Discovering the Charming Small Restaurants of Banderas Bay

Puerto Vallarta and Riviera Nayarit have many such charming eateries that are sure to have a place on your list of favorite little places to eat out.

In Fluvial, try the charming pizzeria, Ricotta, located on Av. Los Tules #168, across the street from Costco.  This cute restaurant is styled like a true Italian café complete with checkerboard tablecloths and a huge wood-burning pizza oven.  A staggering number of delicious, thin crust pizzas are on the menu and almost all priced at 85 pesos.  You can add to your meal with soups and salads that are fresh and tasty and a well-rounded wine list.  Owner, William Murrieta, is extremely charming and will make you feel very welcome as he seats you on the patio or inside.  Be sure to pay a visit on Wednesdays, when they offer a two for one promotion on pizzas.

In Spain, it is very common to enjoy small neighborhood restaurants, lingering with friends over shared meals of tapas and sangria.  This tradition has been very authentically brought to Riviera Nayarit by Pincho y Ole, located at the 3.14 Plaza in Nuevo Vallarta.  Owners Javier and Gabriella, who moved to Puerto Vallarta from Madrid, have created a space and a menu that bring the flavors, style and feeling of Spain to Banderas Bay.  Delicious sangria, paella for two, gazpacho and a tapas menu of over 20 items are just some of the many delicious options.  And the restaurant has a selection of imported olive oil, wine, Iberian ham, olives and other items brought directly from Spain, exclusively to Pincho y Ole, so that diners can recreate the flavors in their own homes.