Head north from Puerto Vallarta along Banderas Bay and within a short drive you can go from Baja-style fish tacos in Bucerías to the fishermen's seafood market in La Cruz de Huanacaxtle to chef-driven oceanfront dining in Punta de Mita. Each town has its own story, and you can taste it. Here are our favorite Bucerías, La Cruz and Punta de Mita restaurants, what makes each one special, where the local dishes come from and how to plan a full day of eating your way along the Riviera Nayarit.
Fresh Fish and Fishing Traditions on the Riviera Nayarit
Long before the resorts and marinas, this shoreline lived off the sea. According to the Riviera Nayarit tourism board, the beachfront restaurants in La Cruz have been cooking the day's catch for more than 50 years. Bucerías, whose name is usually translated as "place of divers," has a long oyster tradition: for generations, local fishermen free-dived in the bay to bring up oysters by hand.
That heritage shapes menus across the area: catch of the day, shrimp, octopus, oysters and, at the high end, chefs who build their cooking around what comes out of the bay. The official profile of the municipality of Bahía de Banderas also lists lobster and almeja reina (a local clam) among its signature foods, along with fish and shrimp grilled on sticks.
New to these towns? Start with our guide to Riviera Nayarit beach towns.
Tables under palapas on the beach in Bucerías.
Timeline: From Fishing Villages to a Food Destination
- Around 1864: Bucerías begins as Santa Julia de las Tablas, a stop for ships trading in timber.
- 1930s: the Chávez family founds La Cruz de Huanacaxtle.
- 1942: shark fisherman Aurelio Solís Verde founds Corral del Risco, the fishing village of Punta de Mita.
- 1989: the municipality of Bahía de Banderas is created, split off from Compostela.
- 1990: Café des Artistes opens in Puerto Vallarta; today it is the flagship of chef Thierry Blouet, whose group also includes Tuna Blanca.
- 2008: the port of La Cruz is rebuilt around its large marina, and Tuna Blanca opens in Punta de Mita.
- 2009: the Sunday market in La Cruz gets started.
- 2014: Bucerías unveils El Buzo, a bronze statue honoring its oyster divers, on the malecón.
- 2025: Tuna Blanca turns 17, the International Gourmet Festival co-founded by Blouet holds its 30th edition, and Rubra by Daniela Soto-Innes is open in Punta de Mita.
North Shore Dishes and Where They Come From
Baja-style fish tacos. Battered fish in a tortilla with cabbage, a creamy sauce and lime was born in Baja California and spread up and down Mexico's Pacific coast. In Bucerías you will find it served "Ensenada style."
Aguachile. In the most widely told version, it began in the mountains of Sinaloa as a simple broth of water and chiltepín, a tiny, fiery wild chile. When it reached the coast it was paired with raw shrimp, and lime and salt came later. Its exact origin is still debated.
Oysters. In Bucerías, oysters are part of local identity: every Easter weekend a beachfront festival marks the end of the oyster-diving season. One local guide puts it at around 10,000 oysters and roughly half a ton of fish ceviche per edition, with salsa, cumbia and norteño bands.
Pescado zarandeado. Nayarit's signature dish: a whole fish split open, marinated and grilled over coals in a hinged basket that gets shaken, or "zarandeado." Its roots are tied to the island of Mexcaltitán and the ancient Totorame peoples of northern Nayarit. You will see it on many local menus, Tuna Blanca's included.
Pescado embarazado. Fish or shrimp "en vara asado" (grilled on a stick) became a pun that stuck as a name. It is cooked on wooden stakes driven into the sand next to the fire.
Go deeper with our guides to pescado zarandeado and fish on a stick.
Best Restaurants in Bucerías
Bucerías is the largest of the three towns and the one that still feels most like a village: a plaza with a bandstand, a church, cobblestone streets and a long beach with gentle surf. Canadians in RVs started wintering here in the 1980s, and that mix shows on the dining scene, where old-school seafood joints sit alongside kitchens from other parts of the world.
Karen's Place: Ocean Views in the Heart of Town
Right in the center of Bucerías, Karen's Place is a laid-back beach club and restaurant with ocean views that has been welcoming visitors and locals for more than a decade.
Why it stands out: a relaxed, easygoing vibe, a varied menu of Mexican food and seafood, and piña coladas and micheladas that regulars rave about.
Area: downtown Bucerías, on the beach.
Best for: a long afternoon with your toes in the sand that ends with the sunset.
El Rincón de Ensenada: Baja-Style Fish Tacos
This small, much-loved spot is known for its battered fish tacos made Baja California style, the tradition its name nods to. The menu also includes tostadas, ceviche, aguachile and seafood cocktails.
Why it stands out: the quality of the fish tacos. It is popular enough that you may have to wait in line.
Area: downtown Bucerías, on Benito Juárez street.
Best for: a casual, flavor-packed lunch.
Ensenada-style fish tacos (illustrative photo of the dish).
Sandrinas: Greek Cooking in a Garden Courtyard
Sandrinas opened in 2001 and is still run by its founders, Sandrina and Andres, a Canadian couple who, in their own telling, fell in love with each other, with Mexico and especially with Bucerías. They run it together with their family. The kitchen specializes in Greek dishes with Mediterranean flavors.
Why it stands out: dinner under the stars in a garden courtyard, a short walk from the beach. It doubles as a small cultural hub, hosting wine tastings and pairings, live music nights, art workshops and book launches, with a boutique and artwork on display.
Area: Bucerías, near the beach.
Best for: a romantic dinner or a night off from seafood.
Where to Eat in La Cruz de Huanacaxtle
La Cruz blends a working fishing village with a marina that the Riviera Nayarit tourism board calls the most modern on Mexico's Pacific coast. It is a young town, founded in the 1930s, and its name comes from a cross made of huanacaxtle wood that once stood at the entrance, although the exact origin is not fully documented.
A fun fact for the table: the huanacaxtle (Enterolobium cyclocarpum), also called parota or the "elephant-ear tree" for its coiled seed pods, is one of the giants of the tropics. In Mexico, seeds from the green pods are boiled and eaten.
The Marina Seafood Market
Next to the marina in La Cruz there is a fish and seafood market selling what comes out of the bay each day.
Why it stands out: you can watch the catch arrive by panga, and if your rental has a kitchen, you can buy your own fish or shrimp to cook.
Area: La Cruz de Huanacaxtle marina.
Best for: seafood lovers.
In high season, roughly November through April, the Sunday morning La Cruz Market also sets up along the marina. It started in 2009 as a community initiative and brings together around 170 vendors selling prepared food, fresh bread, organic products and crafts. Check its official social media for dates and hours before you go.
Tacos On The Street: Taco Night in La Cruz
Tacos On The Street is one of the top-rated taco spots in La Cruz on review platforms such as Restaurant Guru, where diners mention its unusual setting.
Area: La Cruz de Huanacaxtle.
Best for: a casual dinner after a stroll around the marina.
A shrimp ceviche tostada, a coastal classic (illustrative photo of the dish).
Punta Mita Restaurants: Fine Dining by the Sea
In Punta de Mita, both the village by El Anclote beach and the nearby hotels offer serious fine dining. The village has fishing roots: Corral del Risco was founded in 1942 as a camp for fishermen who went after shark, red snapper and lobster, and in the 1990s its families were relocated about two kilometers away to make room for the Punta Mita development. Planning a full day? See our guide to things to do in Punta Mita.
Tuna Blanca by Thierry Blouet: Chef-Driven Seafood on the Beach
On Avenida Anclote, Tuna Blanca is the oceanfront restaurant of chef Thierry Blouet, a member of the Académie Culinaire de France. The French-Mexican chef heads Café des Artistes, one of Puerto Vallarta's landmark restaurants, open since 1990, and he co-founded the International Gourmet Festival, which reached its 30th edition in November 2025 with Tuna Blanca among the host venues.
History: it celebrated its 17th anniversary in March 2025 with a piano recital and a wine-paired dinner by the sea, which puts its opening around 2008.
Why it stands out: its motto is "passionately natural," built around fish and seafood selected fresh every day. The menu features dishes like a bay tuna tostada, grilled octopus, temazcal shrimp and the catch of the day prepared zarandeado style, a direct nod to Nayarit tradition. Its website displays honors including AAA Four Diamond and the Wine Spectator Award of Excellence.
Area: Punta de Mita, Avenida Anclote.
Best for: a special sunset dinner. Families are welcome; the dress code is smart casual, with no beachwear.
Rubra: Contemporary Mexican Cuisine by Daniela Soto-Innes
Inside the W Punta de Mita, Rubra is the personal project of chef Daniela Soto-Innes, and her story is one of the most remarkable in modern Mexican cooking. Born in Mexico City, she moved to Texas at 12 and trained at Le Cordon Bleu in Austin. In 2014 she helped open Cosme in New York with Enrique Olvera, in 2016 she won the James Beard Award for Rising Star Chef, in 2017 she opened Atla, and in 2019 The World's 50 Best Restaurants named her the World's Best Female Chef, the youngest ever to receive the title.
Why it stands out: contemporary Mexican cooking with local, seasonal ingredients, Pacific seafood, tropical fruit and native herbs, many from its own garden, which diners can see. The space uses natural materials that echo the bay. It offers a tasting menu or à la carte on a terrace facing the sea.
Area: W Punta de Mita hotel, Punta de Mita.
Best for: food lovers looking for a chef's experience. One local guide says it is open to the public with reservations, while the hotel's site refers to guest access, so check with the hotel whether it accepts diners who are not staying there.
We recommend confirming hours and availability directly with each restaurant.
A Suggested North Shore Food Itinerary
Half day (Bucerías and La Cruz). If it is a high-season Sunday, start at the La Cruz market, then walk the marina and the seafood market. Head to Bucerías, find the El Buzo statue on the malecón and have fish tacos or aguachile downtown.
Full day (all three towns). Morning in La Cruz, lunch in Bucerías and an afternoon in Punta de Mita: beach time at El Anclote and a sunset dinner by the sea to finish. Boats to the Marietas Islands also leave from Punta de Mita if you want to stretch the visit.
Getting around. All three towns sit on or near Highway 200 and the coastal road to Punta de Mita. A car or taxi is the most practical option; Punta de Mita is about 45 km (28 miles) from Puerto Vallarta, 45 minutes to an hour by car depending on traffic.
Budget. There is something for every wallet: inexpensive beach tacos and seafood, mid-range international kitchens and, in Punta de Mita, fine dining with tasting menus.
Best Time to Eat Your Way Through Bucerías, La Cruz and Punta de Mita
- High season (November to April): dry weather, the La Cruz Sunday market and, roughly December through March, humpback whales in the bay. Book ahead. More in our whale watching guide.
- January: the Virgen de la Paz festival in Bucerías (January 16–24), with a street bazaar and a sea procession on the 24th that carries the Torch of Peace from La Cruz.
- Easter weekend: the Bucerías oyster festival.
- May: the Santa Cruz festival in La Cruz peaks on May 3, when fishermen take their decorated boats out on the bay.
- Rainy season (mid-June to mid-October): hotter (summer highs top 30 °C / 86 °F) and more humid; August is usually the wettest month. Eastern Pacific hurricane season runs May 15 to November 30, so keep an eye on the forecast.
Explore the Riviera Nayarit with Riviera Tours & Transfers
Want to see more of the Nayarit coast? Our Sayulita and San Pancho tour runs Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, lasts a full day, is offered in English and Spanish, and travels in small groups of up to 17 people. It includes:
- Round-trip transportation
- Certified guide
- Tasting of traditional Mexican sweets
- Visit to the San Pancho plaza and beach
- Guided walk through downtown Sayulita
- Free time in Sayulita
- Bottled water
The tour does not stop in Bucerías, La Cruz or Punta de Mita, and meals are not included, so think of the restaurants in this guide as ideas for another day on your own. For your free time in Sayulita, see our Sayulita and San Pancho restaurants guide.
Check dates and book the Sayulita and San Pancho tour →
Tips for Eating Your Way Along the North Shore
- Same time as Vallarta. Bucerías, La Cruz and Punta de Mita belong to the municipality of Bahía de Banderas, which runs on Central Time, just like Puerto Vallarta. The rest of Nayarit is on Pacific Time, so double-check reservation times.
- Book ahead in high season, especially for sunset tables.
- Carry cash for small taco spots and markets.
- Dress code. Punta de Mita's fine dining spots do not allow beachwear; bring a change of clothes.
- Respect the fishermen. The pier and the market are workplaces: stay out of the way of the boats and ask before taking close-up photos.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I get fish tacos in Bucerías? El Rincón de Ensenada is one of the best-known spots for Baja-style fish tacos. Go early, since there is often a line.
What are the best fine dining restaurants in Punta Mita? Tuna Blanca, by chef Thierry Blouet, and Rubra, by chef Daniela Soto-Innes, are two of the most acclaimed.
Can I buy fresh seafood in La Cruz de Huanacaxtle? Yes. The fish and seafood market next to the marina sells the day's catch from the bay.
When is the Bucerías oyster festival? It is traditionally held on Holy Saturday and Easter Sunday, on the beach, with free admission. Confirm each year's dates before you go.
What local dishes should I try? Pescado zarandeado, aguachile, ceviche, fish tacos, oysters and, if you spot it, pescado embarazado grilled on a stick.
When is the La Cruz Sunday market open? In high season, roughly November through April, on Sunday mornings. Confirm the season on its official social media.
Is Bucerías on the same time zone as Puerto Vallarta? Yes. Bucerías, La Cruz and Punta de Mita use Central Time, like Puerto Vallarta, because they belong to Bahía de Banderas.
More ideas: Nuevo Vallarta restaurants and our Puerto Vallarta seafood guide. Staying nearby? See our guide to Punta Mita luxury hotels.
Photos: La Llave Key to Riviera Nayarit / CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons · urbanomafia / CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons · Alejandra Mendoza Santillan / CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons · Kelpgreen.D / CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
