Dining

Mazatlan's cuisine focuses on seafood, particularly shrimp. Most restaurants are casual and are reasonably priced. There are many American-style fast food chains around town, and there is Americanized Mexican food as well in the Zona Dorada. For more authentic Mexican food, head to Old Mazatlan.

Angelo's
Pueblo Bonito Hotel
Av. Camaron Sabalo
+52 69 14-37-00
Credit cards accepted: American Express, Diners Club, MasterCard, Visa
Price range: Expensive
Cuisine type: Continental
Set in the beautiful Pueblo Bonito Hotel, this Continental restaurant has the reputation as Mazatlan's best. It's certainly Mazatlan's most expensive, with prices only slightly less than those of the finest restaurants in American big cities. Still, for that one special dinner with an upscale European touch, this is the place. The food holds its own and the wine selection is admirable. The atmosphere is classically romantic, with candlelight, flowers, and live music.

Cafe Machado
Av. Constitucion
Credit cards accepted: None
Price range: Inexpensive
Cuisine type: Mexican
This is a perfect place to stop for lunch when visiting Old Mazatlan. Tables are set up on the sidewalk facing the truly charming Machado Plaza, and the menu features numerous local specialties at unbelievably low prices.

Cowtown Mesquite Grill
Av. Rodolfo T. Loaiza
+52 69 83-53-33
Credit cards accepted: American Express, MasterCard, Visa
Price range: Moderate
Cuisine type: American/Mexican
Cowtown, despite its unsophisticated name, is a tastefully designed upscale grill. There is outdoor seating, a large bar with bottles of top-shelf tequila and mescal prominently displayed, and three regulation-size billiard tables in back. The crowd is relaxed and the food decadent--with giant cuts of T-bone, rib eye, as well as a massive combination of steak and whole grilled lobster.

El Shrimp Bucket
Olas Altas 11
+52 69 81-63-50
Credit cards accepted: American Express, MasterCard, Visa
Price range: Moderate
Cuisine type: Seafood/American/Mexican
Owned by the same group as Senor Frog's, El Shrimp Bucket was the first of the shrimp-specialty restaurants in Mazatlan. Because of its location in Old Mazatlan, the restaurant itself has mellowed with the neighborhood and now has a quieter appeal. The signature house dish is fried shrimp served in clay buckets. They also serve good barbecued chicken and ribs.

La Rioja
Av. Camaron Sabalo 550
+52 69 16-61-80
Credit cards accepted: MasterCard, Visa
Price range: Moderate
The house specialty of this Old World restaurant is Valencian paella with mussels, prawns, and sausage. Other dishes include French and Italian specialties like veal Saltimbocca and coq au vin. The waiters are older and somewhat stiff, but this adds to the restaurant's charm.

Pedro's Fish and Chips
Av. Camaron Sabalo 1666
Credit cards accepted: Cash only
Price range: Inexpensive/moderate
This laid-back fish 'n chips shack serves up the best inexpensive food in Mazatlan. The menu is incredibly comprehensive, offering everything from the house-specialty fish and chips to fresh marlin filets, whole boiled lobster, sandwiches, and American-style breakfast. The shrimp omelet, at US$4, is a bargain and delicacy. In addition, cold beers are served two-for-one all day long.

Pura Vida
Hotel Costa de Oro
Av. Camaron Sabalo
Credit cards accepted: Cash only
Price range: Inexpensive
Hands down one of the best places in town. Pura Vida is a simple patio restaurant with juice bar (serving over 20 giant US$2 smoothies), a cute decor, and fresh, healthy food. The turkey breast sandwich is excellent, as is the Caesar salad and spinach, mushroom omelet. Pura Vida is open daily from 8am to 8pm.

Senor Frog's
Av. Del Mar
+52 69 82-19-25
Credit cards accepted: American Express, MasterCard, Visa
Price range: Moderate
The ultimate good-time restaurant, Senor Frog's is an institution in Mazatlan. The restaurant is a fun place for good, oversized dishes of American and Mexican food and fishbowl-sized margaritas, coladas, and daiquiris. Waiters set the tone by wandering around the room with shot glasses and bottles of tequila in hip holsters, pouring out slammers to anyone who looks like they're not having enough fun. After dinner the tabletops turn into dance floors.

Thorny's Surf Burger
Av. Camaron Sabalo
Credit cards accepted: Cash only
Price range: Inexpensive
Thorny's boasts the best hamburger in town. Owned by an American expatriate, the restaurant (a blue-painted stand with outdoor tables set under bright blue parasols), is popular with local gringos and Mexicans alike. The burgers are thick and juicy, served with imported sweet mustard, fresh lettuce, tomato, onion, and a choice of fries, coleslaw, or potato salad. There's also a delicious grilled chicken-breast sandwich and homemade chili.

Vittorio's
Av. Rodolfo T. Loaiza
+52 69 86-24-24
Credit cards accepted: American Express, MasterCard, Visa
Price range: Moderate
Cuisine type: Italian
This beautiful and elegant restaurant is set right in the heart of town. There are two outdoor dining patios, which are accessed through the elegant French doors. There's candlelight, a long bar, and excellent food. House specialities include the wood-fried pizzas or fresh scampi. Open from 12pm to 12am.