I'm leaving for Costa Rica this Saturday. These message boards are filled with excursion and hotel suggestions, but I haven't seen that much about restaurants and bars. Does anyone have any good suggestions for places to eat, drink, hangout, etc. while in San Jose, Arenal/La Fortuna and Manuel Antonio?

Your recommendations are much appreciated.

Thanks

Grano de Oro in San Jose has a very good restaurant on site. In MA, we liked Ronnie's Place/Mi Lugar, Cafe Agua Azul, Cafe Milagro, Salsipuedes, and Barba Roja was pretty good too. In Arenal, we liked El Novillo and La Choza de Laurel.

Add El'Avion to the above list in MA.

in Arenal

www.royalcorin.com

El Emperador

also

www.thespringscostarica.com

went to kapi kapi this year in MA - nice - and for a laid back, simple meal, the outdoor restaurant at Villas Nicolas is good - reasonable....if you go there, please tell Susan that Steph said hello! Agua Azul had good bar food and we heard ronnie's was good. Restaurants seem to change all the time....si como no used to have a really good restaurant but have heard mixed reviews...same w/ makanda....nice romantic setting but didn't try it this year....heard mixed reviews as well....heard ronnie's was good but never made it there...

Ronnie's has great fresh seafood and good sangria. My husband commented on how fresh his fish was, and they said it was just caught that morning. They're known for their lobster too. Good stuff! In MA, be sure you go out early enough to catch the sunsets; most of the restaurants have great views.

Thanks for the help. I'll let you guys know how my trip went when I get back.

I just got back from CR and I was shocked by how great the food was in Costa Rica -- some friends had told me it wouldn't be good. But I really liked the flavors and fresh fruit, etc.

In La Fortuna, you have to go to Las Brasitas. It's a Mexican/Costa Rican place. Very good and inexpensive. Also, try Don Rufinos -- it's Italian-influenced.

In MA, we loved Agua Azul so much we ate there 2 nights in a row. We also liked Salsipuedes and Barba Roja.

I wrote some more about it on my blog, if you're interested:
http://www.travelogged.com/travelogg...osta-rica.html

We loved El Novillo in Arenal - great steaks! Other than that, the best food (to us) was the local cuisine - we ate mostly casados which consist of rice, black beans, plantains, meat and usually a vegetable...YUM!