Nightlife and Restaurant Guide Monteverde Costa Rica
There are many restaurants and hotel-restaurants in Monteverde: old, new and ones under different management. It is impossible to compile and maintain a complete and up-to-date listing of ALL places offering food, however, we do our best! Please click here for a guide/translation of typical Costa Rican Food.
What to expect to find in the restaurants of Costa Rica
Click here for a glossary of typical foods in Costa Rica
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The sections below are divided into 4 parts. Each part lists the names of the restaurants - click on them for more information.
1. Night Life – Music, Dance and Food
Bar Amigos- music, dancing, pool, drinks and snacks(more..)
Matas de Cana - music, dancing and drinking (more…)
Bar Unicornios - music, drinks, pool and dancing (more…)
La Guarida del Sapo - music, drinks and dining (more….)
Moon Shiva Lounge Bar - music, drinks and snacks (more….)
Atmosphera - drinks and food (more…)
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2. Restaurants/Cafes/Take-outs in Santa Elena
Morpho’s Restaurant -wide menu (more….)
El Marquéz -fish restaurant (more….)
Tree House- wide menu (more….)
La Maravilla - wide menu(more….)
Panaderia (Bakery) Jimenez (more….)
Kaffa - (more….)
Super Pollo El Pueblo and Super Poll #2 Tilaran- chicken take-out(more….)
Tacos Pension Santa Elena - take-out tacos (more….)
Monteverde Shop (Cheese Factory Outlet in Santa Elena) (more….)
Natsha Fast Food-pizzas and hamburgers- eat in or take out (more….)
Donde Henry - cafeteria, fast, sit-down(more….)
Musashi Japanese Cuisine-Japenese food (more….)
Mar and Tierra - wide menu(more….)
Chunches Cafe (upstairs) - bagels,breakfast, salads,sandwiches and cakes(more….)
Boemios- wide menu (more….)
Café Rainforest- good coffee! (more….)
Las Delicias Campesinas- wide menu (more….)
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3. Restaurants and Hotel-Restaurants Located Between Santa Elena and the Monteverde Reserve.
Restaurante Poco a Poco - wide menu (more….)
Monteverde Lodge - wide menu (more….)
La Guarida del Sapo- wide menu (more….)
La Pizzería de Johnny (Johnny’s Pizzeria)- wide menu (more….)
Restaurante Flor de Vida - mainly vegetarian (more….)
Restaurant Moon Shiva- eastern food (more….)
Dulce Marzo - wraps, salads,sandwiches,currys and cakes (more….)
Las Palmeras Restaurant - wide menu (more….)
Restaurante Mediterráneo - wide menu (more….)
Sabores - icecream and snacks (more….)
Sofias Restaurant- neuvo latin (more….)
De Lucía Restaurant-steak and other choice(more….)
Chimera- latin infused tapas (more….)
Las Riendas (Hotel El Establo)- wide menu (more….)
Hotel Montaña Monteverde - wide menu (more….)
Argentine Café/ Restaurant café & Chocolates - argentine specials(more….)
Restaurante Tramonti -great pizza and wide meny (more….)
Stellas Bakery - baked goods, sanwiches,salads(more….)
The Monteverde Cheese Factory- icecream, milkshake, cheese and snacks(more….)
La Chimenea (Hotel Fonda Vela)- wide menu (more….)
MV Reserve restaurant - wide menu (more….)
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4 .Restaurants and Hotel-Restaurants Located in Other Areas of Monteverde
Skytrek Restaurant ) -snacks (more….)
Swiss Hotel Miramontes- wide menu (more….)
Restaurante el Jardin (Selvatura)- wide menu(more….)
Santa Elena Reserve Restaurant- local food and snacks (more….)
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Further Descriptions ......................
1. Night Life – Music, Dance and Food
Bar Amigos (Tel 2-645-5071)
Located in the center of Santa Elena. Very popular with local Costa Ricans (or Ticos as they are often known). In addition to drinks, they also offer “bocas” (light snacks) for around $2 and have now extended their menu to tacos, hamburgers, etc. until 10.00 pm. The bocas are small servings of fried chicken, white beans, soup, a chickpea dish or a tortilla with meat.
On Friday nights the popular local band ‘Taca Taca’ plays live music, which attracts many people onto the dance floor to dance Salsa, Merengue, Cumbia and other Latin American dances. Great fun to watch and learn! Saturdays after 9pm there is a local Disco.
There are also 3 pool tables downstairs at the back open until 11.00pm
Hours: 12.00 md – 1.00 am
Matas de Cana
Exciting newly managed local bar with music and a dance floor, located a few minutes’ walk from Santa Elena, on the road to the Serpentarium. Matas de Cana appeals to local people as well as to foreign visitors and the music is a mixture of Salsa, Merengue, Cumbia as well as other forms of Spanish and English music. It is rarely busy before 9.00 pm or even 10.00 pm but there are tables outside too so it can be a pleasant place to simply have a drink. They have a restaurant, which offers fast food if you need a snack but they also offer fish and meat dishes at reasonable prices and although the setting may not be ideal or tranquil, if you’re already there and hungry, it’s a good option.
Hours: 12.00 md – 1.00 am
Bar Unicornios
This is definitely more of a local bar for ‘Ticos’. Can be a bit ‘rough and ready’ as well as a lot of fun. It is situated opposite the plaza (soccer field) in Santa Elena (on the road towards Sky Trek and the Santa Elena Reserve). The bar offers karaoke on Thursday nights, and live music and dancing from time to time. There are several pool tables available on the second floor and a few tables and chairs where you can sit and watch the locals dancing on the fist floor.
Hours: 12.00 pm to 12.00 midnight.
La Guarida del Sapo (2-645-70-10)
First started as a deli bar with original stained glass windows open every day from 12md to 1am. Every Mondays there are live music events with free entrance. On the weekends (especially Fridays) local people go and dance while having drink. There is an entrance fee of $2 when there is Disco or other events. Food is served until they close. Try the French fries, the best in the area! Open from breakfast at 6.30am until 1.00am if there are people.
Moon Shiva - Louge bar (2645-62-70)
Located downstairs from the Moon Shiva restaurant (which offers international food mainly from the Middle East). It’s popular for its live concerts every weekend often with a hippie flavor. There are DVD movie nights with on Monday and Wednesday.
Atmosphera
Up-market bar, art gallery and snack/restaurant on the corner opposite the Heliconia hotel.
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2. Restaurants/Cafes/Take-outs in Santa Elena
Morpho’s Restaurant
Located opposite the Super Compro supermarket in Santa Elena, above the Desafío Adventurae Company’s office, the restaurant has a very pleasant atmosphere and unique rustic décor. The food offered includes vegetarian options, Costa Rican dishes, pastas, fish and meat dishes. They also serve soups, salads and sandwiches (in two sizes with a good choice of fillings) for a light snack. Prices range from $7-$20 per dish. There is also a selection of hot and cold drinks, including a wide range of natural fruit juices in water, milk or yoghurt. Try their delicious variety of desserts and ice creams – some of which you may find impossible to resist! It’s a very popular place to eat.
Hours: 11.00 am – 10.00 pm Mon-Sun
El Marquéz
Serving mainly fish this restaurant is located in Santa Elena near the bakery and the bank before you take the road to the Santa Elena Reserve and Skytrek. The food is good and reasonably priced and the restaurant owner prides himself on always using fresh products. The restaurant specializes in whole range of very tasty fish recipes including a whole sea bass, served with fries and salad costing less than $7, as well as various other fillet options or seafood dishes and a range of prawn dishes. The restaurant also offers some chicken dishes and hamburgers, salads etc. Well worth a visit and popular with local residents as well as tourists.
Hours: Open Monday-Saturday, 12.00 md-10.00 pm. Closed Sundays.
Tree House
The Tree House restaurant is known for its beautiful fig tree that actual grows in the middle of the restaurant: something for diners to admire whilst enjoying their food! The restaurant has more unusual choices than some of the neighboring restaurants as well as pizza, pasta, sandwiches, fondue, Mexican dishes, typical ‘casados’ (rice and beans), wine, cocktails, beer and great coffee. The restaurant is expensive and the food average but you are paying for the location and atmosphere (and the tree!).
The prices range from $8 to $90. Open from 7am-10pm.
La Maravilla
This small restaurant is located in the middle of Santa Elena and is very popular with locals as well as visitors to Monteverde. It has a large choice on the menu at reasonable prices and it’s know for its good ceviches and casados. Open at 6.00am for an early breakfast for those who with early tours in Monteverde or buses to San Jose. Prices range form $4-$15.
Panaderia Jimenez
Opens at 5.00am and offers fresh baked bread and many other delicious things to eat, as well as coffee. . Perfect for those who are taking early morning tours. Open until 6.00pm. Shuts early on Sundays.
Kaffa
Just near the entrance to Santa Elena village, on the road coming from San Jose is a small upstairs restaurant/bar. Kaffa’s offers an international menu and good coffee. The décor is interesting and comfortable. Live music sometimes available on Friday nights.
Super Pollo and Super Poll #2 Tilaran
Eat in or take out fried chicken. Located near the entrance to Santa Elena village, on the road coming from San Jose. Similar establishment also located opposite Banco Nacional.
Tacos Pension Santa Elena
Small Taco-stand part of the Pension Santa Elena, next to Banco Nacional. No seating.
Monteverde Cheese Factory Outlet in Santa Elena
Located near the Church in the middle of Santa Elena. Offers many delicious ice-cream choices and milkshakes as well as packets of cheese and the cheese factory products.. Also serves hamburgers and coffee. Eat in or take out.
Natsha Pizzeria
Located in Santa Elena, near the Bakery and the bank. Pizzas at reasonable prices. Eat in or take out.
Donde Henry’s
Cafeteria style eatery located in the center of Santa Elena near the bakery. The fact that it is friendly, fast, cheap and good makes it popular with locals!
Musashi Japanese Cuisine
The only Japanese restaurant in town, located near the bus station. Reasonably good sushi but not cheap or fast.
Mar and Tierra
International menu. Located on top of the bakery in the middle of Santa Elena,
Chunches Cafe (upstairs)
Relaxed atmosphere to enjoy a bagel or salad and a selection of baked goods and teas whilst you browse the new and used book sections or check you e-mail on your laptops as the café has wireless connection.
Boemios
Located next to the Tree House restaurant Boemios offers a range of international dishes.
Café Rainforest
Great coffee!! Lattes, mochas and more. Food not the best but the coffee is worth the visit. Located on the top floor of the supermaker next to the art gallery.
Las Delicias Campesinas
This restaurant has a wide choice of dishes on the menu but some options are better than others. One recommended dish is the chicken fajitas. Claims to seat 80 (not sure how!!).
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3. Restaurants and Hotel-Restaurants Located Between Santa Elena and the Monteverde Reserve.
Poco a Poco Hotel Restaurant (2645-6000)
This restaurant’s claim to fame is that it offers oriental food. However, although two thirds of the menus are devoted to these dishes, there are times when only the Cantonese Rice is actually available! The food is nicely presented and tasty but the service can be slow. This is a slightly more expensive place to eat.
Monteverde Lodge (2645-5057)
This is definitely one of the most expensive options, but is worth a mention more for the setting than for the food! The food is good but the menu is not extensive, with a choice of 3 or 4 starters and main courses. The restaurant itself is elegant but cosy, with an open fire in the middle.
La Guarida del Sapo (2645-70-10)
Variety of dishes and some recipes invented by owner which include a choice of whole grain, vegetarian and vegan dishes, pastas, seafood, chicken, beef, pork, and desserts. Special food occasions or dietary need are also prepared with advance notice. The staff is helpful and most dishes are more than $10.
It fist started as a deli bar with original stained glass windows open every day from 12md to 1am. Every Mondays there are live music events with free entrance. On the weekends (especially Fridays) local people go and dance while having drink. There is an entrance fee of $2 when there is Disco or other events. Food is served until they close. Try the French fries, the best in the area! Open from breakfast at 6.30am until 1.00am if there are people.
Restaurante Flor de Vida ( Tel 2- 645-6328)
The only restaurant in Monteverde that specializes in mainly vegetarian food. They first opened as a purely vegetarian restaurant but lately have incorporated some meat dishes. Great carrot cake and tiramisu! Prices range from $6- $15
La Pizzería de Johnny (Johnny’s Pizzeria) (2-645-5066)
An elegant restaurant with a comfortable atmosphere, Johnny’s Pizzeria is a popular place to eat, offering a wide range of pizzas and pastas, meat, and some fish specialties together with a good selection of wines and a choice of sandwiches. Pizzas range from about $10. There is also a terrace if you prefer to eat outdoors. It is not the cheapest restaurant in town but far from being expensive and the food is excellent with very attentive staff. There is also a gift shop. The restaurant is less than a kilometer from Santa Elena and a taxi will charge around $2 for up to 4 people from Santa Elena.
Hours: Gift Shop opens at 10.00. The restaurant opens at 11.30 to serve lunches and is open until 10.00 pm. Mon-Sun
Restaurant Moon Shiva (2-645-6270)
This restaurant offers international food mainly from the Middle East such as (Flafel, Hummus, Babaganush, Pitra bread). It’s famous for its live concerts every weekend often with a hippie flavor. There are DVD movie nights with on Monday and Wednesday. You might see several advertisements in hotels and in town with their coming activities. Prices range for $6-$15
Dulce Marzo
Great tasting food and snacks! Savory and sweet - creative choices in a laid-back, back-packer’s atmosphere. Not particularly cheap but good portions and the only decent sandwich place in this part of Costa Rica! Good and interesting vegetarian choices as well as meat.
Las Palmeras Restaurant (2-645-5450)
A large friendly restaurant perfect for group outings, located just before the turning to the Butterfly Farm and Finca Ecológica, on the road to the Monteverde Reserve. There is an extensive menu, ranging from typical Costa Rican cuisine, to pizza, pastas, fish, meat, chicken and vegetarians dishes. The restaurant is popular with local people as well as tourists.
The food is reasonably priced with pizzas coming in two sizes and priced from $10, pasta dishes costing $5 and fish or meat dishes ranging from $6.
Hours: 6.00 am – 10.00 pm
Restaurante Mediterráneo (Heliconia) (2-645-51-09)
The restaurant is located within the Hotel Heliconia and offers an extensive menu with pasta dishes, pizzas, meat, vegetarian and fish and seafood dishes. Some dishes are better than others! The atmosphere is relaxed, the surroundings are pleasant and the service is great!
De Lucía Restaurant (2-645-5337)
Located in a peaceful spot on the road towards the Finca Ecológica and Butterfly Garden - the restaurant offers typical Costa Rican casados, vegetarian lasagne as well as meat dishes, a selection of sandwiches and hamburgers. They have a good selection of Chilean wines. The Chilean owner and chef, Jose Belmar comes out everyone and then to speaks with clients and asks for their opinions and feedback. They also have a terrace where you can sit outside and watch the hummingbirds visit the feeders. Prices range from $5 or $6 for a vegetarian lasagne or a casado, to $12 for steak, while sandwiches cost $2.50 and a hamburger $3.50. The staff is very friendly and the atmosphere is relaxed.
Hours: 11.00 am-9.00 pm
Sofias Restaurant (2-645-7017)
New Latin Cuisine restaurant that is becoming very popular. It has a relaxing atmosphere with dim lights and candles perfect for a nice dinner with a glass of wine or many other of their special drinks.
Sabores (Ice cream and snacks)
A popular place in Monteverde to have some local ice-cream, homemade desserts or just to have something to drink. Their cinnamon rolls are very tasty! Open at 10.00am until 9.00pm.
Chimera (Latin Fusion Food)
Latin restaurant and run by the same owner of Sofia’s Restaurant. Great food but small portions.
Las Riendas (Hotel El Establo) (Tel 2-645-51-10)
Las Riendas restaurant offers international and national cuisine, breakfast buffet and a lounge bar area. There are design menus for groups and a la carte menus. Food not particularly interesting.
Hotel Montaña Monteverde (2645-50-46)
Hotel restaurant with international menu. Food not particularly interesting.
Argentine Café/ Restaurant Café & Chocolates
Located near the cheese factory, the restaurant is in the same building complex as the bat jungle. The Argentine owner offers delicious choices with Argentinean influences. She also makes wonderful hand made chocolates. Yummy! The restaurant has great views of the Gulf of Nicoya and you can sit outside or inside.
Tramonti Restaurant (Tel 2-645-61-20)
This Restaurant is located just before CASEM and Stella’s Bakery on the road from Santa Elena up to Monteverde. It is a good option for those staying in hotels nearer the Reserve. The restaurant offers a range of different foods and is tastefully decorated. The pizza is greatly recommended for those that appreciate Italian pizzas baked in a wood fire oven (the seafood pizza is great!). The atmosphere is calm and the service is good.
Stellas Bakery(Tel 2-645-55-60)
Stella’s Bakery is a popular destination being one of the first bakeries in the area. Stella, a local artist, sold her bakery to her son but still hangs her paintings (which are also for sale) on the walls of the bakery. If you are walking or driving back to Santa Elena, after hiking in the Monteverde Reserve, this is a good place to stop for a sandwich of your choice, a milkshake, a delicious lemon bar or any of their other homemade goods!
The Monteverde Cheese Factory (tel 2-645-7090)
The cheese factory has a small outlet store selling ice-cream and cheese as well as snacks. Don’t miss tasting their chocolate/mint milkshakes – yummy!
La Chimenea (Hotel Fonda Vela) (Tel 2-645-51-14)
Large restaurant with consistently good food but not cheap.
Monteverde Reserve restaurant (tel 2-645-5122)
Good choice of dishes – local and international.
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4. Restaurants and Hotel-Restaurants Located in Other Areas of Monteverde
Skytrek Restaurant (tel 2-645-5238)
Snacks and drinks.
Restaurante el Jardin (Selvatura)(tel 2-645-5929)
Rustic environment open for breakfast, lunch and coffee time with view to Selvatura’s main garden. This restaurant specializes in pizzas, pastas and international food as well as typical food. There is a great service with bilingual waiters. Pizza and chicken fajitas are the dishes mostly recommended.
Swiss Hotel Miramontes(tel 2-645-5152)
Swiss restaurant with good typical food but specializes in food from Sweeden and Austria such as Cheese Fondue and filet vienés. Full restaurant service with International dishes open from 1.00pm-8.30pm and on Sundays from 6.00pm-8.30pm.
Santa Elena Reserve Restaurant (tel 2-645-5390)
Choice of snacks, Fast food and casados (typical Costa Rican meal).
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Glossary of Typical Foods in Costa Rica.
Most restaurants now serve lots of western food- pizzas, pastas and sandwiches. But you can still find in local restaurants and sodas (cafes are often called "Sodas") many of the following dishes:
arreglados - sandwiches (but not like our typical bread snadwiches) or tiny puff pastries stuffed with beef, cheese, or chicken.
arroz con pollo (o pescado o carne) - a basic dish of rice and chicken (or fish or meat).
casado - arroz (rice), frijoles (black beans), carne (beef), repollo (cabbage), and plantano (plantain). Avocado (aguacates) or egg may also be included. Served for lunch and supper. One of the most popular dishes you will find.
ceviche - marinated seafood, often chilled, made of corvina (sea bass), langostinos (shrimps), or conchas (shellfish). Normally served with lemon, chopped onion, garlic, and sweet red peppers.
chorreados - corn pancakes, often served with sour cream (natilla).
elote - corn on the cob, either boiled (elote cocinado) or roasted (elote asado).
empanadas - turnovers stuffed with beans, cheese, meat, or potatoes.
enchiladas - pastries stuffed with cheese and potatoes and occasionally meat.
gallo - tortilla sandwiches stuffed with beans, cheese, or meat.
gallo pinto - the national dish (literally "spotted rooster"), made of lightly spiced rice and black beans. (often served with eggs and tortillas). Served traditionally at breakfast (desayuno).
olla de carne - soup made of squash, corn, yuca (a local tuber), chayote (a local pear-shaped vegetable), ayote (a pumpkin-like vegetable), and potatoes.
palmitos - succulent hearts of palm, common in salads.
patacones - thin slices of deep-fried plantain. A popular Caribbean dish. Served like French fries.
picadillo - a side dish of fried vegetables often with meat.
sopa negra - a creamy black soup, often with a hard-boiled egg and vegetables soaking in the bean broth.
sopa de mondongo - soup made from tripe (the stomach of a cow).
tamales - boiled cornmeal pastries stuffed with corn, chicken, or pork, and wrapped in a banana or corn leaf. A popular Christmas dish.
tortas - Mexican-style corn pancakes or omelet's.
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