Candy Bar is a new bar-restaurant in the Zona Romantica of Puerto Vallarta. It’s located at Lázaro Cárdenas 388 in the neighborhood of Emiliano Zapata. See the map below to see where its located.

It’s a candy-themed restaurant with a colorful palette that keeps your artsy eye busy and your taste buds happy. As far as unique things you need to experience in Puerto Vallarta, Candy Bar is as unique as anything I’ve ever tried.

I first discovered it because there’s a giant sign of protest nearby. It turns out the nearby church doesn’t like that a gay-owned restaurant moved in across the street. But that’s a story for another time. 

Although it’s gay-owned, this bar-restaurant is not a nightclub. However, it has a cute bar with incredible, Instagrammable, and delicious drinks. 

As far as their hours of operation go, they’re closed every Monday, but Tuesday through Saturday, they’re open from 4 pm to 1 am. Sundays they’re open from 4 pm to 11 pm.

In any case, I decided to try it and see what the fuss is all about.

The Candy Bar

The entrance feels like you’re entering into a speakeasy. You’re greeted by two guys who open the door for you and walk you in.

To keep things Covid-safe, they spray your hands with sanitizer and check your temperature. They also make you sanitize your shoes at the front door. They also inform you of the masking protocol as you walk in.

Upon entering, you notice a gorgeous candy-themed mural on the left wall. The colors are glow in the dark and black-lit. It’s vibrant and happy. 

The seating arrangements look well picked and stylish. The bar itself is sleek, black, and modern.

There are giant gummy bears spread throughout the bar. I love gummy bears. In fact, I’m not too fond of candy. But I can eat gummy bears every day. Therefore, a place that celebrates gummy bears as much as this place is a place I can call home.

After the assault on my senses, I sat at the bar and asked the bartender what she recommends. She suggested a drink called the White Gummy Bear. Fun name, but I didn’t expect anything.

It blew me away when she gave it to me. Not only does it taste like a gummy bear, but it’s decorated with a row of gummy bears instead of olives.

As we chat, the bartender gives me a cup full of bar snacks to go with my drink. This cup consists of gummy worms.

I can’t believe it. I’m stunned. No one knows about my gummy bear addiction. Does the owner love gummy bears as much as I do? This is gummy bear heaven. I love Candy Bar.

Now I’m excited. I ask the bartender to recommend another drink, and she suggests the Cotton Candy Martini.

The martini, mixed, shaken, and poured onto cotton candy clusters creates a sweet concoction that will knock you down if you drink it too fast. There is no alcohol aftertaste. It’s a treat for your sweet tooth.

I’m a lightweight, so I decided to stop drinking and start eating. However, I was later told by the owner, Larry, that I need to try their candy shots. They’re an eye full and a mouth full. Delicious and beautiful.

Shall we do shots?

The Food

I wanted to try as many things as my body would let me. Luckily I’ve tasted a couple of items on their menu.

I tried their Rainbow Sliders with an order of Onion Life Savers (Onion Rings.) On a different occasion, I asked for their Grilled Chicken with a side of Popcorn Shrimp.

To top it off, I had dessert—a giant slice of rainbow cake.

The Popcorn Shrimp was scrumptious. Everyone needs to try them.

I loved the sliders and the onion rings. The sliders are tasty. The onion rings are good, but what makes them fun are the colors. My red, orange, and green sliders went well with my red, orange, and green onion rings. I felt like Dr. Suess was cooking in the kitchen.

The Grilled Chicken was good but not as good as the sliders. I ordered it because I loved the sliders and onion rings so much, I wanted to try the opposite end of the spectrum.

Larry, the owner, said everyone needs to try their chicken wings. They’ve created a thick sauce that makes them bone-licking good. So, I’m passing on this information for all you chicken wing lovers out there.

Also, if you get a chance, ask for their special Salsa Soya. This dip is very flavorful and unique. You’ll love it.

The Restaurant

The restaurant itself is huge. The outdoor space has a lot of original structures. Colorful murals line the walls, and the gummy bear installations throughout the place are well placed.

The decorations are colorful, but I didn’t find them over the top. Everything fits well together.

The water fountain at the end of the restaurant is great. The lasers and the colorful balls bring it to life. It’s unlike any fountain I’ve seen before.

The tables are bright primary colors and fit well with the entire place. Currently, the tables are spread out to help with social distancing. It makes for a very safe dining experience.

I believe everyone needs to dine here and experience it. It’s that unique experience you are looking for when you go on vacation.

Future Plans

As I sat and chatted with the owner, he informed me of his future plans. He mentioned he is thinking of swapping out a few menu items every so often to keep the menu fresh.

He also informed me that on special occasions and holidays, they’ll have a menu to reflect the occasion. So, if you’re here on a holiday, you might want to check out Candy Bar and see which special items you can try.

Let me break it down for you:

Update: Unfortunately, Candy Bar is permanently closed. Nevertheless, it was a great restaurant while it lasted.

What did I really think of Candy Bar? I loved it. I want everyone to try it. As someone who looks for unique places around the world, I think Candy Bar will give you that unique travel restaurant experience you are looking for.

Candy Bar is located at Lázaro Cárdenas 388 Emiliano Zapata 48380 Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, Mexico.

Their hours of operation are:

Monday: Closed

Tuesday through Saturday: 4 pm to 1 am. 

Sundays: 4 pm to 11 pm.

It’s a great restaurant with a gorgeous candy theme.

The food is fantastic and colorful.

It’s a unique dining experience.

The prices are reasonable.

The drinks are not just fabulous. They’re tasty and pretty.

Come here and tell your friends about it.

Check out their Facebook page for more information: https://www.facebook.com/candybarpvr

Have you been to Candy Bar yet? Let me know in the comments!