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,…
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…
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…
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…
San José
This Barrio Escalante gem serves a superb mix of authentic Mediterranean specialties, including house-made hummus, tortellini, grilled lamb and a rotating…
Montezuma
A locally beloved restaurant decorated like a bedouin tent, Puggo's specializes in Middle Eastern cuisine, including falafel, hummus, kebabs and aromatic…
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…
San José
With several distinct spaces – from the low-lit, intimate basement to the outdoor garden courtyard – this hip cafe has something for everyone…
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…
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…
San José
Food court! American burger bar! Brewpub/pizzeria! Performance space/movie theater/lecture hall! The Stein, seized from German immigrants during WWII and…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…