There are plenty of Arenal restaurants and eateries throughout the area, ranging from family-owned establishments – called sodas – serving up traditional Costa Rican cuisine to international gourmet dining. You can find Arenal, Costa Rica restaurants both in towns like La Fortuna and El Castillo, along the main routes to top attractions like the volcano, the lake or the waterfall. Plus, as many resorts and hotels are located outside of town limits and out in the rainforest, they more often than not have reputable restaurants and bars on site that are open to guests and non guests alike.
Italian
Crispy, thin-crust pizza cooked to perfection in a wood-fired oven is Anch’io’s claim to fame, though there are also other Italian favorites like salads, pastas and focaccias on the menu. Pleasant patio seating.
More InfoSteakhouse
Located about five kilometers from La Fortuna along the road to the lake and across the road from the Volcano Lodge Hotel, this upscale restaurant is known for its excellent steaks, but the menu also includes lamb, chicken, pork, seafood and vegetarian dishes. Almost everything used in its dishes come from the organic farm surrounding the restaurant.
More InfoCosta Rican
This atmospheric, open-air restaurant, located just under a kilometer east of the Tabacón hotel, is on a bit of a hill and easy to miss, so keep your eyes up! Costa Rican dishes are accompanied by excellent volcano views as well as the friendly resident coati (looks kind of like a cute raccoon), who happily mingles with guests.
More InfoPeruvian-Chinese fusion
This welcoming restaurant, one of the best in the area, is located in La Fortuna, where it delights diners with Peruvian-Chinese fusion dishes. The kitchen is open to the dining area, so you can check out what’s going on behind the scenes, and there are tables indoors and outdoors. .
More InfoCosta Rican Fusion
This popular La Fortuna social hub is a hopping indoor-outdoor restaurant specializing in Costa Rican fare with a modern fusion edge. The grilled meats are considered a highlight, but there are also plenty of local staples and international options on the extensive menu ranging from seasoned tuna to Cajun shrimp pasta, barbecued chicken and more. It has an open-air bar overlooking that is popular hangout for mingling over drinks.
More InfoGrill
El Gran Abuelo, located about eight kilometers outside of La Fortuna, grills up one of the best steaks in town, not to mention wood-fired pizza, all sorts of grilled meats and plenty of local and international options for all preferences. Accompany your meal with one of the artisanal beers they have on hand.
More InfoSteakhouse
Located a few kilometers outside of La Fortuna on the road to Tabacon, El Novillo is an informal restaurant with some serious steaks. It’s open-air, with tables set under a big roof. It has garnered a reputation through word of mouth as one of the Arenal area’s top steakhouses, and after one bite of one of their big, tender, wonderfully-prepared steaks you’ll see if’s for good reason.
More InfoFusion
Run by five Costa Rican siblings, this family-run restaurant has been around for years, offering diners the best local flavors. The open-air dining room has a vibe bordering on swanky and unbeatable views of the volcano. In addition to tender grilled steaks, fresh seafood and a slew of other options, the ceviche also gets an enthusiastic thumbs up. Excellent desserts, too!
More InfoCosta Rican
Created by local restaurant EL Abuelo, also on this list, the Inspira Café and Restaurant is a relaxing, friendly eatery that serves up traditional local dishes with a modern twist. Delicious, fresh entrees, organic locally-harvested coffee and excellent fruit smoothies. Lunch and dinner menus change daily.
More InfoSushi
Located in La Fortuna, about 25 meters north of the Banco Nacional (National Bank), Kappa Sushi offers fantastic, innovative sushi – try the dragon roll! – at a fair price. The products are extremely fresh, and you can tell by the quality and flavors of the dishes; after all, even though you’re surrounded by rainforest, mountains and farms, the ocean is actually quite close. In addition to seafood, the menu also has numerous vegetarian-friendly options.
More InfoCosta Rican / International
Dedicated to cooking up delicious typical dishes from Costa Rica and Latin America, La Choza del Laurel is an open-air restaurant with picnic tables in La Fortuna, about 400 meters west of the church. Grilled steaks, barbecued chicken and fresh fish are only a few of the items on its extremely long menu. Try local favorites like the black-bean soup or the choza platter (chicken, rice, beans, chayote, corn and plantains).
More InfoSteakhouse & International
Specializing in meat dishes like churrasquito cooked over a wood fire grill, the international offerings in this simple restaurant also include soups, salads, quesadillas, burgers and much more. The restaurant has a balcony with a few tables for al fresco dining, and inside you can watch the chef preparing dishes thanks to the open, counter-style kitchen with outdoor wood fire grill.
More InfoLatin American / Tex-Mex
You’ll find the quaint La Ventanita Café in El Castillo about between the school and church to the north and and Butterfly Conservatory and Ecozoo to the south. Casual, outdoor seating and fantastic wraps, burritos, chifrijo (rice, pinto beans, fried pork with tomato salsa and corn ships) and natural fruit juices and smoothies. There are vegetarian and gluten-free options.
More InfoSeafood
Fresh seafood is the specialty at Snappers House, and it does not disappoint. Located in La Fortuna, just in front of the court house (Juzgado), this great little seafood eatery is known for its fresh products, flavorful dishes and reasonable prices. There are all sorts of fish and other fruits of the sea on the menu; the red snapper is particularly popular!
More InfoCoffee & Casual Dining
In addition to plenty of delicious Costa Rican coffee and coffee drinks, the menu at My Coffee Lounge also features a wide variety of extremely tasty options: traditional casados, salads, sandwiches, fajitas, paninis, fresh fruit juices and smoothies and much more.
More InfoCosta Rican
The delicious dishes gracing the menu at Restaurante Nanku are prepared with the freshest local produce, much of which is grown on their own farm. It’s an open-air restaurant in central La Fortuna, one block east of the central park. Ceviche, meats, rice, seafood, quesadillas… it’s all excellent. Folks rave about their sangria and desserts!
More InfoLocal & International
This local establishment has been around for over two decades and has become a favorite of both locals and visitors alike who come in for its famous steaks and delicious ceviche. You’ll find it in central La Fortuna, about 50 meters north of the pharmacy
More InfoSteakhouse
This pleasant, unpretentious steakhouse – a La Fortuna favorite – offers diners a variety of fire-grilled meat dishes, its specialty. It’s known for the excellent quality of its meat cuts, but the menu also features a variety of other international dishes to suit all palates.
More InfoPizza
This airy pizzeria in El Castillo is known for its mouth-watering Italian thin-crust pizza. Their selection of homemade ice creams, with both traditional and unique flavors (the chocolate-ginger is a favorite) are also a hit!
More InfoItalian
Part of the Arenal Volcano Inn, about 6.5 kilometers north of La Fortuna in front of the Arenal volcano, this favorite Italian restaurant has great views of the volcano and primarily Italian favorites. In addition to pizza and pasta, you can also choose from numerous other international and Costa Rican dishes. Great dessert menu, too!
More InfoCoffee Shop
With its chill, coffeehouse vibe and tasty menu options, the Rain Forest Café and Restaurant is the perfect place to sip on one of its 28 different coffees or a fresh fruit smoothie, delight in one of its mouthwatering gourmet desserts or enjoy a casual meal.
More InfoCoffee
You’ll find the Red Frog Coffee Roaster, a rustic little coffee shop that’s a must for any coffee lover, just west of La Fortuna. Locally harvested coffee is brought in and roasted right on site by owner Roy, who will also happily tell you all about the coffee process from bean to steaming delicious sip. If you’re hungry, fret not, the Red Frog also has a menu boasting a range of delicious traditional Costa Rican dishes.
More InfoItalian
This popular, family-friendly Italian eatery with indoor and outdoor seating serves up dishes like pasta and wood-oven pizza. Sit outside on the restaurant porch for volcano views while you dine!
More InfoCosta Rican
You’ll find Mi Casa about two kilometers west of central La Fortuna. With indoor and outdoor seating, which has views of the Arenal volcano, this highly recommended eatery specializes in typical Costa Rican fare. Start your day with their traditional – and filling! – Costa Rican breakfast, or later in the day try their excellent steaks, barbecued chicken, fajitas… it’s all delicious!
More InfoCosta Rican / International
La Parada, open 18 hours a day, is popular eatery that includes an a la carte restaurant, pizzeria and buffet. It specializes in grilled meats and pizzas, but also has a wide variety of national and international favorites. Some specialties include churrasco, shrimp cocktail, surf and turf, nachos, burgers and, of course, its pizzas. It’s across the street from the southern side of La Fortuna’s park.
More InfoCosta Rican
Located very close to the La Fortuna waterfall, the Rio Lounge is a popular spot to stop for a snack, lunch or fresh fruit smoothie. Beautiful views from the outdoor tables and excellent menu with fresh products and delicious dishes highlighting the best of Costa Rican flavors. Try the Tropical Ceviche!
More InfoTraditional Costa Rican
Another of La Fortuna’s excellent sodas, Soda La Hormiga has been serving up variations of two of Costa Rica’s most popular dishes – Gallo Pinto and Casado – at great prices for over a decade. It’s located in central La Fortuna, right by the Bus Station and Mega Super supermarket.
More InfoTraditional Costa Rican
This family-run eatery is a casual little restaurant right along La Fortuna’s main street, right by the church. Try the traditional breakfast, featuring gallo pinto, scrambled eggs, fried banana and fresh cheese, or the ever-famous casado for lunch or dinner.
More InfoTraditional Costa Rican
This friendly, family-run favorite is a must if you’re in search of some hearty local flavor. Known for tasty food, big portions and low prices – like the true soda it is – it specializes in traditional Costa Rican fare like casados, rice dishes and fresh fruit juices.
More InfoCoffee & Casual Dining
In addition to plenty of delicious Costa Rican coffee and coffee drinks, the menu at My Coffee Lounge also features a wide variety of extremely tasty options: traditional casados, salads, sandwiches, fajitas, paninis, fresh fruit juices and smoothies and much more.
More InfoCoffee Shop
With its chill, coffeehouse vibe and tasty menu options, the Rain Forest Café and Restaurant is the perfect place to sip on one of its 28 different coffees or a fresh fruit smoothie, delight in one of its mouthwatering gourmet desserts or enjoy a casual meal.
More InfoCosta Rican Fusion
This popular La Fortuna social hub is a hopping indoor-outdoor restaurant specializing in Costa Rican fare with a modern fusion edge. The grilled meats are considered a highlight, but there are also plenty of local staples and international options on the extensive menu ranging from seasoned tuna to Cajun shrimp pasta, barbecued chicken and more. It has an open-air bar overlooking that is popular hangout for mingling over drinks.
More InfoFusion
Run by five Costa Rican siblings, this family-run restaurant has been around for years, offering diners the best local flavors. The open-air dining room has a vibe bordering on swanky and unbeatable views of the volcano. In addition to tender grilled steaks, fresh seafood and a slew of other options, the ceviche also gets an enthusiastic thumbs up. Excellent desserts, too!
More InfoCosta Rican
Created by local restaurant EL Abuelo, also on this list, the Inspira Café and Restaurant is a relaxing, friendly eatery that serves up traditional local dishes with a modern twist. Delicious, fresh entrees, organic locally-harvested coffee and excellent fruit smoothies. Lunch and dinner menus change daily.
More InfoCosta Rican / International
Dedicated to cooking up delicious typical dishes from Costa Rica and Latin America, La Choza del Laurel is an open-air restaurant with picnic tables in La Fortuna, about 400 meters west of the church. Grilled steaks, barbecued chicken and fresh fish are only a few of the items on its extremely long menu. Try local favorites like the black-bean soup or the choza platter (chicken, rice, beans, chayote, corn and plantains).
More InfoCosta Rican
The delicious dishes gracing the menu at Restaurante Nanku are prepared with the freshest local produce, much of which is grown on their own farm. It’s an open-air restaurant in central La Fortuna, one block east of the central park. Ceviche, meats, rice, seafood, quesadillas… it’s all excellent. Folks rave about their sangria and desserts!
More InfoItalian
Crispy, thin-crust pizza cooked to perfection in a wood-fired oven is Anch’io’s claim to fame, though there are also other Italian favorites like salads, pastas and focaccias on the menu. Pleasant patio seating.
More InfoPizza
This airy pizzeria in El Castillo is known for its mouth-watering Italian thin-crust pizza. Their selection of homemade ice creams, with both traditional and unique flavors (the chocolate-ginger is a favorite) are also a hit!
More InfoItalian
Part of the Arenal Volcano Inn, about 6.5 kilometers north of La Fortuna in front of the Arenal volcano, this favorite Italian restaurant has great views of the volcano and primarily Italian favorites. In addition to pizza and pasta, you can also choose from numerous other international and Costa Rican dishes. Great dessert menu, too!
More InfoItalian
This popular, family-friendly Italian eatery with indoor and outdoor seating serves up dishes like pasta and wood-oven pizza. Sit outside on the restaurant porch for volcano views while you dine!
More InfoCosta Rican / International
La Parada, open 18 hours a day, is popular eatery that includes an a la carte restaurant, pizzeria and buffet. It specializes in grilled meats and pizzas, but also has a wide variety of national and international favorites. Some specialties include churrasco, shrimp cocktail, surf and turf, nachos, burgers and, of course, its pizzas. It’s across the street from the southern side of La Fortuna’s park.
More InfoPeruvian-Chinese fusion
This welcoming restaurant, one of the best in the area, is located in La Fortuna, where it delights diners with Peruvian-Chinese fusion dishes. The kitchen is open to the dining area, so you can check out what’s going on behind the scenes, and there are tables indoors and outdoors. .
More InfoCosta Rican / International
La Parada, open 18 hours a day, is popular eatery that includes an a la carte restaurant, pizzeria and buffet. It specializes in grilled meats and pizzas, but also has a wide variety of national and international favorites. Some specialties include churrasco, shrimp cocktail, surf and turf, nachos, burgers and, of course, its pizzas. It’s across the street from the southern side of La Fortuna’s park.
More InfoGrill
El Gran Abuelo, located about eight kilometers outside of La Fortuna, grills up one of the best steaks in town, not to mention wood-fired pizza, all sorts of grilled meats and plenty of local and international options for all preferences. Accompany your meal with one of the artisanal beers they have on hand.
More InfoSeafood
Fresh seafood is the specialty at Snappers House, and it does not disappoint. Located in La Fortuna, just in front of the court house (Juzgado), this great little seafood eatery is known for its fresh products, flavorful dishes and reasonable prices. There are all sorts of fish and other fruits of the sea on the menu; the red snapper is particularly popular!
More InfoLocal & International
This local establishment has been around for over two decades and has become a favorite of both locals and visitors alike who come in for its famous steaks and delicious ceviche. You’ll find it in central La Fortuna, about 50 meters north of the pharmacy
More InfoSteakhouse
Located about five kilometers from La Fortuna along the road to the lake and across the road from the Volcano Lodge Hotel, this upscale restaurant is known for its excellent steaks, but the menu also includes lamb, chicken, pork, seafood and vegetarian dishes. Almost everything used in its dishes come from the organic farm surrounding the restaurant.
More InfoGrill
El Gran Abuelo, located about eight kilometers outside of La Fortuna, grills up one of the best steaks in town, not to mention wood-fired pizza, all sorts of grilled meats and plenty of local and international options for all preferences. Accompany your meal with one of the artisanal beers they have on hand.
More InfoSteakhouse
Located a few kilometers outside of La Fortuna on the road to Tabacon, El Novillo is an informal restaurant with some serious steaks. It’s open-air, with tables set under a big roof. It has garnered a reputation through word of mouth as one of the Arenal area’s top steakhouses, and after one bite of one of their big, tender, wonderfully-prepared steaks you’ll see if’s for good reason.
More InfoLocal & International
This local establishment has been around for over two decades and has become a favorite of both locals and visitors alike who come in for its famous steaks and delicious ceviche. You’ll find it in central La Fortuna, about 50 meters north of the pharmacy
More InfoSteakhouse
This pleasant, unpretentious steakhouse – a La Fortuna favorite – offers diners a variety of fire-grilled meat dishes, its specialty. It’s known for the excellent quality of its meat cuts, but the menu also features a variety of other international dishes to suit all palates.
More InfoSteakhouse & International
Specializing in meat dishes like churrasquito cooked over a wood fire grill, the international offerings in this simple restaurant also include soups, salads, quesadillas, burgers and much more. The restaurant has a balcony with a few tables for al fresco dining, and inside you can watch the chef preparing dishes thanks to the open, counter-style kitchen with outdoor wood fire grill.
More InfoLatin American / Tex-Mex
You’ll find the quaint La Ventanita Café in El Castillo about between the school and church to the north and and Butterfly Conservatory and Ecozoo to the south. Casual, outdoor seating and fantastic wraps, burritos, chifrijo (rice, pinto beans, fried pork with tomato salsa and corn ships) and natural fruit juices and smoothies. There are vegetarian and gluten-free options.
More InfoSushi
Located in La Fortuna, about 25 meters north of the Banco Nacional (National Bank), Kappa Sushi offers fantastic, innovative sushi – try the dragon roll! – at a fair price. The products are extremely fresh, and you can tell by the quality and flavors of the dishes; after all, even though you’re surrounded by rainforest, mountains and farms, the ocean is actually quite close. In addition to seafood, the menu also has numerous vegetarian-friendly options.
More InfoCosta Rican
This atmospheric, open-air restaurant, located just under a kilometer east of the Tabacón hotel, is on a bit of a hill and easy to miss, so keep your eyes up! Costa Rican dishes are accompanied by excellent volcano views as well as the friendly resident coati (looks kind of like a cute raccoon), who happily mingles with guests.
More InfoLatin American / Tex-Mex
You’ll find the quaint La Ventanita Café in El Castillo about between the school and church to the north and and Butterfly Conservatory and Ecozoo to the south. Casual, outdoor seating and fantastic wraps, burritos, chifrijo (rice, pinto beans, fried pork with tomato salsa and corn ships) and natural fruit juices and smoothies. There are vegetarian and gluten-free options.
More InfoCoffee
You’ll find the Red Frog Coffee Roaster, a rustic little coffee shop that’s a must for any coffee lover, just west of La Fortuna. Locally harvested coffee is brought in and roasted right on site by owner Roy, who will also happily tell you all about the coffee process from bean to steaming delicious sip. If you’re hungry, fret not, the Red Frog also has a menu boasting a range of delicious traditional Costa Rican dishes.
More InfoCosta Rican
You’ll find Mi Casa about two kilometers west of central La Fortuna. With indoor and outdoor seating, which has views of the Arenal volcano, this highly recommended eatery specializes in typical Costa Rican fare. Start your day with their traditional – and filling! – Costa Rican breakfast, or later in the day try their excellent steaks, barbecued chicken, fajitas… it’s all delicious!
More InfoCosta Rican
Located very close to the La Fortuna waterfall, the Rio Lounge is a popular spot to stop for a snack, lunch or fresh fruit smoothie. Beautiful views from the outdoor tables and excellent menu with fresh products and delicious dishes highlighting the best of Costa Rican flavors. Try the Tropical Ceviche!
More InfoTraditional Costa Rican
Another of La Fortuna’s excellent sodas, Soda La Hormiga has been serving up variations of two of Costa Rica’s most popular dishes – Gallo Pinto and Casado – at great prices for over a decade. It’s located in central La Fortuna, right by the Bus Station and Mega Super supermarket.
More InfoTraditional Costa Rican
This family-run eatery is a casual little restaurant right along La Fortuna’s main street, right by the church. Try the traditional breakfast, featuring gallo pinto, scrambled eggs, fried banana and fresh cheese, or the ever-famous casado for lunch or dinner.
More InfoTraditional Costa Rican
This friendly, family-run favorite is a must if you’re in search of some hearty local flavor. Known for tasty food, big portions and low prices – like the true soda it is – it specializes in traditional Costa Rican fare like casados, rice dishes and fresh fruit juices.
More InfoWe’re at your service with the very best Costa Rica vacations packages available, and we love what we do. Please accept our invitation to relax and let us turn your dream vacation into the trip of a lifetime.
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