Culinary options in Monteverde
What food are you craving? Would you like to be adventuresome and try Fusion Cuisine, or you’d like some comfort food like pasta or pizza? The Monteverde-Santa Elena area has a surprising variety of restaurants for visitors to enjoy. If you’d like some reasonably priced local fare, you can try a “casado” at Soda La Salvadita in Santa Elena or at the Soda La Cuchara de la Abuela in Monteverde.
If it is Italian you crave, pizzerias are very popular in the Monteverde-Santa Elena area, maybe in part inspired by the delicious locally made cheese. Pizzeria de Johnny in the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve area and Bistro Bon Appetit in Santa Elena are both excellent choices. Tramonti Restaurant, owned by an Italian-Costa Rican couple offers varied pasta options in addition to their pizzas.
Head over to Argentine Restaurant Café Caburé in old Monteverde for a juicy steak. Chocoholics rejoice, they also have their own fine chocolate shop, and you can schedule a tour and learn how they make their chocolates on site.
The Green Restaurant serves up fusion dishes, using organic food and local ingredients. Their varied menu provides vegetarian options as well as gluten free dishes.
Laggus Restaurant, located in El Establo Hotel in Monteverde is a fine dining restaurant boasting amazing views of the grounds, lake and gulf of Nicoya on a clear day. If coming for dinner, arrive early and watch the sunset over drinks, then enjoy their gourmet cuisine.
Looking for a coffee and a snack? There are several places to choose from to have one any time of day. One is Stella´s Bakery, offering a variety of baked goods. Enjoy your meal in outdoor seating area and if you are lucky you can observe monkeys, raccoons and beautiful birds as you do. More bird watching and coffee drinking options? The Café Colibrí is surrounded by the flutter of hummingbirds, stop by before of after your hike into the Monteverde Reserve for coffee, sandwiches and baked goodies.
Come visit Monteverde and explore all these and other culinary options for yourself!
Article by Katie Widdowson
