Restaurants
Acapulco has more than 160 restaurants serving everything from traditional Mexican dishes (noted for being much richer and spicier than the more Americanized Tex-Mex or Cal-Mex cuisine that passes for Mexican in much of the U.S.) to seafood to international haute cuisine. The more romantic and upscale eateries are found in the hillside Las Brisas neighborhood, with dazzling views of the twinkling city lights and bay below; good, casual beachside eateries with palm-thatched roofs are situated right along la Costera; and Old Acapulco, particularly around the zócalo, is a great place to dine with the locals. Keep in mind that you'll have to ditch the beachwear if you plan on dining in the high-end eateries. Make advance reservations for our fine dining picks. Tipping is customary in Acapulco – plan on leaving 10% to 15% of the total bill for your waiter.
Fresh seafood is the key ingredient in many local dishes; also popular are tamales (fish, chicken, or pork and corn wrapped in banana leaf or corn husk) and native subtropical fruits – like the mango, papaya, and coconut – that appear in fresh drinks or as salads. If you happen to be in town on a Thursday, indulge in the local custom of eating a late, leisurely lunch of pozole, a traditional soup centered on either pork or chicken mixed with onions, oregano, avocado, radishes, lettuce, and lime – our favorite spot to indulge is at the landmark Hotel Los Flamingos (Av. López Mateos No. Fracc, Peninsula de las Playas; 744/482 0690; www.hotellosflamingos.com). Dine cliff-side and enjoy the live Mexican band and impressive ocean views.
Elegant surroundings, sweeping bay views, and can't-miss dishes like red snapper and cold avocado soup have made Madeiras Restaurant (Carretera Escénica 33-B, Las Brisas area; 744/446-5636 or 744/446-5723; dinner only; www.madeiras.com.mx) an Acapulco institution for over 25 years; a prix–fixe menu fuses traditional Mexican cuisine with international touches. Another fine dining option in the Las Brisas area is the ultra-chic Baikal's (Carretera Escénica 22, 744/446-6845; dinner only; www.baikal.com.mx) for French, Mediterranean, Asian, and Mexican fusion. The spectacular views of sparkling Acapulco have made this the "it" spot du jour. The open-air terrace at Bellavista Restaurant (5255 Carretera Escénica, Las Brisas area; 744/469-6900; dinner & breakfast only; www.brisas.com.mx) offers refreshing ocean breezes, panoramic views of the bay, and one of the most romantic dining experiences in Acapulco; a pianist tickles the ivories nightly as patrons enjoy an international menu of starters like duck confit-goat cheese ravioli and entrees like gruyere-crusted sea bass. For upscale dining outside Las Brisas, El Olvido (Plaza Marbella shopping center, across from the Diana traffic circle, Costera Golden Zone; 744/481-0203; dinner only; www.elolvido.com.mx) has a palm-studded beachside terrace square in the heart of the Costera, though you'd never know it from the restaurant's tranquil atmosphere. French and Mexican fusion dominates the sophisticated menu.
Mid-range dining options include El Amigo Miguel (Calle Benito Juárez 31 at Calle Azueta, Old Acapulco; 744/483-6981), a local hangout with dishes centered on fresh seafood and Mexican favorites. Located right off the zócalo, it's a popular lunch spot for ample plates of fresh shrimp, lobster, and more than a half-dozen types of fish including the house specialty, filete Miguel, red snapper stuffed with seafood. Boca Chica Hotel's Marina Club Restaurant Sushi and Oyster Bar (744/483-6741; www.bocachicahotel.com) serves fantastically fresh sushi at a casual beachside eatery on the shores of Playa Caletilla.
For inexpensive dining, La Cabaña (Playa Caleta Lado Ote. s/n, Peninsula de las Playas; 744/469-8553) is a casual beachside eatery on Playa Caleta that's served fresh seafood and traditional Mexican lunches for over 50 years. Grab a table on a shaded deck or right on the sand and be sure to try the baby shark tamales, fresh shrimp, or chicken sopes (tortillas with beans, cream, and sauce). Due east of Acapulco is Barra Vieja, where rows of rustic seaside restaurants prepare traditional pescado a la talla, red snapper grilled over hot coals. We particularly like Brisas Diamante (look for the sign at the start of Carretera a Barra Vieja), where for just $15, you'll get the pescado a la talla accompanied by fish quesadillas, sopes, fresh tortillas, and a couple of cervezas (beers) or sodas to wash it all down with. In Old Acapulco, there are many simple, inexpensive restaurants offering traditional Mexican cuisine done right – we particularly like La Flor de Acapulco (Benito Juarez 1; 744/482 9765) with its two-level alfresco dining complex right on the zócalo; try the Mexican variety plate which features an enchilada, fajitas, and panucho, a Yucatan specialty that is served with a chicken, turkey, pork, or beef base and a small fried corn tortilla stuffed with refried beans.
