Diners' Choice: Innovative restaurants in Costa Rica

OpenTable

Updated September 05, 2024

Looking for the best restaurants that are fit for foodies in Costa Rica? You’re in the right place. Each month, OpenTable analyzes nearly 2 million global diner reviews from the past four months. We sort the results by location and category to help you discover new favorite restaurants. It's a great partnership: you reserve, eat, and review. We listen...and deliver the results for all to benefit. Enjoy!

Restaurante Sofia - Tamarindo

4.9

4.9 (19)

$31 to $50

Mediterranean

Cabo Velas

About the restaurant

Restaurant with authentic Mediterranean cuisine, with recipes from 22 countries in Europe, Africa and the Middle East. Food prepared with love and local materials. Executive chef Mehmet Onuralp has completed internships in cuisines in different Mediterranean countries to bring authentic flavors to our table. Our concept not only includes gastronomy, but also health, the arts, conversation and the friendship that is born and strengthened around the table.
Fine Dining - Wines - Events - Terrace and Garden - Prívate Parking

Top review

Peggyvip

Dined on Sep 1, 2024

This is an exceptional restaurant. We were told it was great and it didn’t disappoint. Their menu has a very good variation. The restaurant is very pretty in a quiet area. All 4 of us thought our appetizers, mains and dessert were excellent. My husband’s gluten free and they handled that super well , their gluten free bread was incredible. We all liked it as the best bread. And the staff is super helpful in choices and are very attentive. This was our first choice in restaurants which so far this it has stayed! Nice walk from Diria but can take Uber or taxi. If you walk wear good non heel shoes

Meso

4.9

4.9 (19)

$30 and under

Mediterranean

Marina Papagayo

About the restaurant

Explore our newest restaurant and prepare your taste buds for “Mesoterranean cuisine,” an innovative blend of vibrant Mediterranean flavors with a touch of Mesoamerican influence, complemented with refreshing tropical renditions of classic Mediterranean cocktails. Located at Nacascolo beach at Casa de Playa.

Top review

Candace

Dined on Aug 10, 2024

We went for dinner service during tapas week and the food was excellent. I had the paella, my husband had the pork chop and our daughter had the pasta. We all loved everything. The server was incredibly attentive. We went at night so we didn’t get the view but loved the open air concept.

Amana

4.9

4.9 (43)

$30 and under

Contemporary Latin

San José

About the restaurant

A modern culinary concept that aims to combine local ingredients with techniques and preparations from across the world.

Located in Barrio Escalante, Amana offers an inviting, casual, and warm atmosphere right outside the heart of the capital; paired with creative dishes, attention to detail, and exceptional service.

Top review

Michael

Dined 6 days ago

Unusual variations on Cota Rican dishes. Attentive service.

Los Tres Mexican Bistró

4.8

4.8 (15)

$30 and under

Mexican

Santa Ana

About the restaurant

Los Tres®️ es un tributo al legado familiar de los tres Luis Alfaro: abuelo, padre e hijo, pioneros de la comida mexicana en Costa Rica desde 1972. Este restaurante nos transporta al pasado, presente y futuro, fusionando ideas de las tres generaciones. La alta cocina de asador y parrilla regiomontana está presente, empleando ingredientes de primera provenientes de nuestra huerta y proveedores especializados.

En Los Tres®️ te sentirás como en casa, en un espacio familiar que trasciende. Como bistró mexicano, combinamos la atmósfera acogedora y el servicio atento de un bistró con la rica tradición culinaria mexicana. A través de cada platillo y bebida, te brindaremos una experiencia única .

Top review

Sanjay

Dined on Sep 3, 2024

Excellent!! Food, staff, people, service, would definitely repeat again and again!

La Yerbatera

4.7

4.7 (81)

$31 to $50

Contemporary Latin

San José

About the restaurant

La Yerbatera

Restaurante clandestino en el corazón de San José.
Gastronomía y coctelería de autor.
Una experiencia gastronómica te dejarás seducir por las plantas e ingredientes tradicionales de nuestra tierra latinoamericana.

En la Yerbatera utilizamos prácticas ancestrales gastronómicas. Todas nuestras recetas son preparadas en el momento con productos orgánicos y cosechas del día. En nuestro menú encontrarás opciones veganas y vegetarianas.

La Yerbatera es recobrar las prácticas ancestrales y de nuestras abuelas que conocían la naturaleza y sus propiedades curativas. Es un viaje en el tiempo al momento en que las yerbateras nos curaban con sus deliciosas recetas medicinales.

Top review

Gary

Dined 3 days ago

This is an excellent and novel dining experience to be tried once. I think that subsequent visits are bound to disappoint as the novelty will no longer be there. The cocktails and food are creative but some of the dished, for example, the slow roasted pork ribs, could have been better executed. Also the tuna main course would have been improved by a higher grade of tuna, but as we live by the ocean perhaps our standards are impossibly high.

Silvestre

4.6

4.6 (809)

$30 and under

Latin American

San José

About the restaurant

Silvestre is a fine dining restaurant located in the heart of San José, Costa Rica. Chef Santiago Fernández offers a well-thought-out, curated small seasonal menu that brings you the freshest locally sourced ingredients. Silvestre is a worthy stop, as part of your exploration of the city, also perfect for a romantic dinner or to celebrate a special occasion. We also offer an impressive conceptual menú degustación about the Costa Rican soul, its flavors and everything in between.

Top review

OpenTable Diner

Dined 3 days ago

It’s a great exposure of fine local ingredients combined in fresh amazing dishes.

Isolina

4.6

4.6 (197)

$30 and under

Contemporary Latin

San José

About the restaurant

Ubicado en San José, Costa Rica.
Isolina es gastronomía actual en un lugar con historia. Nuestro concepto gastronómico cocina de autor. Una fusión de sabores, con influencias de diferentes regiones gastronómicas, utilizando producto fresco local.

Top review

Catalina

Dined on Aug 12, 2024

Food, wine and the overall experience was great. The staff was very professional and answered all the questions we had about the menu. The food was very tasty, better than what we expected. The wine list has interesting options by glass and by bottle.

El Hicaco Seafood

4.6

4.6 (31)

$31 to $50

Seafood

Jaco

About the restaurant

Este encantador restaurante de mariscos, ubicado en la pintoresca costa pacífica de Costa Rica, es un auténtico paraíso para los amantes del mar. Desde su inauguración en 1977, se ha ganado una merecida reputación por servir los mariscos más frescos de la región. Con vistas impresionantes del océano, el restaurante ofrece una experiencia culinaria única.

Su especialidad es la langosta viva, cuidadosamente preparada para resaltar su sabor y textura únicos. También puedes disfrutar de deliciosos platillos como el marisco pargo y el pulpo, todos preparados con ingredientes frescos de la zona y sazonados con sabores tropicales. La combinación de la brisa marina y la comida exquisita hace de este restaurante un lugar imperdible para aquellos que deseen explorar la auténtica cocina costarricense junto al mar.

Top review

ADBurkevip

Dined on Jul 17, 2024

The whole fried snapper with seafood sauce on the side was amazing. The grilled sea bass also received rave reviews. Fortunately for a July night the weather was great and view was beautiful.

Buchon Cantina

4.4

4.4 (51)

$30 and under

Wine Bar

San José

About the restaurant

Buchón es nuestra interpretación de una cantina de vinos en el corazón de San José. Tapas, una tienda fabulosa de botellas de vino y cócteles clásicos para pasarla muy bien.

Top review

OpenTable Diner

Dined 6 days ago

Brilliantly understated yet above par on all parameters. Value deal for the experience and can’t wait to go back. Everything was amazing but the cordero was something special.

Feroz Restaurante

4.3

4.3 (54)

$31 to $50

Fine cuts

Escazu

About the restaurant

¡EL buen comer y el buen beber inician en Feroz!
Restaurante ubicado en San Antonio de Escazú, San Jose, Costa Rica, rodeado de naturaleza y vegetación.

Nuestra cocina esta elaborada con los productos más frescos y de mejor calidad con le concepto Farm to Table, nuestro menú está basado en la cocina grill con los mejores cortes de carne del país

Nuestros sabores son audaces y nuestros cocteles son elaborados con los frutos y hierbas de sabores únicos que te transportarán a una experiencia feroz.

Contamos con fire pit que transforman tardes frías en cálidas, desayunos familiares y cenas románticas junto con el mejor servicio, generando una experiencia gastronómica inigualable que despertará tus sentidos ferozmente.

¡Te invitamos donde la pasión por la comida se vive de forma intensa y feroz!

Top review

Andrew

Dined 5 days ago

Dining at this magical restaurant is like reuniting with an old friend—elegant yet rustic, warm, and inviting. The food is a sensory masterpiece, each dish exquisite and meant to be savored. Cocktails are artfully crafted, and the service is simply outstanding. Every detail, from the ambiance to the impeccable menu, has been thoughtfully curated for a seamless experience. From the moment you enter to the final farewell, it’s enchanting. Congratulations to the owners for creating this culinary gem.

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