Restaurants in Puerto Vallarta come and go, but tucked away on a hill high above the busy malecon is a tranquil, timeless oasis where fine cuisine and the ambience of “old” Vallarta blend in a perfect alchemy of atmosphere and gastronomic bliss. Chez Elena is the small restaurant with a big reputation as one of the best hidden gems in a city known for great cuisine.
For over 50 years, Chez Elena has drawn citizens and celebrities to its fabled location in one of the oldest colonial buildings in Puerto Vallarta. In the early 60’s, the restaurant was a favorite haunt for Richard Burton, Elizabeth Taylor, Anthony Quinn and Peter O’Toole during their moviemaking heyday. One can only imagine the amazing revels that must have played out in the romantic dining room with its exposed brick walls and vaulted ceilings – as Liz and Dick held court with their Hollywood entourage.
Time has changed Puerto Vallarta, but Chez Elena remains very much as it did when the stars of Hollywood made Chez Elena their favorite hangout. Today what you find at Chez Elena and its rooftop bar, “El Nida,” is the real Vallarta – the romantic Vallarta of narrow stone streets, cascading bouganvilla and its rooftop terrace with a breathtaking 180 degree view of the Bay of Banderas. Chez Elena represents the best of Vallarta, with genuine old-world charm – an ideal setting in which to sample world-class regional and international cuisine.