The Mexican resort of Puerto Vallarta has made a name for itself among the foodies of the world, thanks to a chef-friendly culture.

Puerto Vallarta, Mexico may be known for its beautiful beaches and the warm blue waters of the Bay of Banderas, but it's also a foodie mecca for those who want to take tacos to the next level.  Why?

The climate in this Pacific coastal resort makes it an appealing beach vacation destination year-round, and tourists fuel restaurants. PV's proximity to Mexico City has made it the resort of choice for affluent families planning weekend getaways, assuring a core of dedicated enthusiasts. Add a rich history of local artisans, a gay-friendly social scene, and the brush with Hollywood celebrity that brought fame and fortune to this once tiny fishing village, and you have the right ingredients for success.

PV is a Celebrity Chef Destination

In fact, along Puerto Vallarta's famous seafront promenade, the Malecon, foodies must pause and look out to sea when reaching the Vitea Restaurant. It's not because of Vitea's food. In front of the restaurant is a bronze sculpture dedicated to the art of the kitchen, and embedded in the boardwalk are bronze plaques that honor the city's famous chefs in a Culinary Walk of Fame.

Foodie families may be aware that each November, Puerto Vallarta is home to the International Gourmet Festival. During this 10-day celebration, about 20 visiting chefs and talented local chefs offer special Chef’s Table and Winemaker dinners in over 20 participating restaurants, where all ages are welcome. There are also cooking classes and demonstrations; and cheese, wine and tequila tastings open to the public. During our June visit, a new Restaurant Week initiative with fixed prices encouraged us to try a variety of restaurants, and we ate very well indeed. 

Kids can be Casual Foodies in PV

Families and children are welcome in this bargain foodie haven, and there are lots of typical traditional Mexican restaurants that are worth a visit. 

El Camapanario, one of the city's best traditinal taquerias, is located in Centro on the main square. This small and lively bistro serves a wide variety of antojitos (appetizer size plates that are a great way to get kids to sample new foods), tostadas, and fried tacos.

There are also sidewalk stands for light street food snacks like grilled corn -- as long as they're freshly cooked, it's safe to try them. Make sure to pause by a coconut vendor, who will skillfully wield a machete to scoop fresh coconut flesh from inside a shell, then use the remaining "bowl" to serve customers a refreshing drink of coconut water.

Wander the lanes of PV"s old town to look for La Herencia, a fun candy store where fudge of tres leches, tamarind, cherries and local fruits such as cactus, guava and chayote are used for dried rollups, biscuit fillings and gummy candies.

The town's small History Musuem even has a rooftop cafe that serves good coffee and tiny, delicious snacks, along with a view of Banderas Bay.

Family Together Dining & Cooking Classes

Families who want a night out with the kids have a fun, food-worthy choice in El Arrayan.  The charmingly old-fashioned restaurant is built around a courtyard with an el arrayan tree. The regional Mexican cuisine is imaginative, freshly prepared from locally grown produce, and varied enough to suit all tastes. The large menu of light dishes works well for lunch or an early supper, and can be followed by a cooking class. 

El Arrayan's chef teaches guests how to make mole sauces, ceviche and other simple Mexican dishes. Don't miss the quesadillas, which pair a local cheese with the day's special ingredient (mushrooms in our case) in a warm tortilla, making for a delicious snack.

Romantic Vallarta Dining for Grown Ups

Prefer to go out on your own? Traveling with the kids doesn't mean that parents won't have an opportunity to take in some of PV's fine restaurants and nightlife. The family-welcoming hotels reviewed in FTF's Puerto Vallarta Family Hotels roundup provide private babysitting service and/or supervised children’s clubs that have evening programs.

For spectacular natural surroundings that you don't get back home, it's hard to beat a toes-in-the-sand kind of restaurant. Amapa Sunset, at Pulpito, 103 Colonia Emiliano Zapata, is right on the sand at Los Muertos Beach, in the heart of the Romantic Zone. Open three meals daily, we found it better for drinks at sunset than a full meal, but it's a fun place to try, one of many like it on this stretch of beach. 

A better meal, to our palates, was at Arrecife, the oceanfront restaurant at the Westin Resort & Spa Puerto Vallarta in Marina Vallarta. Here, a menu of international seafood dishes is served in a candle-lit, romantic oceanfront venue. The filet of plaice, a popular local fish served with Yucatecan spices, and the grilled lobster are very good.

PV's Serious Foodie Fare

For seriously fine dining without the outdoors setting, Los Xitomates at Morelos, 610 in Colonia Centro has a true Mexican focus. Here, the hand-me-down ingredients and recipes you might find at a neighborhood cantina are updated with new flavors and style of presentation. Traditional stuffed tacos are served in upright tortilla cylinders like sushi handrolls. Locally sourced tomatoes are pureed, grilled, crushed and used with many dishes. A variety of regional cheeses are turned into foams and sauces to accentuate flavors without being  heavy. Xitomates is the place where visitors from Mexico City go to sample the latest in Mexican food.

For fine cuisine that blends a nouveau European aesthetic with Mediterranean recipes, Mexican spices and unusual locally sourced ingredients, head to Café des Artistes/Thierry Blouet at Guadalupe Sanchez, 740 in Colonia Centro. An internationally acclaimed chef, Thierry Blouet runs a warm, welcoming place and comes by each table to recommend a wine pairing or offer a complimentary appetizer. French by birth, his affection for the country and its little known wine industry, as well as his devotion to healthful gourmet dining, are infectious.

Blouet provides a feast for the senses, and leaving the kids at home will allow you to savor the multi-course tasting menu that changes according to season.  Are they junior foodies?  Book your table for an early seating (Mexicans dine after 9pm) and your children will be very welcome. His other restaurants, Thierry's Prime for beef and the smaller Cocina del Autor which features a deaily tasting menu, also welcome families. In fact, at Thierry's Prime Steak House, there's a small "cinema room" where kids can watch movies -- and eat their own specially prepared kid-friendly meals -- while parents wine and dine.