Why you should experience The Iguana Restaurant & Tequila Bar in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.
The Iguana Restaurant & Tequila Bar at Casa Kimberly in Puerto Vallarta is not just a dining destination, it's a chapter of Hollywood romance reborn in the tropics, where timeless elegance meets Mexican artistry under the Vallarta sky.
Perched high in the historic Gringo Gulch neighborhood, this open-air restaurant feels suspended between past and present. The moment you arrive, the city's hum fades into a hush of soft guitar notes and clinking crystal. Lanterns glow against hand-painted Talavera tiles, bougainvillea drapes from the terraces, and the view stretches endlessly over the Bay of Banderas. The setting alone feels cinematic, but it's the legacy of Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton that gives the place its pulse. This was once their home, the heart of their stormy love affair, and today it serves as a living homage to that intoxicating mix of passion, indulgence, and artistry that defined old Puerto Vallarta. Dining here feels less like a meal and more like a slow dance with history.
What you didn’t know about The Iguana Restaurant & Tequila Bar.
Hidden within The Iguana Restaurant & Tequila Bar is an architectural story of devotion and rebirth.
The restaurant occupies part of Casa Kimberly, the twin villas once owned by Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton, connected by their famous Puente del Amor, the Bridge of Love. When Casa Kimberly was restored and transformed into a boutique hotel, the owners sought to preserve not just the structure, but the spirit of its golden age. Every detail, from the hand-carved wood doors to the antique chandeliers, honors the original home's 1960s glamour. The restaurant's name pays tribute to The Night of the Iguana, the film that first brought Burton to Mexico, and with him, the world's attention. The menu reflects that same duality of sophistication and authenticity, blending contemporary Mexican cuisine with local flavors: fresh seafood ceviches, mole negro with tender duck, and handmade tortillas pressed in view of diners. The adjoining Tequila Bar, stocked with premium mezcals and rare agave spirits, is curated with reverence for craft and tradition. Every sip feels like a nod to both artistry and rebellion, a toast to the couple who made this city famous simply by falling in love.
How to fold The Iguana Restaurant & Tequila Bar into your trip.
To experience The Iguana Restaurant & Tequila Bar at Casa Kimberly in Puerto Vallarta the way it was meant to be, arrive just before sunset.
Reserve a table on the terrace, where the warm light spills across the bay and the church bells from Our Lady of Guadalupe echo through the valley. Start your evening at the bar, the mixologists here treat tequila like poetry, guiding you through pairings that capture the essence of Jalisco's agave heartland. Then settle into dinner as the sky turns pink and gold, ordering a mix of modern and traditional dishes meant for sharing. Between courses, look out toward the Bridge of Love that connects the villas, glowing softly in the twilight, it's a quiet reminder that some stories never really end. After dessert, linger a little longer; musicians often play live boleros that drift through the night air, blending with the distant sound of waves. Dining at The Iguana Restaurant & Tequila Bar isn't just another evening out, it's an immersion into Puerto Vallarta's soul, where the line between legend and life blurs beautifully with every glass and every glance.
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