Back when I lived in Costa Rica I was able to do a lot of exploring. I also went back a couple of years ago to enjoy once more what it has to offer. During this time I was able to visit many restaurants. Out of all of them a few stood out to me for different reasons. So here is a list of four restaurants that I recommend visiting in Arenal and San Jose.
4 Resturant Recommendations in Costa Rica
La Parrilla de Maria Bonita
This is a small restaurant located 300 meters away from the central park of La Fortuna where you find international food such as soups, salads and hamburgers. However their specialty is grilled meat. They offer great meat cuts as well as wines. Their most popular dishes are the burger and the churrasquito.
The service, although a bit slow, is good. The chef even takes some time to visit customers at their tables whenever things aren’t too crazy in the kitchen.
The ambience is great for both, families and couples.
Restaurant la Terrasse
Photo by: La Terrasse
La Terrasse is a very elegant place that offers delicious French food. But as fancy as it might seem, it is still one of those places where you get to be taken care of by the owners, making the experience a lot friendlier and personal.
The ambience, decoration and service make it perfect for a romantic night out. And there is a good selection of wines to choose from.
Note that they don’t accept credit or debit cards. Plus the place is always full so a reservation is required.
Marisqueria Snapper’s House
Photo by: Snapper’s House
On the menu at Snapper’s you will find seafood, seafood and more seafood. This includes international dishes and some other traditional ones. It is a small restaurant and is far from being luxurious but the food is great, very flavorful and the prices are reasonable for the amount of food you get and its quality.
Note: The place is small, there are few tables and it tends to get filled up so try to get there early. Also ask about the sizes of the dishes because some are enough for two people.
Restaurante Grano de Oro
Grano de Oro also offers French food but their menu also has some other international and Costa Rican options. It is part of a luxury hotel in San Jose also called Grano de Oro. The decoration is very elegant and cozy. It is common to see couples dining here.
The staff seems like they have been well trained and are always smiling however service can be a bit slow.
The price might be a bit higher for the average Costa Rican restaurant but it is still within a good range.
