Food, Glorious Food -- Los Arrayanes!

The best food of the entire vacation involved an hour and a half trek into the mountains above Puerto Vallarta up the cobblestone road to the very back of the village of San Sebastion. Our guide Gustavo led us to his favorite restaurant in the small town -- Los Arrayanes. Truthfully, I was expecting more of a small one-star loncheria as opposed to the beautiful gourmet cuisine and surroundings we experienced.

The restaurant is located on the first floor of the Real de San Sebastion Hotel.

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When we walked in the door, I was astounded at the beautiful hardwoods and tiles in the dining room of the historic hotel.

We decided to dine in the lush outdoor garden of the hotel.

We were greeted by the two resident parrots who chattered between themselves in between their repeated hola's.

One roosted on my hand for a photo op.



First course -- delicious homemade guacamole and chips.

I was unsure when Gustavo recommended a fried panela cheese appetizer, but it was to die for!


Craig had chicken baked in a pumpkin sauce.

And I feasted on tortilla soup -- the BEST I've ever tasted!

After lunch, we were treated to a tour of the hotel rooms upstairs. Gustavo and his wife Veronica plan on adding overnight tours of San Sebastion in the near future with stays at this hotel. The rooms are extremely reasonable and charming, and have been refurbished with modern bathrooms. One room even sports a large jacuzzi! If I understood Gustavo correctly, some of the room rents start around $25 a night including one of the hotel's gourmet breakfasts? Unbelievable! I'd describe the hotel as very sophisticated rustic. Beautiful hardwood furnishings with antiques scattered about among the lush mountain jungle greenery.

This suite was a combined living area and bedroom with windows on the front looking down the cobblestone road over the village and surrounding mountains.

Craig thinks we should consider spending a few nights here in San Sebastion on any future trip to this area because there's so much to explore and the village is so beautiful! A few nights in San Sebastion, an overnight in Puerto Vallarta, then on to Yelapa? It's a plan!