Vallarta Restaurant Week
Dozens of restaurants, set menus at fixed prices — and it lands in the cheapest travel weeks of the year.
Despite the name, Restaurant Week runs for about four weeks — typically from 15 May to 10 June. More than sixty restaurants offer special set menus at fixed prices, which makes it the cheapest time of year to eat at places that would otherwise be a splurge.
How it works
- Set menus at fixed prices — usually a choice of starter, main and dessert, at one of two or three price tiers.
- No pass or ticket needed. You simply book a participating restaurant and ask for the Restaurant Week menu.
- The list is published each year and spans Old Town, downtown, the Marina and Nuevo Vallarta.
- Regular menus stay available — the set menu is an option, not a replacement.
Why the timing is good
This is the part most people miss. Mid-May to early June falls in the shoulder season: the dry weather is mostly still holding, the high-season crowds have gone, and accommodation is markedly cheaper than in winter. Combining low-season room rates with fixed-price menus at the city's better restaurants makes it arguably the best-value fortnight of the year. See best time to visit.
Making the most of it
- Book ahead — the popular restaurants fill up, especially at weekends.
- Use it to try the expensive places, not the ones you'd afford anyway.
- Check what's included — drinks and tips are normally extra.
- Tip on the full value, not the discounted price; the staff work the same.