I LOVE eating out, but finding fantastic restaurants in Costa Rica that serve up something yummy besides the typical casado (rice, beans, meat, salad) is quite a daunting task. This is one of the reasons I love the laid back beach town of Puerto Viejo so much – there are quite a few fabulous restaurants there, cooking up a variety of world flavors.
See more yummy photos on Stashu’s Con Fusion website:
Stashu’s Con-Fusion
This delicious restaurant use to be called Loco Natural. The chef, Stashu, recently bought the restaurant and changed the name, but he is still serving up the same healthy, creative, exotic world fusion cuisine. I usually order the special because Stashu really is a creative genius when it comes to food and I want his latest inspired dish. I also recommend the tasty house special ginger fruit smoothie – healthy and fun! They also feature monthly art exhibits and live music. Go here for dinner, the plates cost between $10 – $15, cash only. It is located 200 meters south of downtown. (vegetarian-friendly)
Flip Flop
Flip Flop is a tiny little restaurant packing big big flavor. The German owner, Sabine, cooks up a variety of delectable dishes including Thai, Italian, American, and Caribbean. My absolute favorite is her curry and I can’t recommend it highly enough – definitely a must have. Flip Flop is tucked into the corner of a small shopping center across from the hardware store and is open for lunch or dinner. Plates cost under $10, cash only.
Bread and Chocolate
Another tiny little restaurant that serves up a huge taste. They are all natural, growing most of the ingredients themselves. I recommend coming here for breakfast or brunch, and of course, try the bread and chocolate! They are located just down the street from Flip Flop and plates cost between $5 – $15, cash only. (vegetarian-friendly)
Costa Rica has more than one Puerto Viejo. People end up in the wrong one all the time. Make sure you go to Talamanca, unless you enjoy surprise adventures. 🙂
I guess I will need to make it to Costa Rica to try these places out. The food looks delicious (it helps that it is dinner time here!) 🙂
It is delicious, I wish I was there now!
Thanks for stopping by – I just found your comment in my spam folder which I usually never check :/ I wonder how many other real comments ended up in there?!
Haha! It cracks me up that you have found a restaurant you love in, what sounds like, “the middle of nowhere,” and the chef and owner who cooks up all kinds of delicious dishes is German…I live in Germany and struggle to find a tasty restaurant in town that makes something other than meat and potatoes! It sounds to me like the one good chef defected to Costa Rica. lol Traitor. Come back here and settle down in lovely Munich!
LOL you called her a traitor. She is quite fond of Puerto Viejo so don’t get your hopes up. Maybe instead, you can come all the way down here for a visit to her restaurant! That would make an interesting post – “How I went all the way to Costa Rica to get good German food” lol 🙂
I’ve got to try to get there! This summer my girlfriend and I are planning a Costa Rica vacation and I’m hoping that we’ll get a chance to get out that way!
Hey Erin,
I’m reading all these great blogs! I have seen only one from someone, that is close to my age. I’m 61 and my husband and I are going to be coming this summer but want to move there. I could care less if I ever work again, but he feels we need to do something. I still have the spirit to do something, but admit that I’m envious of your ability to be a free spirit. I too was a free spirit when I was free of husbands, children, and responsibilities!
Oh well, we are considering buying a B & B. We do not speak Spanish, ( I had two years in high school, but also French and Italian). So, from a your perspective, how hard is it for an old fart to make a smooth transition to Costa Rica? Be honest, you appear to be very honest, and anyone that loves chocolate and bread is my kind of woman.
Hi Becky! Thanks for the great comment, it made me smile 🙂
Well, there is a large community of retired expats who are not blogging but are willing to share experiences and resources. You can pay into clubs to join these groups, like ARCR, or find the free expat communities online. The only problem I have with these groups is that everyone here is trying to make a buck (including me!!), so it gets hard to distinguish between who is recommending someone only to make the 10 or 20% referral fee or who is recommending someone because they actually would recommend them for quality regardless of referral fee. In my case, I recommend for quality but I definitely want my referral fee. A girl’s gotta eat.
I think your biggest obstacle would not be the language – it would be adjusting to the disorganization, exaggerated bureaucracy, and petty theft. I’ve also heard it’s extremely difficult and a 24/7 job to run a B&B. Everyone who has one says this. Everyone. I’ve met a few people who have retired down here and bought B&Bs that come with a trusty manager who has been managing it – that seems to me, to be the most ideal situation. THen the manager can deal with vendors, service, etc… and you’ll be left with only the big picture decisions. Also, it depends on how much of an old fart you are. How do you handle change? In Costa Rica, you have to be flexible and able to handle change to be happy here.
I hope that all makes sense. I’m still waiting for the coffee to kick in and wake me up. 🙂