Restaurant Costa Rica - The 10 best restaurants Costa Rica in 2025

Q: Do I need to leave a tip and are there any extra charges?

Tipping (la propina in Spanish) is not a common practice in Costa Rica. Even if North American culture, accustomed to this well-established practice, has exported the tipping reflex to Ticos. Service is generally included. If this is not the case and the service you receive warrants a tip, be aware that the average tipping percentage is between 5 and 10% for tour guides and between 15 and 20% in restaurants. Tips can be given in US dollars or Costa Rican colones. Tips in dollars are preferred (more stable than colones).

Practical information : Eating out Costa Rica

Timetable

Restaurant opening hours are much the same as in France. But beware: in Costa Rica, we adapt to the rhythm of the sun, and some restaurants may close as early as 8pm. So be sure to ask before you go. In tourist areas, restaurants stay open until 10pm. Mealtimes in Costa Rica are also slightly different from those in France. Ticos generally rise and set with the sun. Rather early risers, Costa Ricans get up around 5-6am and then have a breakfast of champions, which is quite copious to say the least! A quick, light snack is quickly swallowed by midday. To round off the day, dinner starts at 5pm.

Budget & Tips

In Costa Rica, many small, popular restaurants, also known as sodas, are easy to spot thanks to their open construction on three or four sides. Most often covered in palm fronds or corrugated iron, these little establishments serve fresh, local food at low prices. They serve staples such as casado, gallo pinto or empanadas, and sometimes even daily specials. If you're lucky, you'll enjoy an extraordinary view of the beach, the forest or the mountains, but sometimes of the road... In any case, this is where the locals eat! For a casado (a traditional dish consisting of rice, beans, meat, salad, fried plantains and sometimes an egg), you'll need to budget between US$4 and US$7 in a local restaurant or soda (typical restaurant). As a general rule, a full meal can cost between 7 and 25 US$.
And don't forget the pulperías, small shops - a bit like grocery stores in our villages! -where you can get something to eat. And if you want to save money and feel full at the same time, try the casado, a complete meal in itself! It's a plate of white rice, meat or fish, black beans, plantains (fried or pan-fried) and a salad of tomatoes, fresh cabbage, carrots, red onions... all perfectly seasoned with lemon juice.

What costs extra

Tipping (la propina in Spanish) is not a common practice in Costa Rica. Even if North American culture, accustomed to this well-established practice, has exported the tipping reflex to Ticos. Service is generally included. If this is not the case and the service you receive warrants a tip, be aware that the average tipping percentage is between 5 and 10% for tour guides and between 15 and 20% in restaurants. Tips can be given in US dollars or Costa Rican colones. Tips in dollars are preferred (more stable than colones).

The local way

In Costa Rica, the most important meal of the day is breakfast. To build up your strength before tackling your excursions, opt for gallo pinto! This typical dish is a mixture of rice and black beans, accompanied by plantain, eggs and cheese. You'll find it everywhere, in restaurants, sodas or on hotel buffets. In the countryside and among the working classes, breakfast tends to be burritos (kidney beans, cheese, omelette, wrapped in a wheat or corn tortilla ). And let's not forget coffee, the national beverage: Costa Ricans use a kind of sock as a filter, placed on a wooden stand.

Smokers

Be careful where you smoke: smoking is prohibited in all restaurants. Costa Rica has a very strict smoking policy, even outdoors.

Learn more about gastronomy Costa Rica

The best restaurants Costa Rica

Map of top points of interest Costa Rica

RESTAURANTE DE LUCIA

HOTEL LA PALAPA

SURF BOX

SHAKTI

MARINA PEZ VELA

TACO’S BAR

EL ARBOL (HOTEL MAKANDA)

LA ESQUINA DE BUENOS AIRES

SOBRE LAS OLAS

CELAJES

TIKO RESTAURANTE MIRADOR

KOKI BEACH RESTAURANT BAR

EL SANO BANANO

FRANK’S PLACE

LA PECORA NERA

BARAKKA BISTRO

SODA TAPIA

STELLA’S MONTEVERDE

LA CASITA DE MÖNLI

RESTAURANTE LA ESTRELLA

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