If you know me, you know I love craft cocktails. Puerto Vallarta, Mexico has a few outstanding craft cocktail bars that I want to share with you! Fear no more the watered down, overly sweet, and boring beach drink while on vacation. Nothing is better than enjoying this beautiful town in the warm weather with an outstanding cocktail in hand.
What I look for in a cocktail bar are the following things: fresh ingredients, thoughtful garnishes, creative recipes, herbs and spices you don’t always see in cocktails, and a great place to drink them.
Top three cocktail bars in Puerto Vallarta
#1 Elixir Mixology Bar
Imagine sipping a tea inspired cocktail out of a beautiful porcelain tea cup and saucer, with a lemon twist and fog rising from the glass. If you want to experience greatness like that, make sure Elixir is on your list. Not only do they make the best Old Fashioned in the city, they probably make some of the best cocktails in all of Mexico. What’s their twist? Keeping their cocktails spirit forward, yet adding smoke, bubbles, and blends of flavors that heighten your senses. They call themselves, a unique sensory experience in Puerto Vallarta, and I would agree 100%. They also have a few small boards available to snack on, my favorite was the The Sweet & Salty that includes cured meats, mixed cheeses, dates, pear, grapes, and comes with a side of bread crackers and chips.
Cocktails to try: JEREMY’S OLD FASHIONED, Grey Matter, and Desert Rose.
Instagram tip: Take a photo by their beautiful entrance bar for best lighting and a fun prop.
Jeremy’s Old Fashioned: Inspired by my husband – Bourbon, Mezcal, Cinnamon, and Orange! The best Old Fashioned you will try!
Grey Matter: Gin, Earl Grey Tea, Lavender, Vanilla
Desert Rose: Gin, Grapefruit, Cardamom, Rose, Lemon, Peychards
Wednesday – Sunday: 5 PM – 12 AM
Monday – Tuesday: Closed
Basilio Badillo 419, Zona Romántica, Emiliano Zapata, 48380 Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco
https://www.facebook.com/elixirmixologybarpv
https://www.instagram.com/elixirmixologybarpv
#2 Mezcal Y Sal
The drinks at Mezcal Y Sal will change your opinion of mezcal cocktails, or at least it did for me. Say goodbye to overly smoked mezcal because their cocktails use a specially sourced Mezcal that compliment the fresh combination of flavors they use in their drinks like hibiscus, spicy passionfruit, avocado, and fresh pineapple. Expect fresh flower petals, gold dusted dried fruits, and smoking herbs added to the top of your cocktails, making it too pretty to drink before snapping a photo. If you don’t drink alcohol, you will feel just as included in the fun with their crafted mocktails. They also serve some of the best small bites I have had in the city, with both meat and vegan options; hibiscus flower tacos were fun to try! If you don’t want to try Mezcal, you can order any drink with Tequila, but trust me and try your first drink with Mezcal, you will be pleasantly surprised!
Cocktails to try: Mezcaliña, Maravilla, or have fun with it and order the Bartenders Choice.
Food to try: Guacamole Trio, Hoja Santo Quesadillas, and Shrimp Tacos.
Instagram tip: Make sure to take photos of your decorated cocktails and the ceiling tiles.
Mezcaliña: Pineapple
Maravilla: Spicy Passionfruit
Jamancho: Hibiscus
Aguacatero: Avocado
Sunday – Wednesday: 6 PM – 11 PM
Thursday – Saturday: 6 PM – 12 AM
Calle Francisco I. Madero 176, Zona Romántica, Emiliano Zapata, 48380 Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco
https://www.facebook.com/Mezcalysal
https://www.instagram.com/mezcalysal
Here are two other cocktail bars that are fun and you should try while you are visiting Puerto Vallarta.
#3 El Colibri Cocktail Bar
This place will give you that “speakeasy” vibe, and it does not even open until 8 PM. You will find a man at a desk, and a plain door behind him. If you can’t find the location, I will give you a pro tip: it is right across from Bar Morelos. Behind the door you will find a beautiful living greenery wall and hand crafted wood bars. The cocktails are inventive, well made, and the service was fantastic. When you look up, you notice it is an open air bar, and you are taken back to a traditional mexican hidden gem.
Sunday – Thursday: 8 PM – 2 AM
Friday & Saturday: 8 PM – 3 AM
Morelos 582, Centro, 48300 Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco
https://www.instagram.com/elcolibribar
other favorites – Bar la playa
What some would call an institution in Puerto Vallarta, Bar La Playa has taken the traditional vacation drinks and kicked them up a few notches (or 100). You won’t find any boring margaritas here, but you will find beautifully presented cocktails in mason jars with fun twists on classic drinks. Expect fresh flavors, fresh produce stacked in your drink, and some of the friendliest bartenders in town. At first glance you might think this is a dive bar, and might even walk by without noticing the sign hanging above. But grab a seat at the bar top and you will feel like family.
Cocktails to try: Spicy Jalapeno Ranchera, All About That Lavender, and their signature cocktail, La Playa.
Instagram tip: Ask to get behind the bar and take a photo “bartending”
Spicy Jalapeno Ranchera: Don Julio Margarita with Spicy Jalapeno Chili
All About That Lavender: Gin, Blueberries, Lavender, Meyers Lemon
Monday – Sunday: 12 PM – 12 AM
Lázaro Cárdenas 179, Zona Romántica, Emiliano Zapata, 48380 Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco
https://www.facebook.com/BarLaPlayaPV
https://www.instagram.com/pvbarlaplaya
other favorites – Joe JAcks
I had to give them an award for best bourbon selection in Puerto Vallarta, I cant even explain the look on my husbands face when he saw Michter’s and Michter’s Rye on their shelf. They also have an amazing Mojito happy hour 2×1 Mojitos. My favorite is strawberry/ginger or passionfruit! We love to sit at the bar and talk to the friendly bartender, but this place can get busy busy – so get their early. Food is yummy too… At first we skipped this place because it looked touristy, and only had Americans and Canadians in the restaurant. Even though that still is the case, they are one of our favorites for cocktails and happy hour.
Everyday: 12 PM – 11 PM
Basilio Badillo 212, Zona Romántica, Emiliano Zapata, 48380 Puerto Vallarta, Jal.
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