Restaurants in Puerto Vallarta

Restaurants close to Caule River

Caruso, Insurgentes 109, Puerto Vallarta. Tel: 222 27 48. A cosy Italian known as much for its food as its al fresco garden. Booking is advised.

Cuiza, Isla Rio Cuale 3, Puerto Vallarta. Tel: 222 56 46. Cuiza's truly international menu scours the globe before finishing its dishes with a Mexican. Beautifully located on banks of the Caule River the restaurant doubles as Puerto Vallarta 's favourite marriage proposal spot.

Dragon Rojo, Insurgentes 323, Puerto Vallarta, Tel: 222 01 75. The 'Red Dragon' has a traditional Cantonese menu, but it's the quality of the food that makes it by far the best Chinese restaurant in town.

El Rebpollo Rojo, Calle Rivera del Río, Puerto Vallarta 204A Tel: 223 04 11. The Red Cabbage Café isn't the easiest place to find, but the effort is well rewarded and the food is cheap. Somewhere between a folk museum and a restaurant the walls are covered with press cuttings, paintings and photographs. The food is strictly Mexican and several of the recipes are borrowed from dishes cooked by Mexico 's most celebrated painting couple Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera.

La Fuente del Puente, Insurgentes and Rio Cuale, Puerto Vallarta. Tel: 322 21 14. Some of the best Mexican food in Puerto Vallarta, free margaritas, wandering mariachis, riverside views and a part in The Night of the Iguana, what more needs to be said?

Los Arbolitos, Camino de la Rivera 184, Puerto Vallarta. Tel: 223 10 50. You're never quite sure what is going to come out of Los Arbolitos' kitchen, but you can guarantee a great view. Moderately priced 'Chef's Specials' mean a constantly changing menu, but it's generally revolves around seafood with some traditional Mexican dishes.

The River Café, Isla Rio Cuale local 4, Puerto Vallarta. Tel: 223 07 88(www.rivercafe.com.mx). At the pricier end of the spectrum the location of The River Café's terrace alone is enough to justify the splurge. Their international cuisine is approaching haute and is complimented by a well-stocked wine cellar.

Restaurants North of Caule River

Abadia Basso, Hidalgo 224, Puerto Vallarta. Tel: 223 13 74. An intimate restaurant specialising in game with a great wine list and live classical music. It sounds slightly pretentious but the food is first class and the atmosphere surprisingly informal.

Brasil, Venustiano Carranza 210, Puerto Vallarta. Tel: 222 29 07. Brasil is one for the carnivores. Steak, steak and.well they've got twelve types of steak. The rainforest décor requires a vivid imagination, but if it's steak you're after.

Café des Artistes, Guadalupe Sanchez 740, Puerto Vallarta. Tel: 222 32 28

(www.cafedesartistes.com). Not content with wearing Puerto Vallarta 's dining crown Café des Artistes bills itself as 'one of the best restaurants in the world'. The food is fantastic, as are the bills.

La Dolce Vita, Paseo Díaz Ordaz no. 674, Puerto Vallarta. Tel: 222 38 52. One Puerto Vallarta 's prime people watching spots, good honest Italian food, amicable staff and to top it all it's reasonably priced.

Mezza Luna, Hildalgo 550, Puerto Vallarta. Tel: 222 03 93. Following on from their success in California and Utah, Mezza Luna have brought their Italian American menu south and quickly established themselves of one of Puerto Vallarta 's most popular restaurants.

Trio, Guerrero 264, Puerto Vallarta. Tel: 222 21 96. A relaxed atmosphere and 'sophisticated'(though some might say avant-garde) menu fuses Mediterranean and Mexican flavours. Frequented by the artsy crowd the food comes highly recommended, but not cheap.

Restaurants South of Caule River

Archie's Wok, Francisco Rodríguez 130, Puerto Vallarta. Tel: 222 04 11. The Archie in question was once film director John Huston's private chef and today his wife continues the tradition, preparing Chinese food with a Thai flavour. Moderately priced.

Cafe Maximilian, Olas Altas 380-B, Puerto Vallarta. Tel: 223 07 60. A slice of Vienna on the waterfront. The bistro-style menu promises delicious braised lamb and pork escallopes, but where they really excel is at deserts - Austrian pastries and freshly ground coffee.

Fajita Republic, Pino Suarez 321, Puerto Vallarta. Tel: 222 31 31. It seems that when it comes to fajitas anything's game(from lobster to a fajita fondue). The atmosphere is lively and the grub is both good and reasonably priced.

Janssen & Johnson, Olas Altas 474, Puerto Vallarta. Tel: 222 34 97. While the Dutch have never managed to generate much international excitement about their cuisine Janssen & Johnson's is a lively bistro that attracts a youngish crowd, prices are good too.