Ever since the Malecon was extended linking centro with the Romantic Zone, many people walk only that way and miss out on the great variety of artistic, playful and culinary options Puerto Vallarta’s Romantic Zone has to offer. Running parallel to Rio Cuale Island, this street offers excellent dining options and places to purchase a piece of art or your favorite music disc.
Miralo
Francisco I. Madero 267, Col. Emiliano Zapata, Romantic Zone.
Mon-Fri 10:00am-7:00pm; Sat 10:00am-3:00pm. Tel. (322) 222-6810.
 Miralo, offering art and gifts, features the beautiful mosaic art of Puerto Vallarta’s Rodolfo Rosas Hernandez. Rodolfo’s work is original in design, and he uses hand-cut stained glass to create his beautiful, ever-changing works. Miralo has many unique and distinctive gifts and home décor items that have been handcrafted in México. Some of these include fused glass in wonderful colors, decorated boxes, and beautiful etched glass.
Sonido Rana
Francisco I. Madero 325, Col. Emiliano Zapata, Romantic Zone.
Mon-Sat 9:00pm; Dom 10:00am-2:00pm & 5:00pm-7:00pm. Tel. (322) 222-4176.
 Sonido Rana, one of the oldest audio accessories stores in Puerto Vallarta, offers the city’s largest stock. In addition to CDs and DVDs featuring diverse artists and genres, they carry everything necessary to set up a production-level music and audio studio, including musical instruments and components (guitar strings, for example), microphones, speakers, headphones, connectors, and adaptors, among others. They also offer scores and books on musical theory, singing, piano, guitar, bass, drums, etc.
La Michoacana
Constitución 202 esquina Fco. I. Madero, Col. Emiliano Zapata, Romantic Zone. Mon-Sun 10:00am-10:00pm. Cel. 044(322) 294-8524.
 This chain of flavored ices and ice cream bars has become a tradition in this region of the country. This location sells naturally flavored popsicles $10 pesos to $12 pesos, naturally flavored ice cream bars cost $15 pesos and made with iced milk $25 pesos. They also sell fresh naturally flavored “aguas”, a half-liter is $ 10 pesos and one-liter $20 pesos. All its products are made with purified water and 100% natural ingredients with absolutely no artificial flavorings.
Mar Azul
Francisco I. Madero 239, Col. Emiliano Zapata, Romantic Zone. Mon-Sun 10:00am-9:00pm; Dom 11:00am-2:00pm. Tel. (322) 222-0789
 This shop offers original and novelty merchandise, displayed so that each set of pieces seems to occupy its own space. One of the main items at Mar Azul is their large stock of religious art, such as crosses made in assorted materials, colors and sizes. They also offer hand-painted nativity sets, skeletons, angels, sculptures, pre-Hispanic masks, etc. They allow their customers to shop in peace and their prices are very competitive.
Back Alley Steakhouse
Francisco I. Madero 225, Col. Emiliano Zapata, Romantic Zone. Mon-Sun 12:00pm-11:00pm. Tel. (322) 223-3560.
 Frequented by many foreign tourists, this restaurant serves fine steak cuts and also offers an extended menu to satisfy all tastes. To start off, you may order the bistro salad for $69 pesos and continue with a bruschetta, for the same price as an appetizer. If you wish to eat light, the grilled salmon salad is a great option at $119 pesos. All their steaks are certified US Angus. A rib-eye costs $289 pesos. They also offer chicken, pork and seafood.
La Tía Catrina
Francisco I. Madero 202, Col. Emiliano Zapata, Romantic Zone. Mon-Sun 5:00pm-11:00pm.
 This is one of the few restaurants that will take you out to fish for your meal. For $400 USD, they take four people fishing during the day, and that night they cook your catch for up to eight people, if you wish to bring guests. If you prefer their regular menu, the options are broad, from beef fajitas for $115 pesos to veal for $150 pesos. This restaurant does not have telephone service to make reservations; it’s recommended you arrive early.
Pollo Feliz
Insurgentes 206 esquina Fco. I. Madero, Col. Emiliano Zapata, Romantic Zone. Mon-Sat 11:00am-11:00pm. Tel. (322) 222-0304.
 Belonging to a very popular restaurant chain in this region of the country, this location prepares their chicken on charcoal, following the original recipe that sets them apart. A whole chicken, which includes tortillas and salsa, costs $103 pesos; hamburgers cost $39 pesos; arrachera steak costs $107 pesos; and a mixed salad with chicken strips costs $41 pesos. For children, the peque-feliz includes chicken nuggets, fries, soft drink and a novelty toy for $54 pesos. They also offer home delivery service. |
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