Arcos Open Air Theater (Los)/ Theater Aquiles Serdan
Malecon South
Puerto Vallarta 48310 Mexico
Open Hours: Performance times vary |
With benches crafted of local quarrystone called cantera and a row of graceful arches framing the backdrop provided by the sea, this beautiful open-air theater is well worth a visit. Even if there is not a scheduled performance, it still provides a dramatic photo opportunity. Various free presentations are offered here almost every night throughout the dry season. Check the local newspapers for details or simply show up for the sunset. This is one of the highlights of Puerto Vallarta. |
Club Roxy
ignacio L. Vallarta 217
Puerto Vallarta 48380 Mexico
+52 322 223 2404
Open Hours: 6p-2a |
If music is your passion, this popular club is the place for you. It offers a spicy international menu of musical acts. The house band fills in whenever there is a gap in schedule and there are powerful jam sessions after 10p weekday evenings. Blues, rock, samba, salsa, reggae, jazz; you name it, it is likely being played. The line up changes frequently, so check at the club to find out what is on and when. There is no cover charge and it is located about two blocks south of the Rio Cuale Bridge. |
Mariachi Loco
Lazaro Cardenas 254
Puerto Vallarta 48380 Mexico
+52 322 3 2205
Open Hours: Noon-2a |
The bright sound and bouncing rhythms of traditional mariachi music can take some time to appreciate, but the sounds are the perfect accompaniment to Mexican travel. The band also plays slower pieces with some songs recalling the melancholy fadas of Spain. Post-midnight, the free music stops and customers pay for their requests and often sing along. Food is served late here, making it a unique and unusual stop for a late snack after an evening of bar-hopping. |
Casa de Tequila (La)
Morelos 589
Puerto Vallarta 48310 Mexico
+52 322 2 2000
Open Hours: 9:30a-11p |
As tequila begins to achieve worldwide prominence as a libation, the owners of this liquor shop smile. They have always known the magic of good tequila, and what a difference the brand (hence quality) can make. Excellent cigars are also available for purchase, or they can be enjoyed along with the array of tequilas, in the adjacent garden bar area. If tequila is a mystery to you, this is a great place to start cracking open its secrets, with good prices and a wide selection. |
A Page in the Sun
Olas Altas across from Hotel Los Arcos
Puerto Vallarta 48380 Mexico
Open Hours: 10a-9p M-Su |
A Page in the Sun offers visitors a great place to sit and read, while drinking delicious juice, good coffee or even snacking on some pastries. Travelers will appreciate the importance of having a good book to read while on a journey, be it for business or leisure. There is a section to swap books, which is very helpful when you finish your book mid-trip, or if you prefer, you can acquire a new book. |
Kit Kat Club
Pulpito 120
Puerto Vallarta 48380 Mexico
+52 322 3 0093
Open Hours: 5p-1a |
The fashionably hip folks flock to this New York City nightclub reincarnation. Only the well-dressed are admitted, but make sure your outfit doesn't clash with the leopard print upholstery. The full-service bar includes the popular classic or contemporary martini. You can dine on a complete dinner or just graze on the expertly prepared appetizers, such as the Prawn Cocktail. Though the food is good, most patrons are here for the entertainment and socializing. |
Faro Lighthouse Bar (El)
Paseo de la Marina 245
Puerto Vallarta 48350 Mexico
+52 322 221 0541
Open Hours: 5p-2a |
High above the lights of Puerto Vallarta, this landmark bar in a 110-foot tall tower attracts couples and sunset lovers. Live jazz and easy listening music serenades the clientele, which tends to be thirty-ish and older. Many patrons from the Royal Pacific Yacht Club and adjacent marina come nightly to enjoy this vantage point. The staff is well trained; the bar offers an extensive selection of brands and a decent wine list. The bar is jammed at sunset, and most patrons are in resort-casual attire. |
Cantina (La)
Morelos 709
Puerto Vallarta 48300 Mexico
+52 322 2 1734
Open Hours: Noon-2a Su-W, noon-4a Th-Sa |
A relatively new addition to the bar scene, this traditional cantina attracts primarily locals who enjoy the blend of different styles of Mexican music. You will often find Mariachi bands playing, but other types of local musicians also share their music here. There are board games to play on the patio, and the atmosphere in many ways is more akin to a coffeehouse than a bar. Free snacks accompany the drinks, and the chefs offer a menu selection until 7p. Wednesdays offer all-night discount prices. |
Bar Amsterdam
Ignacia L. Vallarta No.264
Puerto Vallarta 48300 Mexico
Open Hours: 6p-4a Tu-Su |
Upon entering this bar, you might forget that you are in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. The pub-style atmosphere and the great number of foreigners who come to have a drink here make this place seem from another continent. A lot of people start the night out here, have a few drinks, maybe meet a few interesting people, and then leave. Others stay and can get a little loud and crazy as the night goes by, enjoying the full bar, glasses of beer for MXN25 and classic rock music. |
El Torito Sports Bar and Cyber Cafe
Ignacio L. Vallarta 290
Puerto Vallarta 48380 Mexico
+52 322 2 3784
Open Hours: 11a-2a |
This vibrant, busy bar-restaurant features more than 25 satellite television screens in every room, making it impossible to miss the latest sporting event, even if one wanted to. Net surfing stations make it easy to check e-mails and wander the world-wide Web. The cuisine is standard Mexican food plus Mama Lina's barbequed ribs. Most of the patrons are here for the bar and the video screens. Drink specials abound, with free "national" drinks for ladies on Tuesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays, and a 12-hour long "two for one" happy hour most days. |
