Managua
This diminutive ice-cream stall kills you softly with its 12 flavors of ice cream on a stick. It's some of the best ice cream you'll ever have; we're…
Must-see restaurants in Central America
Guatemala City
Interesting breakfasts, soups and pastas. The list of sandwiches is impressive and there's a beautiful little courtyard area out the back.
Arenal & Around
Charming Christian, from the Sicilian highlands, has created a lakeside wonder, featuring both open-air and indoor dining. Southern Italian specialties…
Quepos
Run by a hardworking fisherman's family, this institution with brightly tiled floors serves the best seafood in town, yet is practically unknown to…
Belize City
An oasis in downtown Belize City, this cosmopolitan cafe serves quality coffee as well as paninis and sandwiches. There is a smart air-conditioned lounge…
Central Valley & Highlands
The most popular hangout in town has a cute/kitschy French feel about it, decorated with pastel colors, floral wallpaper, blackboards and picture frames,…
Western Honduras
Flying the flag for contemporary aesthetics in the rustic Lencan hills, Kandil is a beautifully designed place where modish decor juxtaposes with colonial…
Caribbean Coast
The town's most enjoyable restaurant is on a thatch-roofed, open-air platform right over the water about 1km north of the town center. Locals and visitors…
The Río San Juan & Islas Solentiname
Just about the only full-service restaurant in town, this attractively set place has old wooden floors, beamed ceilings and pleasant lake views. The…
Estelí
This friendly cafe with comfortable seating and a laid-back atmosphere serves up burritos and fajitas with a kick and organic salads direct from the…
Lívingston
This place enjoys the best location of any restaurant in town, and profits go to the Asociación Ak' Tenamit, an NGO with several projects in the area…
Belize City
Nerie's offers most accompaniments imaginable to rice and beans, including curried lamb, stewed cow foot, lobster and deer. Begin with a choice of soups,…
Puntarenas
Offering the most upscale dining in Puntarenas, El Shrimp Shack's silly name belies a graceful interior – wood-paneled walls, marble-topped tables,…
Northern Highlands
This lovely new place gets it all just about right: friendly staff, hip decor, excellent coffee (yes, competition is stiff here) and a scrumptious menu…
Antigua
This homey spot run by natives of El Salvador serves authentic pupusas – thick tortillas stuffed with cheese or chicharrónes (fried pork fat) and…
El Valle
This 'spit' (ie grill) restaurant is a local favorite and noted for well-prepared Spanish dishes like pulpo a la gallega (octopus grilled with paprika),…
Western El Salvador
This heavenly garden venue is one of the culinary highlights of the region and warrants stopping for a meal or, at the very least, coffee and cake…
La Ceiba
This friendly place is about as bohemian as Ceiba gets, with a civilized and artsy feel, welcoming staff and organic coffee. The filling breakfasts are…
Central Valley & Highlands
The best place in town for breakfast is inside this little lime-green house decorated with black-and-white vintage photos. It serves up full Tico,…
Ambergris Caye
Don't be confused by 'frozen custard.' It's basically high-quality ice cream, made with eggs for extra richness, then churned as it freezes for dense…
Central Valley & Highlands
This homey spot looks as though it was built from oversize Lincoln logs. It's known for heavenly strawberry smoothies (milky ones beat watery ones) and…
Central El Salvador
Overlooking the point is the pride of expatriate surfer Robert Rotherham, who has been feeding the notoriously fussy surf community for decades. The…
Punta Gorda
Twisted lobster, baked barracuda, cracked conch, whole snapper and lionfish fingers – and the best waterfront deck in PG. There's a lot to like about Asha…
Copán Ruinas
This smart cafe serves organic coffee grown at its finca (ranch), though it's mostly known for its delicious cheeses (platters L150 to L700). Breakfasts …
Northern Belize
Aegea Blue's benefits from its lovely location on the New River and breezy garden setting. Like its sister restaurant in Corozal, the highlight here is…
Honduras
This is the Honduran favorite, and a reason many city folk come to Tela. Combine grilled lobster sold by weight and dripping with garlic butter with a…
Quepos
Real New York–style bagels, lox salmon (a real rarity in Costa Rica) and rye bread! This adorable little bakery bakes its fresh wares every morning, and…
Northern Highlands
Step through the majestic wooden doors of this lovely old adobe house and enjoy a delicious traditional Nica meal in a wonderfully social atmosphere,…
Western El Salvador
An oasis amid the hot dusty streets of downtown Sonsonate, Café La Casona serves some of the country's best coffee as well as smoothies, sandwiches with…
Corn Islands
While the restaurant doesn't look like much, these are certainly some of the best pizzas available along Nicaragua's Caribbean coast. We love the fact…
Caribbean Coast
Feeling just a tad too chic for grimy Bluefields, this light-filled, split-level cafe serves real coffee in addition to panini, pasta dishes, salads and…
Estelí
Given the seriously weak dining scene in Estelí, 'Farm to Table' comes as a wonderful surprise. Helmed by American chef Darren, a warm and passionate host…
Southern Costa Rica & Península de Osa
A couple of kilometers along the beach road to Punta Banco, this cheerful place decked out with fairy lights is the most happenin' spot in town. Ample…
Central Valley & Highlands
Pan-Asian cuisine fills the menu at this casual eatery with half a dozen wooden tables near the main square. Enjoy sushi rolls and sashimi, teriyaki or…
Little Corn Island
Pull up a chair on the porch of this converted family home and order the superb salt-dusted, lightly fried fish and a cold beer. Alternatively, try its…
Matagalpa
This fabulous little ice-cream parlor sets the tone with its pink screen doors, checkerboard floor and hipstery hanging lights. It may be serving a rather…
La Ceiba
Totally unsigned (look for the green house with tables in the courtyard), Susana's Garden cooks up a storm. Famous for its salad bar (yes, those are fresh…
Masaya & Los Pueblos Blancos
An unexpected surprise, La Mestiza serves some of the best and most authentic Mexican food in Nicaragua. We love their tacos de chicharrón en salsa verde …
Corn Islands
This fantastic place is run by a friendly team of locals, who give a consistently warm welcome. The menu is one of the most interesting on the island, and…
Placencia
Rumfish is a gastro-style wine bar Central-American–style. Head up to the balcony of the beautiful old timber building and sample starters such as…
