Are you looking for our favorite restaurants in Puerto Jimenez, Costa Rica?
Puerto Jimenez, Costa Rica is a coastal town on the Golfo Dulce in the South Pacific area of the country. This town serves as a gateway to the Corcovado National Park and plenty of other nature activities. It is also home to several great restaurants.
There are limited options, but we like the food in Puerto Jimenez because there is an emphasis on traditional Costa Rican dishes. But, don’t worry! There are also pizza places, cafes, and great seafood restaurants as well.
So, let’s get to the 7 best restaurants in Puerto Jimenez so you can find a great place to eat during your travels!
Eating in Puerto Jiménez at a Glance
- Coffee and smoothies: Aventuras Café.
- Traditional food: Soda Jiménez, with the emphasis on classic Costa Rican dishes this town is good at.
- Seafood: Marisquería Corcovado.
- Pizza: Pizzamail.it.
- Splurge: Driza Bar & Grill at Botanika, and Pearl of the Osa for ocean views.
- Menus: Most restaurants don’t have websites, so you usually have to stop in to see the menu.
- Cash and groceries: Banco Nacional and Banco de Costa Rica are downtown. Our favorite grocery spot is BM Jiménez.
- Safety: Pretty safe, but petty theft happens at the open-air spots. Never leave your wallet or phone on the table.
- Bugs: Once the sun goes down the mosquitos can be intense, so plan for that if you’re eating outside.
- Where to stay: Puerto Jiménez hotels on Booking.com, or tours on Viator for Corcovado trips.
Map of Restaurants
Here is a map of all the restaurants on this list so you can easily find one in the perfect location for you. You can also open this in Google Maps here.
1. Aventuras Café
A beautiful cafe that serves a variety of drinks such as coffee and smoothies (which are amazing), hamburgers, salads, and tortillas.
Where to Stay in Puerto Jiménez: Our Top Picks
Botanika Osa Peninsula
📍 Osa Peninsula
One of the most high-end stays on the Osa Peninsula.
Check prices →Four Monkeys Eco Lodge
📍 Puerto Jiménez
Unique tent-style bungalows surrounded by nature.
Check prices →Nueva Vida
📍 Near Puerto Jiménez
A rustic, peaceful eco-lodge about 15 minutes from town.
Check prices →My absolute favorite thing here is their assortment of delicious freshly baked cakes.
The atmosphere here is very nice and relaxing.
- Price Point: $$
- Vegetarian Options? Yes.
- Takes Reservations? No
- Opening Hours: 7:00 AM – 8:00 PM daily
- Rating: 5/5 stars on TripAdvisor
2. Soda Jimenez
Soda Jimenez is located on a side street in the downtown area. This is a great place to go for traditional Costa Rican cuisine.
It doesn’t look overly impressive from the outside, but the portions are huge and the food is delicious.
I suggest opting for a traditional Costa Rican casado. This is rice, beans, vegetables, and a protein of your choice.
- Price Point: $
- Vegetarian Options? There are a few options for vegetarians, but not many
- Takes Reservations? No, but you can always call them at +506 8467 4651
- Opening Hours: Open 6am to 8pm daily. Closed on Sundays
- Rating: 5/5 stars on TripAdvisor
3. Pizzamail.it
The go-to pizza place in town. They also serve pastas, but I definitely suggest opting for a pizza. I also like the atmosphere of this place. It has a relaxed bar type of vibe to it.
- Price Point: $$
- Vegetarian Options? Yes, there are plenty of vegetarian pizza options
- Takes Reservations? No, but if you need to get in touch with them you can call them at +506 2735 5483
- Opening Hours: 3:45 PM – 10:30 PM daily
- Rating: 4.5/5 stars on TripAdvisor
4. Marisqueria Corcovado
This is a great open-air seafood restaurant directly across the street from the ocean. We like to come here for lunch or a relaxed dinner. I suggest opting for one of their many fresh seafood or fish dishes.
Travel Essentials for Your Costa Rica Trip
Don’t let unplanned medical expenses or trip interruptions overshadow your dream Costa Rican vacation.
- 🚗 Save 10% on your car rental with Adobe Rent-A-Car: free second driver, 0% deductible, and top service.
- 🚐 Compare shared shuttles or private transfers: easy rides from airports to anywhere in the country.
- 🎟 Book your tours on Viator: secure payments, verified operators, and free cancellation.
- 💳 Protect your trip with Heymondo Insurance: covers flight delays, medical care, and lost luggage.
- 🌿 Effortless Costa Rica travel: Our local planner organizes it all, stays, transport, and exclusive experiences.
- Price Point: $$
- Vegetarian Options? Yes, they actually have a decent-sized vegetarian and vegan menu
- Takes Reservations? You can call them at +506 2735 5659
- Opening Hours: 07:00 AM – 11:00 PM daily
- Rating: 5/5 stars on TripAdvisor
5. Pearl of the Osa
Pearl of the Osa is a beautiful restaurant with ocean views located at the Iguana Lodge. They are open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner and serve a variety of dishes including fresh fish and seafood.
I love to come here on Tuesdays because they have a beach barbecue. It is $35 per person and always a good time.
- Price Point: $$$
- Vegetarian Options? Yes, they don’t have a ton of options, but they always make sure to have at least a few delicious vegetarian dishes on their current menu.
- Takes Reservations? You can call them at +506 8829 5865. It is a good idea to reserve especially if you plan to attend the Tuesday barbecue.
- Opening Hours: 11:00 AM – 8:30 PM daily
- Rating: 5/5 stars on TripAdvisor
6. Hellen’s Chill House
Hellens Chill House is a delicious restaurant that serves a wide variety of food from pastas, salads, and sandwiches to typical Costa Rican food. This is located in the downtown area of town.
We love this place because everything is fresh and the portions are huge. This place is open all day so you can come for any meal.
They also make a great typical Costa Rican breakfast.
- Price Point: $
- Vegetarian Options? Yes. They have vegetarian-friendly sandwiches, pastas, etc.
- Takes Reservations? No, but you can always call them at +506 8359 5203
- Opening Hours: 5:00 AM – 8:00 PM daily
- Rating: 5/5 stars on TripAdvisor
Planning a trip to Costa Rica? We’ll walk you through it step by step
Sign up now & get your free trip planning checklist instantly.
7. Driza Bar & Grill
This is the most high-end restaurant in town. It is located at the Botanika Hotel by Hilton.
Driza is the poolside bar and restaurant. There is also a more high-end restaurant called Tierra a la Mesa which is good for dinner.
Driza is a good place to come for a relaxed poolside lunch or cocktails. I wouldn’t stay the food is especially amazing. They serve sandwiches, salads, snacks, and desserts. The real draw is the resort atmosphere and extensive cocktail options.
- Price Point: $$$
- Vegetarian Options? Yes.
- Takes Reservations? Yes, I suggest calling them because they give preference to hotel guests. It is good to make sure they have space for you. +506 2735 5400
- Opening Hours: 10:00 AM – 7:00 PM daily
- Rating: 5/5 stars on TripAdvisor
💡 Sarah’s Tip
A couple of the nicer restaurants here are inside hotels and give preference to guests, so call ahead before you go for dinner.
Other Things to Know About Eating in Puerto Jimenez
- Most restaurants in Puerto Jimenez 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. There is a Banco Nacional and a Banco de Costa Rica in the downtown area if you need cash.
- If you would like to go grocery shopping, our favorite spot is BM Jiménez in the downtown area.
- 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 Jimenez. 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.
- Puerto Jimenez 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.
- Most of the roads outside of downtown Jimenez are unpaved. Keep this in mind when considering restaurants that are a bit further away.
Conclusion: Restaurants in Puerto Jimenez
In conclusion, there are food options in Puerto Jimenez for all palates and price points. You are bound to find something you’ll love! We definitely suggest trying some typical Costa Rican dishes and fish while you are here.
If you have any questions about planning your trip to Puerto Jimenez, Costa Rica 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:
- Corcovado National Park: Guide for Day and Overnight Trips
- The 8 Best Hotels in Drake Bay, Costa Rica for Every Budget and Travel Style
- The 8 Best Restaurants in Drake Bay, Costa Rica for Every Taste and Budget
- San Jose to Puerto Jimenez: The 5 Best Ways to Reach the Osa Peninsula
- The 19 Best Things to Do in Uvita, Costa Rica: Activities for Every Interest and Budget
Travel easier
Plan Smarter, Travel Easier
Before you go, here are the tools we use for every Costa Rica trip.
Need help planning? Try our free day-by-day trip planner, grab our 7-day itinerary for first-timers, or join our email list and we will walk you through it step by step.
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.
