San José
This informal neighborhood health-food outpost has simple, organic-focused cooking and freshly baked bread and other niceties. Favorites include veggie…
Must-see restaurants in Costa Rica
Central Pacific Coast
Jimmy T's is a small deli store on the docks of the Los Sueños marina catering mostly to the yachting set, but it's stacked floor to ceiling with organic,…
Monteverde & Santa Elena
A bakery for birders. Come in the morning for strong coffee and sweet pastries, or later for rich, warming soup, and sandwiches on homemade bread. Plates…
Monteverde & Santa Elena
Ticos and travelers alike rave about this local joint. Look for tasty twists on the standard fare, such as olla de carne (beef soup), chorreadas Ticas …
Playa Tamarindo
Doña Rosa has been delivering top-notch casados from her late-model red Toyota hatchback for more than a decade. Her devoted Tico following lines up daily…
La Fortuna
When you’re surrounded by mountains and cattle farms, who’s thinking of sushi? Well, you should. The fish is fresh (you’re not that far from the ocean)…
San José
At this charming, alfresco restaurant attached to Hostel Casa del Parque, brunch is served all day, with dishes such as huevos pochados (poached eggs with…
Montezuma
When they say ‘pure food made with love,’ they mean it – this healthy cafe turns out vegetarian and vegan dishes such as veggie burgers, smoothies named…
Playa Sámara
Sylvia of Bergamo, Italy, runs this mainly vegetarian restaurant and all-natural cocktail bar, as well as the fish joint next door. Expect smoothies with…
San José
All four branches of this Escazú staple have the same delicious Costa Rican menu that everybody has always showed up for, including hearty casados,…
Mal País & Santa Teresa
The lone soda at this end of the coast revamped its menu in 2019 and now emphasizes seafood and paellas. But you can still eat a classic casado off a…
Península de Nicoya
On a nearly deserted stretch of beach, Henner serves up his secret-family-recipe ceviche, along with a catch of the day and piles of seafood out of a…
Península de Nicoya
Vegetarians and seafood lovers, rejoice! For the former, there are all-day breakfasts, power salads and falafel wraps. For the latter, there are seafood…
Liberia
An indoor-outdoor gastropub festooned with African masks and cat-themed art. In other words, the perfect place to sip a regional Guanaca beer (made with…
Monteverde & Santa Elena
Tramonti offers authentic Italian fare, specializing in fresh seafood, hearty pastas and wood-fired pizzas. With a greenery-filled dining room twinkling…
Northwestern Costa Rica
Nobody is saying that you should make a special trip to eat here. All we’re saying is that it’s a convenient pit stop with clean bathrooms, coffee to go,…
San José
Ventanita means 'little window' in Spanish and Meraki means 'artistry' in Greek. Together it's an accurate moniker for this hole-in-the-wall, to-go window…
San José
Sharing a sleek space with Kiosco SJO in Barrio Escalante, chef Camille Ratton's exceptional cafe serves a global fusion menu of soups, salads, sandwiches…
San José
This quaint cafe with towering cacti out front uses the fresh produce of Costa Rica to create innovative lunch specials, such as Vietnamese noodle bowls…
Playa Sámara
Ask anyone in Sámara where the best pizza in town is and they'll point you to this enchanting, tiki-style hotel, bar and restaurant at the southern corner…
La Fortuna
A lovely little family operation that preaches better living through better eating, and the proof is in the pudding (or maybe the falafel). Delicious,…
Monteverde & Santa Elena
In new digs with a killer sunset view, this double-decker restaurant is a favorite in Santa Elena for its varied menu combining local ingredients with…
San José
With dishes from nearly a dozen Latin countries, this open-air restaurant is a solid Barrio Amón option. Popular menu items include patacon pisao (a…
Cahuita
In the corner veranda of an old house, this cozy, candle-lit spot specializes in delicious red-wine-covered filet mignon, tenderloin and T-bone steaks…
Cahuita
Follow the wafting smell of garlic and simmering sauces to this highly recommended Playa Negra open-air restaurant-bar, where chef Norman has been serving…
Península de Nicoya
It looks like a boat, but it's actually a building, facing a sweet slice of sand on Playa Coyote (close to the T-intersection at the beach). Hokey,…
Península de Nicoya
The Fernandez family serves up simple yet scrumptious Tico fare in this airy open space. Just your basic casados, really (nine to choose from) as well as…
Caribbean Coast
This Colorado-style bar and restaurant is on Hwy 10 between Turrialba and Siquirres. Enter the laid-back roadhouse through swing doors, grab a drink at…
Uvita
South of Uvita on the road to Ojochal is this casual pizza joint, serving authentic Neapolitan pizzas cooked in a proper wood-fired brick oven. The dining…
Jacó
Upmarket yet casual, with tasteful pink-tiled walls, marble tables and vintage pendant lights, Amara is a supercute spot serving healthy Mediterranean…
Monteverde & Around
Just outside the reserve gates, the ‘Hummingbird Cafe’ is a top-notch spot to refuel after a hike in the woods. The drinks will warm your body, but the…
Playa Sámara
A favorite with locals, this is a dressed-up soda with tablecloths, faux-adobe walls and excellent food. The menu ranges from the expected (arroz con…
Restaurante El Yugo de Mi Tata
Caribbean Coast
It doesn't look like much, but there's a reason this joint is truck-stop heaven. Strategically placed just below Hwy 32's tortuous climb into Parque…
Puerto Jiménez
A spacious, covered, waterfront deck – ceiling fans spinning overhead – is the perfect place to feast on fresh grilled tuna, whole red snapper or tangy…
Puerto Viejo de Talamanca
Craving sushi? Head to this open-air Asian joint on Puerto Viejo's main street overlooking the beach and boats. Bonus raw-fish varieties include soy…
Northwestern Costa Rica
The finest local restaurant in Bijagua, offering tasty regional dishes like olla de carne (meat soup), lengua en salsa (tongue in sauce) and fried pork …
San José
An unpretentious ’50s-style diner with garish red-and-white decor, this place is perpetually filled with couples and families noshing on grilled…
Playa Tamarindo
Pastry chef Hervé is out to impress with dishes including creamy chicken vol-au-vent, moules marinière (mussels in white wine) and a passel of veggie…
Bar y Restaurante Los Laureles
Uvita
Adorable casual family-run restaurant serving mainly Costa Rican and Tex-Mex cuisine, with innovative favorites such as avocado hummus and nacho patacones…
Parque Nacional Manuel Antonio & Around
This cute wood-decked corner restaurant with jungle and ocean views does Thai classics well, from the zingy salads to the satay and tom yum soup. House…
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