Arenal, Monteverde, and the Northern Lowlands Restaurants

We’ve compiled the best of the best in Arenal, Monteverde, and the Northern Lowlands - browse our top choices for Restaurants during your stay.

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  • 1. Celajes

    $$$

    In the wood-polished dining room of Hotel Belmar, this elegant restaurant, whose name means “sunset clouds,” is indeed the best place to admire the stunning views, with soft jazz and artisanal cocktails that set the tone for the farm-to-table menu. Start with the gorgeous cheese platter or the refreshing grilled-watermelon salad before moving on to the divine chicken stuffed with goat cheese, prosciutto, and spinach, and bathed in a white-wine-and-passion-fruit sauce. Although the tiramisu is big enough to share, after one bite you may suddenly become a little selfish. From 4:30 to 5:30, you can swing by for "Tico Time" featuring free appetizers, drink specials, and craft beers from their on-site microbrewery.

    4 km (2½ miles) north of town, adjacent to Monteverde Cloud Forest, Monteverde, Puntarenas, Costa Rica
    866-978–6424-from U.S. and Canada

    Known For

    • Local organic ingredients from the Belmar family ranch
    • Filet mignon with coffee glaze
    • Homemade pastas
  • 2. La Choza de Laurel

    $$

    The aroma of rotisserie chicken, porterhouse steak, and fresh fish bathed in garlic attracts passersby to this open-air restaurant a short walk from the center of town. Wooden picnic tables and a cigar shop storefront replicate an old Costa Rican village, adding a cultural touch to your meal. The menu is overwhelmingly large—as are portions—ranging from pastas and burgers to soups and salads.

    400 meters (1,312 feet) northwest of church, La Fortuna, Alajuela, 21007, Costa Rica
    2479–7063

    Known For

    • Banana splits served in a pineapple
    • Choza plate with chicken
    • Black bean soup with homemade tortillas
  • 3. Morpho's

    $$

    With its rain-forest murals, glass patios, and tree-stump tables, you’re never far from nature in this pleasant restaurant. Parsley potatoes, and creative sauces like pineapple curry, blue cheese, or bay-leaf-and-garlic sauce (a take on chimichurri) infuse the menu of flavorful chicken, pork, beef, or fish dishes.

    Santa Elena, Puntarenas, Costa Rica
    2645–7373

    Known For

    • Friendly service
    • Fresh salads
    • Peanut butter pie
  • 4. Pollo Fortuneño

    $

    This bustling open-air eatery has an extensive menu, but they specialize in wood-fired chicken and ribs. It's worth a stop to grab a rotisserie chicken if your room has a mini-refrigerator or a barbecue picnic lunch for your hike. Other items include a mashup of Costa Rican cuisine (ceviche, chicken and rice) and American favorites like burgers and nachos.

    Rte. 142, La Fortuna, Alajuela, Costa Rica
    2479--7475

    Known For

    • Fall-off-the-bone ribs
    • Delicious patacones (fried plantains) and dips
    • Pollo
  • 5. Rain Forest Café

    $

    Reasonable prices and excellent quality have made this café a traveler’s favorite, with meals ranging from churrasco (grilled meat) and empanadas to salads and sandwiches. There's typical Costa Rican casado (chicken, beef, or fish served with rice, beans, plantains, and salad) along with tempting desserts like chocolate pie, carrot cake, flan, and a variety of pastries. The free Wi-Fi and books-for-borrow might help you escape from reality, but the wall lined with bagged coffee for sale will remind you where you are.

    In front of Hotel Las Colinas, 125 meters (410 feet) south of park, La Fortuna, Alajuela, Costa Rica
    2479–7239

    Known For

    • Scrumptious macadamia cakes
    • Local coffee
    • Crazy Monkey smoothie made with banana, milk, cinnamon, and coffee
  • Recommended Fodor’s Video

  • 6. Restaurante y Pizzería La Parada

    $$

    This locals' favorite late-night eatery (open until midnight) does a brisk business serving pizza, pasta, nachos, burgers, and grilled fish. There's a buffet, if you'd rather just point and choose. The reasonable prices and convenience make this local cafeteria one of the more frenzied spots in town, so look elsewhere if you want some peace with your meal. This is a convenient place to stock up on snacks for long bus rides. ("La Parada" refers to the bus stop.)

    Across from Parque Central and regional bus stop, La Fortuna, Alajuela, 21007, Costa Rica
    2479–9098

    Known For

    • Quick, cheap food
    • Surprisingly impressive wine selection
    • Busy atmosphere

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