As a guest of Hotel Mousai in Puerto Vallarta and a self-proclaimed foodie, I was pleasantly surprised by the excellent culinary options that my husband and I had to choose from as part of their impressive Gourmet Culinary All-Inclusive Plan. Hotel Mousai’s NOI Italian Restaurant is my #1 favorite restaurant of the five on-site gourmet restaurants, a culinary experience that everyone should try when visiting Puerto Vallarta. My review of NOI gives you a sneak peek of what to look forward to.
About Hotel Mousai
Nestled amongst a tropical jungle backdrop and awe-inspiring ocean views, Hotel Mousai is a contemporary adults-only luxury resort and the only AAA Five Diamond-rated resort in the state of Jalisco. The suites are beautifully designed and each suite has a private balcony with a hammock, jacuzzi, and stellar views. Expect a chic and contemporary atmosphere with a wide range of amenities and services. The resort also offers complimentary resort activities including guided kayak tours to Los Arcos, an iconic landmark, and hikes through the lush jungle just behind the resort. My favorite thing about Hotel Mousai is its signature gourmet restaurants and all-inclusive plan, which allows you to dine to your heart’s content.
Gourmet Restaurants at Hotel Mousai
When it comes to fine dining, Hotel Mousai offers some of the best dining experiences in Puerto Vallarta. We opted for the Gourmet Culinary All-Inclusive Plan and were so impressed with the food quality and variety of dining options. Hotel Mousai has five on-site gourmet restaurants, including BocaDos Steak House, Hiroshi Japanese restaurant, Blanca Blue Mexican restaurant, DAO Contemporary Chinese Cuisine, and NOI Italian restaurant. Besides the fine dining experiences, Hotel Mousai also has two Rooftop restaurants and bars and the Terrace, a beautiful spot to have breakfast. My all-time favorite is NOI, a contemporary Italian restaurant that creates art on a plate.
With its impressive art-filled interior and amazing view, it was the Italian cuisine that really blew our minds. I am sharing my review of NOI so you can add it to your foodie must-do list on your next visit to Puerto Vallarta.
So, if you’re craving Italian food, NOI is definitely the best Italian restaurant in Puerto Vallarta. It is located in Hotel Mousai’s South Tower, just 20 minutes from the city center.
NOI Puerto Vallarta
NOI Italian Restaurant is the creative and unique culinary vision of Chef Francesco Cavicchi and is touted as a true gem in Mexico for Italian cuisine. The chef brings his creativity and unique artistic vision to both the decor and food, aiming to keep the authenticity of traditional Italian cuisine while also adding his personal modern twist to push traditional Italian cuisine into the modern age. It is this combination of the old and the new which makes NOI so special.
A Modern Twist to Classic Italian Cuisine
In this review of NOI, I have to mention that I loved the authenticity of the menu which offers traditional Italian dishes including a variety of signature antipasti, salads, soups, risottos, as well as pizza and pasta dishes.
Fresh handmade pasta dishes like Orecchiette served with Italian sausage, artichoke heart, and Pomodoro sauce; Pappardelle with lamb ragu; and Spaghetti with Sicilian pesto, Parmigiano Reggiano and king crab created such an amazing aroma in the restaurant that we found it an exciting challenge to decide what to eat.
Puerto Vallarta’s fresh seafood served as the inspiration for my first course, Tritico Del Mare – a light and delicious carpaccio trilogy of freshly caught tuna, salmon, and sea bass served with fragrant Tuscan fennel capellini that was dressed with a mouth-watering mustard-truffle vinaigrette. I must say, this starter set the bar very high for my main dish.
I followed with Cappelletti de Coda de Manzo – a delicate Cappelletti pasta filled with a rich slow-braised ox-tail filling and served with a citrus scent jus that added the perfect harmony for each bite.
My husband headed south to Napoli for his starter, Involtini di Melanzane alla Parmigiana – an eggplant roll cooked to perfection with a delicious San Danielle Proscuitto and Scamorza Cheese topped with a robust Napolitana Sauce. This simple flavor combination created a flavor bomb for each mouthful that was sheer heaven.
His main course was the decadent Stinco di Agnello Brasato al Chianti con Purea di Sedano Rapa – a tender lamb shank braised in Chianti wine that sat on top of a smooth celeriac puree which created the perfect pairing.
When in Rome (or Mexico), always leave room for dessert! We ended on a very high note with the Tradizionale Tiramisú which was the perfect finale.
Our special meal served as the perfect excuse to indulge in a nice bottle of wine from their extensive collection of international fine wines to choose from.
The dining experience at NOI was incredible. The chef’s creations used modern methods, but the flavors were still reminiscent of delicious traditional Italian cuisine.
At NOI Art is Everything
A timely and colorful wall mural that wraps around the restaurant’s sleek gold and white interior tells the history of humanity with the word PEACE as the focal point above the bustling open-air kitchen. The jungle-facing window wall offers boundless views of the surrounding landscape.
It’s only when your food arrives that the ambience of the restaurant falls into place. The whole restaurant is an exhibition of Modern Art, wine is presented in provocatively shaped artsy carafes, and your dish is the masterpiece. At NOI, art and food go hand in hand.
Elevate Your Holiday Experience with the All-Inclusive Plan
To provide the best Gourmet Culinary All-Inclusive Plan, the resort has dedicated its gourmet restaurants to the plan so food-lovers can treat themselves day and night to delicious and innovative gastronomy prepared by world-renowned chefs without limits.
I hope my review of NOI has given you a glimpse of the culinary gift that is NOI.
