Must-see restaurants in Central America

  • Granclement

    Panama City

    Pure pleasure defines these intense tropical-fruit gelatos and rich, creamy flavors such as coffee, orange-chocolate and ginger. A few scoops of these…

  • Park Café

    San José

    At this felicitous fusion of antique shop and French restaurant, Michelin-starred chef Richard Neat offers an exquisite menu of smaller sampling plates …

  • Wild Ginger

    Tortuguero Village

    On a dirt path near the beach north of town, the simple, tucked-away place could be straight out of California or Portland (the owner has lived in both…

  • Lo Que Hay

    Panama City

    Neighborhood fondas (cheap restaurants) serve cheap Panamanian classics, but this one – by Panama's top chef – delivers a massive twist. Sexy rice …

  • Truck Stop

    Ambergris Caye

    This absurdly cool shipping-container food park doubles as Ambergris Caye's entertainment hub, offering movie nights, adult spelling bees, live music,…

  • Laszlo's

    Puerto Viejo de Talamanca

    Whaddya get when you take a champion sport fisherman, born and raised in Transylvania, and transplant him to Puerto Viejo by way of New Jersey? Answer: an…

  • Mopri

    Puerto Viejo de Talamanca

    You'd never know it from Mopri's dingy facade and cheap plastic tables, but this place serves some of the best seafood in Puerto Viejo. Choose your star…

  • Panga

    Península de Azuero

    When chef Andres Morataya left award-winning Manolo Caracol and the hubbub of Panama City for Playa Venao, he opened this most inventive restaurant. The…

  • Café Sabor Cruceño

    Santa Cruz La Laguna

    Up in the village, this brilliant community project comedor is run by local students who are learning to make traditional Guatemalan dishes to global…

  • Donde José

    Panama City

    Elevating humble Panamanian staples to haute cuisine, this 16-seat eatery is Panama's hottest reservation. Chef Jose prepares ñandu beans (native black…

  • Playa de los Artistas

    Montezuma

    Most romantic dinner ever. If you're lucky, you'll snag one of the tree-trunk tables under the palms. The international menu with Mediterranean influences…

  • Mesón Panza Verde

    Antigua

    The restaurant of the exclusive B&B Mesón Panza Verde dishes up divine continental cuisine in an appealing Antiguan atmosphere. The menu features an…

  • Maito

    Panama City

    With style and pedigree, Maito toys with the classics, folding in everyday Caribbean, Latin and Chinese influences. While results are mixed, it's still…

  • Ochoymedio

    Panama City

    Under hanging vines and fairy lights, this gastronomical garden by Michelin-starred chef Andres Madrigal is romance incarnate. Start with a tropical-style…

  • Close up of guatemalan enchilada,in a plate over an organic napkin.

    Kacao

    Guatemala City

    Set under a thatched palapa roof with a soft marimba soundtrack, this is Zona 10's best comida típica (regional food) restaurant. The atmosphere and food…

  • Cocina Eclectica

    San José

    The Escazú residence of Joanna Stein, identifiable only by a small 'J' on the door, might not seem like a restaurant. In fact it's much more. All day long…

  • Jungle Farm Restaurant

    Southern Belize

    If you have only one dining splurge in Southern Belize, the restaurant at Copal Tree Lodge is the place to do it. The location, high on a jungle hilltop,…

  • Barakka Bistro

    Cahuita

    Enjoy some of the best French and Italian fare in town: the Florentina crepe is stuffed with spinach, cream, chicken and cheese and has an egg cooked into…

  • Vida Hermosa

    Central Pacific Coast

    Vida Hermosa has a sweet surf view and outrageously delicious cuisine. At breakfast, the hearty surfer’s burrito is the ideal fuel for Hemosa’s gigantic…

  • Bread & Chocolate

    Puerto Viejo de Talamanca

    Ever had a completely homemade PB&J, with bread, peanut butter and jelly all made from scratch? That and more can be yours at this dream of a cafe,…

  • Darinia's Kitchen

    Little Corn Island

    For a truly local experience in the Village, reserve an evening meal at this ambitious and eclectic supper club. Self-taught Managua transplant Darinia…

  • Villa Deevena

    Península de Nicoya

    Foodies drive from all over Guanacaste to sample the fare at this otherworldly restaurant, the brainchild of chef/owner Patrick Jamon (let the jokes begin…

  • Palmilla Restaurant

    Ambergris Caye

    The classy, candlelit restaurant at Victoria House is the island's priciest, but also one of its best. Arrive before sunset to have a mojito on the…

  • Guava Limb Cafe

    San Ignacio

    One of San Ignacio's slickest restaurants, boutique Guava Limb is set in an adorable turquoise two-story building with a serene outdoor garden area. Fresh…

  • Mama Gui

    Playa Sámara

    Sámara's best restaurant is this cozy, contemporary Italian spot that wouldn't be out of place in New York City. And go figure, owner/chef Gigio Palazzo…

  • Casa Troccoli

    Antigua

    Front of house at this restaurant looks just like the early-20th-century general store it once was, but with the walls racked with a rather more…

  • Villa Cofrades

    Chichicastenango

    This charming cafe is tucked into the outside corner of Centro Comercial Santo Tomás and is a gem if you want to step back from the bustle of the market…

  • Pots & Bowls

    Península de Nicoya

    If you love potted plants, and you love eating nutritious food out of a bowl, this is your dream stop in Playa Grande. Bowls are divided into sweet (acai,…

  • Gabriella's

    Quepos

    A contender for the region's best restaurant, Gabriella's does many things well: the veranda catches the sunset and overlooks a gorgeous marina, and the…

  • Sabor Español

    Uvita

    After a successful run in Monteverde, charming Spanish couple Heri and Montse realized that they wanted to live by the ocean – to Uvita's good fortune…

  • Maxi By Ricky

    San José

    If you can't get to the Caribbean coast, the 'yard' vibe here is a good substitute. Manzanillo native Ricky transported his lip-smacking restaurant to the…

  • Caribbean Colors Art Café

    Caye Caulker

    What began as a gallery for owner and artist Lee Vanderwalker has morphed into a top-notch cafe. And the art's still on the walls. While you browse you…

  • Roatán Oasis

    Roatán

    If you're going to splurge on a meal on Roatán, go here. The gorgeous Oasis uses seasonal and locally sourced produce to create delectable creations such…

  • Running W Steakhouse

    San Ignacio

    One of San Ignacio's top dining splurges, the restaurant at the San Ignacio Resort Hotel is named for the owner's Running W ranch that supplies most of…

  • Caribbean Kalisi Coffee Shop

    Puerto Limón

    Belly up to the cafeteria-style counter at this friendly family spot and cobble together a plate of coconut rice, red beans and whatever Caribbean meat…

  • El Pelicano

    Central Pacific Coast

    Right on Playa Herradura's pretty oceanfront, this simple Tico restaurant with white tablecloths and fairy lights holds its own in comparison to the…

  • Restaurante Celajes

    Monteverde & Santa Elena

    Ease into a studded leather armchair in the lounge and indulge with a dazzling cocktail designed by the country's finest mixologist. Then around sunset,…

  • Hidden Treasure

    Ambergris Caye

    Living up to its name, Hidden Treasure is a gorgeous open-air restaurant in an out-of-the-way residential neighborhood (follow the signs from Coconut Dr)…

  • Café Liberia

    Liberia

    This beautifully restored colonial-era building has heavy wooden furniture and frescoed ceilings, creating a romantic ambiance for enjoying rich coffee…

  • Ambia

    Guatemala City

    As the prices may suggest, this is some of the city's finest dining, with a wide-ranging menu offering some good fusion dishes, leaning heavily on…

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