New on the Scene in Sayulita: "Al Bacaro" Osteria

A new Italian restaurant, “Al Bacaro” Osteria is on the scene in Sayulita, and is brought to you by Paolo Cesaro, the owner of Leda Italian Restaurant. “’While Leda is upscale, ‘Al Bacaro” Osteria brings another Italian dining option that is more simple, and is intended to be elegant, yet casual,” says Paolo.

Originally meant to be strictly a nightclub in Sayulita, the building front of “Al Bacaro” Osteria & Aria Lounge, is painted black at the top, giving it a sleek, city-like look. However, since the concept evolved and “Al Bacaro” Osteria opened on the lower levels of the building a few weeks ago, the bottom part of the building has been painted a soothing light pink color.

The ambience of "Al Bacaro" Osteria is romantic and chic, yet still has an air of casual countryside. Wooden slatted chairs and five candlelit tables covered with linen tablecloths, as well as a comfortable and modern white lounge couch and table, line the street of Jose Mariscal, where the restaurant and nightclub is located. Two additional tables are located on the lower balcony, while an indoor / outdoors bar lined with bar stools allow one to belly up and chat with the bartender. Musicians, which change nightly, serenade the guests who are dining with various styles of music.

A wood fired oven brings forth a thin crust pizza that tastes as if it came straight from Italy. The “Quattro Formaggi,” a four-cheese pizza, has just the right amount of tomato sauce, and consists of Mozzarella, Italian Parmesan, Gorgonzola, and Asiago cheeses, offering a perfect medley of flavor. The “Carpaccio di Salmone” is a delightfully light and refreshing plate of spicy, peppery arugula paired with smoked salmon, with a sweet, yet tart raspberry sauce. The “Gnocchi al Pomodoro,” is handmade and nearly melts in your mouth, topped with a bold, pureed tomato sauce. 

For dessert, the “Tiramisu” is a must, the recipe coming from Treviso, a mountain city in northeastern Italy. Extremely decadent with a strong flavor of coffee and balanced by sweetness, one simply can’t go wrong.

The history of this Al Bacaro dessert is quite interesting, as Danilo, who works at shares, “This recipe was born between two business owners. On one side of the street was a brothel and on the other side of the street a restaurant. The madam and restaurant owner collaborated to make a desert to make the boys feel strong.”  

The menu options pair perfectly with a glass of wine or one of the several unique signature cocktails, such as the “Santa Nali,” which is made of mescal, passion fruit, pineapple, and lemon quarters. This delicious concoction has a wonderfully smoky flavor, yet is also sweet and sour from the freshly pulped fruit.

The top floor of the building houses Aria Lounge where one will find a VIP lounge, gorgeous chandeliers hanging from the ceiling, and an impressive Dia de Los Muertos mural on the wall. Whether you’re looking for a nightcap following dinner or simply want to dance the night away, this is another great place Sayulita has to offer.