Di Vino Dante: A Fusion of Art, Wine, Cocktails and Exquisite Food

Initially, when Di Vino Dante opened its doors to the public in October 2013, its concept was focused on offering a bar with Mexican wines and tapas. As time passed, Gena Guarniere and Hugo Alarcón, owner and manager of the restaurant, respectively, saw the opportunity to include international cuisine main courses on their menu, mainly focused on the Mediterranean. Now, all of this is complemented with a bar that offers craft beers, distilled liqueurs and a growing menu of signature cocktails.

Located in the heart of the Puerto Vallarta’s Romantic Zone, Di Vino Dante is an intimate establishment with space for 80 diners, who can appreciate the various artworks for sale placed all along the walls. At the back, there’s a cava recently adapted to gather 20 people more, which stands out for housing 109 wine labels (60 of which are Mexican).

Inside the spacious kitchen, chef Enrique Rodríguez welcomed us and prepared an appetizer called Gambas al Ajillo (Shrimp in Garlic-Chile Sauce), a typical tapa whose main ingredients are shrimps, butter, olive oil, pepper and a slice of real lemon. “Usually, we recommend diners to squeeze the lemon directly on the shrimps and soak our homemade bread in the melted butter so they enjoy the dish more”, explains.

As a main dish, they offered us Mar y Tierra, which consists of a New York cut accompanied by prawns, mussels and vegetables sautéed with white wine and squid ink.

To accompany both culinary delights, renowned bartender Dan Rodríguez prepared one of his signature cocktails: Las Reglas de la Abuela (Grandma’s Rules), a combination of ingredients and aromas that recall those home remedies that Mexican grandmothers made to treat their grandchildren’s minor ailments. Plenty of ice is added to a shaker, as well as fresh lemon juice, homemade ginger syrup, a special infusion made with mint and cardamom and charanda infused with eucalyptus, anise liqueur and honey. It is served carefully in a special little bottle with crushed ice and decorated with natural flowers. Finally, a dropper with pure cardamom essence is added in order to link the drink to the alternative medicine. The result? A delicious and refreshing cocktail!

Besides offering specials very often, Di Vino Dante has two different three-course menus every day, each with three different options to choose from. The menu prices are $320 and $390 MXN and do not include drinks nor tips. In the mornings, please, do not forget to visit Galleria Dante, which is located on the first level of the establishment.

Di Vino Dante
Basilio Badillo 269, Emiliano Zapata
Monday to Saturday from 2:00pm to 11:00pm
Reservations suggested at (322) 223-3734
Facebook: @DiVinoDante