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The 10 Best Restaurants in Tortuguero, Costa Rica
Are you looking for the best restaurants in Tortuguero, Costa Rica?
Tortuguero is a remote village located on the Caribbean Coast that is only accessible by boat. Despite being a remote and small area, there are plenty of delicious restaurant options.
We created this list to the 10 best restaurants to help you find great places to eat no matter what your budget or cuisine wishes. Read until the end for some must know tips before visiting and eating in Tortuguero.
Tortuguero Restaurants at a Glance
- Best Breakfast Place: La Terraza Del Aracari
- Best Authentic Caribbean Place: Soda D’Leite
- Best River Front Place: Budda Cafe
- Best Date Night Place: Taylor’s Place
- Most Unique Dining Opportunity: Katonga
Map of Restaurants
We created this map of all the best places to eat so you can easily plan which place works for your meal.
Keep in mind that there are no cars in Tortuguero. That means you will need to walk within the downtown area or go by boat to all the restaurants on this list.
1. Budda Cafe
Budda Cafe is our favorite hang-out spot in Tortuguero. The restaurant is set on over-the-water balconies on the river side of Tortuguero.
The restaurant serves a variety of dishes, but we suggest getting fresh seafood or ceviche here. They also serve excellent cocktails.
- Price Point: $$$
- Vegetarian Options? Yes, there are a variety of vegetarian options such as chickpea burgers, vegetarian sandwiches, falafel etc.
- Takes Reservations? You can call them at +506 2709 8084
- Opening Hours: 12:00 PM – 9:00 PM daily
- Rating: 4.5/5 stars on TripAdvisor
2. Restaurante Mi Niño
This is a delicious typical Costa Rican restaurant in a very relaxed setting. It doesn’t look like much from the outside, but the food is excellent.
One thing I really like here is that everything is always very fresh.
I like their patacones, ceviche, and salads; but most people come here for the seafood.
- Price Point: $
- Vegetarian Options? Yes. Their vegetarian burrito is excellent. You can also get it as a vegan burrito. There is also a few other vegetarian options.
- Takes Reservations? I don’t think they take reservations, but you can always call them at +506 8437 3216
- Opening Hours: 7:30 AM – 9:00 PM daily
- Rating: 5/5 stars on TripAdvisor
3. La Terraza Del Aracari
This is a breakfast restaurant located in a hostel. It also overlooks the soccer field in town, so you might be able to catch some people playing while you eat.
They serve a variety of dishes such as pancakes and traditional Costa Rican meals. They also typically have excellent coffee.
- Price Point: $
- Vegetarian Options? Yes
- Takes Reservations? No
- Opening Hours: 7:00 AM – 11:00 AM daily
- Rating: 5/5 stars on TripAdvisor
4. Katonga
Katonga is actually one of the most unique dining experiences in all of Costa Rica. This is an intimate eating experience on a boat put on by Mawamba Lodge.
Their floating restaurant navigates the Tortuguero Canals while you enjoy a delicious four-course lunch or dinner. How cool is that?
The floating restaurant features a dining area, bar, kitchen, and restrooms.
The maximum capacity for the restaurant is 24 people.
- Price Point: The 4-course menu is $48 USD + 13% VAT and doesn’t include drinks or tips
- Vegetarian Options? You will need to contact them to see if they can accommodate vegetarians, vegans, or other food sensitivities.
- Takes Reservations? Yes, you need to make reservations for this restaurant.
- Opening Hours: Lunch departs at 12:00 PM and dinner departs at 7:00 PM
- Rating: 4.5/5 stars on TripAdvisor
5. La Casona de Tortuguero
If you are looking some great Mexican food and cocktails, this is a great option. The food here is very reasonably priced and good. Everything I’ve eaten here has been good, but I usually opt for the tacos.
- Price Point: $$
- Vegetarian Options? Yes
- Takes Reservations? No
- Opening Hours: 10:00 AM – 10:00 PM daily
- Rating: 5/5 stars on TripAdvisor
6. Soda D’Leite
This is a typical Costa Rican Caribbean restaurant. They serve a variety of traditional dishes such as rice dishes, seafood, and casados. The menu has a little of everything, so I’m sure you will find something here to eat.
I actually like to come here for breakfast. They serve typical Gallo Pinto dishes, fancy coffee drinks and great fresh fruit smoothies.
- Price Point: $
- Vegetarian Options? Yes
- Takes Reservations? No
- Opening Hours: 7:00 am – 9:00 pm daily. Closed on Tuesdays.
- Rating: 5/5 stars on TripAdvisor
7. Taylor’s Place
This restaurant has a cozy vibe in a vibrant garden. This is a more high-end open-air restaurant under a wooden roof. It’s really beautiful at night when lit up with colored lights.
Taylor’s Place has a small menu, but I think that makes it better. They know what they do best and stick to that.
- Price Point: $$$
- Vegetarian Options? There are very limited vegetarian options
- Takes Reservations? You can call them at +506 8731 9789
- Opening Hours: 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM. Closed on Sundays
- Rating: 4.5/5 stars on TripAdvisor
8. Sabores Miriel
This is a family-run restaurant in a grassy lawn area. They serve a variety of fresh Costa Rican dishes at an affordable price. I love the chicken bites that they serve in a few different ways.
Make sure to save space for dessert here. They have several great options!
Oh, and they also do not serve alcohol, but we have heard that they don’t mind if you bring your own if you would like it. Personally, I suggest trying one of their fruit smoothies or milkshakes instead.
- Price Point: $$
- Vegetarian Options? If you are coming for a sweet treat, there are plenty of vegetarian options. For a full meal, your options are somewhat limited.
- Takes Reservations? No
- Opening Hours: 1:00 PM – 9:00 PM daily. Closed on Mondays
- Rating: 5/5 stars on TripAdvisor
9. Tortuguero Tree Coffe House
This is not just a coffee house, but also a full restaurant located directly on the water.
They serve a variety of breakfast items in the morning and a good variety of snack foods and full meals throughout the day. I like that their menu isn’t too excessive.
- Price Point: $
- Vegetarian Options? Yes, there is a vegetarian section on their menu.
- Takes Reservations? No
- Opening Hours: 11:00 AM – 9:00 PM daily
- Rating: 4.5/5 stars on TripAdvisor
10. El Patio
El Patio is another open air restaurant located directly on the canal with views of the waterway.
They have an extensive menu with seafood, Caribbean specials, Costa Rican specials, desserts, and more.
I suggest trying a Caribbean special for an authentic taste of the area.
- Price Point: $$
- Vegetarian Options? Yes. All vegetarian items are specifically marked on the menu.
- Takes Reservations? No
- Opening Hours: 11:00am – 9:00pm daily
- Rating: 4.5/5 stars on TripAdvisor
Other Things to Know About Eating in Tortuguero
- Most restaurants in Tortuguero 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.
- In Tortuguero a lot of restaurants do not take credit cards, so you will need to carry cash in colones or US dollars. There is one ATM near the boat dock, but if it is out of service, (which it sometimes is) you’ll be out of luck.
- 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.
- I don’t suggest drinking the tap water in Tortuguero. There are plenty of mini markets here where you can buy bottles water.
- Tortuguero 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.
Tortuguero Info at a Glance
Here is some must-know info before you visit this area.
How to Get to Tortuguero
Tortuguero is only accessible by boat. There are no cars within the village. There are several different transportation options. We outlined them all in our Guide to Tortuguero Transportation.
Where to Stay in Tortuguero
Most of the hotels in Tortuguero are very affordable.
There are some high-end hotels as well, but I actually don’t suggest staying in them (even though they are very nice).
The reason is that most of the high-end hotels are located across the canal from the downtown area. That means that you will need to take a boat every time you want to get downtown or to the national park.
This is one place in which I think the downtown is actually very charming and worth staying near.
High-End Hotels
Mid-Range Hotels
Budget Hotels
Things to Do in Tortuguero
- Take an early morning guided wildlife canoe ride
- Hike through the national park (do this on the same day as the canoe ride because you will purchase national park admission before canoeing the canals)
- Take a turtle nesting night tour (this is best in late July through September)
Weather in Tortuguero
The Caribbean Coast of Costa Rica has the opposite rainy season as the Pacific Coast. You will experience the best weather here in late July through early November.
Check out our Complete Guide to Tortuguero for more info on planning your visit
Conclusion: Restaurants in Tortuguero
In conclusion, despite being a small coastal village there are plenty of places to eat in Tortuguero for all food budgets and taste palates.
If you have any questions about planning your trip to Tortuguero don’t hesitate to leave them in the comment section below. We are always happy to help you plan.
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We met in Virginia, moved to Germany, and since 2016 we have lived in sunny Costa Rica.
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Sarah McArthur is the co-founder and main writer of Costa Rica Vibes.
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