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Count on finding lots of fresh fish and tropical fruits on the menu, whether at a roadside soda (casual eatery) serving comida tipica (typical food) or a sophisticated restaurant in Dominical or Ojochal. Up in the mountains, don't miss out on eating fresh, farmed trout. The food at most remote eco-lodges is excellent.
Among the handful of sodas in town serving typical Costa Rican food, this one is notable for its affordably priced whole fish and hearty portions of seafood served on a breezy veranda. Stick to the desayuno típico for breakfast, with traditional rice and beans and eggs, starting at 7 am. The omelets are great, but they come with limp french fries, the bane of tico restaurants. There are three big TV screens to keep you company while you eat, and loud traditional music blaring from the rafters of the burlap-bag covered ceiling.
This simple alfresco restaurant in the heart of Puerto Jiménez is the most likely spot to meet locals and run into just about every visitor in town, making it a good place to pick up information. It serves decent comida típica, salads, pasta, reliably fresh seafood, and excellent fruit smoothies. For a taste of home, the menu has several "fast food" options ranging from burgers and hot dogs to tacos and chicken wings.
This pleasant terrace restaurant jutting out over the water has the best harbor view in Golfito, along with jaunty nautical decor and the coolest breezes in town. The seafood-heavy lineup includes grilled whole fish served in a variety of ways, including Caribbean style with coconut milk and a side of patacones (fried, mashed plantain). Tuna carpaccio and occasional sushi specials add a touch of sophistication. For a light lunch, the fish tacos are standouts—plenty of perfectly breaded and lightly fried fish plus fresh slaw and crispy calamari tossed on top. Salads are also on the menu, along with a few vegetarian dishes. The bar is a great place to hang out, particularly during televised sports events when fans gather to watch the two large flat-screen TVs. Grab a bucket of six beers for $12 all day long. Inexpensive, motel-style rooms and larger suites with the same view are available for rent.
This alfresco restaurant tucked beside a bona fide Boeing 727 (minus the engine) delivers generous portions of upscale pastas, succulent meats, and tasty fish and seafood, including Peruvian-style ceviches. During the day kids can frolic in the swimming pool and adults can order spicy tropical chicken wings. If you've had one too many cocktails, you can see if a room is available in the plane that operates as a BnB.
It's not always easy to find a great cup of coffee around Uvita, but the espresso here, brewed using organic coffee beans from the high-altitude Dota region, is excellent and ready by 7 am. Pair it with a homemade pastry for a heavenly morning. This hip café also serves salads, sandwiches, burgers, pizza, and divine desserts, including a tart lemon pie with clouds of perfect meringue topping. You also can buy Sibu's coffee beans to take home. Sit on the popular terrace and enjoy the free WI-Fi and laid-back vibe.
Bamboo decks the walls at this hilltop restaurant with a spectacular view of land and sea, but it's the upscale menu that grabs one's attention due to its innovative takes on fish, shrimp, chicken, and out-of-the-ordinary bar food. Crunchy, panko-crispy shrimp make appearances in salads and on their own, and the beer-battered sea bass keeps customers on repeat. Save room for homemade ice cream in unique flavors. Craft beers, cocktails, and wine are all on tap. The upbeat Canadian owner provides an enthusiastic welcome and makes sure everyone is happy. There's live music (Monday, Friday, Saturday at 6 pm) by local and guest musicians playing popular music for grown-ups, from oldies to jazz to country.
This perennially popular and casual surfer hangout is right across from Dominical Beach, which you can spy through a fringe of palm trees. Favorite menu items are the fresh-baked baguette sandwiches stuffed with interesting combinations and the excellent margaritas and flavored daiquiris, usually downed at the huge U-shape bar. Try the nachos, burgers, wraps, or coconut-crusted fish with a tropical sauce. Fresh-fish specials, notably the whole fried fish, round out the menu. Live bands or a DJ play from the stage, usually on Wednesday, Friday, or Saturday night. There's free Wi-Fi.
No worries if you can't decide between lunch or the beach, because you can get both at this cheerful, casual restaurant and beach club, complete with swimming pool and showers. Just steps from Playa Ballena, Villa Leonor allows you to stroll down to the beach between courses or chill out with ice-cold beer while the kids play in the pool. Typical casados are a bargain, with fish or chicken and lots of sides. Local lobsters, broiled in garlic butter, can be ordered ahead. The restaurant also offers mixed chicken and fish fajitas, excellent fruit smoothies, and tropical cocktails. Service is sprightly, and the friendly owners are usually on hand to greet customers.
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