Adobe Cafe
Basilio Badillo 252
+52 322-2-67-20
Credit cards accepted: American Express, MasterCard, Visa
Price range: Expensive
Cuisine type: Mexican
This quaint cafe, with its handsome Santa Fe-style decor, serves fine Mexican food with a gourmet touch. The chef boldly twists traditional Mexican recipes, blending in both local and imported ingredients. The grilled rack of lamb with chipotle and Roquefort sauce is a prime example, or the brie, pineapple, and onion quesadilla. Reservations are accepted.

Archie's Wok
Francisca Rodriguez 130
+52 322-2-04-11
Credit cards accepted: American Express, MasterCard, Visa
Price range: Moderate
Cuisine type: Asian
Local Vallartans are passionate about this small Asian-blend restaurant. Maybe it's because the late owner was John Huston's personal chef. Then again, maybe it's just because the food is great. Thai, Philippine, and Chinese dishes are featured. Main courses are served family style. Be sure to try the Thai Garlic prawns.

Cafe des Artistes
Guadalupe Sanchez 740
+52 322-2-32-28
Credit cards accepted: American Express, MasterCard, Visa
Price range: Expensive
Cuisine type: French
This interesting hybrid of French cooking and Mexican ingredients has won numerous international awards and is generally considered the best restaurant in town. Dishes include roasted duck in tamarind sauce with friend squash flowers--a Mexican delicacy--and pumpkin risotto. There's also an excellent wine list.

Cafe Maximilian
Olas Altas 380 B
+52 322-3-07-60
Credit cards accepted: American Express, MasterCard, Visa
Price range: Expensive
Cuisine type: Continental
Located right in the heart of the Olas Altas restaurant district, this charming Austrian cafe, which blends the flavors of Austria and Mexico, is a favorite of locals. The atmosphere is that of a fine European bistro and there's seating indoors in the air-conditioned dining room or outside on the sidewalk. In either case, you'll be impressed with the excellent food.

Chef Roger
Augustin Rodriguez 267
+52 322-2-59-00
Credit cards accepted: American Express, MasterCard, Visa
Price range: Moderate/Expensive
Cuisine type: French
This restaurant, owned by Swiss Chef Roger Dreir, has just celebrated its tenth anniversary. Like so many other Vallartan restaurants, this one combines Old World savior-faire with the inventive use of fresh local ingredients. There are excellent fresh patês and salmon and trout terrines; for a main dish try the coconut-breaded shrimp in pineapple sauce. Chef Roger also has an excellent selection of imported wines, and cognac or grappa for after dinner.

Ichi Sushi
Juarez 797
+52 322-2-61-00
Credit cards accepted: American Express
Price range: Moderate
Cuisine type: Japanese
That's right--sushi. It's fresh and clean and served in a classic sushi bar atmosphere. This place is really popular with ex-patriot locals. There's sashimi, miso soup, California rolls, tempura, teppanyaki, and teriyaki. Ichi Sushi will also deliver free to your room.

La Bodeguita del Medio
Malecon
+52 322-3-15-85
Credit cards accepted: None
Price range: Moderate
Cuisine type: Cuban
Affectionately known as "La B del M," this restaurant/bar is an old-style Cuban establishment, with excellent creole food, fresh fish, and mojito cocktails. There are two levels, both of which open out to the bay, and the walls are decorated with framed black-and-white photos of cosmopolitan Cuba from before La Revolucion. One of the restaurant's best features is the rows of Havana Club--called the world's best rum--behind the bar. If you're an American who's been deprived by the embargo, then step inside and have one. To complete your evening, visit the cigar shop that is conveniently located next door.

Las Palomas Corner
Ignacio Vallarta
Credit cards accepted: American Express, MasterCard, Visa
Price range: Inexpensive/Moderate
Cuisine type: Mexican
This is a smaller cousin of a larger, older restaurant downtown called Las Palomas. Away from the bustle and with only seven tables and a tiny three-stool bar, this version, with its sun-gold and blue walls and its open kitchen, is the more pleasant of the two. Both have good food--the menus are nearly identical.

Mariscos Tampico
Galeana 180
+52 322-228-11
Credit cards accepted: American Express, MasterCard, Visa
Price range: Moderate/Expensive
Cuisine type: Mexican, Seafood
A fixture in Vallarta since 1974, Tampico is known for bringing to table traditional Mexican seafood specialties with haute-cuisine-style preparation, and at affordable prices. Set around an indoor courtyard with a large almond tree in the center, the dining room is full of exotic charm. There are good chicken and steak dishes for those not favoring seafood. After dinner, check out the very classy cigar bar.

Steak House Brasil
Venustiano Carranza 210
+52 322-2-29-09
Credit cards accepted: American Express, MasterCard, Visa
Price range: Inexpensive/Moderate
Cuisine type: Steakhouse
The Steak House Brasil does one thing and they do it well: an all-you-can-eat Churrascaria buffet. Set in a high-roofed Amazonia greenhouse-like structure (with carved animals lurching in the branches), this spot serves 12 different grilled meats, with vegetables, soup, salad, and dessert for a reasonable set price. Best of all, the waiters wear official Brazilian team soccer jerseys.

Trio
Guerrero 264
+52 322-2-21-96
Credit cards accepted: American Express, MasterCard, Visa
Price range: Expensive
Cuisine type: Mediterranean
With a Mediterranean menu that spans from a classic Lebanese salad of baked beets with goat cheese to authentic Spanish paella, this gorgeous downtown restaurant ought to be pleasing to everyone. The owners are a trio of big-time chefs who have worked in renowned restaurants in New York, Milan, and Munich. This is the perfect place for a great meal in a warm, elegant atmosphere. Reservations are accepted.