| Official Designation | Jalisco 2027 Year of Gastronomy (Año de la Gastronomía) |
|---|---|
| Street Boundary | Calle Rodolfo Gómez divides the district into two colonias |
| North Side (C.P. 48380) | Colonia Emiliano Zapata — Basilio Badillo, Olas Altas, Francisca Rodríguez & Lázaro Cárdenas |
| South Side (C.P. 48399) | Lower Amapas — Calle Púlpito & Calle Pilitas & Calle Amapas south past Almar Hotel until street ends |
| Route Coverage | 4 walkable street routes • 8 featured GAYPV dining & beach club venues |
| Walkability | Mostly flat cobblestone streets in Emiliano Zapata Some hills in Amapas |
Jalisco’s tourism board has officially designated 2027 as the Year of Gastronomy (Año de la Gastronomía), putting global focus on Puerto Vallarta’s state’s culinary and gastronomy scene. This was announced at WTM London 2026 coming off the heels of Jalisco hosting the MICHELIN Guide Mexico ceremony and Latin America’s 50 Best Restaurants. Puerto Vallarta enters 2027 as one of North America’s premier walkable food destinations—anchor your broader city-wide dining plans with our Puerto Vallarta Restaurant & Dining Scene Guide.
For LGBTQ+ travelers staying in the Zona Romántica, it is nice to enjoy fabulous restaurants just steps away without having to take an uber or taxi. The dining scene includes two main neighborhoods separated along Calle Rodolfo Gómez (see our interactive Puerto Vallarta Gay Map):
Emiliano Zapata (48380) is the neighborhood that includes most of the restaurants you know and love and Lower Amapas (48399) stretching from Si Senor Beach south beyond Mantamar. Here is a street-by-street guide to eating through both sides of the district in 2027.
Neighborhood Emiliano Zapata (C.P. 48380) — North of Calle Rodolfo Gómez
Everything north of Calle Rodolfo Gómez which is San Marino Hotel and OneSixOne PV north to the Rio Cuale is inside Colonia Emiliano Zapata (48380). This flat, walkable neighborhood includes most of all the popular Puerto Vallarta restaurants, gay bars and businesses you are familiar with.
Calle Basilio Badillo (“Restaurant & Gallery Row”)
Running east from the beach past the art galleries of Ignacio L. Vallarta and Constitución, Basilio Badillo anchors morning-to-evening dining in the Zona Romántica:
Founded in 2013 above Galleria Dante, this art-surrounded upstairs terrace now opens its doors at 10:00 AM for a delicious brunch (10:00 AM – 2:00 PM) before transitioning into its signature Mexican wine and shareable tapas menu through 10:00 PM.
Led by Executive Chef Marco Peralta, Makal offers seasonal 7- and 10-course Mexican tasting menus alongside à la carte standouts like 14-Hour Confit Pork Belly—ideal for a 6:00 PM–7:30 PM dinner before heading out to the gay nightlife.
| Morning & Brunch Staples | Fredy’s Tucán, The Pancake House, and Café de Olla anchor the early-morning breakfast queues along the corridor. |
|---|---|
| MICHELIN & Late-Night Icons | Pancho’s Takos (#162)—one of the first two Puerto Vallarta restaurants recognized by the MICHELIN Guide—anchors the evening taco lines alongside Joe Jack’s Fish Shack, Marlow’s, Republic, La Dolce Vita, and Nacho Daddy. |
| Nightlife & Street Landmarks | Dinner sits steps from LGBTQ+ nightlife fixtures like STUDS Bear & Leather Bar (next door to Marlow’s at #277), The Corner Bar, and Los Otros Blondies. |
| Culinary History (#220–#222) | Heading east up from the beach past Liquid Men (#222), storefront #220-B long housed the beloved Oaxacan kitchen El Mole de Jovita—directly across the street from where eccentric Teatro Limón Chef Bruce Byng once ran a memorable Zona Romántica dining venture. |
Emiliano Zapata (48380)
Calle Olas Altas & Calle Francisca Rodríguez (Lazaro Cardenas Park and Los Muertos Pier)
Intersecting right at the Los Muertos Pier just north of the Calle Rodolfo Gómez border, these two blocks pair breezy daytime ocean views with legendary evening dining:
Re-imagined by Chef Wayne Elias and restaurateur Chris Diamond at the southern end of Emiliano Zapata, blending sunset beachfront tables and a sleek air-conditioned dining room while preserving 50-year favorites like the famous Asian Chicken Salad.
Around the corner from the pier, this family-run Puerto Vallarta landmark sources produce from its own organic garden for signature Philippine lumpia, Singapore chicken, and vibrant tropical-Asian plates.
Calle Lázaro Cárdenas (Parque Lázaro Cárdenas )
Sitting three doors apart on the exact same block facing the iconic tile-mosaic Parque Lázaro Cárdenas, this stretch pairs prime-cut steaks with authentic Vietnamese comfort food:
A dedicated steakhouse experience just steps off Olas Altas, known for prime beef cuts, bone marrow, and elevated Mexican grill classics facing the park.
Three doors east on the same block facing the park, where Saigon-born Chef Charlie Huynh serves slow-simmered Vietnamese pho, fresh spring rolls, and specialty Southeast Asian dishes.
Lower Amapas (C.P. 48399) — South of Calle Rodolfo Gómez
From Calle Rodolfo Gómez heading south toward Mantamar, Almar and Blue Chairs you enter Lower Amapas (C.P. 48399)—this can require
walking up some steep hills and steps.
Calle Púlpito & Calle Amapas (Playa Los Muertos South)
Immediately south of the dividing line, beachfront tables and craft beach bars set the pace for all-day seaside dining:
Steps south of Rodolfo Gómez on the sand, combining a laid-back beer garden vibe, ice-cold drinks, and signature coconut shrimp right at the heart of Playa Los Muertos.
Positioned right on the shoreline with a sprawling covered palapa and sand lounge chairs, serving creative Mexican coastal seafood and sunset cocktails overlooking Banderas Bay.
Whether you are starting the morning with brunch on Basilio Badillo, grabbing handmade pho across from Parque Lázaro Cárdenas, or watching the sun drop into Banderas Bay from a palapa in Lower Amapas, every stop on this route sits within a 10-minute walk. Explore the full GAYPV Puerto Vallarta Directory to plan your 2027 culinary itinerary across the bay.
Author: Tim Wilson
Wilson is the founder of GAYPV.com and www.gaybartour.com and has been the leading LGBTQ+ travel and lifestyle authority in Puerto Vallarta since 2005. With over two decades of local expertise, Wilson specializes in being a community advocate and leader for Puerto Vallarta , and local cultural insights that only a long-term resident can provide. He has dedicated 20+ years to advocating for safe, inclusive travel in Banderas Bay, establishing GAYPV as the region's most trusted resident insider.. His work has been cited by major travel publications, and he is widely recognized as a trusted insider voice on Puerto Vallarta’s vibrant LGBTQ+ scene.
