Italian restaurants in Costa Rica
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A
Café Mundo
Location. Location. Location. This longtime Italian cafe and expat favorite has it. Set on a sprawling terrace in a vintage Barrio Otoya mansion, it’s a perfect spot to enjoy a glass of wine and good (if not earth-shattering) pizzas and pastas within sight of a splashing outdoor fountain. The wine list is good and even includes a selection of bubbly Spanish cavas.
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Restaurante Cerutti
Pricey Cerutti delivers predictably top-notch Italian specialties, including fresh seafood and house-made pastas. The ravioli stuffed with ricotta and mushrooms is a local favorite, and you can’t go wrong with the long list of delicious risottos. Credit cards accepted.
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Café Viejo
This pricey, sceney Mediterranean lounge and restaurant gets good marks for fresh pastas, tasty pizzas and fancy cocktails. The upscale, romantic ambience makes it a safe bet for important dates – and its location right on the main drag makes for excellent people-watching.
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Nibbana
One of the nicest beachfront dining areas in town, Nibbana has tables scattered underneath the palms. It serves great pizza at lunch, and Tico-flavored continental cuisine, such as shrimp, lemon and basil risotto, or grilled tuna with a fresh mint-and-tomato compote. It also has free wi-fi access.
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Pizzería Tramonti
It’s worth the trip to this lovely stone house if you hanker for authentic Italian, as the pizzas are baked in a wood-fired oven, and the pastas and seafood are consistently fresh. The atmosphere is relaxed yet romantic.
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Café Ambrosia
Excellent espresso drinks, pasta carbonara, gnocchi and fresh sandwiches and salads are the specialties of the house. They also dish out ice cream, for which you'll be thankful if the air-conditioned room isn't doing enough for you. They even accept credit cards.
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E
Pizza Pronto
This very cute, old-world pizzeria, where the wood is stacked next to the smoking courtyard oven, keeps it romantic and simple – just pizza, pasta and salads... although we'll admit that the taco pizza does sound ambitious. Don't worry, you can choose from a long list of toppings and create your own.
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F
Il Giardino
The specialties of the house at Il Giardino are homemade pasta and fresh seafood. Considering that you’re on the edge of the wilderness in a far-flung corner of Costa Rica, there is a fair measure of Italian authenticity here.
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Sol y Luna Restaurant & Bar
Dine on authentic Italian pasta while soaking up the Mediterranean atmosphere at this restaurant at Hotel La Puerta del Sol. But make sure you save room for a slice of the heavenly homemade tiramisu.
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La Toscana
Satisfy those pangs for gnocchi or spaghetti carbonara at one of the most authentically Italian restaurants in the region. Tuscan wine, tablecloths and tira-misu await.
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I
Trattoria da Cesare
This lovely trattoria west of town features wonderful homemade pastas with fresh cheeses and sauces made from locally grown produce.
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Gusto
An Italian-fusion place with homemade pasta, three types of fish Carpaccio, generous Thai beef and tuna salads, and an assortment of meat, chicken and fish dishes, including a wasabi cream tuna, miso steak and spaghetti with lobster! The pasta is made fresh and there are the usual saucy suspects: arrabiata, puttanesca, pesto, and carbonara. The room elegantly flickers with candles and is draped with silky linens, the pebbled concrete floor is swirled with floral motifs. It's located downtown.
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J
El Girasol
A newcomer to the Cahuita dining landscape, this authentic Italian spot is already receiving raves from its local countryfolk. Homemade pasta and bread, rich soups and antipastos, and traditionally prepared Italian fare are a welcome change of pace.
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K
Buon Apetito
An authentic Italian deli with imported meats and cheeses piled and served on home-baked ciabatta by the endearing Italian madre at the counter. She also does pizza, pasta and, ahem, gelato. These are the best sandwiches in Tamarindo. Grab one and munch on the beach.
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Al Manglar
This thatched-roof, open-air restaurant serves excellent gnocchi and ravioli, and the pizzas are perfect. It’s tucked on a side street behind El Lagarto.
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L
Amimodo Caribe Restaurant
Listen to the waves crash at this local Italian favorite just east of town, where you can chow down on pizzas and homemade pasta dishes – such as lobster spaghetti (US$29). A cheaper ‘surfing menu’ (US$7) features carb-heavy specialties such as fish-and-chips and chicken-fried steak with rice.
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Maracutú
The self-proclaimed ‘world-music beach bar and Italian kitchen’ serves up an eclectic culinary offering that is highlighted by some delicious vegetarian and vegan fare. Each night of the week it features a different genre of music, which is mostly live.
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M
Escalofrío
Here you’ll find more than 20 different flavors of gelato, which may just be the perfect way to beat the tropical heat. There is also a spacious alfresco seating area where you can sample other Italian treats including espressos and cappuccinos as well as an assortment of pizzas (which come from a lovely wood-fired oven) and pastas. It also has a deli across the street where travelers can get sandwiches with imported Italian meats and cheeses to take into Manuel Antonio.
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N
EZ-Times
The reggae music and groovy vibe lure in hungry beach bums for pizza, pasta and salads. The outdoor terrace is a good place to sit back and enjoy the munchies, not to mention the live music on Friday nights.
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La Casona
La Casona serves a variety of Italian specialties, including a well-rendered lasagna made with hearts of palm. It's on the north side of the soccer field.
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