iK Mixology Bar & Cuisine — Restaurant in Jalisco

We stumbled upon this place completely by accident as we were walking down the malecón. What initially drew us were the tables that looked like birds' nests and overlooked the ocean and had a fantastic view of the pier. It was a bit early so we decided to make reservations so we could see the sunset. The hostess was very kind and nice enough to make them for us, and change them later when we had to have 2 taken off. The seating was precise, the service was on point and so good that even though the place got full, we felt like we were our waiter's only table the entire night. Jair was very attentive the whole time and even was gracious enough to take pictures of the 4 of us and made great suggestions with accurate descriptions of the foods we were about to order. The other waiters and bartender helped out with choices for shots of tequila, and even sang happy birthday (and played a birthday song on the speakers for us) when we told them it was one of our friend's birthday.

The food was as delicious as it was interesting. Between the insect tostada (Insects Trunk) and the surf & turf with filet mignon, to the octopus in dry pasilla chile sauce and the lobster tail, everything was cooked to perfection. The flavors were vibrant and reminiscent of classic Mexican cuisine with a touch of flair for more modern tastes.

Being a mixology bar, we had to try the specialty cocktails, and they did not disappoint. The presentations were creative and the combinations were deliciously balanced (we had the Temptation, Tropicoco, Margarita IK, Luna Llena, Gin Sensual). Even the shot of tequila (I think it was called Dragon) was in a beautiful, tall-stemmed shot glass (we insisted Jair, with the permission of his manager, do one with us since we thought he was amazing).

Since we went here specifically for the sunset, we were sat in one of the cute round tables that resembled birds' nests, and we were right on the edge of the second floor with open skies above us and an unobstructed view of the ocean and iconic pier. We were almost immediately drawn to the hanging swing that also resembled a nest and proceeded to take pictures. Everything about this place was very organic, with even the floor resembling grass. There were tables on the beach but I think we made a better decision to stay on the second floor patio.

5/5, HIGHLY recommend, Jair was amazing, food was delicious, drinks were on point, atmosphere was magical, and even the prices...

I was excited to eat at iK on Christmas Eve. The menu looked delicious and the reviews all seemed to be positive. I made a reservation almost a month in advance. When we arrived we were told the only availability was on the beach which is a completely different atmosphere than the restaurant. Originally we accepted the beach table but after I sat down I realized the chairs were very dirty and my black dress was covered in a white dust. The service was also incredibly slow on the beach - probably because the servers had to go all the way inside to get drinks etc. I finally asked if there was anyway we could sit upstairs. The host seemed surprised that I wasn’t seated upstairs already being that I had a reservation. Eventually they sat us at one of the nest tables - which is a major factor in why I wanted to eat here so I was pleasantly surprised that they were able to make room for us. The server finally came over and took our food order. We ordered tuna tataki, popcorn shrimp (at the servers suggestion), the surf and turf, and the octopus. Our appetizers came out relatively quickly. Both were mediocre. The popcorn shrimp was lukewarm and honestly not very crispy. But we were starving at this point so ate both items. Our entrees took quite a bit longer to come out and when they finally did both were cold. I normally don’t send food back but there’s just no way I could eat the tepid octopus. It also was a little rubbery. My husbands steak and shrimp were cold as well. The server asked if we wanted new ones or if we just wanted them heated up. I said I did not want them to reheat the octopus as that would only make it more rubbery. My husbands said they could just reheat his steak. They brought it back a few minutes later on a hot plate but the food itself was still cold. At this point we asked for the check and paid for what we had and headed home. Quite the disappointment on Christmas Eve. Perhaps the holiday got them...

One of the worst experiences in PV. One of the staff is very irresponsible (the one with the cap on) we asked him to reserve a spot for us so we can move after our foot massage,he said ok and it was given to the others when we are done with our massage. Spoke with the manager and was advised to give them a couple minutes and nothing happens. No apologies,nothing. When we decided to leave we asked the same server for the bill, waited for about 15 minutes just to see that he was dancing and chatting with other staff. No wonder this place is empty on the busiest beach in PV. Definitely not recommended, I would suggest to visit Emperador Vallarta Beachfront Hotel for a beach front seating, way better service for the same price you pay. The food and cocktails were mediocre.

Update

I am writing to express my disappointment with a recent experience at your restaurant. The response I received regarding the situation on the beach was both dismissive and unhelpful. The entire beach area was filled with street vendors, and at no point was I informed—either through signage or by your staff—that services such as maasage were not permitted.

Furthermore, I was not the only guest engaging with these vendors; many others were receiving similar services, including food and braiding, without any intervention. I’ve stayed at other hotels offering beach access and have never encountered an issue like this, nor was I made to feel at fault for something that appears to be a common occurrence.

It’s disappointing that your team is unwilling to take accountability for the lack of communication and customer service in this matter. Based on my experience and the tone of your response, it seems that this is a broader issue with how your company handles guest concerns.

I hope you take this feedback seriously and work toward improving the guest experience...