Answers
"La Luz, inside hotel Alta, has excellent breakfast and lunch. (I'm sure dinner, too, just haven't had it). The property is modern and beautiful as well and really doesn't feel like you're in a big congested city."
"La Criollita is a well-known casual restaurant in San Jose offering plates of classic Costa Rican dishes."
"La Luna restaurant at Gaia hotel is also a great option! I see the comment below already suggested ❤️🌱"
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Considerations
Location
Cuisine
Price Range
Atmosphere
Vegan and Vegetarian Options
Sources
About this article
Composed Feb 24, 2023 by
V. S.
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Source: "20 Best Restaurants in Costa Rica for 2023 (Top..." (from web, familydestinationsguide.com)
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La Criollita — San José
- Casual restaurant in San Jose offering plates of classic Costa Rican dishes
- Bright walls filled with framed art, traditional flavors that come in huge servings
- Try the Huevos Rancheros a la Criollita paired with some Orden Maduro Pequena
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Lizard King Café — Puerto Viejo de Talamanca
- Well-known morning cafe and restaurant located inside the Lizard King Resort
- Natural aesthetic and homey atmosphere
- Try the Huevos Rancheros, Burritos with special salsa, and the Marlin & Pineapple Kabobs with coconut rice
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Grano de Oro Restaurant — San José
- Sophisticated restaurant offering Costa Rican fusion eats in Hotel Grano De Oro
- Elegant dining space and romantic courtyard
- Try the Napoleon de Hongos as an appetizer, Ensalada Frisee, Sopa Pejibaye, Tagliatelle di Gragnano con Huevo Pochado a 65°C, Corvina Cardamomo, and Tres Leches for dessert
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La Pecora Nera — Puerto Viejo de Talamanca
- Casual open-air restaurant known for its Authentic Italian recipes
- Resort-style rustic vibes with an open-air design and thatched roof
- Try the Italian Ham and Cheese Dish, Ricotta and Potato Ravioli in Pink Sauce, and Margherita pizza with Homemade Vanilla Ice Cream
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Product C (Permanently Closed) — Mal País
- Casual seafood restaurant near the Mal Pais and Santa Teresa beaches
- Refreshing dishes and convenient location
- Try the Sirena Bowl, Mermaid Water
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Tin Jo — San José
- Elegant Asian restaurant housed in a colonial mansion
- Mixing Latin American design with Asian details
- Try the Vegetarian T-Ramen, Steamed Shrimp Wontons, Adobo Pork Rib Mila, Sauvignon Blanc, and Sorbet Sampler
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Le Monastère (Permanently Closed) — San José
- Stunning fine dining restaurant found on a hillside overlooking the city of San Jose
- Two-story floor-to-ceiling windows look out to the bright city lights
- Try the
"Grano de Oro Restaurant is a sophisticated restaurant offering Costa Rican fusion eats in Hotel Grano De Oro."
"Experience fine dining in Costa Rica when you spend your meals inside the elegant dining space or out in the romantic courtyard of this restaurant."
"La Criollita is a well-known casual restaurant in San Jose offering plates of classic Costa Rican dishes."
None
"Casado is a perfect midday meal of Costa Rica and also a famous dish. Cooked a Rica and roasted beans with pasta salad, a slice of meat ( chicken, fish, beef )."
"The food from Costa Rica is very refreshing and delicious, not like the other Latin American country that serves only tacos, burritos, and quesadillas. Costa Rica is known for its amazing natural beauty and national parks. However, they also are famous for their traditional Costa Rica elegant cuisines. Going out to eat on the streets of Costa Rica is too expensive."
"Gallo Pinto is the national dish of Costa Rica. The locals usually eat-in breakfast & you find a flavourful version of the dish in most Costa Rica restaurants and local diners."
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Restaurante El Coloso
- Located in Arenal/LG
- Had a great casado
- Husband said burger was amazing
- Great service
- Super affordable
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Ecotermales
- Located in Arenal/LG
- Had amazing food
- Expensive because it’s a package thing for the hot springs (which you should do anyway!)
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Tiquicia
- Located in Arenal/LG
- Great ceviche
- A little pricier
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The Tree House
- Located in Monteverde
- Expensive and just okay
- Cool view (built around tree)
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Don Luis Pizza
- Located in Monteverde
- Good but also expensive
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Cafe below the Magic Mountain hotel
- Located in Monteverde
- Great pastries and coffee
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Ronny’s Place
- Located in Manuel Antonio/Quepos
- Above average food
- Would have been great view
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Rico Tico
- Located in Manuel Antonio/Quepos
- Connected to Si Como No
- Amazing food and service
- Most expensive meal
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Parador in Manuel Antonio
- Located in Manuel Antonio
- Great food
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La Lambretta Pizzería
- Located in La Fortuna
- Gluten free pizza was amazing
- Great view
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Restaurante Silvestre
- Located in San Jose
- 8 course tour though Costa Rica from south to north
- The food was “fancy” but they don’t take themselves too seriously
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Chifa la familia feliz
- Located in La Fortuna
- Has really great vegan options
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Kappa Sushi
- Located in La Fortuna
- Has really great vegan options
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Sodas
- Traditional Costa Rican restaurants
- Serve hardy and delicious Costa Rican food
- Made of fresh ingredients
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Casado
- Traditional Costa Rican dish
- Usually eaten at lunchtime
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La Lambretta Pizzería
- Located in La Fortuna
- Gluten free pizza was amazing
- Great view
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Restaurante Silvestre
- Located in San
"Just get the casado if nothing looks particularly good. You can't go wrong!"
"It my absolute favorite"
"was good but also expensive"
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Bar Snoopy
- Best chuleta
- Good value
- Chill environment/ cool interiors
- Good cocktails
- Cheap beers
- Live music
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Taj Mahal
- Indian food
- Great patio
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La Luz
- Excellent breakfast and lunch
- Modern and beautiful property
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Sisso
- Israeli/Mediterranean food
- Excellent service
- Friendly owner
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El medeterranio
- Top notch food
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Miso
- Japanese food
- Only takes cash
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El Gaff
- Awesome food and craft beer
- Bacon and shrimp pizza
- Chicken fingers
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Staro Polska
- Authentic Costa Rican food
"Bar Snoopy. Little Bar/restaurant with the best chuleta I've ever had, and all their food is good!"
"Best chuleta? That's a good sell. Thanks!"
"El Gaff in San Pedro is a really nice place with awesome food and craft beer. I recommend you the bacon and shrimp pizza, it's the bomb.com!! And pretty standard, but their chicken fingers are reeeeeal good."
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Soda La Parada
- 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, expansive menu with over 100 items, great for kids, vegan, vegetarian options
- Traditional Costa Rican Arroz con Pollo, Vegetable Beef Stew, Taco, Tamales, Gallo Pinto
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Soda La Hormiga
- Open-air concept, traditional Costa Rican fare, super cheap
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Copo Snow Cone Vendors
- Vendors sell for about US $2 cash, traditional Costa Rican snow cone
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La Cascada
- Located on the southwest corner of the park, traditional Costa Rican food
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Bar/Restaurante Nene’s
- Locally owned, great for breakfast and hamburgers
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Restaurante Pura Vida
- Chinese-owned restaurant, American-style Chinese food
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Restaurante Cafe Pizza Mediterranea
- Pizza and pasta place, kid’s play place, fresh tomato bisque, wood-fired oven pizza
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Luigi’s Pizza
- Located across the road from the Catholic Church, white pizza is epic
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Vida Campesina Organic Farm and Cooking School
- Located on the road to the La Fortuna Waterfall, tour of the gardens and rancho, cooking class
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Don Rufino’s
- Fine dining establishment, upscale Costa Rican and world cuisine, extensive wine list
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Volcano Lodge and Springs
- Family-run hotel and restaurant, great food, full bar, view of the Arenal volcano
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Arenal Kioro Hotel Restaurants
- Sports bar, fine dining restaurant with incredible views, mid to high range price point
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Kalambu Hot Springs
- Tiny set of hot springs, admission fee can include a meal, huge portions
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Hotel Los Heroes
- Hotel/restaurant, Costa Rican fare, outdoor terrace, view of the Arenal Volcano
"If you are walking through the park in front of the Catholic church and see the “copo” vendor, you must stop for a try. A copo is a Costa Rican snow cone that vendors sell for about US $2 cash. First, the vendor shreds ice from a big ice block, then adds a scoop of powdered milk. He tops that with more ice, and then pours snow cone syrup over the top. Add sweetened condensed milk and a cookie straw- and you have a Costa Rican copo! It’s a delicious, refreshing treat that is quintessentially Costa Rican."
"Another popular spot downtown for many years in La Fortuna is La Cascada (which means the waterfall). It’s been tico-owned forever and is impossible to miss because of it’s big thatched
"This little restaurant has popped up in La Fortuna over the past year or so, and has quickly become a favorite with locals. It’s an open-air concept- you’ll arrive to seat yourself and order off the large menu on the wall. Service is no-nonsense, the food is traditional Costa Rican and super super cheap. This is probably the cheapest place to eat in La Fortuna. Located next to the Mega Super right downtown, with its own small parking lot. I highly recommend the fruit salad!"
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Casado:
- Typical restaurant lunch in Costa Rica
- Combines every flavor, every food group
- Perfect plate of food
- Often served with fried chicken, raw plaintain chileros (pickled with vinegar and jalapeños) on the side
- Can be vegetarian
- Rice, beans, and plantains
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Nasi Lemak:
- Malaysian equivalent of Casado
- Coconut rice, fried anchovies, boiled egg, peanuts, and cucumber slices, served with sambal
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Fresco de Cas:
- Greatest stuff on the planet
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Tapa Dulce:
- Better than hot chocolate
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Plantain:
- Fried plantain chips
- Often served with salsa as a snack
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Maracuyá/Marañon:
- Passion fruit and cashew fruit juice
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La guanabana:
- Sweet fruit drink
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Pollo Juancho:
- Fried chicken restaurant
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El Bebedero:
- Tasty water
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Mexican/PC Markets:
- Plantain chips available in packs
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Junk Food:
- Cookies and chips with subtle flavouring, sweet things not as sweet
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Vegetarian Restaurants:
- Available in Costa Rica
"The casado is the perfect plate of food. It has every flavor, ever food group, and I've only had a bad one once. There are only three occasions in my life where I've cleared my plate and ordered another entree (I'm 25). All three times were casados in Costa Rica. And not because it wasn't enough food. They're just that good."
"In all seriousness, tico food is great stuff, and their various drinks are to die for. I'll take tapa dulce over hot chocolate any day, and fresco de cas is the greatest stuff on the planet. Chan (frog eyes) is tasty, but you can keep the maracuya (cashew fruit? Could never figure out what it was. Can't drink it though.)"
"vegetarian casados are surprisingly good too. combined with a batido and im a happy hombre"
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La Fortuna:
- Yellow Bark
- Mercadito
- Tiquicia
- Chifa la Familia Feliz
- Tierra Mia
- El Chante Verde
- Don Rufino
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Manuel Antonio:
- Falafel Bar
- Shana
- La Luna
- Rico Tico
- El Arado
- El Patio de Cafe Milagro
- Claro Que Si
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San José:
- Árbol de Seda
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Google Maps:
- Use the “vegan” search filter to find restaurants with vegan options
- Kappa Sushi and Organico Fortuna in La Fortuna
- Varuna plant based restaurant, Falafel Bar, Emilio’s café in Manuel Antonio
- La Luna restaurant at Gaia hotel in Manuel Antonio
- Gallo pinto is a staple food, and is beans and rice, making it easy to find a filling vegan meal most places.
"second falafel bar. they're great even if you're not vegan"
"Gallo pinto is a staple food and it's beans and rice, so it's pretty easy to manage a filling vegan meal most places."
"Go on google maps, zoom into the city, type "vegan" in the search bar and hit enter. This will return restaurants that have the word "vegan" in their google reviews. It's very helpful for finding restaurants that have vegan options."
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Silvestre
- Costa Rican cuisine reimagined by a brilliant chef.
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Traditional or typical Costa Rican food
- Mercado Central in San José
- Burro Alegre restaurant
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La esquina de Buenos Aires (Argentinian)
- San Jose
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Tin Jo (Asian fusion)
- San Jose
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Furca (Argentinian)
- Rohrmoser
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Trattoria Faina (Italian, simple but GOOD)
- Rohrmoser
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No Dally (Korean)
- San Jose
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Plaza Tempo (upscale outdoor food court)
- Escazu
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Chancay (Peruvian)
- Escazu
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Il Pescatore (Italian seafood)
- Escazu
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Plaza España (tapas)
- Escazu
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Bacchus (Italian)
- Santa Ana
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Al Tapas (tapas)
- Santa Ana
"Al Tapas (tapas)"
"Bacchus (Italian)"
"Chancay (Peruvian)"
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Pangas Beach Club
- Had really good food and drinks
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Coco Loco
- 30 min drive to Coco Loco in Flamingo
- Unique and delicious food
- Great place to watch the sunset
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Little Lucha
- Excellent tacos
- Cozy place
- Tuesdays are rather busy
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La Oveja Negra
- Has live music just about every night
- Has falafel place next to it with good food
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Selina
- Has a hostel-ish vibe
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Patagonia
- Good food
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Sharkys
- Popping when people visited
- Dancing and beer pong tourneys
- 20s to 30 crowd
"Also a 30 min drive to Coco Loco in Flamingo, truly unique and delicious food, and a great place to watch the sunset. IMO one of the best restaurants in Costa Rica."
"Coco Loco for the win! Sadly they burned down about 6 weeks ago but the community rallied behind them and they got back up and running last week!"
"La Oveja Negra has live music just about every night. Idr the name, but the falafel place next to it is pretty good."
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Soda la hormiga
- Good local food
- Get the tacos
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Organico Fortuna
- Loved by reddit user
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Lake Arenal Brewery
- Great beers and food
- Perfect view of the lake and surrounding area
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La Caribena
- Get the fried red snapper
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Snappers
- Get the mussel apps
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Don Rufino
- Most expensive/coveted in the area
- Local/organic beef
- Red Frog Coffee Roasters
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Bongos
- Typical foods
- Sooooo yum
"Just went to a place called Bongos with a lot of typical foods. Sooooo yum."
"Don rufino - it’s the most expensive / coveted in the area, but it’s certainly not USA expensive - it’s like a $30 filet mignon - all local / organic beef of course"
"Lake Arenal Brewery has some great beers and food. Not to mention a perfect view of the lake and surrounding area."