Your tastebuds will get a workout in Puerto Vallarta. Over 250 restaurants offer everything from fast-food McDonald's to sushi and Asian stir fries, Italian, French, and, oh yes, Mexican. Whether you choose to dine in cozy intimate bistros or in family restaurants, you'll find so many good restaurants here that you'll want to do nothing but eat. You can eat on a budget or spend extravagantly on gourmet delicacies. The aromas of freshly baked breads and pastries waft through the air in the morning. And ice cream shops serve up cool, refreshing dips on hot afternoons. You'll find a great selection of restaurants downtown along Basilio Badillo, Puerto Vallarta's Calle de Cafés (Restaurant Row), and in Puerto Vallarta's many hotels. You'll need a reservation for dinner at even modest eateries during winter season.

Aching for a cappuccino or a latte? In keeping with its trendy ambiance, Puerto Vallarta now sports coffeehouses serving these caffeinated concoctions, all made from locally grown beans. Stop into Café San Cristobal on Calle Corona, just off the malecón, Café Sierra and Fiascos Bar on Calle Insurgentes, or the local favorite, Mundo de Café on Olas Altas. All serve cafecito, the specially brewed Mexican espresso. Even though you probably will have breakfast included at your hotel, just once stop in at La Casa de Los Hot Cakes (The House of Pancakes), on Basilio Badillo and indulge in a variety of pancakes or a full American and Mexican breakfast, accompanied by a bottomless cup of rich Mexican-grown coffee.

Local Dining Suggestions

• Las Palomas: This busy eatery on the malecón serves freshly caught seafood. On a warm evening, to the strains of marimba music, their cold gazpacho Anduluz hits the spot. Breakfasts are especially good (Gustavo Diaz Ordaz and Aldama, 322-322-3675).

• Café des Artistes: Nouvelle French cuisine, prepared by an award-winning chef, is served in a romantic atmosphere of candlelight, ceiling fans, and soft music. It's a good place to splurge. Piano bar and great Sunday brunch (Guadalupe Sanchez 740, 322-322-3228).

• Café de Olla: Here you'll find reasonably priced traditional Mexican food, served as plato tipico Mexicano, with a selection of enchiladas and chiles rellenos, or a platter of antojitos with tostadas (toasted sandwiches) and tacos, in a café environment (Basilio Badillo 168, 322-223-1626).

• Cuiza: This trendy cantina, decorated with handpainted tiles and complete with live music, serves California-style light dishes and fruit-infused drinks at reasonable prices (Isla Cuale, 322-222-5646).

• La Dolce Vita: Here you'll find Italian dishes and wood-fired oven pizza, with a romantic view of the ocean while you eat(Paseo Díaz Ordáz, 322-222-3853).

Dining Precautions

With so many Americans coming to Puerto Vallarta, restaurants practice good hygiene. The city itself has purified water, so you shouldn't have any problems. Beach restaurants generally are also clean and safe.