• BikeMex: Good guides, ok equipment (for Mexico), nothing fancy. Rides depart from the bike shop on Calle Guerrero # 361 011-52-3-223-1834 or click here.
  Favorite Rides
  • Killer Donkey: Straight up. If you don't like climbing, skip it, but the downhill kind of makes up for it.
  • Cascada Alta: Highly technical single-track.
  • El Rio: Pleasant cruise to a scenic swimming hole. Anybody can make the ride if they are in shape even without mountain bike experience.

Other

• Massage Essence: Located in Plaza Vallarta, great professional massage at reasonable prices. 1 hour 15 min = less than $40USD. Call for appt: (3)22.427.70 Great way to start a vacation. Drink lots of water before and after.
• Punta de Mita: North of town. Rent a Jeep or hop a bus. Escape the tourist hordes. Go to Anclote Restaurant, ask for Jose. He will set up lounge chairs and tables for you. Once you are settled in, order a bucket of beers and a 1/2 kilo of shrimp with garlic and butter sauce (enough for two). On the way out or way back, stop in the town of Bucerias. Also a nice beach and good restaurants right along the beach.
  (Update 02.05.02) With the growth of development on Punta de Mita, the road to the point has been dramtically upgraded which is good and bad. Easier on the ass, but sure to bring even more development.
• Chico's Paradise: South of town. Nice little swimming hole with a restaurant. You can also rent horses and head up to a waterfall in the jungle.

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