Top Restaurants in Santa Elena
Top Things to do in Santa Elena
Where to eat Costa Rican food in Santa Elena: The Best Restaurants and Bars
Discover Restaurants offering the best Costa Rican food in Santa Elena, Province of Puntarenas, Costa Rica including San Lucas Treetop Dining Experience, Raulito's Pollo, The Green Restaurant, Restaurante Thomas & Thiago, El Jardin at Monteverde Lodge & Gardens, Restaurante Celajes at Hotel Belmar, Soda Bonanza, Restaurante Don Luis, Restaurante Sofia, Restaurante De Lucia
Things to do in Santa Elena
10. Restaurante De Lucia
Overall Ratings
4 based on 229 reviews
Restaurante De Lucia is one of the oldest and most renown restaurants in the Monteverde area with a little over 22 years since it opened it's doors to the public. It's a family owned business with a friendly and comfortable environment and a very nice loc
Reviewed By Don. T
Restaurante de lucia is a bit off the well traveled tourist road but definitely worth the short way on a dirt road. It is a quiet lovely, uncluttered dining room and our waiter was just the right amount attentive, available but not hover-y. However, what brings me to writing this review is that they have the best fish tacos I have ever eaten. Generous servings of pan fried to perfection, very fresh fish.
9. Restaurante Sofia
Overall Ratings
4 based on 297 reviews
Reviewed By TBoneTravels
We have been coming here for years; the variety offered and the excellent fruit shakes keeping bringing us back. Try the Maracuya (passion fruit milkshake- awesome!). The sweet potato & plantain soup is delicious as is any of the seafood main dishes. Highly recommend this place for such a variety of quality healthy dishes and a quiet ambience
8. Restaurante Don Luis
Overall Ratings
4 based on 573 reviews
Fusión y sabor contemporaneo!
Reviewed By MaozD
It doesnât happen too often to be surprised by food dishes in a restaurant. In Don Luis it happened twice and I wish weâd have a chance to for the 3rd time. Donât miss the Avocado salad, mango soup (amazing), Salmon with mango chimichurri , Hamburger with blue cheese, egg and avocado.
7. Soda Bonanza
Overall Ratings
4 based on 206 reviews
We offer you a Costarican gastronomic expirence. Local great cosine by Maria, Marcos and the amazing Sofia........ You will love meet Sofi she is the light of this great pleace.
Reviewed By 660bla_z
This place if falsely rated as a cheap restaurant so I guess it used to be, but is no longer. The stated price of an average main dish is 12$, I paid with a card with as he said no extra charge and I see now on the receipt that I actually paid 13.2$. The decoration and its cheap tables and chairs are like in a typical soda, but the prices are much higher than what you would pay in real sodas. The food otherwise was fine, but way overpriced.
6. Restaurante Celajes at Hotel Belmar
Overall Ratings
4 based on 260 reviews
Our lively Restaurante Celajes features splendid balconies overlooking the Pacific Ocean and offers inventive, farm to table, world-class dishes, created by our chef and served artfully by our warm and friendly staff. We use only the best local ingredient
Reviewed By nolanar
Stayed in the Belmar so a walk across from the rooms was very convenient.The road leading up is off road so will be a rocky ride for 300meters once off the main road .Interior is overwhelming of wood. Rather dark. The cocktails are excellent- some local concoctions.Terrible bread at the start- wheaty and sweat. The tuna crudo- excellent, scrimp ceviche- average.Lomo curador en Sal was too salty, grilled octopus was excellent again too salty.Cardamom and orange tart was excellent.Good Waitering. Food generally too salty!
5. El Jardin at Monteverde Lodge & Gardens
Overall Ratings
4 based on 323 reviews
The service style is personalized, informal, caring. Our food is what a Costa Rican grandmother would cook if she was also a creative and contemporary professional chef. The atmosphere is quiet,laid back and tranquil with an open fireplace. No background
Reviewed By niagara_chris
After careful research I booked this restaurant for our 25th anniversary dinner. My wife and I both liked the decor and found our waiter very polite. Unfortunately our food fell short of our expectations. There were a couple quirky things during our meal as well. I had ceviche and then the tuna main course. My wife had a tenderloin steak. The presentation of my appetizer was excellent and it tasted good. My main course was basically raw and tough, so I was unable to finish it. I actually like raw fish and sushi but the tuna just didn't work for me. Oh well, we were both in good spirits so it wasn't a big deal. I noticed my wife was working a bit to cut through her meat so I gave her my steak knife, which helped. She had to work at it a bit too much for the cut of meat she ordered, so it was a bit disappointing for her as well. Our super polite waiter had an accident and knocked over the wine/champagne bucket on a stand at the table beside us. The water and ice cubes all ended up on our feet and under our table. He was so embarrassed. We weren't upset or bothered, but he apologized about 5 or 6 times and then it got a bit awkward. Then he brought us two strawberry daiquiris after our meal was over, which seemed odd to me. I was drinking water during the dinner, so I just let it sit on the table until we left. We were thinking that offering a free desert of something like that might of been a nice gesture. No worries. I suspect this was just a miss on this night and at that time for this restaurant. If we hadn't already had great breakfasts and lunches and dinners elsewhere during our trip maybe I would have been a bit grumpier with our outing. I did not complain about the tuna, by the way, or ask to have it cooked more. I know that tuna is generally served med rare or rare. It was just raw and tough and I wasn't in the mood to complain. Too much in love, I guess to let a restaurant's off night spoil our anniversary dinner!Dear niagara_chris,We are very sorry to hear that we spoiled your anniversary dinner, please accept our sincere apologies.After we received your review, we were very worried because you were talking about some of the favorite dishes among our guests, so our executive chef, Federico Barrantes, decided to investigate. He usually travels a lot, but he spent the entire last week in Monteverde, using your feedback to re-train our kitchen staff in the different cuts of meat, cooking gradation and the correct use of the meat thermometer. He also explained to Carlos, your waiter that night, that even though to err is human, he only needs to apologize once when he makes a mistake, otherwise as you well put it in your review, it becomes awkward.Chris, we understand that you were celebrating your anniversary on that night, and exactly for that reason,we wish you had told us that you didn't enjoy dinner while you were still in the restaurant; we would have gladly done everything possible to make things right during your special celebration. Our guests feedback is what we appreciate the most because it helps us to improve.Please let us know if you are ever back to El JardÃn, we would love an opportunity to make it up to you.Sincerely,Jenn Dunn Guest Satisfaction Specialist
Santa Elena Food Guide: 10 Must-Eat Restaurants & Street Food Stalls in Santa Elena
4. Restaurante Thomas & Thiago
Overall Ratings
4 based on 381 reviews
Best food in Town Excellent prices Great service Parking area All our prices include Taxes
Reviewed By AlexF0289
Are here 1 night on a visit to monteverde and we were very impressed. Had the shrimp pasta and tuna steak with vegetables which were both amazing. Shared the tres leches cake to finish. An excellent meal and the staff were very friendly. Best food on our trip.
What to do and see in Santa Elena, Costa Rica: The Best Places and Tips
3. The Green Restaurant
Overall Ratings
4 based on 405 reviews
Own-Production. Fresh. Organic. Healthy. Local ingredients. Fusion & International Cuisines. The Green started in 2014 with a simple idea of offering excellent food with natural ingredients, together with a friendly environment where the "pura vida" that
Reviewed By Anil A
Loved this place. Very good food and reasonable prices. The size of portions was adequate. They also have a limited outdoor seating.
Top 10 Pizza food in Santa Elena, Province of Puntarenas, Costa Rica
2. Raulito's Pollo
Overall Ratings
4 based on 203 reviews
Reviewed By rowena17
We were in Monteverde only for 2 days and we enjoyed our meal so much the first day that we just had to go back for lunch the next day. The chicken was tasty and succulent, and the portion size generous. We could see the chickens being roasted on a spit in the kitchen. Raulitoâs versión of chimichurri sauce went very well with the chickenItâs a really casual place, with high chairs at the counter, or a couple of tables at the side. Excellent value for money. It was about CRC 2,875 for chicken with one side (options of papas fritas, arroz or pinto). I had just the chicken with a tortilla and thatâs about CRC 2,300. Service was prompt and the owner, Señor Raul, is really friendly. Totally recommend if you are looking for a tasty, no-fuss meal.
Most Popular Central American food in Santa Elena, Province of Puntarenas, Costa Rica
1. San Lucas Treetop Dining Experience
Overall Ratings
5 based on 31 reviews
San Lucas dining experience is a 7 course gourmet dinner on top of the trees. There are only 5 tables, each one elevated on a deck platform above the trees with stunning views of Monteverde downtown. Dinner is served daily at 7pm and starting on November
Reviewed By jay987123
Our trip to "San Lucas Treetop Dining Experience" was nothing short of unbelievable. We had stayed at "Chira Glamping Monteverde Hotel" no more than 100 feet away from the restaurant. Our waiter, Dilan, greeted us at our door with umbrellas for both me and my wife. He escorted us to a breathtaking view over Monteverde and we began.Dilan began giving us each dish accompanied with a crash course on the history, meaning, and even the location of each local ingredient found in Costa Rica within each dish. Simply put, it was an unbelievable experience. Words do not do justice as to how delicious the meal was, and pictures do not do the presentation justice. Me and my wife spent a week and traveled over 10 hours driving to various parts of Costa Rica, and if you were to ask me the one location you should dine at to fully experience the area, it is without a doubt "San Lucas Treetop Dining Experience", and second place is not close.
Best Fusion food near Santa Elena, Province of Puntarenas, Costa Rica
