For ten days every November, Puerto Vallarta and the Bahía de Banderas transform into Mexico's culinary capital. The Festival Gourmet International celebrates its milestone 30th anniversary from November 12 to 22, 2026, bringing dozens of guest master chefs from Europe, the Americas, and Asia to collaborate with local kitchens.
If you are visiting Puerto Vallarta in mid-November, this is one of the most rewarding food events in Latin America. Here is exactly how it works, which venues to book, and how to get a table.
How the festival works
Unlike music festivals or street food fairs, there is no central venue, wristband, or festival entrance ticket: 1. Over 30 established fine-dining restaurants across Puerto Vallarta, Nuevo Nayarit, and Punta Mita sign on as festival hosts. 2. Each host restaurant invites an acclaimed guest chef. Together with the resident chef, they design a special festival menu with wine pairings that runs for the 10 days of the festival. 3. You book tables directly with the participating restaurants just as you would for any regular dinner, and ask for the Festival Gourmet menu upon arrival. Most restaurants also offer their regular menu alongside.
Key events on the festival calendar (November 12–22, 2026)
- The Grand Opening (La Gran Fiesta Gourmet): An open-air walk-around tasting night held at the start of the festival, where all participating restaurants and guest chefs set up individual tasting stations with wine and spirits. Tickets for this opening night are sold through the official festival website.
- Nightly Guest Chef Dinners (Nov 12–22): The core experience. Available every evening at participating restaurants.
- Cooking Demonstrations & Winemaker Dinners: Select venues host daytime masterclasses, kitchen tours, and dedicated multi-course pairing dinners with Mexican and international vintners.
Participating restaurants: Where to book
Festival venues span the full length of the bay, from Punta Mita to Conchas Chinas. Some of the most notable anchors:
Centro & 5 de Diciembre
- Café des Artistes: Founded by festival co-founder Thierry Blouet. French-Mexican haute cuisine served in a tiered candlelit garden. The flagship table of the festival.
- Trio Restaurant Bar Cafe: European Mediterranean dining in a handsome two-story courtyard on Guerrero street.
- La Cigale French Bistro: Intimate classical Parisian bistro fare in the heart of Centro.
Zona Romántica (South Side)
- Kaiser Maximilian: Founded by festival veteran Andreas Rupprechter. Austrian-European fine dining on the sidewalk terrace of Olas Altas.
- La Palapa & El Dorado: Beachfront fine dining on Playa Los Muertos, pairing tropical Mexican seafood with visiting coastal chefs.
- Icú: Award-winning contemporary Mexican kitchen led by talented local chefs exploring native ingredients.
Marina Vallarta & Riviera Nayarit
- Emiliano Comida Mexicana: Sophisticated regional Mexican cuisine in downtown and Marina locations.
- Loma 42 Bahía (Nuevo Nayarit): Modern wood-fired grill and contemporary casual cuisine.
- Hector's Kitchen (Punta Mita): Refined Pacific Mexican fare by Chef Héctor Leyva.
What it costs and booking advice
- Price expectation: Three- to five-course festival tasting menus generally run MX$1,200 to MX$2,800 per person (approximately US$70–$160), before gratuity and beverages. Wine pairings usually add MX$600–$1,200.
- Reserve at least 1–2 weeks ahead: Popular venues like Café des Artistes, Trio, and Kaiser Maximilian book their prime 7:30–8:30 PM weekend seatings well in advance. Book directly on OpenTable, Resy, or via WhatsApp links on the restaurant websites.
- Dress code: Smart casual to elegant resort wear. Collared shirts or smart linen for men; dresses or evening resort wear for women.
