Granada
A longtime favorite Italian trattoria has expanded and morphed into a Middle Eastern restaurant, though the wood-fired thin-crust pizza remains the best…
Must-see restaurants in Nicaragua
San Juan Del Sur
Kitty-corner to Parque Central, this vegetarian and vegan restaurant serves excellent curries, salads and an assortment of fresh fruit and vegetable…
San Juan Del Sur
Perch at one of several communal tables and go for an Indian or Thai-style curry at this thimble-sized, candlelit place. We love both the ambience and the…
León & Northwestern Nicaragua
The original (and still the best, many say) quesillo spot in town is found right at the entrance to the city (conveniently close to the bus stop). If you…
Corn Islands
A friendly waterside restaurant that serves up consistently excellent seafood dishes with a choice of three sides, as well as lobster burgers and other…
Little Corn Island
Escape to the far side of the island and enjoy a meal on the sand with the waves crashing at your feet. Here it's all about Caribbean hospitality, and you…
Caribbean Coast
On the top floor of the Hotel Casa Royale, the Bay View offers exactly that – great vistas over the enormous lagoon and a perfect vantage point for…
Estelí
The family of San Juan de Limay soapstone sculptor Freddy Moreno serves good-quality traditional fare, including great quesadillas and Nica-style tacos in…
Managua
Light years away from the bustle of downtown Managua, this verdant hillside terrace, strung with gently twinkling lights, seems to recall a mythologized…
Masaya & Los Pueblos Blancos
MamaYamna defies pigeon-holing. But if you imagine an art gallery with a wall-high psychedelic mural of Che Guevara, a gangsta Marilyn Monroe wearing a…
Estelí
Pull up a handmade wooden chair at this rustic corner diner and enjoy homemade yogurt flavored with local fruits, quesillos (corn tortillas stuffed with…
León
This friendly little restaurant uses fresh and local produce to make a solid range of menu items: sandwiches, salads, burgers, pastas, steaks and fajitas,…
Managua
One of the more highly respected seafood restaurants in town, with white linen service and a chance to hobnob with well-heeled Managuans. Some of the…
Managua
Doña Pilar’s been here for years, and this popular evening fritanga is a neighborhood institution, both for its juicy, crispy BBQ chicken and the range of…
Masaya & Los Pueblos Blancos
Masatepe is perhaps best known for delicious, steaming bowls of mondongo (tripe soup marinated with bitter oranges and fresh herbs, then simmered with…
Little Corn Island
This cool little spot near Little Corn's wharf is a great place to get breakfast before setting off on the 6am-daily panga to Great Corn. It does…
Masaya & Los Pueblos Blancos
The locals call the authentic brick-oven-baked pizza here the best in Nicaragua: the owner's originally from Rome and has been serving them for a quarter…
The Río San Juan & Islas Solentiname
Nonguests are very welcome to come for a meal at Lara's Planet, where there's a gorgeous bamboo terrace overlooking the river. Owner Natasha will cook…
Managua
One of the main locations of Nicaragua's popular coffee chain. Grab a table on the spacious and airy upstairs balcony and you’ll find it hard to leave…
Northern Highlands
A bakery every town would love. The cinnamon rolls are dense and sugary, the pan de leche is crispy on the outside and dense and moist inside, and the…
León & Northwestern Nicaragua
The best of Chinandega's two Chinese restaurants, Hong Kong is a pleasant change from Nica standards. Expect Cantonese-style dishes, such as shrimp with…
Managua
This traditional Nicaraguan eatery does classic dishes, well presented and carefully prepared, from gallo pinto (rice and beans) and guiso de chilote …
Granada
Some of Granada's best 'fast good' treats are served in this grungy courtyard, surrounded by posters of Nirvana and The Police and to a Guns N' Roses and…
Managua
One of the most elegant restaurants in town, this cozy European bistro has delightful art, a wonderful garden out back for alfresco eating and top-notch…
León
At this sleek, hipster-friendly coffee shop – think black-and-white tiled floors, a gilded chandelier, fruit crates repurposed as furniture – a wall-sized…
Managua
During the week this is a mom-and-pop grocery store, but from Thursday to Sunday, this is where Managua's student population comes for one thing: the city…
Cusco Collao Ceviche Gastrobar
León
This thimble-sized cevichería holds such promise! The tostones con cangrejo (fried green plantain topped with crab) are a perfect blend of crunchiness and…
León & Northwestern Nicaragua
Dig your toes in the sand, pop open a Toña, and prepare to feast on the likes of Arabic kofta kebabs, tabbouleh, vegetable curry and gnocchi. Some of the…
Corn Islands
Above one the island's most popular diving schools, Chillin Cafe is a top place to have a meal or a drink before, during or after a long day on the water…
Estelí
Named for an Argentine cut of beef (the pullaso), this sweet, family-owned grill is the best place in town for a good steak. It serves up certified Angus…
León
Sit inside the greenery-filled courtyard and feast on the likes of pork with boiled yucca, quesadillas, jalapeño chicken, tostadas and more. The food is…
Caribbean Coast
At the end of the Pointeen peninsula, this well-situated restaurant has an elevated, breezy balcony with fantastic views across the bay to El Bluff. The…
Corn Islands
Between South End and Sally Peachie, halfway around the island from the dock, Relax is a reliable bar-restaurant serving good home-cooked Caribbean…
León & Northwestern Nicaragua
A change from surfing resort fare, this Italian restaurant at the entrance to the village serves great pasta dishes and ceviche in a green, outdoorsy…
San Juan Del Sur
This classic beachfront restaurant, the best of the offerings along this stretch of sand, is the place to go to for an upmarket seafood dinner or sunset…
Masaya & Los Pueblos Blancos
Slightly out of town, towards Masaya, this thatch-roofed restaurant is locally famous for its quesillos (tortillas stuffed with fresh quesillo cheese,…
Estelí
This simple hole-in-the-wall meets diner place isn't exactly atmospheric (you order on the street before taking your seat in the next-door dining room)…
Matagalpa
Matagalpinos love beef and it's no surprise that their steakhouse of choice is El Pullazo, which serves big portions of tender cuts of meat at bargain…
Isla de Ometepe
Che and friends cook up delicious homemade pasta, whole grilled fish from the lake with gallo pinto (rice and beans) and fried plantain, and more, at this…
Managua
Las Colinas' latest hip hangout is this outdoor space decked out with fairy lights, where food trucks entice passersby with gourmet burgers, shawarma,…
