Emperador Vallarta Beachfront Hotel & Suites

The Emperador Vallarta Beachfront Hotel and Suites is a chic, mid-range property that offers 49 sunny rooms in the popular Romantic Zone of Puerto Vallarta. This boutique hotel maintains an artsy vibe similar to that of its sister property under the same owner, Hotel Catedral, though it has a slightly more sleek and stylish feel. Similar to the bright and colorful Hotel Catedral, Emperador is decorated with custom murals done by several different Mexican artists -- but the biggest difference between the two is that Emperador is located right on the beach.

The chic, airy lobby features bright aqua artwork against crisp white and blue walls, and curved architectural details that are almost reminiscent of the Art Deco hotels of Miami’s South Beach. At this friendly hotel, many of the suites have kitchenettes and ocean views, and pets are allowed, with the addition of a security deposit and an extra nightly fee. It’s important to note that there is a big difference here between the Standard Rooms and the suites. The tiny, spartan Standard Rooms more closely resemble accommodations in a budget hotel, while the spacious suites are quite nice for a mid-range option, providing good value for travelers on a budget who want to be on the beach.

The location of the Emperador Hotel offers the best of both worlds: It is located right on the beach and in the Romantic Zone, the cutest part of downtown Puerto Vallarta. It’s conveniently located on Playa Los Muertos, next to the pier where water taxis come and go, tourists amble, and locals fish. The public beach here does get rather crowded with locals and tourists alike, and loud music is often playing. Within a view blocks on the cobblestone streets of the Zona Romantica there are a variety of bars, restaurants, and shops. On the far south end of downtown Puerto Vallarta, it’s about a 10-minute walk from the river markets on Isla Cuale. It’s only a 25-minute taxi ride to the airport.

The 49 rooms of Emperador include 20 Standard Rooms, 19 Standard Suites, and 10 Junior Suites. Guests should be aware that there are significant differences between the Standard Rooms and the suites. The tiny Standard Rooms are much more like budget hotel rooms suited for a short stopover, with windows that face out toward the busy street (not the ocean), basic decorations, and less artwork and color than the suites.

The suites feature a large balcony with fantastic ocean views and an outdoor kitchenette. The kitchenettes include a large mini-fridge, a two-burner stovetop and oven, a sink, and a few dishes, as well as a dining table and chairs. The Junior Suites offer more square footage and are separated into two rooms by a partial wall, creating a bedroom and a living room area.  Some of the living areas have a second bed, while others feature one or two pull-out sofa beds, for even more sleeping space. The central wall in each suite has a custom hand-painted mural, uniquely designed by a Mexican artist.

Overall the rooms are bright, airy, and contemporary with light colors, mostly beiges and whites, white tile floors and light wood pieces. Some rooms feature an accent wall painted in a bold color like deep red or ocean blue, but in general the decor is simple. Across all rooms, the bathrooms are small and partially updated -- for example you’ll find new tile in the showers but old, mismatched tile on the floor or walls. Some bathrooms are tiny. All rooms have nice flat-screen TVs and air-conditioning.

The staircase at the back of the aqua-colored lobby leads down into “Si Senor,” a popular bar, restaurant, and beach club. Although the restaurant has a separate owner, the decor matches the hotel’s chic, artsy vibe and hotel guests get a discount. The restaurant enjoys a great location that starts at the bottom level of the hotel and extends out onto the beach, with dozens of tables under shaded gazebos right in the sand.  It’s called a restaurant and beach club, meaning that patrons can hang out for hours while lounging on the beach, or using the handful of lounge chairs available down by the water. The bar has a lounge-like vibe and is a great place for drinks in the evening. Inside, the restaurant has a mix of contemporary art pieces and vintage nautical items, and the bar is actually made of a small pirate ship with granite countertops.

The beach in front of the hotel is shared by several other hotels and restaurants, and the Los Muertos pier is just a few steps away, where boat taxis come and go. This is a very busy part of the beach that gets lots of foot traffic. There’s often loud music playing and many vendors roam up and down the beach selling their wares, from sarongs to beach toys to jewelry to fake tattoos. Still its a beautiful, wide white-sand beach with nice water for swimming -- which is good because the hotel lacks a pool.

At the top of the hotels five stories is a lovely rooftop sundeck with sweeping views of the beach and the beautiful coastline along the bay. The sundeck has several tables and a number of padded lounge chairs and umbrellas. There are two computers on the lobby that provide guest access to the Internet, and free Wi-Fi is available throughout the hotel.