Uvita
South of Uvita on the road to Ojochal is this casual pizza joint, serving authentic Neapolitan pizzas cooked in a proper wood-fired brick oven. The dining…
Must-see restaurants in Central America
Ojochal
This unassuming open-plan roadside eatery with a corrugated steel roof offers local cuisine with giant flavors at tiny prices (relative to the rest of…
Belize City
This fantastic new vegan cafe in Fort George is just the thing after a challenging Ashtanga class in the attached yoga studio, or a massage at the…
Jacó
Upmarket yet casual, with tasteful pink-tiled walls, marble tables and vintage pendant lights, Amara is a supercute spot serving healthy Mediterranean…
Santa Catalina
Run by Francesco, a gregarious Italian chef, this thatched-hut sushi bar uses fresh seafood to create some delightful tropical fare. Think out of the box…
Central Valley & Highlands
Located downstairs from Los Ángeles Lodge and decorated with vintage photos of Cartago, this cheery no-frills restaurant has been around since 1957 and…
Belize City
This riverfront establishment has developed a reputation for serving up the best hamburgers in Belize City, and its fried onion rings, pastas and steaks…
Estelí
The family of San Juan de Limay soapstone sculptor Freddy Moreno serves good-quality traditional fare, including great quesadillas and Nica-style tacos in…
Monteverde & Around
Just outside the reserve gates, the ‘Hummingbird Cafe’ is a top-notch spot to refuel after a hike in the woods. The drinks will warm your body, but the…
Ambergris Caye
In a brilliant Belizean setting, European-Caribbean fusion cuisine at Portofino Restaurant makes perfect sense. The menu features freshly caught snapper,…
The Road to Chirripó
The tiny village of Canaán is not the type of place you would expect to find a 'gastropub' yet here it is. The menu is eclectic and delicious, featuring…
Playa Sámara
A favorite with locals, this is a dressed-up soda with tablecloths, faux-adobe walls and excellent food. The menu ranges from the expected (arroz con…
Restaurante El Yugo de Mi Tata
Caribbean Coast
It doesn't look like much, but there's a reason this joint is truck-stop heaven. Strategically placed just below Hwy 32's tortuous climb into Parque…
Puerto Jiménez
A spacious, covered, waterfront deck – ceiling fans spinning overhead – is the perfect place to feast on fresh grilled tuna, whole red snapper or tangy…
Puerto Viejo de Talamanca
Craving sushi? Head to this open-air Asian joint on Puerto Viejo's main street overlooking the beach and boats. Bonus raw-fish varieties include soy…
Northwestern Costa Rica
The finest local restaurant in Bijagua, offering tasty regional dishes like olla de carne (meat soup), lengua en salsa (tongue in sauce) and fried pork …
Tegucigalpa
As hard as it is to imagine a gas station fast-food outlet being one of the best eating options in the city, within 24 hours in Tegus you will almost…
Restaurante Donde Claudio y Gloria
Playas del Coco
Founded by Playas del Coco pioneers Claudio and Gloria Rojas, this casual, beachfront seafood restaurant has been a local landmark since the late 1950s…
San José
An unpretentious ’50s-style diner with garish red-and-white decor, this place is perpetually filled with couples and families noshing on grilled…
Belize City
Ask any local who makes the best meat pies and they'll tell you without hesitation: Dario's. Get in the line (which will probably wrap around the block)…
Bar y Restaurante Los Laureles
Uvita
Adorable casual family-run restaurant serving mainly Costa Rican and Tex-Mex cuisine, with innovative favorites such as avocado hummus and nacho patacones…
Playa Tamarindo
Pastry chef Hervé is out to impress with dishes including creamy chicken vol-au-vent, moules marinière (mussels in white wine) and a passel of veggie…
Parque Nacional Manuel Antonio & Around
This cute wood-decked corner restaurant with jungle and ocean views does Thai classics well, from the zingy salads to the satay and tom yum soup. House…
Tegucigalpa
An intimate, bohemian hangout, this is the place to find Tegus' creative types. The decor (with an excess of curios and lots of paintings) and layout …
Mal País & Santa Teresa
The top-shelf restaurant at the Hotel Moana is on a stunning perch and has jaw-dropping views and Latin-inspired tapas. The emphasis on local ingredients…
Roatán
A low-key island institution, Creole's offers excellent island-style roast chicken (a quarter chicken is L80), plus shrimp and fish mains. Choose from…
San José
This locally renowned Peruvian restaurant does Andean right. A popular spot for a leisurely Sunday lunch, it has an encyclopedic menu featuring Peruvian…
Central Pacific Coast
On the waterfront overlooking the rows of gleaming yachts, this upmarket spot decorated in dark tones with nice lighting serves an appropriate selection…
Boquete
This Italian restaurant and pizzeria has riverstone walls and just a few tables along one of Boquete's hillside roads. Sicilian Giovanni cooks while his…
El Valle
This upmarket Peruvian restaurant in the Hotel Valle Verde serves Inca-inspired favorites such as lomo saltado (stir-fried beef with vegetables and…
La Fortuna
If you’re looking for a change of taste – a real change from casados and pizza – check this out. Chifa is Peruvian Chinese fried rice, and chef Martin…
Southern Caribbean
Raquel and Matias completely revamped the menu here at the end of 2019, keeping old faves including Pad Thai but including mouth-watering delights such as…
Playa Tamarindo
A Danish-Guatemalan couple have created this clean, well-lit place to eat and people-watch, towering above Tamarindo Plaza. The blue-and-white tiled walls…
Tegucigalpa
On weekends this beer hall of a place can be a riot, with tables overflowing with bottles and families belting out the karaoke. Pupusas (cornmeal stuffed…
Liberia
This stylish bar-cafe (the name's pronounced 'How-ha') on the main drag is unusual for its upscale ambiance and classy cuisine. Service is also excellent…
Quepos to Uvita
This Costa Rican restaurant 1.5km north of Dominical on the way to Cataratas Nauyaca serves yummy comida típica (regional specialties), but is better…
La Fortuna
Travelers adore the local flavor that’s served up at Soda Víquez (in all senses of the expression). It’s a super-friendly spot, offering tasty típico …
Masaya & Los Pueblos Blancos
MamaYamna defies pigeon-holing. But if you imagine an art gallery with a wall-high psychedelic mural of Che Guevara, a gangsta Marilyn Monroe wearing a…
Managua
Light years away from the bustle of downtown Managua, this verdant hillside terrace, strung with gently twinkling lights, seems to recall a mythologized…
Estelí
Pull up a handmade wooden chair at this rustic corner diner and enjoy homemade yogurt flavored with local fruits, quesillos (corn tortillas stuffed with…
