• Botaniko (Escazú): Argentine chef Sebastian La Rocca was once the right-hand man of England’s Jamie Oliver before moving to Costa Rica. Botaniko combines all of his favorite culinary traditions under one roof:  a wood fired kitchen for grilled meats and vegetables, a speakeasy sushi bar, and a cocktail bar to showcase original creations.

    • Silvestre (San José): While San José has had modern restaurants before, contemporary Costa Rican cuisine was long missing. Opened in 2017 in a restored house in Barrio Amón with a maze of elegant dining rooms and a garden-filled courtyard, Silvestre’s playful tasting menus and adventurous drink pairings promise new insight into the possibilities of Costa Rican foo

    • Papaya (Brasilito): Housed in a simple, unassuming roadside hotel, this lively little restaurant serves fusion cuisine, using the region’s freshest fish and seafood and other local ingredients, influenced by Asian and Latin American styles. 

    • Pangas Beach Club (Tamarindo): Executive chef Jean-Luc Taulere had a long, successful run in Playa Flamingo before moving to this relaxed, elegant restaurant. He combines his Catalan heritage with classical French training; fresh local ingredients; and a mix of local, fusion, and Asian influences. 

    • Lola’s (Playa Avellanas): With a perfect setting on the sand and excellent hearty fare, Lola’s is among the best casual beachfront restaurants in the country. The ocean-loving namesake mascot—a pet pig—adds to the restaurant’s quirky charm. 

    • Playa de los Artistas (Montezuma): This place has the perfect blend of refined Mediterranean cuisine and beachside funkiness. There are only a few tables, so get here early. Fresh, grilled seafood is served in oversized ceramic bowls and on large wooden slabs lined with banana leaves. 

    • Graffiti Resto Café & Wine Bar (Jacó): From the small sushi bar in one corner to the graffiti-painted walls, this place is full of surprises. Pan-Asian cuisine blended with the chef’s Alabama roots and New Orleans training results in culinary wonders utilizing local ingredients and spices

    • Graffiti Resto Café & Wine Bar (Jacó): From the small sushi bar in one corner to the graffiti-painted walls, this place is full of surprises. Pan-Asian cuisine blended with the chef’s Alabama roots and New Orleans training results in culinary wonders utilizing local ingredients and spices.

    • Celajes (Monteverde): Overlooking Monteverde’s cloud forest not far from the reserve, this creative hotel restaurant sources ingredients from an on-site organic garden and the owner’s family farm, which they use in one of Costa Rica’s best cocktail lists, aside of their seasonal menus. 

    • La Pecora Nera (Cocles, near Puerto Viejo): Surprisingly fine Italian cuisine in a tiny surfer town on the south Caribbean coast. Your best bet here is to allow yourself to be taken on a culinary roller-coaster ride with a mixed feast of the chef’s nightly specials and suggestions.

    • Don Rufino (La Fortuna): In the heart of La Fortuna with bar stools right on the sidewalk, Don Rufino has blossomed into the La Fortuna area’s finest dining experience—and it’s not in a hotel! The eclectic menu includes everything from local rib eye and slow-roasted lamb to squash risotto and a Ruben sandwich.
    • Sikwa (San José): Inspired by Costa Rican biodiversity and indigenous traditions, chef Pablo Bonilla’s research driven restaurant will bring you in touch with native ingredients you won’t find anywhere else. More than just an exceptional restaurant, Sikwa acts as a cultural space, and a gallery of handicrafts and plants.
  • Casa Inti (Playa Grande, Guanacaste): Serving an eclectic mix of Peruvian and international flavors, this low-key restaurant, with a chalkboard menu, comes from an A-list chef who worked in top international restaurants but decided to leave the rat race and find solace in  solace in this quiet beach community. You can find solace with his perfectly executed ceviche and a pisco sour.

Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.