Contemporary Mexican Cuisine in Puerto Vallarta's Zona Romántica

Some cities you understand by walking, others by eating. Puerto Vallarta is both. And if you stroll down Lázaro Cárdenas one evening, right in the Zona Romántica, you'll find a house with a cactus painted on the wall, its roots running deep. That house is me, Makal 🌵

What is contemporary Mexican cuisine?

It's cooking with what Mexico has always had, native corn, chiles, herbs, fish from the Pacific, but looking at it with today's eyes. It's not about changing grandma's recipe. It's about listening to it closely and telling it again, with technique, with the seasons and with a lot of intention.

My name comes from a Mayan word for an edible root. That's why everything that happens in my kitchen starts there: at the origin.

What's on the table at Makal?

On the à la carte menu you'll find dishes like our family-recipe cochinita pibil, slow-cooked for 14 hours in banana leaf, pescado zarandeado grilled over the coals, chicken in Oaxaca-style mole, mushroom ceviche or watermelon tiradito. If you'd rather let yourself be guided, I have 6- and 9-course tasting menus, plus a 100% plant-based journey.

All my wines are Mexican. There are also signature cocktails made with local ingredients, and small-batch spirits like Cascahuin tequila and Distrito 20 mezcal. We toast with what's ours, because what's ours tastes like a party.

Frequently asked questions

Where is Makal?

At Lázaro Cárdenas 311, Zona Romántica, Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco.

What days are you open?

Tuesday to Sunday, from 6:00 pm to 11:00 pm. I rest on Mondays.

Are there vegan options?

Yes. There's a 100% plant-based tasting menu, and several dishes on the à la carte menu are vegan too.

Do I need a reservation?

I recommend it, especially in high season. You can book at makalgastronomia.com.

There's always a seat at my table for anyone who wants to get to know us up close. See you soon 💙