Quepos to Uvita
If you have a hankering for delicious chicken wings, Bar Jolly Roger offers 24 varieties, in addition to burgers, pizzas, cold beers and good margaritas…
Must-see restaurants in Costa Rica
Mal País & Santa Teresa
This new addition to the Santa Teresa smorgasbord serves up the usual sushi roll suspects – California, spicy tuna, and Philadelphia – along with local…
Arenal & Northern Lowlands
Recommended by locals as the best soda in this humble town, La Suyapa offers a fresh take on the traditional. Casados come with noodles and potato salad…
Sarapiquí Valley
Here's a spot for the frugal gourmet. Chef Horacio prepares everything from spaghetti in white sauce, with patacones (plantain fritters) on the side, to…
Jacó
This oceanside spot brims with casual elegance and is regarded as one of the finer dining experiences in Jacó. The menu is entirely dependent on seasonal…
Parque Nacional Manuel Antonio & Around
Perched on the 2nd floor with uninterrupted ocean views, Agua Azul is a marvelous casual lunch spot on this stretch of road – perfect for early-morning…
Central Valley & Highlands
Dishes are satisfying at this restaurant opposite the church in the main square, with a large bar at its center. The diverse menu has freshly made pizzas,…
San José
If you have a hankering for a coffee éclair, croque monsieur or plain (but transcendent) croissant, linger here. French tostadas are reserved for Sunday,…
San José
At this authentic Mexican place near the park, well-rendered specialties include tacos in sets of four – corn tortillas accompanied by chicken, steak, sea…
Península de Nicoya
If there's anything more fun than eating pizza in a tree house, we'd love to hear about it. Take a seat at the top of this well-constructed, Seuss-like…
Puerto Viejo de Talamanca
Owned by a friendly bohemian expat couple, this charming vegetarian cafe champions the slow-food movement and makes everything from scratch, from the jams…
Central Valley & Highlands
This unremarkable-looking eatery has friendly service and excellent, reasonably priced home cooking. Sometimes the kitchen gets a bit backed up, but the…
Cahuita
This long-standing restaurant serves a slew of Caribbean specialties and a number of vegetarian options, such as coconut-milk-and-ginger curry. The…
Mal País & Santa Teresa
Not the biggest bakery in Playa El Carmen, but longtime residents swear by this Italian panaderia in the first mall you see as you come into town…
Puerto Viejo de Talamanca
Typical Caribbean dishes, such as jerk chicken served with salad, beans, rice and plantain, are done well at this simple soda off the main strip. A…
Playas del Coco
At the crossroads of the main drag and the beach, this place can't be beaten for people watching in Coco. It's also your best bet for lunch, whether you…
Península de Nicoya
A popular soda (cheap lunch counter) serving appetizing comida típica (typical local food) such as gallo pinto (stir-fry of rice and beans) in the morning…
San José
This vibrant, quirky cultural space/gallery in a renovated mansion sports local artwork inside and out. There's cozy seating on vintage couches, plus…
Central Pacific Coast
Sit on the lovely open-air patio with a glass of European wine and enjoy delights like Spanish-style tapas, Italian pasta dishes, and fresh fish and…
Montezuma
A cozy feeling permeates this restaurant and bakery on the beach road, which in 2019 was repainted in a cheerful yellow by its new owner. The terrace…
Uvita
Off the main road into Utvia is this container-cum-seafood restaurant, with a simple deck out front with tables and chairs. It serves delectable ceviche…
San José
This longtime Italian cafe and expat favorite is set on a sprawling terrace in a vintage Barrio Otoya mansion with a green exterior. It’s a perfect spot…
Puerto Viejo de Talamanca
Delicious pancake and fruit breakfasts and Caribbean home cooking can be found at this backstreet eatery with wooden slab tables on an open-air terrace…
San José
This petite cafe in Barrio Amón retains the stained glass windows from an earlier incarnation and adds a Chaplinesque touch, though it's now owned by the…
Restaurant La Trocha del Boyero
Central Valley & Highlands
Tico families and local expats crowd the pleasant deck here for the variety of casados on offer, fresh trout (in season), sirloin and heaped bowls of…
Quepos
The daily rotation of delicious cafeteria options here might include fish in tomato sauce, olla de carne (beef soup with rice) or chicken soup. Everything…
Playa Tamarindo
Swing on up to the bar, grab a tree-stump stool, and prepare to sample some fantastic fare. The mahi-mahi tacos are perfection in a tortilla, while non…
Quepos
This new kid on the block with fish shapes hanging from the ceiling is a good choice for seafood lovers. It serves up fresh morsels in various styles: the…
Quepos to Uvita
Set in a pretty garden, this Thai restaurant and bar serves up tasty piping-hot bowls of rice and noodles, along with spicy margaritas, all from inside a…
Central Valley & Highlands
Thick, juicy tuna or beef burgers are served up with herby fries in this casual and welcoming place in the north of the city, with red booths and world…
San José
Pablo Bonilla's intention is no less than to rescue indigenous cuisine in his homeland. Sikwa ('outsider') is an interesting take on Costa Rican…
Central Valley & Highlands
With its own trout ponds, this log-cabin restaurant located at Albergue Ecológico Pozo Verde serves up the freshest of catches, along with delicious veal…
Puerto Jiménez
While this pizzeria's name sounds more like a website, all doubts will be cast aside when a server at Pizzamail.it brings out the pie: a thin-crust, wood…
Quepos to Uvita
Set back from the main road through town, in an open-air setting overlooking the Río Barú, this sushi place takes advantage of the fresh tuna and other…
Northwestern Costa Rica
The former Blue Dream chef has opened her own place down the road, to rave reviews. Specializing in pastas (lasagna is a fave) and pizzas, Juana also…
San José
Vegan cafe with the best cappuccino in Barrio Amón, wonderful views from the top two floors connected by winding staircases, and a nice shop with animal…
Península de Nicoya
There's something special about this glorified taco bar. Ingredients are all organically produced or locally sourced. Tortillas are hand-rolled; hot sauce…
Península de Nicoya
Near the north end of town, this rather hidden, unassuming place has Ticos and gringos alike raving about the soups, ceviches and all things fishy. And…
Nosara Area
Just steps from the beach, this cafe, conjoined with a new cocktail lounge called Spirit, serves decadent and delicious food. Try banana-bread French…
The Road to Chirripó
One of our favorite sodas (lunch counters) in the region, this cute little family-run joint serves up casados (set meals), olla de carne (beef stew) and…
