Other restaurants in Costa Rica
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Umi Sushi
In the courtyard of the Centro Comercial Playa El Carmen, this sushi bar has a pleasant dining room and tables outside. If you’re lucky, it will have a surf movie projected on the outside wall while you savor your Mal País roll. Beer drinkers, beware: it only serves Japanese beers, at exorbitant prices.
reviewed
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Andre’s Beach Bar
The best pizza place in town also has one of the best breakfast spots, serving omelettes and eggs Benedict. English and French are spoken.
reviewed
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Five Corners Grill
You’ll smell the wonderful barbecue aroma long before you even see this new restaurant, 4km east of Tilarán. The menu specializes in what owner Jim Aoki calls ‘gringo comfort food’ – eggs Benedict, nachos, bratwurst, peanut butter and jelly milkshakes, french fries and the best flame-grilled burgers on Laguna de Arenal. It’s only open for breakfast and lunch, but plans were underway to begin serving dinner. And if you decide to stick around (permanently), note there’s an onsite real estate agency.
reviewed
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A
Los Olivos
This bright corner spot facing the Parque de los Niños serves tasty café con leche (coffee with milk), along with a mix of international specialties, from burritos to steak. The best part: if you pick up fresh strawberries from the roadside vendors near the Poás volcano, the kitchen will clean them and whip them up into a delicious natural de fresa (strawberry shake without milk) – with the purchase of a main dish.
reviewed
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Pacific Bistro
This deservedly popular place is run by a gourmet chef from California who specializes in Pan-Asian–style fusion dishes. Whether you’re partial to Indonesian-style noodles and fiery Thai curries, or more refined Japanese soba and fish fillets topped with exotic Chinese sauces, one thing is for certain: this gem of a restaurant really hits the spot, especially if you’ve been craving fine Asian cuisine.
reviewed
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Bar-B-Q Tres Hermanas
Long before you get here, you’ll notice dozens of signs on the Interamericana advertising the best steakhouse in Guanacaste – Bar-B-Q Tres Hermanas. Believe the hype! This local landmark’s specialty is barbecue beef and pork ribs, marinated and slow cooked for eight hours. Kids will love the playground and noisy bull and monkey animatronics. Leave your vegetarian friends at home.
reviewed
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Rincón Corobicí
This attractive Swiss-run restaurant is 4km north of Cañas on the banks of the Río Corobicí, and is a great lunch spot. A terrace provides river and garden views, and a short trail follows the riverbank where you can take a cool dip. English, French and German are spoken here, and you can book tours with Ríos Tropicales for the Río Corobicí or other destinations in Costa Rica.
reviewed
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C
Restaurante De Lucía
On the same road as El Jardín de las Mariposas, this Chilean-owned place is Monteverde’s most famous restaurant. Chef José Belmar, who speaks more languages then you and your friend put together, regularly chats to guests and asks for feedback on the cuisine, and dishes (a good mix of Italian and South American specialties) are always flawless, and reasonably priced.
reviewed
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D
Dulce Marzo
Yummy home-baked sweets, wraps, sandwiches, good espresso drinks and a favorite-cafe feel make this one of those places to linger over a late-morning coffee as you skim the paper or your guidebook. Foreign magazines scatter the tables and there’s also a book exchange if you need reading material for the next leg of your trip. Located next door to Atmosphera gallery.
reviewed
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E
Los Anonos BBQ
On the road between San José and Escazú is this meat-centric place, which has been in continuous operation since the early ’60s. It’s a rustic family spot, with wood tables and historic photos of Costa Rica – and if you’ve got a hankering for a good steak, this would be the place to dip into USDA-approved cuts. Credit cards accepted.
reviewed
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F
Calinche’s Wishbone Eatery
Overseen by the charming Calinche, this is the most famous restaurant in town, and has been so for years and years. The eclectic menu includes pizzas, pitas, stuffed potatoes, pan-seared sea bass and tuna-sashimi salads, though its justifiable fame comes from the fact that everything is quite simply fresh, delicious and good value.
reviewed
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Inka Grill
The San José outpost of this venerable international chain serves all the Peruvian classics, including ceviche (marinated seafood), stuffed potatoes and an exceptionally well-made ají de gallina (walnut-chicken stew). Don’t miss the pisco sours (grape-brandy cocktails). There is also a children’s menu.
reviewed
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Soda Flor
This Jacó institution is a perennial favorite of locals and budget travelers alike. Remarkably, the menu hasn’t changed in years despite the fact that nearly every other place in town is now offering every-thing from sushi to sirloin. Food is fresh, tasty, cheap and 100% Costa Rican, and the portions here are huge.
reviewed
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Chelle’s
This unpretentious spot serves basic sandwiches and casados – none of which are very exciting. Regardless, josefinos will tell you that you haven’t experienced San José until you’ve had a wee-hours breakfast here after a night of drinking – and there’s a bar in case you want to keep going.
reviewed
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H
La Piazzetta
This old-world Italian spot (expect waiters with bow ties) serves a lengthy list of traditional specialties: antipasto, creamy risottos, homemade pastas and tender veal. There is an extensive list of imported wines, and several luscious desserts – including a celebrated chocolate mousse.
reviewed
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Pancho Villa’s
The food here certainly isn’t gourmet by any stretch of the imagination, but it caters to every conceivable taste from Tico and Western to Asian and Mexican. Even if you skip dinner, you’ll probably end up here at some point since the kitchen is open until the wee hours of the morning.
reviewed
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J
Il Pomodoro
This very popular family chain draws office workers, families and packs of expats for fresh-from-the-oven pizzas topped with everything from olives to shellfish. Parents will appreciate the expansive location on the park, and there are even high chairs and changing stations.
reviewed
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Restaurant Don Porfi
Four kilometers north of town (and a ₡2000 taxi ride), this longtime local favorite whips up a mix of international and Tico cuisine, from grilled steaks to stacked seafood platters to chicken bathed in garlic. A wine list features a selection of South American vintages.
reviewed
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K
News Café
On the ground floor of Hotel Presidente is the most popular cafe in the city among gringo expats. The main draw is the daily selection of foreign newspapers and the free wi-fi, as well as a simple menu strong on American specialties such as sandwiches, salads and steaks.
reviewed
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Dolcelato
A fantastical array of Italian ice creams in flavors of both fruit and chocolate can be found at this contemporary gelateria at the strip mall on the south edge of town. In a nod to local palates, they even have the mysterious flavor known as ‘Churchill’.
reviewed
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Ichiban
You’ll find all things Japanese at this modern San Pedro sushi bar, which dishes up well-rendered ramen, teppanyaki and specialty sushi rolls. They even have a Tico Roll (₡6200), which comes loaded with cream cheese, shiitake mushrooms, fried plantains and crab.
reviewed
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Lubnán
This cozy Lebanese spot serves a mix of Middle Eastern dishes, including shish kebabs, falafel and kebbeh (bulgur wheat and lamb fritters). Want to try a little bit of everything? Order the meze – a platter of small portions, ideal for two.
reviewed
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El Buen Comer
Popular with office workers, this homey, two-story soda is an excellent bet for budget-minded folks looking for tasty Tico home-style cooking, including casados and gallo pinto (a common meal of blended rice and beans).
reviewed
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Restaurante Isabel
A mix of regulars and medical professionals (the Hospital Calderón Guardia is right across the street) jam into the long Formica tables for generously portioned daily specials – such as grilled chicken with rice, beans and fresh cabbage slaw.
reviewed
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O
Ambrosia
This pretty, open-air cafe in a yellow building is good for a pick-me-up espresso. The menu features a mix of Italian-influenced options, including sandwiches, pasta and several types of tasty lasagna (including one made with hearts of palm).
reviewed