Weekend in Puerto Vallarta - Foodies Guide
Looking for a quick getaway from San Diego? Head to Puerto Vallarta, a hidden gem in Mexico! This bustling tourist spot is known for its fabulous tequila (it’s actually one of the closest cities to the town of Jalisco!), beautiful beaches, world class seafood, and luxury resorts. We spent the weekend at the Marriott Puerto Vallarta and experienced several of their foodie themed adventures that are available at the hotel. Follow along as we go through the perfect foodies adventure in Puerto Vallarta!
The Resort - Marriott Puerto Vallarta
The Marriott Puerto Vallarta is a very large one-stop shop for any travelers going to Puerto Vallarta. With six dining spots on site, and the only vanishing edge pool in Puerto Vallarta, this is one of those resorts that you never really have to leave to have a great vacation!
The Locale
The Marriott Puerto Vallarta is located 10 minutes away from the airport! Once you land, we recommend calling a cab (they are incredibly cheap, most rides will be under 10 dollars). But before you leave the airport, grab a beer at the Corona bar first! Note: definitely be sure to pack for warm weather due to the balmy tropical weather!
Beach at Marriott Puerto Vallarta
The Room
The Room was incredibly spacious with phenomenal views of the beach. The large patio was also much appreciated, a beautiful spot to watch the sunset. The bathroom was the perfect size, great for washing off all the sand from the beach.
The Amenities
The Marriott Puerto Vallarta has the only vanishing edge pool of all the resorts in town. The pool also overlooks the beach and has several areas featuring a swim up bar and permanent chairs situated in the pool, perfect for lounging away the afternoon. We found the pool was a major attraction, and can get rather busy, so be sure to head down early!
The recreation center also provides kayaks, paddle boards, and other beach activities if you’re feeling more adventurous. The Marriot beach, located close to the pool, features hammocks, large cabanas, and plenty of beach chairs. We recommend grabbing a drink from the beach bar Nosh as you enjoy the ocean view.
Along with parasailing, ATVs, and other high adventure opportunities, one of the coolest amenities at the Marriott are the foodie adventures, including our Food Tour we walk through below!
The On Site Dining
With six onsite dining options, there’s a dish out there for everyone! We sampled all of their different menus and found each to be unique and special in their own way.
We highly recommend checking out Las Casitas, the hotels most popular restaurant, as it sits on the beach with beautiful views. Offering traditional Mexican dishes, definitely book a reservation as this one can get pretty busy.
Mikado, a hibachi style asian restaurant, is a great option for those who are looking for a dinner and show. They are known for their famous tempenyaki chef’s that entertain you with their lively conversation and flying food, it’s sure to be a hit for everybody. They also have a great sushi and raw bar, which makes it a good spot for a date night or celebration!
Nosh is their poolside bar and rooftop menu. During the day you can find fresh ceviches and tostadas, perfect for a hot day at the pool. At night, head upstairs to their rooftop to enjoy one of the best views for sunset. They also feature live music, a full bar, and fresh seafood which makes for a great appetizer before heading to dinner!
They also have an American style restaurant, Champions Sports Bar, just in case you’re feeling a little homesick!
La Estancia, a Spanish style restaurant, is also a good spot if you’re looking for something more casual. It’s perfect for a quick breakfast or lunch. Don’t forget their Lobby tequila and ceviche bar, with over 180 tequila options and seasonal fresh ceviche.
The Spa
Ohtli Spa is the Marriott’s luxury relaxation spot, with a multitude of hot/cold tubs, saunas, and more, it’s a great way to spend a relaxing afternoon. Once checked in, relax in the hot tub or sit down in the sauna and detox all of the tequila you had! I experienced a 60 min Swedish massage from Ana, it was a fantastic massage and I believe I actually fell asleep!
Day 1: Hit the Streets - Food Tour
Wake up, grab a coffee, but don’t eat! You’ll be incredibly full after this exciting food tour! Vallarta Eats Food Tour is a local company that works with Marriott to provide guests with a unique local tour of some of the cities most legendary street vendors. With a city as bustling as Puerto Vallarta, it can be difficult to find the right spots, so it’s great learning from a local on where to eat and what to explore!
The food tour lasted about three and a half hours, where our tour guide explained the history and must order dishes. He gave us a fabulous run down of what makes this place so special. We found it informative, fun, and very tasty. Although it’s tempting to eat every single dish you’re given, don’t make the mistake we did and forget to slow down. With so many vendors and delicious food, you want to be sure you aren’t too full too early!
The Vendors:
Birria Ricky – birria beef taco and consomé (corner of Aquiles Serdán and Insurgentes)
Carnitas – pork taco (corner of Aguacate and Venustiano Carranza)
Birria Chanfay – birria taco dorado (Venustiano Carranza between Aguacate and Insurgentes)
Carnicería Colin – bakery and butcher (Venustiano Carranza between Aguacate and Jacarandas)
Macareno - tacos de nada (Venustiano Carranza 457)
Marisma's – fish taco (Naranjo almost at the corner of Venustiano Carranza)
Tortillera – fresh tortillas of the press (Naranjo at the municipal market)
El Cólera – ceviche tostado (Lázaro Cárdenas between Naranjo and Camichin)
Cisneros – seafood chile relleno and shrimp brochette (Aguacate between Venustiano Carranza and Lázaro Cárdenas)
El Moreno – quesadilla with adobada pork, beans, onion, guacamole, salsa, lime, and salt (corner of Francisco Madero and Constitución)
La Michoacana – ice pops/paletas (corner of Francisco Madero and Constitución)
Azteca – candy shop (A. Rodriguez and Matamoros)
TIRED?
After a long day of eating and walking around the city, head back to Ohtli Spa and book yourself a massage with one of their amazing masseuses. We loved the various hot and cold tubs, that helped our aching bodies relax.
Dinner at Las Casitas
The dinner options are plentiful, but we decided to visit Las Casitas, their premium al fresco restaurant. We highly recommend making a reservation so you can feast on their seasonal tacos and tropical drinks, all while taking in the beautiful views of Banderas Bay.
We loved, and highly recommend, the table side guacamole and their modern take on fajitas. You also must get a desert and an after dinner drink!
Day 2 - Mercado and Cooking!
Head to Mercado & Prep with Chef
Wake up and take in the beautiful views, grab a coffee, and then schedule a cooking class/demonstration with their su chef (probably schedule a little bit in advance, so you make sure you have a spot!). This fun tour allowed us to tag along with chef as he visits the local fish markets and produce stands in the historic downtown of Puerto Vallarta. Take a look at all the amazing seafood that comes out of the local bays and boats! It was really cool to see the hustle and bustle of a fully operational and very popular fish market. After discussing our menu with chef, we selected a beautiful local mahi mahi! We then headed back to the hotel and we started prep. We helped cook a beautiful dish, which happened to be one of Chef’s grandmothers recipes, and enjoyed the fruits of our labor.
Tequila Tasting & Sensory Dinner
The Marriott Puerto Vallarta is very passionate about Tequila. They even have their own Tequila brand and Tequila sommelier. We sipped, tasted, smelt, and learned about the ins and outs of what makes a good Tequila. It’s a perfect intro to a delicious dinner, even getting a tipsy start to the night!
One of the newest additions to the Marriott Puerto Vallarta, the Sensory Dinner, highlights the uniqueness of each of their chefs. Situated in the beautiful onsite gardens, we enjoyed a delicious meal that focused on invoking all of our senses. This dinner is the most unique dinner we had on property, which featured specialized dishes that were not only delicious, but just so fun to look at! This is a must for any foodie, as it makes you think about each of your senses and how food can effect them. One of our favorite dishes was the “sound” course, which featured a dry ice and tuna watermelon sashimi — the bubbling sound was so fun to hear!
Extra Credit Entry Form!
We have partnered up with the luxurious @marriotpv to giveaway a two night stay, + $200 F&B credit to enjoy their amazing beachside resort. From tequila tastings, ceviche, and coconut margaritas this is a must visit spot in Mexico for any foodies! We headed out to @marriotpv for a foodies weekend, and we’re BLOWN AWAY from our experience! ✨
*Travel Expenses Not Included, Some Restrictions Apply