Frequenting Tapas del Mundo Restaurante and TheBarAbove is an experience not to be missed.

  People from all over the world come to eat, drink, talk and enjoy the atmosphere. Customers are encouraged to write comments on the walls. There’s Arabic, Sicilian, Russian, South African, Hawaiian, Tahitian, Swedish, Norwegian, Dutch, French, German, Indonesian, Italian, Japanese, Korean and a bit of all the Spanish and English dialects from around the world including the multiple Canadian subidiomas – 33 languages so far and counting. For the best food and the best of times, stop into Tapas del Mundo in Bucerias.

  Bucerias (pronounced Boo-sayr-E-us) is located in the state of Nayarit, about 20 kilometers (12 Miles) north of Puerto Vallarta. Bucerias is in the Mountain Time Zone, one hour behind Puerto Vallarta in the Central Time Zone. Mean temperatures in the area range from 28.4 (83.1F) to 13.6 (56.48F) degrees C. and the rainy season extends from late May to late October.

  The beaches of Bucerias are on the Bahia de Banderas, the Bay of Flags. The bay is the largest natural one in Mexico with an area 34 by 52 kilometers (21 by 32 miles) and a 161 kilometer (100 mile) shoreline. Accommodations in Bucerias include luxury resorts, small family run hotels, condominiums, apartments and homes on the beach and scattered throughout town.

  Bucerias is a pueblo (village) of cobblestone streets, walled villas and welcoming relaxed hotels. With its beach stretching into the distance for several miles, casual seafood, international restaurants and relaxed pace, it is easy to see why many vacationers prefer this lower priced alternative.

  Bucerias restaurants appeal to all kinds of “tastes” from Mexican, French, Polish, to Italian, Chinese and Gringo. One can find strolling musicians of all types in almost every place to eat and also on the streets.

  A four lane highway makes for an easy and fast trip to Bucerias for a day of good food, shopping for bargains or a peaceful walk on that deserted beach for which you have been searching. Local buses cost 9 pesos one-way from Puerto Vallarta and the airport, and run about every 20 minutes from early morning till 10:30 at night. The same trip for a Taxi costs about 120 pesos.

  A typical Mexican village, most stores close between 2 and 4 p.m. If you have been missing what used to be, find it again in Bucerias, the restful destination.

The Art of Tapas Style Dining

Tapas, or "little plates," are Spain's national culinary passion which today has spread around the world. At first glance, they may seem similar in appearance to hors d'oeuvres and appetizers (at least in portion size). At Tapas del Mundo we select “little plates” from everywhere in the world, but the tapas ritual is more than just food enjoyed with drinks. It is an indispensable part of daily Spanish life and we hope life here in Mexico also.

Eating tapas is part of the tapeo, the daily congregation to eat, drink wine and socialize, starting late afternoon and continuing into the night. Spaniards traditionally go to tapas bars or tascas before meals to meet friends, converse and people-watch, usually "tasca-hopping" for several rounds of small plates and drinks before settling into the evening's chosen restaurant.

It's hard to think of a tapas bar as an eating establishment because it functions more like a conversation establishment. Conversation ranges from the mundane to the philosophical and the food ranges from the simple fried olives to the complex Thai shrimp. You will be able to taste snippets of a large variety of foods just as you would hear snippets of conversation about the lottery, bullfighting or local politics.

A tradition born of necessity

The tapas tradition is believed to have originated more than a century ago in Andalucía, Spain's sunny south, where a clever barkeep is said to have started placing slices of cheese or ham on top of drink glasses to keep out the dust and insects. Hence the "tapa" term, which means "cover" or "lid."

The practice caught on with Spain's other little bars to eventually become a social staple wherein small plates were passed around and shared communally with drinks. This tapas tradition spills over onto the other regions of the Mediterranean as well: in France as hors d'oeuvres and entrées; in Italy as antipasti, primi piatti and cicchetti; in North Africa as mukabalatt; and in Greece, Turkey and the Middle East as meze.

Plan your own tapas party

Tapas parties provide all of the fun with less of the fuss and formality commonly associated with sit-down dinner parties. The tapas themselves are also as versatile as they are delicious, giving guests an opportunity to appreciate innumerable dishes with as many different flavors, textures and colors as the ensuing conversations themselves.
Small-bite tapas are perfect for warmer evenings when you don't feel like stuffing yourself. Join us for the Tapas experience and then…

Tapas del Mundo Cooking School can show you all the tricks for setting up your own family Tapas dining or for throwing that Tapas party for your friends.