Must-see restaurants in Costa Rica

  • Stashu's con Fusion

    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,…

  • Al Mercat

    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…

  • Bajo El Arbol

    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…

  • Tree House Restaurant & Café

    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…

  • La Peruana

    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…

  • Los Platillos Voladores

    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 –…

  • Pita Bonita

    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…

  • La Pecora Nera

    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…

  • Cool & Calm Cafe

    Manzanillo

    Directly across from Manzanillo's western beachfront, this front-porch eatery plies visitors with fine Caribbean cooking – from snapper to shrimp to…

  • Lola’s on the Beach

    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…

  • Zwart Cafe

    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…

  • Saúl Bistro

    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…

  • Spec-Taco-Lar

    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…

  • Café Caburé

    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…

  • La Terrasse

    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…

  • Restaurante Silvestre

    San José

    Chef Santiago has created a sensation upstairs with his six-course tasting menu. Equally enjoyable and more relaxed, the downstairs cantina serves…

  • El Jardín

    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…

  • Mary's Restaurant

    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…

  • Azul

    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…

  • Anch’io Ristorante & Pizzeria

    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…

  • Sofia Mediterráneo

    San José

    This Barrio Escalante gem serves a superb mix of authentic Mediterranean specialties, including house-made hummus, tortellini, grilled lamb and a rotating…

  • Puggo’s

    Montezuma

    A locally beloved restaurant decorated like a bedouin tent, Puggo's specializes in Middle Eastern cuisine, including falafel, hummus, kebabs and aromatic…

  • El Refugio

    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…

  • Jolly Roger

    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…

  • Restaurante Grano de Oro

    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…

  • Café Kracovia

    San José

    With several distinct spaces – from the low-lit, intimate basement to the outdoor garden courtyard – this hip cafe has something for everyone…

  • Sofia

    Monteverde & Santa Elena

    With its Nuevo Latino cuisine – a modern fusion of traditional Latin American cooking styles – Sofia has established itself as one of the best places in…

  • Dragonfly Bar & Grill

    Playa Tamarindo

    Beloved for its refined menu and its upscale tiki-bar atmosphere, this open-air dining room has twinkling lights and lanterns, with a subtle dragonfly…

  • Steinvorth Building

    San José

    Food court! American burger bar! Brewpub/pizzeria! Performance space/movie theater/lecture hall! The Stein, seized from German immigrants during WWII and…

  • KOKi Beach

    Puerto Viejo de Talamanca

    A high-end favorite for drinks and dinner, this sleek eatery at the eastern end of town cranks up the lounge music and sports an interior furnished almost…

  • Xandari

    Central Valley & Highlands

    If you want to impress a date, you can’t go wrong at this elegant restaurant with incredible views. The menu is a mix of Costa Rican and international…

  • Restaurant La Fé Bumbata

    Cahuita

    Give chef/owner Walter a 'bum-bah-tah' and he'll shout back 'pata-boom-boom!' While his secret language remains so, there's no mystery why folks come to…

  • Lolo's

    San José

    Fans of bohemian chic will appreciate this quirky pizzeria, hidden in a mustard-yellow house (No 3396) along the railroad tracks north of Av Central in…

  • Casa Azul

    Central Valley & Highlands

    Tucked away just off Hwy 32 in a quaint little blue house adorned with blue curtains, antiques and hardwood floors, this Spanish–Costa Rican fusion…

  • La Luna

    Nosara Area

    Located on the beach, this trendy restaurant-bar has cushy couches right on the sand, perfect for sunset drinks. The interior is equally appealing, with…

  • Luv Burger

    Playa Sámara

    The 'Luv' has moved from the mini-mall to the beachfront, and several sister restaurants have opened in Nosara and San José. It's all veggie, all the time…

  • Sprout

    Playa Tamarindo

    Sprout specializes in – wait for it – healthy food. Here, 'healthy' is a code word for fresh, nutritious and delicious, with a menu featuring giant salad…

  • El Carmen

    Mal País & Santa Teresa

    The location right on the playa is hard to beat, and the list of ceviche and cooked fish shows it's more than just a pizzeria. It's a popular spot for…

  • Seekretspot

    Nosara Area

    The secret is out: come to this sweet shack for an authentic gelato or sorbetto, made with love by Stefano and Frederica. For local flavor, go for coffee…

  • Lemon Zest

    Jacó

    Chef Richard Lemon (former instructor at Le Cordon Bleu Miami) has been inspiring with one of Jacó's swishest and most imaginative menus for more than a…

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