Guidebook for San Francisco

Willliam
Guidebook for San Francisco

Food Scene

San Pancho has a long and distinguished history of being a foodie's paradise. For a long time we had just a few restaurants, but they were ver good. Since about 2014 San Pancho has seen lots of new restaurants pop up. Some have come and gone. Many have had new owners or new chefs. All of which means that there are many more options for eating out, BUT Melissa and I are not in a position to evaluate them. So we're recommending old favorites. Maria's is the most popular eating place in town. It's been here for a long time. She is a member of one of the original five families that settled San Pancho. It's our favorite place for breakfast for sure. It's also very good place for a nice dinner.
40 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Maria's Restaurant
14 Av. Tercer Mundo
40 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
San Pancho has a long and distinguished history of being a foodie's paradise. For a long time we had just a few restaurants, but they were ver good. Since about 2014 San Pancho has seen lots of new restaurants pop up. Some have come and gone. Many have had new owners or new chefs. All of which means that there are many more options for eating out, BUT Melissa and I are not in a position to evaluate them. So we're recommending old favorites. Maria's is the most popular eating place in town. It's been here for a long time. She is a member of one of the original five families that settled San Pancho. It's our favorite place for breakfast for sure. It's also very good place for a nice dinner.
The other old reliable -- in addition to Maria's -- is Ola Rica. The owners, Gloria and Trini, are also part of one of the original five families. So both restaurants have been here for a long time and are likely to be here for the foreseeable future. They don't serve breakfast or lunch, but are great for meals. It is a particular favorite on the Gringo community. They've got a "stunning view" because they are right on the street and very near to the Malecon. Lots of folks walking by.
22 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
La Ola Rica
14 Av. Tercer Mundo
22 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
The other old reliable -- in addition to Maria's -- is Ola Rica. The owners, Gloria and Trini, are also part of one of the original five families. So both restaurants have been here for a long time and are likely to be here for the foreseeable future. They don't serve breakfast or lunch, but are great for meals. It is a particular favorite on the Gringo community. They've got a "stunning view" because they are right on the street and very near to the Malecon. Lots of folks walking by.
Las Palmas is one of our two beach restaurants -- both serving food and drinks and glorious sunset right on the beach. The food is surprisingly good. And the ambiance is unbelievable. By the way, the owners of both of these restaurants are also long time San Pancho residents, descended from the original five families. All four of our first four suggestions are restaurants owned and managed by women. There is a group in town called Las Mujeres Amor de San Pancho (Women who love San Pancho). All four of these female owners are involved. Our Property Manger, Iris Rodriquez, is president of the group.
Las Palmas
Avenida Tercer Mundo
Las Palmas is one of our two beach restaurants -- both serving food and drinks and glorious sunset right on the beach. The food is surprisingly good. And the ambiance is unbelievable. By the way, the owners of both of these restaurants are also long time San Pancho residents, descended from the original five families. All four of our first four suggestions are restaurants owned and managed by women. There is a group in town called Las Mujeres Amor de San Pancho (Women who love San Pancho). All four of these female owners are involved. Our Property Manger, Iris Rodriquez, is president of the group.
La Perla is the sister of Las Palmas, sitting side by side on the beach. They serve lunch and dinner and set out lounge chairs on the beach in front of the restaurants and will come down to serve you drinks or coconut shrimp. (Delicious at either place.) The food is very good, the ambiance is unbelievable.
14 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
La Perla
48 Av. Tercer Mundo
14 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
La Perla is the sister of Las Palmas, sitting side by side on the beach. They serve lunch and dinner and set out lounge chairs on the beach in front of the restaurants and will come down to serve you drinks or coconut shrimp. (Delicious at either place.) The food is very good, the ambiance is unbelievable.
As you walk down to the Malecon you'll feel the heat of a mesquite fire. That's Mr. Ribs Barbecue. It's really good. And really consistent. Chicken and Costillos (Ribs) are our favorites. They have a rock and roll band on Wednesdays; they play lots of 50s and 60s music. The dance floor is the street.
15 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Mr. Ribs San Pancho
17 Av. Tercer Mundo
15 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
As you walk down to the Malecon you'll feel the heat of a mesquite fire. That's Mr. Ribs Barbecue. It's really good. And really consistent. Chicken and Costillos (Ribs) are our favorites. They have a rock and roll band on Wednesdays; they play lots of 50s and 60s music. The dance floor is the street.
We highly recommend the Sunday brunch at La Patrona, the Polo Club. They offer free mimosas, a rich variety of options on the buffet line, and you get to see a polo match. This is a unique experience. Don't leave San Pancho without experiencing it.
18 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
La Patrona Polo Club
s/n Africa
18 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
We highly recommend the Sunday brunch at La Patrona, the Polo Club. They offer free mimosas, a rich variety of options on the buffet line, and you get to see a polo match. This is a unique experience. Don't leave San Pancho without experiencing it.
O.K. I do KNOW that the Cafe Mañana listed above is in Poland, but this program won't let me list the one that is in San Pancho. But you need to know about it. Two expats from the Chicago area, Linc and Jill Negrido, created this precious spot on Avenida Latina America. Step inside and your are greeted with the most peaceful spirit, beginning to Linc's manner and extending out into their gardens. You get delicious coffee -- thanks to Linc's constantly researching and then searching for the best beans. And you get delicious pastries -- thanks to Jill's baking them fresh every morning. And an added dimension is a book-swap; bring a book that you've already read and take a new one.
27 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Cafe Mañana
8-10 Świętego Mikołaja
27 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
O.K. I do KNOW that the Cafe Mañana listed above is in Poland, but this program won't let me list the one that is in San Pancho. But you need to know about it. Two expats from the Chicago area, Linc and Jill Negrido, created this precious spot on Avenida Latina America. Step inside and your are greeted with the most peaceful spirit, beginning to Linc's manner and extending out into their gardens. You get delicious coffee -- thanks to Linc's constantly researching and then searching for the best beans. And you get delicious pastries -- thanks to Jill's baking them fresh every morning. And an added dimension is a book-swap; bring a book that you've already read and take a new one.

Parks & Nature

An iconic event in San Pancho is the turtle release. For decades a man named Frank Smith has made our little town a refuge for turtles, keeping them safe from poachers. He and his team of volunteers, dig up the eggs, incubate them, and release them in many evenings. The hope is that they are now big enough so some might make it out into deep water and begin to live a long life until it’s time for the females to return to San Pancho, dig their nests and bury their eggs in the sand.
Turtle Nursery
102 America Latina
An iconic event in San Pancho is the turtle release. For decades a man named Frank Smith has made our little town a refuge for turtles, keeping them safe from poachers. He and his team of volunteers, dig up the eggs, incubate them, and release them in many evenings. The hope is that they are now big enough so some might make it out into deep water and begin to live a long life until it’s time for the females to return to San Pancho, dig their nests and bury their eggs in the sand.
Again, since I want you to know about Birding San Pancho, I had to list this as a place in the UK. Sorry for the confusion. But I feel obliged to let you know that Luis Morales has developed a bird sanctuary here in our little town. He gives tours. The tours get five stars from TripAdvisor. The begin on the edge of the beach at our lagoon -- you see wading and beach fowl there. He then takes you to the jungle -- you see very different bird there. Melissa and I loved our tour with Louis, even though we don't know much about birding.
Bird Watching and Wildlife Club
25 The Square
Again, since I want you to know about Birding San Pancho, I had to list this as a place in the UK. Sorry for the confusion. But I feel obliged to let you know that Luis Morales has developed a bird sanctuary here in our little town. He gives tours. The tours get five stars from TripAdvisor. The begin on the edge of the beach at our lagoon -- you see wading and beach fowl there. He then takes you to the jungle -- you see very different bird there. Melissa and I loved our tour with Louis, even though we don't know much about birding.

Arts & Culture

Our primary plaza, the Plaza del Sol, is right across from our church named after our patron St. Francis. There are frequent happenings on the Plaza. All sorts of arts group perform there. One of the most impressive is the San Pancho music festival. Founded and organized by Chas Ehlers, an internationally known jazz pianist (think Jakarta Jazz Festival), we have three days of GREAT MUSIC.
Plaza del Sol
Our primary plaza, the Plaza del Sol, is right across from our church named after our patron St. Francis. There are frequent happenings on the Plaza. All sorts of arts group perform there. One of the most impressive is the San Pancho music festival. Founded and organized by Chas Ehlers, an internationally known jazz pianist (think Jakarta Jazz Festival), we have three days of GREAT MUSIC.
Again, I had to think of a way to work around the limits of this program to tell you of another unusual and wonderful happening in San Pancho. EntreAmigos, working with one of the founders of the original Cirque du Soleil, who has a home here, create the Cirque du Ninos. Each year the real Cirque sends down a dozen or so acrobats and actors to train the children of our little town a range of acrobatic skills. They spend six weeks in training and then in one glorious weekend, we have the Children's Circus. Can you believe all of this for little San Pancho?
63 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Cirque du Soleil® La Nouba™
63 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Again, I had to think of a way to work around the limits of this program to tell you of another unusual and wonderful happening in San Pancho. EntreAmigos, working with one of the founders of the original Cirque du Soleil, who has a home here, create the Cirque du Ninos. Each year the real Cirque sends down a dozen or so acrobats and actors to train the children of our little town a range of acrobatic skills. They spend six weeks in training and then in one glorious weekend, we have the Children's Circus. Can you believe all of this for little San Pancho?
I do need to add that most Mexican holidays – Independence Day, Revolution Day, the First Day of Spring (Primavera), and the Celebration of San Pancho (our Patron Saint) are marked with parades, most touchingly, with children in costumes and senior citizens being honored for their beauty! Being that Melissa and I are moving into our late 70s (in years), we greatly appreciate the attention given to us elders. Add to these special events that fact that we are also blessed with the presence of the Huichol, one of the Native American tribes that was able to escape the devastation of the Spanish conquistadores by moving up into the nearly impenetrable mountains all around. So culture lives.
huichol art
Emiliano Zapata
I do need to add that most Mexican holidays – Independence Day, Revolution Day, the First Day of Spring (Primavera), and the Celebration of San Pancho (our Patron Saint) are marked with parades, most touchingly, with children in costumes and senior citizens being honored for their beauty! Being that Melissa and I are moving into our late 70s (in years), we greatly appreciate the attention given to us elders. Add to these special events that fact that we are also blessed with the presence of the Huichol, one of the Native American tribes that was able to escape the devastation of the Spanish conquistadores by moving up into the nearly impenetrable mountains all around. So culture lives.

Shopping

Thank goodnessThank goodness, we do not have an outlet mall in San Pancho! BUT we do have lots of artists selling their wares all along our main street, which is named Avenida Tercer Mundo. The most distinctive items, of course, are the offerings of the Huichol people. Melissa is always complimented on the gorgeous jewelry that she buys here and wears back in the States.
Avenida Tercer Mundo
Avenida Tercer Mundo
Thank goodnessThank goodness, we do not have an outlet mall in San Pancho! BUT we do have lots of artists selling their wares all along our main street, which is named Avenida Tercer Mundo. The most distinctive items, of course, are the offerings of the Huichol people. Melissa is always complimented on the gorgeous jewelry that she buys here and wears back in the States.

Essentials

You can buy just about anything you want right here in San Pancho, but we have developed the practice of stopping as we drive from Puerto Vallarta at the Mega, a Mexican supermarket, which is stocked pretty much anything you might find is a food store in the States. There are several pharmacies in town and also two or three laundries. We now have a gas station right here. We also have ATMs, but we prefer to get pesos when we stop at the Mega.
114 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Mega Soriana
1297 Tepic - Puerto Vallarta
114 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
You can buy just about anything you want right here in San Pancho, but we have developed the practice of stopping as we drive from Puerto Vallarta at the Mega, a Mexican supermarket, which is stocked pretty much anything you might find is a food store in the States. There are several pharmacies in town and also two or three laundries. We now have a gas station right here. We also have ATMs, but we prefer to get pesos when we stop at the Mega.

Entertainment & Activities

Airbnb's program asks, "What do we do for FUN?" There is so much I don’t know where to start. So I think I will focus on just one thing. Our family and most of our guests, have great fun IN OUR POOL. It is designed for children of all ages, including some like me who are grandparents. Everyone creates their own FUN. And we do provide pool toys.
Villa de Vistas
Airbnb's program asks, "What do we do for FUN?" There is so much I don’t know where to start. So I think I will focus on just one thing. Our family and most of our guests, have great fun IN OUR POOL. It is designed for children of all ages, including some like me who are grandparents. Everyone creates their own FUN. And we do provide pool toys.