Panama City
Happiness is blistering wood-fired pizza cooked to order and topped with truffle oil, roasted eggplant or meatballs. The simple menu also has Caesar…
Must-see restaurants in Central America
San José
Owned by four brothers, this Spanish tapas restaurant is over-the-top hospitable, offering guests a complimentary glass of cava (sparkling Catalonian wine…
Arenal & Around
With glorious sunsets and a dock for boat access, this is a hidden gem. The chef – who works in tandem with his talented mom Cinia – has created a menu of…
Península de Nicoya
Jack and Karen Hunter are renowned for their decadent five-course candlelit dinners (reserve one day in advance), potent piña coladas, fresh-picked mango…
San José
Bò – a double-take on the Catalan word for 'good' and 'botifarra' (their signature salchicha; sausage similar to a hot dog) – truly is a sausagefest…
Ambergris Caye
Adorned in tropics-themed tablecloths, local art and charming lattice, this little restaurant serves up Garifuna specialties including hudut (red snapper…
La Fortuna
Though nothing fancy from afar, the love radiates outward from Mari and Alvaro's kitchen to warm your belly and your heart. Cheap, delicious casados (set…
Caye Caulker
Tucked into the jungle in the southern reaches of Caye Caulker, this delicious artsy little bistro is a local favorite thanks to head chef Frédéric…
Central Valley & Highlands
For excellent grilled meats and a lovely ambiance, come to this open-air restaurant decorated with fairy lights, colored wooden chairs, pop-art portraits…
Puerto Viejo de Talamanca
Stroll 250m out of town toward Playa Cocles to this romantic low-lit patio cafe serving creative cuisine that combines elements of Caribbean, Indian,…
San José
Inspired by Tico author Aquileo Echeverria, Cordon Bleu alumnus Jose González serves market-fresh produce, often from his own finca. Family-style dishes…
Mal País & Santa Teresa
If you can't afford a flight to Spain, just sit down 'Beneath the Tree.' Basque chef Julio's menu changes daily, but he whips up an extraordinary…
Monteverde & Santa Elena
It’s a fine line between hokey and happy. But this restaurant – built around a hundred-year-old higuerón (fig) tree – definitely raises a smile. There’s a…
Nosara Area
So you've been craving tallarin saltado (a Peruvian–Chinese fusion stir fry) since Lima, and who says you shouldn't have it at an outdoor picnic table in…
Arenal & Around
The plates really do fly out of this carry-out joint right in the center of Nuevo Arenal, which gets raves for its homemade pasta. It’s mostly Italian –…
Southern Caribbean
For Turkish coffee, hummus and the best pita bread in the Caribbean, this Israeli-owned spot is the place. There's also creamy moutabal (a roasted…
Southern Caribbean
If you're looking to splurge on a fancy meal during your trip, do it at this romantic eatery run by Ilario Giannoni. On a lovely candlelit patio, deftly…
Manzanillo
Directly across from Manzanillo's western beachfront, this front-porch eatery plies visitors with fine Caribbean cooking – from snapper to shrimp to…
Península de Nicoya
Hang out at this stylish beach cafe while waiting for the waves. Slanted wood chairs are planted in the sand beneath thatched umbrellas. A tree-stump bar…
Ambergris Caye
Sure, there are sushi joints on Ambergris Caye. But this is the first upmarket Japanese establishment, and the classically trained and well-traveled Chef…
Mal País & Santa Teresa
Zwart means 'black' in Dutch, but this shabby-chic, artist-owned gallery and cafe is all white (or mostly – damn dust!). You'll love the surf-inspired…
San José
There are life-sized plastic zebras in the dining room at this snazzy Escalante open-air restaurant. An extension of Saúl Mendez, the Guatemala-based…
La Fortuna
Best place in town, hands down. Cesar cranks up weepy ranchera music while you drink in the atmosphere: a troika of sombreros and painted skulls complete…
Monteverde & Santa Elena
This Argentine cafe above the Bat Jungle specializes in creative and delicious everything, from sandwiches on homemade bread and fresh salads, to more…
San José
Hidden away in the living room of a 1927 Barrio Otoya home, this intimate French restaurant regularly welcomes well-heeled locals with something to…
San José
Chef Santiago has created a sensation upstairs with his six-course tasting menu. Equally enjoyable and more relaxed, the downstairs cantina serves…
Monteverde & Santa Elena
The menu at this fine-dining establishment is wide ranging, always highlighting the local flavors. But these are not your typical tipica (traditional…
Panajachel
All the perks of a US diner are here in abundance, including buttermilk pancakes, great omelets with hash browns or country biscuits on the side, and free…
Mal País & Santa Teresa
At the far end of Mal País village, this unassuming, open-air restaurant has a tin roof, polished-concrete floor, wood oven and blackboard menu. It offers…
Ojochal
The perfect date spot, this chic little restaurant inside El Castillo has dreamy views of the Pacific coast. Your tastebuds will be singing when you treat…
La Fortuna
If you have a hankering for pizza, you can’t do better than Anch’io, where the crust is crispy thin, the toppings are plentiful and the pie is cooked in a…
Archipiélago de Bocas del Toro
With great atmosphere, this over-the-water restaurant and surf outfitter makes tasty soups, killer ceviche (citrus-cured seafood), whole lobsters (US$27)…
Montezuma
A locally beloved restaurant decorated like a bedouin tent, Puggo's specializes in Middle Eastern cuisine, including falafel, hummus, kebabs and aromatic…
San José
This Barrio Escalante gem serves a superb mix of authentic Mediterranean specialties, including house-made hummus, tortellini, grilled lamb and a rotating…
Southern Caribbean
This Argentine-owned restaurant with five tables is renowned for its rotating menu of three appetizers, five main dishes and three desserts. New offerings…
Playa Tamarindo
These chicken wings are so darn good, people plan their days around them. The meaty, oversized wings are a perfect combo of crunchy and tender, but it's…
San José
Known for its Costa Rican–fusion cuisine, this stately, flower-filled restaurant is one of San José’s top dining destinations. The menu features unusual…
Ambergris Caye
The first commercial cold-pressed juice operation in Belize also serves up all kinds of vegetarian and vegan delights: acai bowls, vegan nachos, wheat…
Chichicastenango
The three dining rooms at Chichi's classiest hotel feature colonial-style furnishings and canvases by renowned painter Humberto Garabito. Waiters wear…
San José
With several distinct spaces – from the low-lit, intimate basement to the outdoor garden courtyard – this hip cafe has something for everyone…
