197 Best Restaurants in Costa Rica

Spice up your day with skewers of Indonesian satays and generous bowls of peanutty pad Thai and red or green curry at this hip open-air caravansary under a high corrugated-metal green roof. The kitchen, in a converted bus, turns out portions large enough to share. Craft beers are on tap, along with organic kombucha. Less healthy but also fruity is the signature cocktail, a jalapeño-spiced pineapple margarita. Service is as polished and friendly as the long, wooden communal tables. It's open from 12:30 to 8:30 Friday–Sunday, and 5:30–8:30 pm Monday–Thursday.

Cool off inside or relax outside on the deck at this little gem on the beach, the perfect spot to replenish the reserves with some healthy food or a good cup of coffee while you watch surfers ride the waves. Pico has the best Wi-Fi in town, so if you must look at your computer on your vacation, do it from here.

This cheerful, family-run café comes with an authentic pedigree: the Colovattis are from Trieste, and the pizza is simply the best in the area. The crust is toasty crisp on the outside and chewy inside, topped with high-quality fixings and sauce made fresh every day. Calzones and homemade pastas are also on the menu, but pizza reigns supreme. Eat in the dining room—the fresh blue-and-white decor is reminiscent of the owners' hometown on the Adriatic Sea—or order takeout and bring your meal back to your hotel. The restaurant's rather odd name refers to the fact that this building used to be the post office.

Pastas and meat entrées are on the menu, but the real draw here is the 30 varieties of thin-crust pizza whipped up and served with style by a gregarious Italian family from Ravenna. The Cuatro Quesos (four cheeses) with mozzarella, Gorgonzola, Parmesan, and fontina is the most popular. These folks do a brisk carry-out business, too. Note that prices do skew higher here than for a comparable "family pizza night" back home.

Wildly popular, this casually chic, alfresco pizzeria on a quiet side street has plenty of cars parked outside most nights, with patrons inside feasting on the consistently delicious thin-crust pizzas. Families are especially fond of La Baula (the Costa Rican name for the leatherback turtle) because of its reasonable prices, noisy buzz, and adjacent playground and picniclike dining area.

To sample the crème de la crème of locally made ice cream, head to Pops. After a long walk on crowded sidewalks, it may be just what the doctor ordered. Mango is a favorite flavor. You'll find several outlets downtown, as well as around the metro area and the country. This longtime Costa Rican institution is now Colombian-owned.

Surrounded by a plethora of delightful potted plants you'll indulge in bowls of delicious, nutritious food at this eponymous eatery. The menu is divided into sweet (acai bowls, waffles with homemade caramel-fruit syrup, chia pudding) and salty (teriyaki chicken bowls, orzo miso with mushrooms, spinach, coconut milk, and goat cheese), so there's something for whatever you're craving. Tuna poke is exceptional. The charming attached store sells pots, bowls, and other sweet and unique souvenirs, and you can grab a cold-pressed juice for later.

This brewery tasting room serves tasty American-style pub grub. Sit in the modern warehouse setting, or belly up to the bar inside and try a beer flight to go along with your burger or sandwich. They host barbecues on weekends and open jam sessions every Wednesday. 

This seafood-forward Caribbean-fusion restaurant focuses on the slow food concept, incorporating organic vegetables and fresh seafood into their cross-continental menu featuring Pad Thai and Italian-style pasta alongside specials like shrimp croquettes and fish cannelloni. The atmosphere is just as eclectic as the menu—dripping candles haunt tabletops beneath a fishing net of twinkle lights, the mood brightened by the bubble gum--pink paint job and mismatched lightbulbs dangling throughout the dining room.

Just outside Cahuita, this breezy roadside restaurant is worth pulling over for. The menu features Caribbean classics like rice and beans with grilled red snapper and succulent preparations of smoked chicken or pork in savory coconut salsas, and each dish presented with a tropical flair.

The menu here at this upscale countryside spot is predominantly Costa Rican, with such traditional specialties as trucha (trout) and rice with chicken, along with some more sophisticated dishes, like corvina (sea bass) fillet with a coconut-liqueur sauce. The Sunday típico buffet is a great introduction to Costa Rican cooking. Decorated with vintage photos of early-20th-century buildings and landscapes, this upscale restaurant teaches a history lesson of the region. The photos also document the disastrous 1910 earthquake that rocked this area and all but destroyed the colonial capital of Cartago.

On a porch with a palm-fringed beach view, this thatched-roof restaurant is open year-round and has an eclectic menu ranging from cheeseburgers and shrimp to chicken cordon bleu and pasta dishes. There's a touch of Thai here, too; one of the most popular dishes is mahimahi in a coconut-curry sauce. The hearty bar food includes chicken wings, and there are barbecue specials on Friday nights. Homemade desserts are decadent and delicious, including a standout carrot cake, and a rich dark-chocolate brownie. Breakfasts are huge and hearty, featuring giant burritos. Credit cards are accepted but incur an extra 5% fee.

The aroma of baking bread is irresistible as you pass this German bakery, just south of the Liberia airport, whose baked goods are delivered all over the peninsula. The display case is filled with tempting strudels, Bundt cakes, and flaky fruit pastries. The cheesecakes and cinnamon rolls are so soft and moist, you might lose your fork. There is also a full-fledged restaurant, serving everything from wood-fired pizzas to fish sandwiches. Vegan and gluten-free choices are offered here as well. The menu is huge, and so are portions. The German owner has made sure that Deutsche classics hit the table, including bratwurst with sauerkraut, pork schnitzel, and hearty dark breads. The restaurant also has a gluten-free menu, a beer garden, and playground. It's open daily from 7 am to 8 pm.

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.

Dine amid tall pines and colorful flowers on the upper slopes of Poás Volcano. There’s a small menu of traditional tico dishes that includes platters of gallos (homemade tortillas with meat, cheese, or potato filling) as well as delicious daily specials. The refrescos (fresh fruit drinks) are top-drawer, especially the ones made from locally grown fresas (strawberries) and moras (blackberries) blended with milk.

Perched on a ridge several miles north of town, El Mirador has a sweeping view of the Central Valley that is impressive by day but more beautiful at dusk and after dark. Get a window table in the dining room, or one on the adjacent porch if it isn't too cool. The menu, which includes lomito (tenderloin) and corvina (sea bass) served with various sauces, and several shrimp and chicken dishes, plays second fiddle to the view; you may want to stop in around sunset for drinks and appetizers instead of dinner. There are at least two other restaurants nearby with similar names and views—this is the one we recommend. It’s on the main road, close to the Buena Vista Hotel.

Dating back to 1983, this open-air restaurant across the street from the beach serves some dishes you'd be hard-pressed to find in other casual beach-town places. Request one of the outdoor tables under the bamboo dome and dine on dishes like fish croquettes in a lemon sauce, grilled tuna in mango sauce, and clams au gratin. Sea bass in a heart-of-palm sauce, lobster, and tenderloin are a few of the main dishes. 

A permanent exhibition of local art and the expertise of the owner make this a worthwhile stop. This pleasant family-style restaurant has the usual midscale Costa Rican fare, ranging from fast food to filet mignon. The house specialty is beef tenderloin topped with a Spanish-inspired red-wine-and-mushroom sauce. Casados and gallo pinto compete with more-familiar chicken and seafood dishes. Even paella is on the menu (with three hours' notice), and there's homemade apple pie for dessert.

This is a good place to stop for lunch when you need a break from shopping, with a variety of steaks, spicy chorizos, arroz con pollo (rice and chicken), and soups—we recommend the maize soup—on the menu. You might not expect it in this mix, but the pizza is pretty good, too. Service is leisurely here (that’s a nice way of saying “slow”) and the time is lengthened in proportion to the number of tour buses in town that day.

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. 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 ceviches. During the day kids can frolic in the swimming pool and adults can order spicy-tropical barbecued chicken wings. If you've had one too many cocktails, you can see if a room is available in the airplane that operates as a bed-and-breakfast.

Robin's is famous for homemade ice cream in an array of tempting flavors—the Mayan Chocolate is a standout—along with refreshing tropical-fruit sorbets. This casual patio café also serves breakfast all day and lunch and dinner options like overstuffed veggie quesadillas, pad thai rolls, and yummy vegan veggie burgers. Locals line up to buy the dense, fudgy brownies when they come out of the oven. Gluten-free brownies and cookies are also on offer.

After 20 years at mountain top, Ronny is still climbing high at this open-air venue where a spectacular sunset view comes with friendly, attentive service and a tempting menu. Typical tico dishes include sopa negra (black-bean soup), ceviche, shrimp and fish on a skewer, and filet mignon wrapped with bacon and topped with a mushroom sauce. Up a long road, this is the best place in town to soak in the ocean views—especially when accompanied by a glass of their famous tropical sangria or cocktail in a coconut. If you arrive early, check out Ronny's gift shop, and if you stay late, ask about availability in the studio apartments. 

This favorite with sportfishermen ("You hook 'em, we cook 'em") is the town's best place for seafood, serving everything from shrimp scampi to fresh tuna with mushrooms to fried snapper and orange chicken. If you're looking for burgers or tacos, you'll find them on the menu featuring also American and Mexican classics. Their location, overlooking the marina, offers the best view in town. You won't find any billfish (like marlin or swordfish) on the menu, owing to the restaurant's conservation policy, but the back wall is covered with pictures of them—and their proud reelers. Weathered fishing caps hang from the bar's ceiling. 

This health hub in the heart of Samara has everything to make your vacation green and full of goodness. A juice bar, falafel stand, fitness center, and health-food store are just a few of the offerings where you can grab baked goods, fruits and veggies, jams, cheeses, and plenty of gluten-free and vegan goodies to go.

The chefs at this popular corner restaurant have mastered Thai cuisine with a Costa Rican twist, starting with the ginger fish, cashew chicken, pad Thai, and green curry that will have you planning your next vacation to Thailand. Daily specials are the way to go, based on the freshest catch of the day and creative sides like papaya salad or pineapple rice. Vegetarian and gluten-free dishes are plenty. Request your own level of heat and cool down with a refreshing cocktail. The patio seating with basket lamps is the ideal platform for sunset views while macaws fly across the horizon.

If you're in the mood for something more Mediterranean head to this open-air Greek restaurant for some moussaka or the fresh catch of the day prepared Greek-style—fried whole and served with potatoes and Mykonos salad. The dolmades, gyros, hummus, and falafel are authentically mouthwatering, and there are gluten-free and vegan options, just ask your server. You must try the desserts with homemade pistachio ice cream. 

Come for the ocean views, stay for the bounty of Costa Rican cuisine. The chef here uses local favorites like chayote and hearts of palm, as well as the usual mahimahi and tuna, in innovative and delicious ways. Try to get a sunset reservation, when the infinity pool is set on fire (yes, fire) to match the colors of the sky.