We are staying at the Tabacon next week for three nights. We would perfer not to eat there, besides maybe a couple of times. My question: Is there places close by that we could eat lunch/dinners at, perhaps walking distance to Tabacon? We will not have a car.

Thank you all again for the nice sentiments and the great info all of you have given us about our honeymoon in our earlier posts.

I don't believe there is anything within walking distance but you could easily get a cab to take you to various places. One restaurant we enjoyed was El Novillo - simple but good Costa Rican food with a great volcano view.

I second el novillo. You could probably walk to it, but with the sudden downpours and crazy drivers I wouldnt do it. Cab is the way to go. Tabacon has an on site restaurant, but dinner is not that great. Breakfast there is good though.

We enjoyed dinner at Las Brasitas, a Mexican restaurant with delicious food, great atmosphere & reasonable prices. It was one of our favorate restaurants. In La Fortuna, we ate at El Jardin: good food & reasonable prices. Seemed to be a lot of locals eating there.

Jonesy1 : What type of dining experience and food suits your taste?

Have you stayed at Tabacon before, or would you like some tips in another posting later? We were there for two nights a week ago.

When at Tabacon, you won't want to take the ankle express anywhere, however, their shuttles and/or a taxi will be able to provide transport. Good Call : Unless you're employed in the disaster-preparedness industry, you won't be leaving a rental car in the parking lot unused.

The breakfast from 6-8am at Tabacon is paid for and is quite comprehensive. While the menu varies daily, even vegetarians are happily fed. Fresh fruit blended drinks made to order. Omelettes made to order. Many thoughtful dishes are offered at this buffet.

The area surrounding the base of Volcan Arenal has one primary road that will take you to Fortuna. Along the way, and in Fortuna itself, there are many restaurants.

One Monday night, we ate by ourselves at the Restaurante Steak House Arenas (10 mins toward Fortuna) with a covered dining area that has only two walls. It is not possible to close off the restaurant, ever. This is possible with the low crime rate there. No view here. T-bone was excellent, with platinos, rice, steamed vegetables, jalapenos, tortillas, baked potato. Banana Flambe dessert. Clean, clean, clean, medium-sized, safe. Drought-resistant landscape out front reminded me of New Mexico. 2.5 stars(?). My woman thanked me for "renting out the whole place just for us!" wink. $45 USD total.

For lunch one day, we ate at the covered, but open-walled Restaurante Rancho La Casdcada (near the Banco Nacional in Fortuna). The roof similates a volcano cone, maybe 35 feet high(?). Interior is an architectural wonder in radial bamboo supporting the roof. Perimeter of nterior has flags of the nations on display. Great sopa de mariscos (seafood soup), lomito japapeno (steak) w/string beans, rice, etc., peach melba & fruit blends. Clean, large, safe. 2.5 stars(?) $17 USD total.

The restaurant at the Volcano Lodge has views of the volcano and is 5 minutes from Tabacon. The structure similates a volcano. We had a beer here between meals, so I cannot grade.

A 30-minute ride to Linda Vista del Norte Lodge & Restaurant is totally worth it for the view over Lago Arenal and of another 130 degrees of the volcano. ALSO is an undeniably great choice if you do the Canopy Tour and Zip Lines at SkyTrek / SkyTram - located 10 minutes(?) away on the same road. Maybe you pay $40-45 per person for the ZipLines, but not more, okay?

Fermin and his wife's family own and operate this place. We had Tilapia Menrere (white fish), Pollo Salsa Tropical (chicken), Mango juice, etc. Clean, safe. 2.5(?) stars. $16 USD total.
On the day we were there, a hummingbird landed in the restaurant. Fermin held it long enough for pix. Also, many hawks(?) or eagles(?) flying near the cliffs and are visible from dining area.

For a number of reasons which compounded upon each other, one night we ate dinner (after their buffet restaurant was no longer seating guests) at the swim-up bar at Tabacon - but not on the water side as this is not permitted. There are stools on the dry side where we ate. Not a bad thing, but not my first choice.

My strongest gringo recommendation is to dine where you can have an authentic CR experience, as the Tabacon environment is so insulated from reality. That's not a slam; we WILL return next year. I just like my vacations a little less slick. I prefer to weave myself into the fabric of the environment. Jacqueline, on the other hand, isn't as "granola".

One place not mentioned is the Lavarock restaurant in la Fortuna south of the catholic church, it isn't a very romantic restaurant but the food is always good for reasonable prices. It's one of our favourates in La Fortuna.
Have a nice time in Costa Rica!!