19 Best Restaurants in La Fortuna, Costa Rica: Eating Guide

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Are you looking for the best restaurants in La Fortuna, Costa Rica? There are so many amazing different places to eat in this area that it can be difficult to find the best places based on your wishes.

We are a couple living in Costa Rica and we travel to the La Fortuna area very frequently. We have been to almost all of the restaurants in this area. This list of restaurants was compiled based on our favorite places. We tried to include some variety as well. I mean, traditional Costa Rican food is amazing but sometimes you need a break from rice and beans.

So, let’s take a closer look at the 19 best places to eat in La Fortuna. And, read to the end for some tips you should know before eating in this area. 

Map of Our Favorite La Fortuna Restaurants

Most of the restaurants are located in the downtown area of La Fortuna. If you will not have a rental car we suggest staying in this area if you would like to easily get to restaurants.

1. Tiquicia Restaurant

Great place located near the town center serving traditional Costa Rican cuisine and tropical drinks. We have also always had good service here. 

• Price Point: $$ – $$$
• Vegetarian Options? Most dishes have a meat component, but I think they can accommodate vegetarians
• Takes Reservations? You can call them at +506 6303 0988
• Opening Hours: Sun- Sat 12:00 PM – 9:00 PM
• Rating: 5/5 Stars on TripAdvisor

Check out Tiquicia Restaurant

3. Soda Rodríguez

This one of my favorite restaurants in La Fortuna!

Soda Rodriguez has a really unique garden vibe to it. You can make your own sign to hang up here, which is always a good time.

They serve excellent traditional Costa Rican food in a relaxed atmosphere.

Plus, everything is at a very reasonable price point. 

• Price Point: $
• Vegetarian Options? Yes
• Takes Reservations? You typically do not need to make reservations. However, you can always call them at +506 8572 5889
• Opening Hours: 11:30 PM – 8:30 PM daily
• Rating: 5/5 Stars on TripAdvisor

Check out Soda Rodríguez

4. Red Frog Coffee Roaster

Our go-to place in La Fortuna for breakfast. They are open all day, but they definitely are best for nice coffee and traditional breakfast foods like Gallo Pinto 

• Price Point: $
• Vegetarian Options? Yes
• Opening Hours: 07:00 AM – 8:00 PM daily
• Rating: 5/5 Stars on TripAdvisor

Check out Red Frog Coffee Roaster

5. Soda Viquez

Another good local restaurant serving delicious traditional food. Their portion sizes are very generous and the quality of the food is always good. 

• Price Point: $
• Vegetarian Options? Yes
• Takes Reservations? You don’t need to make a reservation here
• Opening Hours: 8:00 am – 10:00pm daily
• Rating: 4.5/5 Stars on TripAdvisor

Check out Soda Viquez

6. Organico Fortuna

Our go-to healthy cafe spot. I like to come here for an acai bowl, salad, or sandwich. They also serve excellent smoothies and blended juices. 

• Price Point: $$ – $$$
• Vegetarian Options? There are several vegan and vegetarian options
• Opening Hours: 09:00 AM – 8:00 PM daily
• Rating: 4.5/5 Stars on TripAdvisor

Check out Organico Fortuna

7. Yellow Bark

A relaxed restaurant with good burgers, sandwiches, and salads. I like to come here for lunch. 

• Price Point: $
• Opening Hours: 12:00 PM – 9:00 PM daily
• Rating: 5/5 Stars on TripAdvisor

Check out Yellow Bark

8. Voodoo Bar & Cocktails

This is our favorite place for cocktails. It is located directly downtown. We like coming here after dinner at one of the many nearby La Fortuna restaurants for a nightcap. 

They like to make inventive cocktails with dry ice for a fun experience. I recommend the Black Zombie. 

​They do serve some small appetizers here, but I suggest mostly coming for the drinks. 

• Opening Hours: 12:00pm – 10:00pm daily
• Rating: 5/5 Stars on TripAdvisor

Check out Voodoo Bar & Cocktails

9. Bulldogs Burger Factory

Sometimes we all just need a good burger. Or is that just me? 

If you are looking for a healthy meal, this is not it. However, if you want a good burger and milkshake in a relaxed atmosphere, you’ll love this place. 

If you are looking for it on Google Maps it is listed as “Burger and Beer” and is located in the downtown area. On TripAdvisor it is listed as Bulldog Burger Factory. I think they may have recently gone through a name change.

Just note that their burgers are really big. 

• Price Point: $$ – $$$
• Vegetarian Options? Yes they have a veggie burger
• Opening Hours: 12:00 PM – 10:00 PM daily
• Rating: 5/5 Stars on TripAdvisor

Check out Bulldogs Burger Factory

10. El Chante Verde Restaurant

This is a great restaurant that has an extensive menu of burgers, sandwiches, and main courses.

Everything here has a fresh feel to it and they are not afraid to put in plenty of delicious fresh vegetables.

I also like that the restaurant has a roof, but they have filled it with plants for an open-air restaurant feel. 

Their menu is very allergy-friendly with symbols to indicate allergins and vegetarian options. 

• Price Point: $$ – $$$
• Vegetarian Options? Yes, there are several vegetarian options.
• Opening Hours: 11:30 AM – 9:00 PM daily
• Rating: 5/5 on TripAdvisor

Check Out El Chante Verde Restaurant

11. Chipotle’s

Chipotle’s is a Mexican fusion restaurant that serves tacos, Tex-Mex dishes, and more at a great price point.

My favorite thing about this place is that everything always seems very fresh.

They also have a great bar selection.

• Price Point: $$
• Vegetarian Options? Yes. Their burrito, quesadilla, or burrito bowl can all be made vegetarian.
• Opening Hours: 12:00 PM – 9:30 PM daily
• Rating: 5/5 on TripAdvisor

Check Out Chipotle’s

12. Essence Arenal Restaurant

Essence Arenal is located outside of the downtown area at the base of Arenal Volcano National Park and with a view of Lake Arenal. 

From downtown La Fortuna it will take about 35 minutes to drive here with your rental car.

However, if you are staying at one of the hot springs or are looking for a good meal directly after a fun day of volcano adventures, this is is a great option.

This vegetarian restaurant is located within a hotel and serves delicious cuisine. They pride themselves in cooking with seasonal produce from their organic farm and other locally sourced ingredients.  

The views here are also amazing. 

• Price Point: $$ – $$$
• Vegetarian Options? Yes, it is a vegetarian restaurant. There are also vegan options
• Takes Reservations? You can call them at +506 2479 1131
• Opening Hours: 7:00 AM – 80:00 PM daily
• Rating: 5/5 on TripAdvisor

Check Out Essence Arenal

13. Italianissimo

This Italian restaurant serves up delicious pizza and pasta dishes in a welcoming atmosphere. If you want a guaranteed good experience this is one of the best options. 

Whenever we come here I feel like I can just relax. I know the food will be good and the service will be excellent.

Any of the pizzas here are always a good option, but you also won’t be disappointed if you order pasta.

• Price Point: $$ – $$$
• Vegetarian Options? Yes, there are several vegetarian pizza and pasta options
• Opening Hours: 11:30 AM – 10:00 PM daily
• Rating: 5/5 on TripAdvisor

Check Out Italianissimo

14. Restaurante Nanku

The food here is good, but really the atmosphere is what will draw you in. This place is always a good time!

This restaurant is located directly downtown next to the central park. They have a diverse menu of food from traditional Costa Rican dishes to seafood to meat. 

There is live music every Monday night starting at 7pm. 

• Price Point: $$ – $$$
• Vegetarian Options? Yes. The vegetarian menu is not overly extensive but there are a few options.
• Takes Reservations? Yes, you can make reservations on their website here.
• Opening Hours: 11:00 AM – 10:00 PM daily
• Rating: 4.5/5 on TripAdvisor

Check Out Restaurante Nanku

15. Restaurante Tierra Mia

This place serves traditional local food with a slightly more elevated style, but at affordable prices.

Everything is always cooked perfectly and feels very fresh. They also have some of the best service in La Fortuna.

• Price Point: $$ – $$$
• Vegetarian Options? Yes
• Takes Reservations? You can call them at +506 2479 7011
• Opening Hours: 12:00 PM – 9:30 PM daily
• Rating: 5/5 on TripAdvisor

Check Out Restaurante Tierra Mia

16. Que Rico Arenal

Que Rico Arenal is an Italian restaurant that specializes in wood-fired pizzas. 

The restaurant is located on the main road in La Fortuna, but out of the downtown area. It has great views of Arenal Volcano.  

We like to come here after a long day at the hot springs to enjoy some tasty pizza or pasta at a reasonable price range. 

• Price Point: $$ – $$$
• Vegetarian Options? Yes. Several pizza and pasta choices are vegetarian
• Takes Reservations? You can call at +506 8815 1515
• Opening Hours: 11:30 AM – 10:00 PM daily
• Rating: 4.5/5 on TripAdvisor

Check out Que Rico Arenal

17. Restaurante Travesía

This is a small open air restaurant that serves delicious meats and seafood dishes.

I like that it is located close to downtown but on a side road. So, it doesn’t have a hectic atmosphere like some other places.

Also, the service has always been excellent when we have eaten here.

• Price Point: $$ – $$$
• Vegetarian Options? They have a few vegetarian options such as pasta dishes, but this is definitely not one of the best destinations for non-meat eaters. 
• Takes Reservations? You can call them at +506 2100 8916
• Opening Hours: 12:00 PM – 9:00 PM daily
• Rating: 5/5 on TripAdvisor

Check Out Restaurante Travesía

18. El Jardín De Frida Restaurante

This is the perfect place in La Fortuna for a nice dinner date. I like that they don’t overdo it with their menu. They have enough variety, but they also keep it simple and stick to what they do well. 

My top picks here are any of their steaks or their 1/4 chicken dish. 

• Price Point: $$ – $$$
• Vegetarian Options? Yes, they have a vegetarian section on their menu.
• Takes Reservations? You can call them at +506 8973 6914
• Opening Hours: 2:00 PM – 9:30 PM daily
• Rating: 5/5 on TripAdvisor

Check Out El Jardín De Frida Restaurante

19. Piura – Terraza Peruana

This is a delicious open-air eatery that serves up a variety of meat and seafood dishes. If you like octopus, definitely try their grilled octopus. 

As someone with a seafood allergy, I usually opt for one of their steaks, but really you can’t go wrong with anything here. It’s some of the best food in town!

We have also always experienced exceptional service here. 

• Price Point: $$$
• Vegetarian Options? They are very limited on the vegetarian options. If you are a vegetarian you are probably better off going somewhere else
• Takes Reservations? You can book a table on their website here.
• Opening Hours: 12:00 PM – 10:00 PM daily
• Rating: 5/5 on TripAdvisor

Check Out Piura – Terraza Peruana

Other Things to Know About Food in La Fortuna

• If you would like to buy food, there are a few grocery stores in La Fortuna. I find that Super Cristian 4 (located on the main road heading towards the hot springs) and Super Cristian 1 (located in the center of town) often have the best variety.
• For another fun food related experience, check out the cacao and chocolate tour at Rainforest Chocolate located near the La Fortuna waterfall. It is one of our favorite things to do for all ages in La Fortuna and includes the chance to eat as much chocolate as you want. 
• At most restaurants in La Fortuna, it is not necessary to make reservations. There are so many options of places to eat that most things don’t fill up. However, if you are concerned or traveling during high season you can always call our stop by the restaurant.
• Most restaurants in La Fortuna do not have websites. Some may have Facebook pages, but most 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. 
• For a unique La Fortuna food experience you could always take a cooking class., 
• You can drink the tap water in La Fortuna. 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 waterbottles as needed. 
• There are not many fine dining options in La Fortuna that are open to the public. However, there are several nice resorts and high-end hotels in this area that have fine dining restaurants. Unfortunately, most of them require you to be a guest in order to dine at their property. 
• Most places take cash and credit card, but it is best to check before eating. There are a few ATM’s in town if you need.
• 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. 
• Most restaurants are pretty casual in Costa Rica. You do not need to dress up for any of the places on this list. However, it can cool off a bit once the sun sets. So, bringing some kind of long sleeve cover up to dinner is always a good idea.

Check out our guide to La Fortuna for everything you need to know while planning your trip.

Conclusion

In conclusion, you will never run out of good food options with the variety of great restaurants in La Fortuna. There is something for everyone here from traditional food to a quick pizza, volcano views to jungle views, and high-end places to budget eats. 

If you have any questions about the best restaurants in La Fortuna, Costa Rica don’t hesitate to leave them in the comment section below. We are always happy to help you find your next favorite place to eat!

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