It’s no secret that Mazatlán is filled with more delicious food than you could ever hope to eat in a lifetime. It’s also no secret that much of that mouth-watering cuisine might not fit into your daily diet. When you need to stick to a healthy meal plan, but you also want to dine out, you’ll find a sweet compromise at Pura Vida.
Pura Vida is a healthy restaurant located in the Golden Zone with an impressive menu packed full of fresh fruits, veggies, vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. The best part – you’ll still feel like you’re indulging when you eat here.
I’ll be the first one to admit, my husband and I are a little addicted to Pura Vida. We have been there over 20 times and counting! What keeps bringing us back is the casual atmosphere, familiar faces, and most of all – healthy, affordable, delicious food.
If ever there is a “I don’t know, what do you want to eat?” kind of situation, we always default on Pura Vida because we know it will not only be good for us but will taste good as well.
The Food at Pura Vida
The menu is split into two. One entire side is dedicated to smoothies, fresh juices, green shots, and other healthy liquid concoctions. The other side of the menu is all food, with it being as healthy or as unhealthy as you wish. For example: you could get a clean salad with 20 different veggies, seeds and nuts, or you could opt for a mini-pizza instead. You are in the drivers seat when it comes to just how clean you want to make your meals here.
If you dine before 12:00 noon, the one side of the menu will be their entire breakfast lineup. At noon to close (around 10:30pm), you will find the food menu dedicated to lunch and dinner.
The Best Smoothies in Mazatlán
Pura Vida literally has more healthy juices than you could ever wish for, all made fresh the moment you place your order. They keep all the fruits and veggies in baskets in the restaurant, almost like the produce section of a grocery store, and grab what ingredients they need as orders are placed.
Their drink menu includes over 100 smoothies and natural juices!
Thick shakes made with yogurt, freshly squeezed mixes made with their juicer, natural fruit juices with added herbs, and for the real health nut –wheatgrass shots.
Here are some of our favorite drinks:
- Vida Verde: Raspberry, blueberry, banana, orange, spinach, chlorophyll, and prebiotic yogurt
- Arrazagrasa: Pineapple, cucumber, celery, orange, grapefruit, and chia
- Yerbolina: Wheatgrass, garlic, sprouts, lemon, and honey
- Kitagripa: Pear, pineapple, apple, and ginger
- Chocodracula: Soy milk, cocoa, cinnamon, coconut, banana, and vanilla
Smoothies, juices and healthy shots range from 42 pesos to 68 pesos.
The Healthier Side of the Menu
If you are looking for super clean meals, you can find them at Pura Vida.
They have everything from salads packed with veggies, lentil soup, or grilled Portobello mushroom skewers. Mostly everything on their menu can be altered or customized to fit gluten-free, vegetarian, or even vegan diets.
My absolute go-to is their ‘Pura Vida Salad’.
I can’t even COUNT the number of different veggies, seeds, and nuts there are on this salad, but I’ll give it a shot:
Mixed lettuce, jicama, tomato, celery, cucumber, bell peppers, carrot, hearts of palm, corn, mushrooms, cabbage, sprouts, avocado, pumpkin seeds, chickpeas, almonds, sunflower seeds, etc.
It’s massive and for 103 pesos, is cheaper than I could buy each ingredient to make my own salad at home.
The Indulgent Side of the Menu
Right on their menu, they have a quote saying “At Pura Vida you can eat as healthy as you want it to be”, which is absolutely true. If you don’t feel like a green juice and a salad, there are still lots of more indulgent options on the menu.
Here are some of our ‘indulgent’ favorites:
- Chicken Caesar sandwich dripping with melted cheese and super tangy dressing
- Quesadillota with chicken and mushrooms, packed with cheese and guacamole on top
- Mini Pizza with BBQ chicken and pineapple
- Waffle with fresh fruit, nuts, maple syrup, plus a scoop of ice cream
However, you will find that even the more naughty options on the menu still find a way to sneak in a serving or two of veggies, plus use multigrain wraps and bread.
Food Prices at Pura Vida
Food prices at Pura Vida just had a slight increase at the start of 2020, but are still very fair.
If you choose from Mexican fare, like a tostada or quesadilla, you’ll find prices as low as 46 pesos. Salads, sandwiches, mini-pizzas, skewers, and wraps are between 103-125 pesos. For the indecisive person who wants some of one dish and some of another, they have a ‘half & half’ deal for 132 pesos, like half a sandwich and half a salad.
Inside Pura Vida
It’s casual, comfortable, and chill with both indoor and outdoor seating. They have booths and tables for as small as a solo-diner, or as big as a party of twelve.
There is free Wi-Fi (with blazing-fast speeds actually!), so feel free to bring your laptop and catch up on some work while you have your daily smoothie.
To-GO
Everything on their menu can be ordered up at the front and packaged to go. Plus, they also do home delivery via the ‘Al Dente’ app if you can’t make it into the restaurant.
At the front till, they have daily baked fresh bread and other healthy delights you can take home with you, including granola, mini sugar-free loaves, multigrain bread, and fruit tarts. I normally grab a half-loaf of their multigrain bread to go, as it’s a hit at the house when we have guests visiting.
If you are looking for healthy food that won’t break the bank, try heading to Pura Vida!
All About Pura Vida
Open:
All week long– 8:00 am to 10:30 pmAddress:
In the Golden Zone, near Playa Mazatlan Hotel – Bugambilia 18, Zona Dorada, 82110
Phone:
669 916 1010
This restaurant review is part of our
NEW weekly column ‘Foodie Fridays‘. Each week we will
feature an honest review from a local restaurant here in Mazatlán!
Are you a restaurant owner? Or a local foodie with a tip? Get in touch
with us if you want to be featured in next week’s article!
Written By: Kashlee Kucheran of Travel Off Path
@kashlee_k
More Foodie Friday posts:
- Casa Roberto – Authentic Mexican Food
- Esinti Cafe – Cute and Trendy Cafe in Centro
- Hana Poke – Mouth Watering Hawaiian Fare
