Amuleto's
just the facts, ma'am: Amuleto’s restaurant is open daily for breakfast, lunch and dinner by reservation only. The dining area is small, so it is not suitable for large groups.
don't miss: if you can’t afford this upscale restaurant, go for a sunset cocktail – the view is breathtaking and worth the price.
meet me @: Amuleto Hotel is located on Calle Escénica #9, at the far end of Playa La Ropa.
Bandido's
just the facts, ma'am: open from 11 am - 2 am, 7 days a week during high season (closed on Sundays during green season). With close proximity to where most cruise ship passengers disembark, there can be quite a lunch time crowd on cruise ship days. Live music often doesn't start until 11:30 so plan to meet up for cocktails somewhere else if you don't want to pay "live music" prices beforehand. Credit cards are accepted with a 400 peso minimum.
don't miss: the bartenders make a brisk mojito, a mean margarita, and can serve up just about any cocktail you order with their broad bar selection.
meet me @: Bandido's is easy to find at the edge of Zihua Centro on Cinco de Mayo, next to the Catholic Church and across from the Artisan Market (not to be confused with the central Mercado).
Café Mandarina

just the facts, ma'am: open daily from 9 am until midnight. There is free wifi for paying customers; simply ask for the password from any of the staff to log on.
don't miss: the savory crepes are very filling and the dessert crepes are almost too big! In fact, I've never managed to finish one. The chef's salad with a honey mustard dressing is especially satisfying on a hot day.
meet me @: Café Mandarina is located directly across from the Church on Cinco de Mayo, on the same side of the street as the Artisan's Market.
Café Zihuatanejo

just the facts, ma'am: Café Zihuatanejo is open from 8 am until midnight every day with breakfast served until noon. Many menu items can be ordered as entirely "organic" (there is typically a 5-10 peso surcharge due to increased cost in ingredients). Café Zihuatanejo has been certified organic by the USDA, OCIA, and has received awards for their coffee from as far away as Australia. In addition to being committed to organic coffee growing techniques, they also promote recycling by offering a small discount on coffee bean purchases when you bring your bag back to their Cuauhtémoc shop.
don't miss: Wake up the whole family with a pot of coffee for just 40 pesos (a single serving cup of café americano is 10 pesos). There are plenty of options for non-coffee drinkers including a wide range of fruit smoothies and teas. The ginger te (te gingebre) is especially delicious. Breakfast "packets" are a wonderful way to start the day before heading to the beach while the crepes (savory or sweet) taste great with a cappucino at night.
meet me @: the pedestrian street of H. Galeana (between restaurants Jarocho and Nueva Zealandia). Café Zihuatanejo has quickly become a popular meeting place for locals looking for an alternative to bars and clubs.
You can also still buy green and roasted beans by the 1/2 kilo or kilo in their shop at Calle Cuauhtémoc # 170. They offer several roasts/blends including French Roast, Cuban Roast, Americano, Expresso, an anti-depressive blend, and decaffeinated varieties.
Caprichos Grill House

just the facts, ma'am: Caprichos is open every day from 4 until 11 PM with live music on weekends.
don't miss: whether you just have a cocktail or indulge in a 4 course meal, Capricho's menu is eclectic, inspired by world music and the flavors of a mesquiite grill. The owner, Joaquin, is on the constant lookout for new wines, new tastes, and new music to expand the restaurant's charms.
meet me @: Avendida 5 de Mayo #4 in Zihua Centro next to the Catholic Church (Iglesia de Guadalupe).
Captain's Daughter

just the facts, ma'am: Enjoy drinks and dinner while checking your email on your laptop with free wifi in the restaurant. This new restaurant is filling up fast but with a dozen tables and 4 seats at the bar, you can usually find a place to squeeze in. Wine is sold at 40-60 pesos/glass and 220-265/bottle. The appetizers run 25-60 pesos (with the massive combination platter for 130 pesos) and dinner can range from a 35 peso vegetarian sandwich to a 10 oz rib eye steak for 160 pesos.
don't miss: As co-owner, Kenny, warned us while hauling over our appetizers, "forget the diet!" Many of the foods on the menu, especially the pub-style appetizers are gloriously breaded and deep fried. However, there are quite a few healthy options on the menu including large complex salads, vegetarian sandwiches, and tuna steak. Margaritas are the house cocktail, made strong but quite reasonably priced at 35 pesos.
meet me @: the brother and sister team of Kenny and Tanya Jones created The Captain's Daughter above their popular downtown bar, La Playa. Enter the restaurant via stairs just inside the bar on Nicholas Bravo between Vicente Guerrero and H. Galeana. Both La Playa and The Captain's Daughter are closed on Mondays.
Country Fried Chicken
don't miss: For an extra special treat, don’t miss out on an order of chimichangas -- 3 for 30 pesos -- fried tortillas filled with shredded chicken and other yummy stuff.
meet me @: Country Fried Chicken is located on Paseo de la Boquita, #23, Zihuatanejo. They are open every day, 11 am to 9 pm. Buy chicken to eat there, take away, or call for delivery to your home.
De Donde Eres

just the facts, ma'am: open from 6 until 10 pm, Tuesdays through Saturday. The small restaurant can get very crowded and sometimes the food is devoured so quickly that late-arriving patrons are served last minute concoctions from the leftover bits and pieces. Don't worry, though, sometimes these improvised dishes are even better than the planned menu!
don't miss: on slow nights, Shunik comes out of the kitchen with a bottle of tequila to share and the didgeridoo to pass around. Unfortunately, the restaurant has become so popular, there aren't many slow nights! This season brings a cocktail menu, a wider variety of wines, and occasional guest chefs.
meet me @: another restaurant on the "restaurant street" - Calle Adelita - in Colonia la Madera.
El Pueblito
just the facts, ma'am: El Pueblito is open daily for lunch and dinner, from 12 pm to 10 pm. Live music every night. Thursday is Pozole day, and the volume of the music is pumped up quite a bit with really large speakers.
don't miss: The shrimp cocktail has a picante kick to it, and goes down real well with a cold beer. The coppola filet is a fish fillet with a unique peanut-y sauce that is delicious.
meet me @: El Pueblito is on Avenue Morelos, #249, in Colonia Centro.
Jarocho
just the facts, ma'am: Jarocho is open daily except Mondays for lunch and dinner 2 to 11 pm. Choose between indoor and outdoor seating. Large groups welcome.
don't miss: the seafood conchas (on the shell) is a rich appetizer and a great way to start the meal. The fish filet with lemon and capers is delicious.
meet me @: Jarocho is located at H. Galeana, #15, on the corner of Nicolas Bravo, just down from Cinema Paraiso.
Kau Kan
just the facts, ma'am: Kau Kan is open daily for dinner from 6 pm and is open for lunch during high season. Reservations recommended but not required.
don't miss: The grilled tuna in balsamic vinaigrette is delicious, but the showstopper is the dessert: profiterole with vanilla ice cream and chocolate sauce. Also, the view and the service are excellent.
meet me @: Kau Kan is located on the road to La Ropa, on the right-hand side, right after passing the turnoff to Hotel Irma.
La Cabaña de Otero
just the facts, ma'am: La Cabaña de Otero is open daily except Mondays for breakfast, lunch and early dinners, from 9 am to 5 pm. On Sundays, the menu includes barbecued lamb.
don't miss: The fried fish is a whole fish, generally red snapper, cooked with garlic until it is deliciously crispy. It is not always available, but if you ask in advance, they’ll make sure they have it.
meet me @: La Cabaña de Otero is located on the corner of Paseo de la Boquita (the road to Comercial Mexicana) and Las Huertas Avenue (the road with TelMex).
La Costilla de Adán
just the facts, ma'am: La Costilla de Adán is open every day from 2 to 10:30 pm. The lounge upstairs has comfy couches and is a nice place to “chill” over happy hour (2 for 1 beer and domestic drinks from 7 to 9 pm). The restaurant is completely enclosed, to keep in the cool A/C, but airy and spacious enough that it’s not too much of a distraction that smoking is permitted and there are ashtrays on every table. Parking is available.
don't miss: The waiter recommended the baby back ribs with barbecue sauce, and it was absolutely delicious. Also delish was the side order of mushrooms with chilies – I don’t know what the glaze was made of, but I can’t wait to have it again.
meet me @: La Costilla de Adán is located at Heróico Colegio Militar #65, just past the Supermarket El Cacahuate, and just before Immigration (across the street from DHL).
La Gula

just the facts, ma'am: the "Slow Food" practices guarantee fresh, savory dishes but also takes a while to prepare so bring patience, a good conversationalist as a dinner companion, and enjoy a glass or two of wine. Dinner is served Monday-Saturday, 5:30 - 10 pm.
don't miss: the amuse bouche, or "gift from the chef" is a whimsical miniature hor d'oeuvre that will alert you to the culinary delights ahead.
meet me @: La Gula is located on Calle Adelita in Colonia la Madera, a short walk from downtown. Just cross the second footbridge over the canal and look up to see the row of international flags. A narrow staircase on the left will lead you up to the 2nd floor restaurant.
Loncheria La Especial
just the facts, ma'am: Loncheria La Especial is open Mondays through Saturdays, 8 am to 3 pm and is located on Paseo de Palmar, between Plaza Kioto and DHL.
don't miss: for a fabulous pick-me-up or a hangover helper, don’t miss the Popeye Super Juice with spinach, pineapple and chaya, and the chicken enchiladas verdes.
Mi Chayito Oriental/Mexican Food
just the facts, ma'am: Mi Chayito is open daily from 10 am to 10 pm. If you prefer to eat at home, they are happy to pack up your food to go.
don't miss: One local favorite is the Shanghai Chicken, which is a dish of battered chicken in a tangy sauce. Also, the new location is airy and beautifully decorated and provides a lovely dining experience.
meet me @: Mi Chayito is located on Vicente Guerrero, #34, Colonia Centro in Zihuatanjeo, right between the laundry and the photo shop, and around the corner from Banamex.
Paccolo's
just the facts, ma'am: open daily for lunch and dinner. Live music can make conversations difficult -- but dancing easy! -- so plan accordingly.
don't miss: the shrimp-stuffed avocado is a delicious starter and the pepper steak is tender and melts in the mouth. Save room so you can finish off the meal with a flambé dessert.
meet me @: Paccolo’s is located on Nicolas Bravo #22 in the Zihuatanejo Centro.
Pollo Locos
just the facts, ma'am: Pollos Locos is open every day, 11am to 10pm. Pollos Locos is located in Zihuatanejo on Nicolas Bravo, #15, or in Ixtapa at the Hacienda Shopping Plaza. Stay in at the restaurant, place an order to go, or call for home delivery.
Pozole Alley / La Cenaduria

just the facts, ma'am: Although some of the restaurants also serve lunch, most take siesta before the alley comes to life at dusk through the late supper hours. During Mexican holidays and on most Sunday nights, you might have to wait for a table - or be friendly and share!
don't miss: everyone has their favorite restaurant on Pozole Alley so make sure to try each one to find your pick. My favorite is three restaurants in from Nicholas Bravo because of the delicious salsas, including a muy picante salsa verde and a refreshing, chunky ensalada jitomate (tomato salsa). In fact, I often request baggies of the salsa to take home from my eggs the next morning!
meet me @: runs perpendicular into Nicholas Bravo, in between Benito Juarez and Vicente Guerrero
Puerta del Sol
just the facts, ma'am: Puerta Del Sol is open daily for dinner from 5 to 11 pm.
don't miss: Flambé! You can start with a house Caesar salad (prepared at your table), have pepper steak (flambéed at your table), move onto bananas flambé for dessert (also done at your table) and finish with a flaming Spanish coffee. It is quite the hot -caliente! - experience.
meet me @: Puerta Del Sol is located on the road to Playa La Ropa, right after you pass Kau Kan.
Restaurant El Manglar
just the facts, ma'am: El Manglar is located alongside a lagoon, which is the crocodile estuary. Mosquito repellent is suggested, as it is suggested anywhere near standing water. But don’t worry about the crocs, they are well fed and are just there to look at.
don't miss: The 27-spice tuna steak with homemade teriyaki sauce is delicious and totally unique. After your meal, relax in a hammock and watch the local wildlife, which includes birds, iguana and crocodiles. Also, El Manglar is the only place on La Ropa that has free wireless internet access.
meet me @: Open daily except Wednesdays for lunch and dinner from 12 noon to 9 pm. El Manglar is located on Playa La Ropa and can be reached by crossing the bridge at the far end of the beach. If you’re going by car or taxi, cross under the yellow arch at the far side of the road to La Ropa, go right, and take the first left. The entrance to El Manglar will be on your right and is sign-posted as the restaurant and an RV park.
Restaurant Zi
just the facts, ma'am: Zi is an open-air restaurant with lovely views of Playa La Ropa and the Bay. Zi is open daily for lunch and dinner
don't miss: the Tuna Trio – hot smoked tuna mousse, tuna tempura and tuna carpaccio is a delicious combination that leaves you wanting more. Also, the crispy coconut crusted calamari is one appetizer you don’t want to miss.
meet me @: Zi is located at Club Intrawest on Carretera Escénica, the road to Playa La Ropa.
Rufo's Hamburger Grill
just the facts, ma'am: Rufo's is open for late lunches and dinner Monday through Saturday. Dishes are served with vegetables, beans, and french fries.
don't miss: the ribs are slathered in sauce and tender enough to just fall off the bone. Make sure to pace yourself while eating the complimentary smoky chipotle salsa with tortilla chips or you won't have room for your meal when it arrives!
meet me @: the corner of Calle Adelita in Colonia Madera, across from La Ceiba Suites.
Santa Prisca Pozoleria

just the facts, ma'am: opens on Thursday afternoons at 2 until the pozole runs out. There's an unpredicatable ambiance here which is half the fun of going regularly: sometimes it's a rockin' fiesta til after midnight, sometimes a slow, sweaty afternoon of leisure (and soup!).
don't miss: live music from popular local musicians, a shot of their own mezcal especially brought in from Taxco, or a large pitcher of the freshly made and unbelievably addictive limonada.
meet me @: Santa Prisca is located in Colonia el Limon on the inbound lateral of 200, Avenida Victor Hugo. Most cab drivers know how to get there and will likely drop you in front of a hardware store. Go next door and follow the music down the stairs.
Tata's
just the facts, ma'am: Tata’s is open daily from 8:30 am – 10:30 or 11 pm.
don't miss: Tata’s is a great location for people watching and boat watching on Playa Principal. The shrimp cocktail is a nice snack on a hot day and the waitstaff is pleasant.
meet me @: Tata’s is located on Paseo de Pescador, below Hotel Avila, on Playa Principal in Zihuatanejo.
