Are you looking for our favorite restaurants in Ojochal, Costa Rica?
Ojochal is a relaxed beach town on the South Pacific Coast of Costa Rica. It is home to many high-end hotels with an eco-friendly boutique feel as well as many great places to eat.
We created this guide to inform you of the 10 best restaurants in the area at a variety of price points and for all cuisine interests. Read until the end for some other most know tips before eating in this area.
Ojochal Restaurants at a Glance
- Most Unique Place: Tilapias El Pavon
- Best Traditional Restaurant: Mediterráneo Boca Coronado
- Best Date Spot: Restaurant Exotica
- Best Sunset Views: The Bamboo Room Restaurant
Map of Restaurants
We created this map of all our favorite places to eat so you can easily plan which place works for your meal.
It is helpful to have a rental car in this area because some things are a bit spread out.
You can also open this in Google Maps here
1. Citrus
Citrus is a high-end dining experience in a modern setting. The head chef here has created an amazing menu with influences from France, the Middle East, and Asian cuisine.
- Price Point: $$$
- Vegetarian Options? Yes. They are even happy to accommodate vegans
- Takes Reservations? Yes, I suggest making reservations. You can call them at +506 2786 5175 or email them at reservas.citrus@gmail.com
- Opening Hours: Monday to Saturday 12:00 PM to 10:00 PM. Closed on Sundays
- Rating: 4.5/5 stars on TripAdvisor
2. Restaurant Exotica
Another high-end restaurant with multi-cultural influences. This place has a small (but very good) menu of starters, main dishes, and desserts.
I really like their Chicken Exotica (chicken breast stuffed with prunes, cream cheese, and bacon and topped with their delicious red pepper sauce). Another thing I love here is that the service is always top-notch.
- Price Point: $$$
- Vegetarian Options? This restaurant is very limited on vegetarian options.
- Takes Reservations? Yes. You can call at +506 2786 5050 or use this contact form to request a reservation.
- Opening Hours: 5:00 PM – 10:00 PM Tuesday – Saturday. Closed on Sundays and Mondays.
- Rating: 5/5 stars on TripAdvisor
3. The Bamboo Room Restaurant
This open-air restaurant with beautiful views is located on the Alma de Ojochal hotel property. They serve a variety of carefully prepared dishes and specialty cocktails. I highly recommend the ribs or fresh fish here.
This restaurant is delicious but has a bit more of a relaxed vibe than the previous two places.
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Also, come here at sunset for dinner with amazing sundown views.
- Price Point: $$
- Vegetarian Options? They only have one vegetarian main dish, which is squash gnocchi (but it is very tasty).
- Takes Reservations? Yes. You can call them at +506 6481 4142
- Opening Hours: 12:00 PM – 8:30 PM Friday – Tuesday (except on Sunday when they open at 4:00pm)
- Rating: 5/5 stars on TripAdvisor
4. Eleven Kitchen & Lounge
This is a new restaurant that has an extensive menu of meat, fish, and vegetarian options.
I suggest the tuna bombs as an appetizer and all their main dishes that I have tried have been excellent.
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- Price Point: $$
- Vegetarian Options? Yes, there are a few vegetarian options.
- Takes Reservations? You can call them at +506 8966 1530
- Opening Hours: 1:00 PM – 9:00 PM daily. Closed on Tuesdays.
- Rating: 5/5 stars on TripAdvisor
5. Heliconia
We love the location of Heliconia! This great restaurant is located on a covered balcony amidst a lush garden. It just feels so jungle-y and nice here!
They serve a variety of dishes from Costa Rican traditional cuisine to pasta to meat dishes. I love that everything here is always very fresh and colorful.
- Price Point: $$
- Vegetarian Options? There are a few vegetarian options, but not many.
- Takes Reservations? You can call them at +506 2786 5000
- Opening Hours: 11:00 AM – 10:00 PM daily. Closed on Mondays
- Rating: 4.5/5 stars on TripAdvisor
6. Los Gatos Locos
This is a great Mexican restaurant in a relaxed setting. They serve burritos, fajitas, mixed plates, and more. They also frequently have live music here.
- Price Point: $$
- Vegetarian Options? Yes, there are several options.
- Takes Reservations? I don’t think they take reservations, but you always call them at +506 2786 5059
- Opening Hours: 12:00 PM – 8:00 PM (Wednesday – Friday),
8:00 AM – 8:00 PM (Saturday and Sunday), Closed on Mondays. - Rating: 5/5 stars on TripAdvisor
7. Tilapias El Pavon
This restaurant is a truche, which is one of our favorite un-touristic things to do in Costa Rica.
A truche is the name for a typical Costa Rican restaurant with a small pond. You are given a line with bait on the end and can catch a fish from the pond.
At this particular place the pond is stocked with tilapia.
The chef at this rustic restaurant will then cook up your fish with some tasty side dishes.
- Price Point: $$
- Vegetarian Options? This is not a good option for vegetarians
- Takes Reservations? No, but you can always call them at +506 8317 8484
- Opening Hours: 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM daily. They stay open until 8:00 PM on Saturdays and Sundays
- Rating: 4.5/5 stars on TripAdvisor
8. Mediterráneo Boca Coronado
This is a typical Costa Rican restaurant with ocean views. It looks very unassuming from the outside, but I promise that the food is excellent. I suggest starting with a bowl of ceviche and getting their whole Mediterranean fish as a main course.
- Price Point: $$
- Vegetarian Options? There are a few vegetarian options.
- Takes Reservations? No, but if you need to reach them you can call +506 8491 7054
- Opening Hours: 11:00 AM – 9:00 PM daily
- Rating: 5/5 stars on TripAdvisor
9. Kua Kua Restaurant
This is a high end restaurant located within Hotel Three-Sixty with elevated ocean views. This restaurant is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. We suggest coming here for a romantic dinner while watching the sunset.
They serve a variety of dishes such as sandwiches, salads, burgers, main courses, and sushi.
- Price Point: $$$
- Vegetarian Options? Yes, there are a few vegetarian options
- Takes Reservations? Yes, you can call them at +506 4070 9206
- Opening Hours: 7:00 AM – 9:00 PM daily
- Rating: 4.5/5 stars on TripAdvisor
10. Restaurante Terraba
This is a traditional Costa Rican restaurant with an extensive menu. They serve rice dishes, ceviche, meat dishes, salads, dish, seafood, and more! I suggest getting a steak or seafood dish here.
- Price Point: $$
- Vegetarian Options? Yes, there are a few vegetarian options.
- Takes Reservations? No, but if you need to reach them you can call +506 4702 9868
- Opening Hours: 11:00 AM – 9:00 PM daily
- Rating: 4.5/5 stars on TripAdvisor
Where to Stay in Ojochal: Our Top Picks
💡 Sarah’s Tip
Make reservations, especially for the higher end spots. Want a romantic dinner? Pick a restaurant with sunset views.
Other Things to Know About Eating in Ojochal
- Most restaurants in Ojochal do not have websites. Some may have Facebook pages, but some don’t have their menu listed. You will usually have to stop at the restaurant if you want to check out the menu.
- If you have any food allergies, definitely let your waiter know. I suggest carrying a card with your allergies translated into Spanish to prevent any language-related miscommunication. As someone with a potentially deadly seafood allergy, I get it! The struggle is real.
- Most places take cash and credit card, but it is best to check before eating. The nearest banks are north of Ojochal in Uvita.
- Tipping is not required in Costa Rica, but it is becoming more and more common. You can find out more in our guide to tipping.
- You can usually drink the tap water in Ojochal. However, I would still suggest buying bottled water just to be on the safe side. We like to buy large jugs and just refill our water bottles as needed.
- Ojochal is pretty safe, but petty theft does sometimes occur. A lot of the restaurants here are somewhat open air. It is best to never leave your wallet or cell phone on the table. also, do not leave your purse or backpack on the back of your chair. Instead, put it on the floor between your legs with one strap looped through your leg.
- Once the sun goes down the mosquitos can be intense. If you plan on an outdoor dinner, bring bug spray.
- Some of the roads outside of downtown Ojochal are unpaved and very hilly. Keep this in mind when considering restaurants that are a bit further away.
Check out our guide to Ojocahl for more info on planning your trip to this area
Conclusion: Restaurants in Ojochal
In conclusion, there are plenty of restaurant options that you can enjoy on your trip to Ojochal for all budgets and cuisine interests. If you have any questions about visiting Ojochal, don’t hesitate to leave them in the comment section below. We are always happy to help you plan!
You might also be interested in:
- The 12 Best Hotels in Ojochal, Costa Rica for Every Interest and Travel Style
- Marino Ballena National Park: Costa Rica’s Whale Tail
- 13 Uvita Hotels Worth Booking: From Budget Stays to Luxury Jungle Lodges
- The 12 Best Restaurants in Uvita, Costa Rica for Every Cuisine and Budget
- Costa Rica Language Guide: How Much Spanish Do You Actually Need to Get By?
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Meet the writer
Sarah McArthur
Sarah is the co-founder and main writer of Costa Rica Vibes. Originally from the US, she has lived in San José, Costa Rica since 2016 with her husband Thomas, who takes the photos you see on this site.
Together they have been writing about Costa Rica since 2017, drawing on years of road trips, hotel stays and tours around the country. We personally vet everything before we publish it.
Follow along on Instagram · Pinterest · Substack
or join our email list for trip planning help.
Meet the writer
Sarah McArthur
Sarah is the co-founder and main writer of Costa Rica Vibes. Originally from the US, she has lived in San José, Costa Rica since 2016 with her husband Thomas, who takes the photos you see on this site.
Together they have been writing about Costa Rica since 2017, drawing on years of road trips, hotel stays and tours around the country. We personally vet everything before we publish it.
Follow along on Instagram · Pinterest · Substack
or join our email list for trip planning help.
