In this guide we share our favorite restaurants in La Fortuna, Costa Rica. When searching for the best places to eat, we love finding restaurants that fill many roles: simply outstanding cuisine, affordable local gems, places that just have really cool vibes, or some combination of factors.
Something you should know is that in touristy areas in Costa Rica there is bit of division between the made-for-tourist spots and the local sodas. But I think you will agree that restaurants from both categories are worth a visit.
Soda is the name for any traditional Costa Rican restaurants. They are usually small, locally owned establishments serving typical Costa Rican food.
We were kind of laughing to ourselves that in the Costa Rican translation to English, they love to use the word typical, which in our opinion has kind of a boring and mundane sound to it. If they would just swap the word typical with authentic, it would have a much more marketable spin to it. But anyway, just a funny observation from our time in Costa Rica.
Nonetheless, the food at local sodas provides large portions, a huge variety of foods, and great flavors. If you are ever intimidated by the menus at Sodas, you can never go wrong with Casados. It’s basically a little bit of everything, your choice of protein with rice, beans, veggies, fried plantains, and some other house specialties.
One thing that we noticed as we traveled the country was that every soda was a little different, with what was served on the plate. And Sodas are going to be much cheaper than restaurants that are geared more towards tourists.
Since La Fortuna is a touristy area, there are tons of other restaurants of all types of cuisines. They tend to cost a bit more than the local Sodas, but plenty that are worth the money and provide exceptional food as well.
So let’s jump into our top 7 favorite restaurants in La Fortuna.
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Soda & Restaurante Rodríguez
The atmosphere at Soda Rodriguez is next level. Their location is tucked just outside the main city center. It kind of has a treehouse vibe decorated with hanging signs bearing messages for visitors from around the world. Each table has it’s own character or private little nook that just makes you feel special.
There wasn’t really a menu to browse, but rather the waitress listed off a few different options for the day. I kinda liked this version, because it made it seem like they only had those fresh ingredients in stock. But just know if you are a picky eater or have dietary restrictions, you might struggle a little with the smaller menu. I went with a chicken bowl and Jake chose the quesadilla.
My chicken in the bowl was bursting with flavor, it was definitely one of my favorite things I ate in Costa Rica.
And of course, they give you a little wooden tile to write your own message to other tourists.
They also have adorable dogs, cats, and other farm animals roaming around. So the whole vibe just feels very unique.
Soda Sabores Lulu
Soda Sabores Lulu truly felt like you were stopping over at Grandma’s house to get a warm, home cooked meal. Which is actually what Soda’s traditionally evolved from, though now they are more formal licensed restaurants. But some still manage to hang on to those home-cooking style roots.
We stopped in here for a delicious breakfast.
Soda Sabores Lulu has the dining tables in the front, plus a small patio, and a window to see back to the kitchen.
We were greeted right away and offered fresh fruit as a side with our meal. We also ordered a small smoothie, which was huge. One thing that’s common with typical Costa Rican food is the portions are NOT small!
Jake ordered the local breakfast dish, Desayuno Típico and I ordered the Casados, which is basically the most popular dish in Costa Rica. But I will say that the Casados feels more like a lunch/dinner item, but I can’t eat eggs, hence I opted to try another local dish. Both were exceptionally tasty, and really provide that comfort of a home-cooked meal.
Mercadito Arenal
I’m a big fan of food halls. They provide a variety of options for many different cuisines. They are especially great for large groups or families, and maybe if you want a little break from the little local sodas.
They have La Canalla serving up burgers and things on the grill, Pizzeria y Cafeteria Rooster with wood oven pizzas, Sensai Sushi serving up sushi and fresh fish, and Mexikah Taqueria, of course, with Mexican favorites.
Our eyes were quickly drawn to the pizza burger from La Canalla, and a fresh tuna poke bowl from Sensai Sushi.
Sure, this is definitely a different vibe from your local soda, but sometimes you’re just craving something a little different. And this food hall certainly doesn’t disappoint.
And don’t miss the Voodoo cocktail bar. They have a local mixologist offering some extraordinary cocktails. I honestly had such a hard time choosing which one. I opted for the Maracuyna, which is basically their twist on a margarita with passion fruit. Can confirm, it was excellent!
If you want to go with a more fun option, consider the Vulkano. The drink literally comes with a smoking volcano on the side!
Unfortunately, it was raining when we were here, but when it’s clear, the open-air concept provides excellent views of Arenal Volcano.
Chante Verde
If you’re looking for an upscale meal without absolutely breaking the bank, then Chante Verde is a great stop to add. It’s located a little ways out of town, but they have a wide selection of international fusion cuisine that is sure to impress.
The space has an elegant but playful boho chic vibe. And the chef is a real professional who crafts healthy and delicious dishes catering to everyone from vegans to meat lovers.
We got a chicken cordon blue and the ceviche, both were rich in flavor. And overall for two very upscale entrees with drinks our bill was less than $45 US dollars.
Organico Fortuna
For lighter and healthier fare, Organico Fortuna has a fresh and delicious menu. Also, this restaurant is a great option for vegans and vegetarians and made with all organic ingredients. They even have a whole plant powered section of the menu.
The food is a bit on the pricier side, but you are getting local and organic ingredients.
The vibe here is clean and fresh. This was one of the first restaurant we hit on our visit, and it set the mood just right.
They also have a little market in the back where you can find local, organic items for purchase.
Beerland
Traveling around Costa Rica, you’ll notice the National Beer found in most restaurants is Imperial. But if you’re craving something with a little more flavor and variety, then a craft beer is what you’re looking for.
And after reading endless incredible reviews for this place, we had to visit it for ourselves. Can confirm, the service upon arrival is excellent and they walk you through all the different beers they have on tap. Our server listed too many different beers that we wanted to try, so we opted for the flight.
We tried the basil lager, a chili beer, an IPA and a mango pale ale. They were all super tasty, but surprisingly, the chili beer was our favorite. It just had such a unique taste with that little kick of spice.
They do serve food here, but we already had plans to visit one of the other restaurants on this list, so we didn’t try it this time. But reading the reviews, it seems you can’t go wrong with the food here too, but it is also a bit on the pricier side.
You can also get some beers for takeaway. So we grabbed some to enjoy another night of our trip.
Restaurante Fortuneño
This place is located in town and an absolute vibe! The first thing you will notice is the rotisserie chicken grill spinning right outside the restaurant. And you guessed it, this place is known for its roasted chicken.
It offers a fun and unique atmosphere as you walk in, which definitely leans towards the trendy social media vibe. With lots of faux plants and neon signs. And it can get pretty hot in here, so definitely try to find a table that has a fan.
Of course they have other things to order, other than chicken, but the famous thing to get here is the combo sharing plates that feed multiple people. They come with roasted chicken, tortillas, patacones, refried beans, plantains, and salad.
The refried beans were the real star of the show. So flavorful, it was basically like a delicious sauce to slather on everything.
If you are looking for adventures beyond just the food, check out our Top 10 Things to Do In La Fortuna Video.
Tips For Visiting The Best Restaurants In La Fortuna
Here are some additional tips for dining out in Costa Rica.
Paying is kinda done differently at each restaurant. Some may bring the check and the card reader to your table, while others will expect you to pay at the counter. And it’s not always clear which they prefer, so pay attention to what others are doing or maybe just ask.
And if using a credit or debit card, always choose to charge in the local currency if given the option, which in this case is Colones. It’s likely your bank will provide a more favorable exchange rate.
One simple phrase you should know before traveling is “La cuenta,” which just means the check. Honestly, most people working around touristy areas speak English, but for local sodas you might encounter people who only speak Spanish.
The customary tipping amount in Costa Rica is around 10%. But we found that many restaurants will just add a 10% service charge to your bill. But they don’t really ask for additional tips on top of that. For example, they don’t give you a pen to sign and add tip like we do in America.
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