ALICIA’S LOCAL GUIDE
Explore San Pancho
Where to eat, where to walk, and where to skip. This is the real list, curated from living here full-time.
Alicia has put together our favorite spots in town, everything from the best breakfast biscuits to the ATM with the lowest fees. Save it as a bookmark before your trip.
Good Eats
Our personal favorites, from morning coffee to late-night tacos.
Breakfast & Brunch
Breakfast · American
The DoughJoe
One of our favs. Southern American-style breakfast with lots of options. Quality handmade donuts and the best coffee in town. Locally owned and cute.
Open 8am, 2pm. Also serves wagyu smash burgers Thursday, Monday nights. Our go-tos: biscuits & gravy, avocado toast, blueberry waffles, BLTA.
Breakfast · Upscale
Café Floresta San Pancho
Great upscale breakfast and atmosphere. A step up when you want something a little nicer.
Breakfast · Healthy
Chido Greens
Great place for salads, smoothies, health shots, and pressed juices. Healthier options across the board.
Chilaquiles Poblano is one of our favorites for breakfast.
Breakfast · Cafe
Andanza
Summer, the owner, is wonderful. Cool, vibey spot for tea and reading. Homemade chocolate and pastries with lots of gluten-free options.
Breakfast · Mexican
Sunset Restaurant
Mexican-style breakfast. Good chilaquiles. Super cute place.
Breakfast & Lunch
Restaurant Victor’s
Great enchiladas, get the Verde, a must-have. Also recommend the Rojo’s chilaquiles.
Breakfast · Tacos
Tacos Los Brothers
Great birria tacos, open 8am, 2pm. They deliver too.
Lunch & Dinner
Dinner · Seafood
Barracuda Cocina del Mar
Upscale seafood spot, great for dinner. All the fish is fresh. The shrimp burrito is great.
Dinner · Mexican
Su Pancha Madre
The owner, Mao, is such a treasure. Live music, great dinner spot for traditional Mexican sopes.
Dinner · Tacos
Taqueria El Patrón
The best al pastor tacos in town. Volcanes Pastor are a favorite.
Dinner · Tacos
Taqueria Los Arbolitos
Great late-night taco place. Suadero tacos are a favorite.
Lunch or Dinner · Pizza
Pizza El Punto
Delicious handmade-crust pizza, by the slice or whole, and they deliver.
They also sometimes have lasagna, get it while you can, it sells out fast.
Dinner · Upscale
Miralo Gastrobar and Patio
Upscale dinner spot. They typically have music on the back patio. Great cocktails and appetizers.
Breakfast & Lunch · Vegan
Yasmina’s Multidimensional Wellness
Great vegan and vegetarian options. Very health-conscious food.
Dinner · Sports Bar
San Pancho Marino
Lively sports bar. Catch a game, freshly caught seafood, or a great burger. Rolando the owner is a super sweet guy.
Lunch & Dinner · Beachside
La Tarraya San Pancho
Lively place for a good cocktail and to catch a San Pancho sunset. Opens at 2:00pm.
Drinks & Nightlife
Craft cocktails, live music, and the best local vibes after dark.
Beer & Food
Arigato Bake & Brew
Good handmade craft beer, and they have some great food as well.
Cocktails & Music
Serpiente
Great cocktails, sometimes live music, cool atmosphere.
Night Spot · Live Music
Huapango
Great night place with drinks, live music, and good vibes.
Craft Beer
Cerveceria Artesanal San Pancho
Another great spot for local tap beer, good burgers and snacks, and typically live music at night. Fun night out.
Live Music
Gipsy San Pancho
Live music place, fun atmosphere, good drinks.
Sightseeing & Community
The places that make San Pancho San Pancho.
Community · Gallery
Entreamigos
Since 2006, Entreamigos has created opportunities for local children and families through education, environmental stewardship, and community.
The gallery showcases work by San Pancho artisans and youth entrepreneurs, plus organic local food and one-of-a-kind gifts. Shop local, support the community.
Beach
Playa San Pancho
The best sunsets, some good surf, live music, and a little shopping. San Pancho’s beach is such a vibe.
Beach Club · Upscale
Tierra Tropical Beach Club
A chic, peaceful beach club away from the central crowds. Infinity pool, excellent poolside dining, sophisticated “Mexican Boho” vibe. Perfect for a full day of relaxation.
$1,500 MXN / day (with $1,000 MXN applicable toward food and beverage). Tue, Thu 11am, 8pm; Fri, Sun 11am, 9pm.
Market · Tuesdays
Mercado San Pancho
The Tuesday Market is a great experience for local artisan food, handmade goods, and community building.
Every Tuesday in the Plaza, 10am, 2pm. Winter season only, ends in May/June.
Polo & Brunch
La Patrona Polo Club
A beautiful equestrian center in the heart of San Pancho. Famous Sunday Polo Brunch and world-class matches during the winter months. Horseback riding tours through the jungle and beach.
Sunday Brunch & Polo, November, May. Opens 11am, match starts noon.
Wellness & Movement
Yoga, hikes, and everything in between.
Yoga & Studios
Yoga · Sound Healing
El Estar
Great place for yoga or sound-healing classes.
Holistic Wellness
Alinea Yoga & Wellness
Holistic wellness center. Also has fresh pressed juices and smoothies in a beautiful little spot inside.
Classes · Arts
La Bodega Teatro
Fabrica de las Artes. All sorts of classes, pilates, circus, dance, salsa.
Gym
Gym San Pancho
Little gym, great place to catch a workout. Pay by the visit, 50 pesos/day. Super nice people.
Hikes & Outdoor
Hike · Intense
Monkey Mountain
Fun hike near San Pancho. Can be intense but the views are worth it. Need a car to reach the trailhead, look for local guides.
Hike · Easier
Playa Malpaso
Hike from San Pancho to Sayulita. Pretty and relatively easier. Accessible from the south end of the beach.
Trail map available on AllTrails.
Bikes · Tours
BiCiMAS Bike & Hike
Nice people, good place to rent bikes or do guided tours: birding, hiking, biking.
Hike · Iconic
Camino al Buda
Running or hiking to the Buddha is a favorite. Can be intense but once you get there, the views are worth the jaunt.
Cafe · Community
La Comadre
Community-rooted local goods, curated bulk items, organic products, and everyday essentials from local vendors. In-house kitchen with delicious plates, smoothies, and drinks.
The Linda Smoothie and the Suero are some of our favorites.
Everyday Essentials
Groceries, cash, and laundry, the little things that make longer stays easy.
Groceries & Cash
Produce · Market
Fruteria Emiliano
On the main Ave. Best produce and grocery items in town.
Supermarket
Mini Market El Indio
Beverages, dry goods, dairy, and toiletries.
Corner Store
Abarrotes y Fruterias Karla
Closest tienda to our Airbnb (about a 3-minute walk). All the essentials, food, beverages, dry goods, toiletries.
ATM
Cajero Banorte
Best ATM in town to withdraw cash. About a 5-minute walk from our Airbnb. Fewer fees than others in town.
Laundry
Lavanderia
Lavanderia Mona
Closest to our Airbnb. Great service, and Mona is very kind.
Lavanderia
Lavanderia Jireh
Close to the beach. Eve, the owner, is the best, and she does laundry well and efficiently. About a 7-minute walk from our Airbnb.
Remote Work & Co-work
Fresh workspaces if you need to plug in for the day.
Co-work · Cafe
Nieri Cafe & CoWorking
Cowork space with Starlink internet. Pay by the day. Great food and coffee drinks.
Co-work · Garden
Coworking Todo
Pretty, relatively quiet garden area to work with delicious smoothies. Free coffee, tea, water. Printing and scanner service. Pay by the day.
Mon, Fri 9am, 5pm.
Cafe · Laptop-friendly
Amaryya
Good atmosphere for computer work while having a coffee, tea, or smoothie.
Getting Here
From Puerto Vallarta airport to your front door.
Driver · Recommended
Alex, Private Driver
Our go-to. +52 322 160 1160. About 750 MXN each way. Reliable and knows the airport route well.
Airport pickup requires crossing the pedestrian bridge to the outer ride-pickup zone.
Rideshare
Uber
Roughly $700, 800 MXN from PV airport. Uber is available but not always instant.
Taxi
Airport Taxi
Roughly $1,300, 1,500 MXN. Available at the taxi stand but the most expensive option.
Getting Around Town
Walking & Golf Carts
Town is a 10-minute walk from our stays, beach is 15. Comfortable shoes recommended, some cobblestones and inclines. Golf carts available to rent (~1,100 MXN/day) from Carrillos San Pancho or San Pancho Golf Cart Rentals.
Ready to book your stay?
All of the above is a five to fifteen minute walk from either Casita Estrella or Cabana Estrella. Reserve direct and skip the platform fees.
Book the Casita Book the Cabana