Must-see restaurants in Costa Rica

  • 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…

  • 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…

  • 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…

  • 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…

  • 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…

  • Villa Italia

    Playas del Coco

    Hidden away on a quiet residential block just west of the bus station, this small guesthouse contains the best Italian restaurant in Playas del Coco, and…

  • 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,…

  • 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…

  • 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…

  • La Ventanita

    Arenal & Around

    La Ventanita is the ‘little window’ where you place your order. Soon, you’ll be devouring the best chifrijo (rice-and-pinto beans bowl with fried pork,…

  • Exotica

    Ojochal

    This phenomenal gourmet restaurant is worth planning your evening around. With a sultry, jungle ambiance and orchids everywhere, the nouveau-French dishes…

  • 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…

  • 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…

  • 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…

  • Casa Antigua Café & Restaurante

    Central Valley & Highlands

    Breakfast, lunch and dinner are served in this atmospheric, century-old colonial clapboard house with hardwood floors, painted ceilings, stained-glass…

  • Gingerbread Hotel & Restaurant

    Arenal & Around

    Larger-than-life chef Eyal turns out transcendent meals from the freshest local ingredients (some from the gardens outside). Favorites include mushrooms…

  • 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,…

  • Café Liberia

    Liberia

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

  • Sibu Cafe

    Uvita

    Serving the best coffee for miles around, this little cafe hides in an Uvita strip-mall. Latte art, eggs Benedict, chunky brownies and homemade lemon pie…

  • Masala

    Liberia

    Liberia is not a city where you'd expect to find any Indian restaurant, let alone the best one in the country. But here it is! Start with some crispy warm…

  • Citrus

    Ojochal

    Open-air, facing a courtyard and with a gorgeous patterned tiled floor, elegant velvet furnishings and beautiful light fixtures, Citrus feels upmarket yet…

  • Pollo Frito La Casona

    Northwestern Costa Rica

    This family-owned, roadside food truck serves up lip-smacking fried chicken that would rival any such business in San José, along with some other fun…

  • El Mercadito

    Playa Tamarindo

    Travelers with diets and preferences that differ from their companions' will appreciate the wide range of offerings at this breezy, buzzing artisanal food…

  • Café Rico

    Puerto Viejo de Talamanca

    Roger from Hounslow West, England will sort you out with house-roasted coffee, homemade ginger-lemonade, and a massive concoction called the Ana Rosa…

  • Olio

    San José

    This cozy, Mediterranean-flavored gastropub in a century-old brick building in Barrio Escalante serves a long list of tempting tapas (many veggie),…

  • Café de los Deseos

    San José

    Abuzz with artsy young bohemians, this colorful Barrio Otoya cafe makes a romantic spot for drinks (from sangria to cocktails to smoothies), bocas …

  • Pesqueria da Limonta

    Central Valley & Highlands

    Set in an atmospheric villa with a sophisticated patio lit by fairy lights, Pesqueria da Limonta is the best dining experience in town, serving up fresh…

  • La Casona del Maíz

    Central Valley & Highlands

    Hugely popular among Tico families who come to enjoy proper country cooking, this casual place is on the road to Atenas, 9km east of Alajuela. The menu is…

  • Clandestina

    Montezuma

    The secret is out. The hottest restaurant in Montezuma is this awesome, artistic place in the trees at the butterfly gardens. Look for innovative takes on…

  • Taylor's Place

    Tortuguero Village

    Low-key atmosphere and high-quality cooking come together beautifully at this backstreet eatery southwest of the soccer field. The inviting garden setting…

  • Choco Café Don Juan

    Monteverde & Santa Elena

    This little cafe roasts beans from its coffee farm (Don Juan) and uses fancy machinery (La Marzocco!) to serve up the best cup of joe in Monteverde. The…

  • Selvin’s Restaurant

    Southern Caribbean

    Selvin has been serving Caribbean food since 1982. His place is considered one of the region’s best, specializing in shrimp, sautéed lobster in butter,…

  • La Luna

    Parque Nacional Manuel Antonio & Around

    Unpretentious and friendly La Luna, inside the five-star Gaia Hotel, makes a lovely spot for a special-occasion dinner or sundowner, with fabulous…

  • Picnic Organico

    Jacó

    This simple spot with hardwood tables on the main drag (two doors down from Caliche's Wishbone) is a local secret. It only has eight items on the menu and…

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