2 Best Restaurants in Costa Rica

This burst of northern Indian flavor is a surprising treat. Richly swathed in warm fuchsias, red ochers, and golds, the mansion's dining area sprawls through a handful of small, intimate rooms and out to a gazebo in the tree-covered backyard. The price-to-portion ratio is a little high, particularly for North Americans used to good, cheap Indian food, but the sharp tandoori dishes, curries, and biryanis are a welcome vacation from ubiquitous European and American fare. Vegetarians may swoon at the options. Helpful waiters, in black or maroon traditional Punjabi dress, are frank about recommendations.

Indian cooking is difficult to find in Costa Rica, as are gluten-free dishes, but this family-owned restaurant serves both well. The exhaustive menu is a trip around India, from the northern palak paneer to the variety of South Indian dosa pancakes. Ask the helpful wait staff for recommendations or any questions about dietary requests. You’ll also find an Indian Palace branch in Heredia out in the Central Valley.