Matagalpa
This fantastic arrival on Matagalpa's dining scene will be a godsend to travelers bored with typical nica cuisine, with curry and teriyaki-based dishes,…
Must-see restaurants in Northern Highlands
Estelí
This friendly cafe with comfortable seating and a laid-back atmosphere serves up burritos and fajitas with a kick and organic salads direct from the…
Northern Highlands
This lovely new place gets it all just about right: friendly staff, hip decor, excellent coffee (yes, competition is stiff here) and a scrumptious menu…
Northern Highlands
Step through the majestic wooden doors of this lovely old adobe house and enjoy a delicious traditional Nica meal in a wonderfully social atmosphere,…
Estelí
Given the seriously weak dining scene in Estelí, 'Farm to Table' comes as a wonderful surprise. Helmed by American chef Darren, a warm and passionate host…
Matagalpa
This fabulous little ice-cream parlor sets the tone with its pink screen doors, checkerboard floor and hipstery hanging lights. It may be serving a rather…
Northern Highlands
This friendly Italian restaurant is filled with plants and decorated with maps and local handicrafts. Its menu includes good thin-crust pizza and a range…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
Matagalpa
The White Cat has a rather dark and unappealing interior, but the tables in the little courtyard out front are far more inviting. The food here is varied…
Estelí
Stack your plate high at this popular fritanga (grill) that’s based upon the tried-and-tested marriage of tasty barbecued meats and ice-cold beer. The…
Matagalpa
Part fritanga (grill), part Mexican diner, this hugely popular hybrid serves up impossibly tender BBQ beef, tangy chicken and ribs from the grill, as well…
Northern Highlands
Soda El Tico is a classic steam-table buffet with steak, pork loin and grilled chicken served with a tasty salad bar. You can also order a variety of…
Estelí
A tasty Cuban diner with a lovely 2nd-floor veranda serving deliciously messy pressed sandwiches, tasty smoked chicken, pork chops and ribs. Also a…
Matagalpa
This quasi-hipster joint serves up a delicious selection of simple Mexican dishes, including a damn fine burrito. The eponymous guacamole is also worth…
Northern Highlands
This cafe-restaurant above Soda El Tico feels just a tad too stylish for hard-working Jinotega with its attractive wrought-iron tables, big sofas, hanging…
Northern Highlands
A popular spot that serves plates of comida típica (regional specialties) on plastic tables that can be easily jettisoned – which is what happens when…
Estelí
Often packed at lunchtime, this spacious diner offers up restaurant-quality buffet meals, including ribs, fried fish and jalapeño chicken, at a budget…
Matagalpa
This local institution serves up flavorful authentic Italian dishes at low prices in a relaxed bistro atmosphere. The thin-crust pizza is some of the best…
Matagalpa
Enjoy cheap, authentic Mexican food prepared by the owner/chef from Guadalajara and served in a casual dining area. It comes out fairly tame but hot sauce…
Northern Highlands
The smartest restaurant in town, Ocotal’s succulent staple serves up big portions of top-quality meals. Being an agricultural town, the menu is focused on…
Northern Highlands
This steam-table buffet deluxe is your best breakfast and lunch destination, where trays of fluffy pancakes, gallo pinto (rice and beans) and scrambled…
Matagalpa
Just a US$2 cab ride from the city center, this snazzy dining room is where Matagalpa’s business elite take their long lunch hour. You’ll be forgiven if…
Northern Highlands
A cheap fritanga (grill) with a difference: the stock-standard fluorescent lights and plastic chairs have been replaced with mood lighting and wooden…
Northern Highlands
The most scenic spot for lunch on the lake, with a view towards some nearby islands, La Marina has tables right up by the water where they'll serve you…
Northern Highlands
Pretty much the only alternative to regional dishes in town, this friendly restaurant serves up surprisingly decent pizza with a smile, albeit with a…
Northern Highlands
A very surprising discovery just a couple of blocks from the Parque Central, this gleaming temple to coffee serves up a range of breakfasts as well as…
Matagalpa
The best-loved steam table in Matagalpa. Take your pick from dozens of options, including chorizo and eggs in the morning and perfectly caramelized…
Estelí
Every Friday morning farmers from the surrounding hills come down to Estelí and set up stalls on the north side of the park to sell fresh organic…
Northern Highlands
This bar-restaurant feels like something from the Wild West, but the food is actually pretty good. Choose from fish, chicken or beef in a variety of…
Matagalpa
A great Matagalpa steam-table buffet with all your Nica favorites and excellent frescos (fruit juices). High turnover means it is always fresh.
Estelí
A local institution that sells delicious cookies, cakes, donuts or local pastries stuffed with fruit and cream.
Northern Highlands
This humble comedor by the market serves cheap, filling Nica meals from a steam-table buffet.
Matagalpa
This excellent bakery serves tasty fresh pastries and excellent local coffee to a dedicated clientele.
Northern Highlands
Jinotega's favorite cheap eats are found at this unpretentious steam-table buffet. Pounce on a vacant table and take your pick from beef, chicken and pork…
Estelí
Estelí’s municipal market is always stocked with amazingly fresh produce and plenty of street-food stands if you want the cheapest possible meal in town.
